Shadows of deceit : The Augustus secret

Chapter four

Ashley

"How many times should I tell you this?" I whispered angrily into my phone, hoping that Will would understand that I was trying to yell at him. "I JUST GOT HERE!"

"Ashe, you do realize you're not there for a vacation, right?" Will asked over the phone, his sarcasm dripping from every word.

I rolled my eyes at the remark, annoyed by the flippant attitude he had towards my situation.

"Of course not," I said as I slipped into my pajamas as I tried to relax and forget about Will's callous attitude.

"What's up with you though? You sound...frustrated," Will's voice cut through the silence over the phone, his tone playful and provocative. I felt my face flush, knowing that he meant his words in a more suggestive manner.

I tried to ignore it, trying to keep my composure as I decided whether to reply to his comment. But something in his tone caused a flutter in my stomach, my emotions slowly giving way to a feeling of excitement and anticipation.

I couldn't deny that I was intrigued by the direction that this conversation was taking.

"Let's just say Stefan Augustus isn't really a relaxing company." I replied teasingly, leaning into his playful and suggestive tone. I felt myself being drawn into the moment, the conversation growing more daring with each passing second.

My heart was racing, my breath becoming shallow and my emotions spinning out of control, finding myself drawn in by a different kind of excitement.

The deep and seductive chuckle coming from my phone sent a shiver down my spine, my body reacting to the sound in ways I hadn't anticipated. Will's tone was full of mischief and a clear underlying seductiveness "Well, which relaxing company do you seek now?"

My body flushed at his words, my heart pounding in my chest.

"You already know the answer to that..." I replied, my tone playful and teasing as the conversation continued to descend into deeper and more dangerous territory.

"Ashe, don't make me think about the things I'll do to you if I was with you right now." Will's voice grew firmer and more urgent, his tone full of threat and lust. My body flushed with excitement and anticipation, the idea of him with me sending a shiver down my spine and causing my heart to race as I imagined the possibilities.

The seductive and provocative nature of our conversation was broken when I heard a knock on the door, the sudden interruption pulling me from the haze of our flirting and causing me to jump. I took a deep breath, trying to regain my composure as I focused my attention on my surroundings again.

"Will, I'll call you back." I whispered, my heart pounding in my chest as I hung up the phone and tried to regain my composure. The idea of William's frustration caused me to smile, his feelings of desire and disappointment towards me playing into my own feelings of excitement and anticipation.

I made my way over to the door, opening it to see the butler standing on the other side. "Dinner is ready," he said in a stern voice, his expression unmoving as he looked at me. I nodded my head and followed him as he led me towards the dining room.

I walked down the hall, following behind the butler as he led me down the stairs towards the dining room. I was still wearing my pajamas as well, since the butler hadn't given me time to change before dinner.

I tried making small talk with the butler, even though he openly seemed to not like me "So, how long have you worked here?" I asked, hoping that my question would help to break up the tension that seemed to exist between us.

Apparently, my question had taken him off guard, as he responded with a brief one sentence response.

" Thirty-five years."

"That's a long time," I replied in an impressed tone, trying to keep the conversation going. But my attempt at making small talk was cut short when we arrived at the dining room, my surprise growing as I saw Stefan Augustus himself seated at the head of the table. I had not expected to be dining with him, especially after his earlier words. You finish your month here without bugging me with your encounter.

I stood there, my confusion and shock obvious as the butler pulled my seat out and indicated for me to sit down. I slowly took my seat, my heart racing as I tried to make sense of what was happening.

The dining room was as fancy and elegant as the rest of the mansion, with dimly lit chandeliers hanging low from the ceiling. The faint illumination from the lights danced across the dark room, setting a subtle and intimate mood for the meal. The atmosphere was solemn and formal, the quiet and subdued lighting further contributing to the atmosphere of the room.

The contrast between the lavish interior of the dining room and the dark exterior of the mansion only further emphasized the mystery that hung in the air.

Across from me at the table was Stefan, his cold and intimidating gaze fixed on me as he remained silent. Despite my best efforts to ignore him, his presence was impossible to overlook, both due to his intimidating aura and his attractive appearance.

The contrast between his intense gaze and brooding demeanor, and his attractive features, caused a flutter in my stomach as I felt my throat tighten and my heart race.

I tried to ignore the undeniable influence his presence had on me, focusing instead on the food that had just been served as a distraction from the tension and anxiety that I felt in the air.

The silence was unbearable, even though Stefan didn't seem bothered by it at all. He continued to eat slowly and methodically, glancing towards me occasionally as I attempted to break the tension. My stomach grew more and more anxious as the silence dragged on, and I found myself unable to maintain my poise anymore.

In a moment of desperation, I decided to risk speaking up and asking him something, anything.

"Where were you when the corpses were reported?" I asked, suddenly realizing the magnitude of the question I had just asked Stefan.

My eyes widened, my anxiety growing as I waited for his reaction.

He remained calm, his composure unshaken as he responded with a simple "Out."

I swallowed hard but couldn't help but roll my eyes instinctively.

No shit sherlock.

"You know I'm gonna need more than that answer," I replied, taking my fork, and bringing it to my mouth as I gently bit into the steak. The savory flavor and tender meat of the meat sent a wave of sensual pleasure through my body, making me forget myself as I felt myself lost in the sensation of eating the delicious steak.

I quickly caught myself, reminding myself that this was a work dinner and I needed to be as professional as possible. Professional in my pjs, I thought as I took another bite, trying to maintain my composure as I fought off the urge to give into my sensations.

"I thought I told you that you start tomorrow," he said, his tone cold and unfeeling as he looked across the table at me. His face remained emotionless, his words carrying no warmth or sympathy whatsoever.

I shrugged in response to his words, my anxiety growing as I felt his cold and emotionless tone. I began to speak up, only for him to interrupt me and issue his command.

"Just finish your dinner in silence and go," he said, his voice cold and distant. I remained silent, feeling my confidence shatter as I complied with the man's orders.

For a moment, I considered rebelling against his words, but all I managed was to drop my fork and knife on the plate and stand up. I turned and made my way towards the door and towards my room, trying to fight off the surge of emotions that had overcome me.

My mind was flooded with a mixture of anxiety and anger. Dick... But I needed to remind myself that not four days ago he lost his parents. Or killed his parents...

I reached my room and slammed the door shut behind me, rushing for my phone to text Mary. I typed, my thumb nervously tapping each letter as I tried to express the overwhelming emotions that I felt right at that moment.

"This is going to be the longest month ever."