Fashion Kills 8
FK8
ASHER'S POV
I struggle to scream. It's useless. The muffled sound doesn't get anywhere. I can feel myself passing out as the person in the room is trying to clearly KILL me.
That's when I hear the voice. It's Diamonte!
“GET THE FUCK OFF HIM!”
Some sort of confrontation is taking place. I hear things slamming across the room. I throw the pillow of me, fall to the side of the bed and struggle to get my breath. By the time I lift my head up Diamonte is the only one in the room. There are footsteps of someone running away out into the living room and then into the bedroom.
“Are you ok?” Diamonte asks me.
Diamonte just literally saved my fucking life. He's looking at me now with a bloody lip and a torn shirt. We fell a sleep in his slacks and white dress shirts but it didn't matter with him. Diamonte is looking at me now with a look of fear in his eyes.
“I'm good. I just...what the fuck just happened?”
“Uh---think someone just tried to kill you,” Diamonte explains.
“No shit?”
“Yes shit,” he replies grabbing the phone, “I didn't see their face. They were wearing a mask or something like that. It could be the same person that killed Alexander. We need to call the cops.”
“No cops,” I respond.
Diamonte looks at me like I have lost my mind. Hell I probably have lost my mind.
“Why the hell not?” he asks.
“Because the fuckin' person trying to kill me is Remus,” I respond.
Diamonte looks at me. He's confused.
“Come again.”
“Yeah. Remus killed Alexander. He admitted the shit to me. How do you think I could afford to get to Spain so quick. He tried to keep me away from you. If I go to the authorities about it he'll kill my mother and father.”
Diamonte shakes his head, “Remus? Really. It all makes sense. He's been jealous of his brother since forever. He wanted everything his brother had.”
“Including you.”
Diamonte nods knowing damn well this shit is passion driven too. I saw the way that Remus looked at Diamonte. Money and power were one thing. I understood people did crazy things for money and power. Remus wanted more than that. Remus wanted love. It was clear by how pissed he was when I took Diamonte away from him. This fuckin' guy felt entitled to everything that Alexander had.
“I won't let him get away with this,” Diamonte explains.
“You can't let him know that I know.”
“Call your dad and your mom. I'll have a car sent for them.”
“What?” I ask.
“They can stay with me.”
My heart starts to throb at that moment.
“That is not a good idea.”
“It's the only idea. It's the only place they'll be safe until I figure out what to do with Remus,” Diamonte says, “I can hire security for the house. You should pack your bags too and who knows...Sebastian may need to come. Remus may go after him too if he can't get to you.”
I am not expecting this from Diamonte. I didn't think he would be the type to do something like this. I know he's right but I can already start feeling how horrible this is going to be.
I'm waiting at Diamonte's apartment in the afternoon by the time everyone shows up. I can't believe this is happening right now. Diamonte has hired a security guard at the gate down the street. The security guard patrolled the residence making sure that we would be safe. I guess this was a lot more secure than some low budget apartment.
“You look nervous,” Diamonte notices.
I dont' want to ruin what we have before it begins. I want to tell him that but I don't want to scare him off either.
“Listen...my family is...different.”
“I know I've done my research.”
“It's not the same Diamonte,” I explain to him at that moment.
My father was an addict and I was pulling him out of rehab to get here. My mother was a little bit overbearing especially when it came to her religion. Then there was my best friend Sebastian and I'd already been embarrassed enough by him. If this wasn't a life or death situation I would never bring the people closest to me here.
“Relax,” Diamonte explains, “This could be a good thing. You said you wanted me to get to know more about you. How could this possibly go wrong-------WHOA WHOA WHOA EXCUSE ME! THAT IS CASHMERE!”
My mother had walked into the house. She'd brought her oils with her. Fuck. Not her fucking oils. I She walks into the door doesn't even greet us before she is throwing her Filipino oils around with her chinky eyes and short quick steps.
“Ma---MA give me that,” I say grabbing at the bottles.
“No worries. It's holy. Holy Oils. Blessing the house. Murder,” My mother is saying in her broken English with a hard accent that I'm sure Diamonte can't really understand.
“What's she saying?” Diamonte asks.
“I told her about the murder when I told her why they all needed to come here. She thinks this place has a bad presense. She wants to bless it,” I explain to him.
My mother ignores Diamonte completely and circles around the house praying without saying another word. I don't expect her to say much anyway and the strange thing is my mother isn't even my big concern. By the time my father walks in there I realize that this is definitely a bad idea.
My dad is high as a fucking kite.
He literally stumbles into the house.
“Dad please...Dad please tell me you aren't already high. You haven't even been out of rehab for 24 hours...”
“I dunno what your dad took,” Sebastian explains walking in after my dad, “But in the ride over here he kept trying to highlight my face with a sharpie because he said I was important.”
My father collapses to the floor just in time for my mother to walk back into the room and begin to pray for him. I look over at my Diamonte. He's trying to play cool but I knew that he wasn't for this.
“How'd he get drugs Sebastian?” I ask, “I asked you to take the car and pick him up from Rehab and bring him straight here.”
Sebastian smiles, “Well. So...we may or may not have stopped at this local dive bar.”
“Seriously?”
Sebastian gives me a strong look, “Listen. I understand you're in this new 'thing' or whatever but I can't help that if all of a sudden you have standards and your dad has a thing for guys who can give him free drugs.”
I'd always known my dad was bisexual when it came to drugs but it kind of scared me that Sebastian was bringing this up in front of my mother. My mother isn't paying attention thankfully and is continuing to bless the house without saying much of anything. I am going to have to have a serious conversation with Sebastian. He looks pissed and I'm not understanding why.
“Now you see why I left home,” I admit to Diamonte.
Diamonte smiles at my parents, “It's nice to meet you too.”
“It's nice to meet you as well,” I hear my father saying from the ground, “But I'd rather get to know you when you aren't four different people.”
“I should get him some water...” Diamonte explains leaving the room at that moment.
Just as Diamonte is leaving I see Sebastian start to walk after him. I grab Sebastian almost immediately and pull him over.
“Did you see that ass brah?” Sebastian says.
“Sebastian yo stop. For real,” I explain to him, “He's different. I keep telling you that.”
“I get it. I'm trying to be behave,” he explains, “But I mean I need to at least congratulate the guy.”
“For what?”
“He must have gotten the best dick in his world last night if he has you moving in the next day.”
“Can you not talk like that in front of my mother?” I ask him before shaking my head, “Besides we didn't have sex.”
“Like anal sex.”
“No like sex sex.”
“And he's moving you in already?”
“Did you not got my text about someone trying to kill me last night?” I ask him.
“You were serious?”
Sebastian is looking at me with raised eyebrows. I can't believe this guy. I mean at least my father had an excuse because he was on drugs. Sebastian was just plain dumb as fuck.
“Yo---how thee fuck is someone trying to kill me not serious?” I ask him.
“Who texts something that serious?” he asks, “Oh shit. Yo this is kind of serious.”
“That's what I said in the text. That's why I need your help looking after my parents.”
“C`mon. Like your parents aren't anything to worry about. Remember that one time your father was on drugs and he passed out and we removed everything electronic from his room, stuck in some old books and an ancient typewriter from goodwill. For 20 minutes we had him convinced he'd drugged himself backward in time.”
I laugh remembering that time.
“This is different.”
“Because Diamonte.”
It's not a question that Sebastian is asking me. He's making a firm statement and giving me a look that lets me know that my best friend is really onto me. It's scary that he knows so much about my life. It's scary that the three people who are the closest to me in the world are now here in front of the guy that I couldn't stop thinking about. It wasn't just the handsome guy anymore. Diamonte was seeing the true person behind the abs and the nice haircut and good looks. He was seeing everything and it scared the fuck out of me.
I nod, “Yes.”
“You got feelings for this boy? Like are you falling for him?”
Before I can answer this I hear a scream.
I turn realizing that it's Diamonte. He's screaming at the top of his lungs as he walks into the room. I turn at that moment and realize exactly why Diamonte is screaming.
My father has begun to throw up...
...On Diamonte's cashmere rug.
DIAMONTE'S POV
“What is this some sort of new Charity you're starting for the underdeveloped and disabled?” Allison asks you, “Because I'm not donating. I told you my charities of choice were Africa and AIDS.”
“It's not a charity. It's Asher's family.”
Allison's was at the house. I needed to talk to her regarding Ox who has been avoiding all my calls since the Gala and I had no idea why. When she shows up at my house she sees exactly what I've been dealing with for the past week. Asher's mother is praying over her father in the backyard who I feel like got a hold of some sort of pills or something and was acting possessed. Sebastian and Asher had gone to see if they could get something to sober the father up. That was almost 40 minutes ago.
“Why do you have the Dick's family?”
“Can you please not call him the Dick?” I ask.
“I mean what good is he for otherwise.”
“He actually can hold a conversation. He's a little bit more than a dick.”
“You've been having a conversation with him?” Allison explains, “What is happening with my friend? Are you going soft?”
“No.”
Allison gives me a hard look, “I'm calling Remus.”
“Don't!”
“Why not?”
I shake my head, “Listen. I have to talk to Ox about it. It's complicated. Just don't talk to Remus about the shit I have going on here. I don't trust him.”
“But you trust the quote unquote model who with the abs and the big dick enough to have his family in your backyard going full ass Exorcist? Am I hearing that right?”
“It's complicated. Are you going to talk to Ox and tell him to meet me here or not? I don't have time for small talk.”
Allison gives me a hard look.
I can tell she's judging me. She probably has all right to. I have these random people in my house and she's known me forever. This wasn't me.
“Don't lose yourself because of love,” Allison warns me, “Only fools do that. You've gotten this far without it. You don't need. Trust me.”
Allison leaves at that moment but her words linger on.
-------------------------------------------------
It's the middle of the night when I get a knock on my door. I've shut myself in afraid to really be around Asher's family. When I open the door it's none other than Asher. He looks sexy...as fuck. He has on a wife beater and some basketball shorts. His muscles are popping. His hair is lined up perfect and there is this smell of natural, manly undertones coming from him as he leans up against the threshold to my room. I have to admit this man is fucking sexy as hell and looking at him is a fucking treat.
“You busy?” he asks me.
His voice is low, deep, masculine and sexy. It's late at night and truth is my hormones are going crazy looking at this sexy ass guy standing there with the cuts in his arms and built up chest.
“Busy sleeping,” I respond.
He stares into the room. A part of me wants to invite him in but I can't get the conversation I had with Allison out of my head. What if she was right? What if I was risking it all for this boy.
“I know my family is a lot...” he explains, “You bringing them here and you protecting them means the most to me.”
I shy away from looking in his eyes and stare at the floor, “It's the right thing to do.”
“My dad threw up on your carpet...”
“Don't remind me,” I tell him.
I don't know what I'm doing. This didn't make sense. I was having these strangers in my house acting a fucking fool because of this boy. When I wasn't around Asher I figured I was losing my mind, but now when I'm close to him it all seems worth it.
Asher takes a step forward, making sure that we are close enough that I can feel his breath sweep against my face, “I don't know how I can repay you for all of this...”
“Tomorrow I have a meeting planned with my lawyer Ox. He'll get with the detectives and tell them you said about Remus confessing. They'll start looking into Remus and you'll probably have to testify once they gather enough evidence to charge him with murder.”
“You mean if they gather enough evidence.”
“Ox is the best. They'll charge him.”
Asher smiles at me at that moment, “Why are you doing this?”
“He killed my husband.”
Asher shakes his head, “We both know that you didn't care about your husband. Maybe as a person but you weren't in love with Alexander. If you were trying to catch his killer you would have came after me when you thought I did it. What is it about me that's so special?”
Asher is biting on his lip. It's driving me crazy. His breath smells so good. He's squinting at me as though trying to seduce me with a stare.
“Get over yourself,” I tell about to turn around but Asher grabs me.
“Don't turn this into that.”
“Huh?”
“You're trying to find a reason for us not to have a moment right here and right now. You followed me to Spain.”
“You're still on payroll. I had stuff I needed you to do for me. You can't just up and leave.”
It's a lame ass excuse and we both know it's bullshit. I feel dumb as hell for even saying it and my face gets red with embarrassment when Asher starts laughing. Asher makes sure he stares me up and down so that I know how stupid of an excuse that sounds.
“You think you like me. And I'm not saying that in a conceited or cocky way. I'm saying you like me because I really hope you do. So what's good, Diamonte? What's up between you and me? Diamonte do you like me, like me?”
My heart is racing. He asked it twice. Like, like is serious.
Asher is inches away from me. He leans forward right now. He touches me. It's just a light touch under my elbow. He slightly brushes it and a shiver runs down my spine.
“I...”
“It's ok,” he tells me as though he can see right through the walls that I have built up. It's as though he's trying to take them down before I block any one of his approaches.
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
I stare at him hard, “That's the most I can give you. That's more than I've ever given anyone in my life.”
“What happened to you?”
“It doesn't matter,” I explain to him, “Good night Asher.”
“Good night handsome...”
That's when Asher leans over to me and presses his soft lips on my forehead. All the while he is palming both my elbows and letting me breathe in his manly aura. For a moment I want to beg him to stay. For a moment there I want to bring him into my room and have all kinds of passionate sex with him. No...not sex. I want to make love to Asher.
Instead of doing all that though I just smile, watch as he turns around and walks away all the while keeping his eyes on me knowing damn well that he wants to come in as well.
The next day is even more awkward. I have my meeting with Ox planned but all the while I know that the man I'm about to implicate in my husband's murder is working in the same building. I keep Asher at home to avoid any confrontation but it doesn't matter.
When 10 am hits there is Neverland at my door.
“Sir...you have a visitor.”
I don't need to ask Neverland who it is because I already know who it is. Remus had been blowing up my cellphone since I left him at the Gala. He was upset about it. He felt played. He was writing me paragraphs of things.
“Send him in.”
I wasn't going to avoid this much longer.
Neverland walks Remus into my office. He has on this European cut gray suit and his expensive B&R shades. He demands an attention when he walks into the room that he never had when Alexander was alive. He'd always been in Alexander's shadow but something had changed about Remus. I guess everything changes when you kill a man.
Neverland leaves us in the room and Remus sits across from me, slowly takes off his shades and puts them on the table. The tension is thick enough to cut a knife.
“You first,” I welcome him to speak seeing how this harsh eyes are cutting right into me.
Remus talks slow but confrontational, “I feel embarrassed. I know that when Alexander was alive I didn't compare with him. He was the older brother. He was going to inherit the family's money and he was the heir to the Bautista line. I understood when you overlooked me for Alexander. That made sense. This thing you're doing now. It doesn't make sense. Do you understand...how embarrassing it is when your date leaves you at a party with some low budget model?”
“I was never yours Remus,” I admit, “Not yours to be pissed about and definitely not fuckin' yours to claim.”
“FUCK THAT!”
Remus gets violently mad when he screams that out and throws everything on my desk on the floor. He is so mad that there are veins popping out from his neck. He is screaming at the top of his lungs. I look at him curiously.
Neverland runs into the room when the chaos occurs and she sees Remus standing over my desk the way that he is.
“Sir is everything ok?” Neverland asks.
“It takes a lot more than that to scare me,” I tell Neverland, “Everything is fine. Remus got that off his chest. He's going to sit down and settle down. Isn't that right Remus?”
Remus look at me. I can tell he's still upset. He's still emotional but he does settle down when he sees he's not going to get any sort of rise out of me by going crazy like that. He sits back in his chair and catches his breath. Neverland leaves the room.
I lean over at the desk, “Are you...in love with me Remus?”
“Yes.”
Remus doesn't hesitate. He doesn't need to think about it.
“That's unfortunate.”
“How can you fucking say that?” he asks me.
“It lead you to do some silly things?” I explain, “Like killing Alexander.”
Remus looks at me. He doesn't expect me to know. He is honestly surprised.
“The pretty boy told you,” Remus says.
“Yes, but you aren't going to hurt him or his family,” I explain to Remus, “They are under my protection. And I am going to have my lawyer tip off the detectives of your involvement. You have a matter of time. Revenge at this point isn't an option. You have two options. You can give yourself in. Or you can run for it...leave the country.”
Remus sits there for a minute.
“You'd choose that boy over me?” he asks.
“You were never a choice to me Remus,” I tell him honestly.
“You're not scared of me,” he says shaking his head, “You know I'm a killer but you're not afraid.”
“No. Other things make me afraid but not this,” I explain.
Remus shakes his head, “You can't have the pieces. If I go to jail the Primarose will never walk the runway.”
My eyes squint at Remus, “Is that a threat? Remus are you sure you want to make an emotional decision right now?
Remus shakes his head, “Me? Making emotional decisions? You're the one who is making an emotional decision. Think about it. You wanted Alexander dead. Whether you want to admit it or not---he stood in the way of our dream.”
“Our dream?”
“Him and my sister wanted to cheap down our brand,” Remus continues, “Since they've been gone look what the two of us have been able to accomplish. The Prima Rose will be a showstopper. B&R will take it's place among fashion legend. You'll live forever Diamonte. That's what you want. You don't want this model. He can't give you anything that I can give you. He can't give you the Prima Rose.”
“Maybe...it's not all about the business.”
“Bullshit. It is all about the business and we both know that. Be with me. Keep him around as a play thing but be with me.”
He puts something on the table. I look at it at that moment and I'm confused as fuck. I just look at what Remus has on the table and it's a small box. Is this happening right now?
“Is that...”
“15 carat diamond ring. I was going to wait until you got the model out of your system but clearly you're into him.”
“Why the fuck would I marry you?” I ask him, “I can get any seamstress to make my designs.”
“But no one but me can execute it the way you need it,” he explains, “And on top of that my father is dying and in the next month I stand to inherit 30 million dollars. All 30 million dollars will be invested into B&R and our future together. Imagine what we can do with that? Imagine what we can build with that?”
I swallow my spit. I had assumed Remus's sister would inherit the Bautista fortune after Alexander. The fact that it was going to Remus blew my mind. The fact he was willing to put everything into this was crazy.
“What if I have feelings for Asher?” I ask Remus.
“Keep him around. Fuck him if you'd like. You'll get tired of him soon enough. I'm sure. I am in love with you but I'm not a fool. You and I getting married won't be about love. It's a business proposition. We've gotten my family out of the way. So I'm not going to get on my knees. I'm not going to serenade you or take you on horse drawn carriage. I'm going to give you that ring and you're going to marry me. Because I know you Asher and your dreams are everything. Let me be your dream maker.”
I look at the ring.
My heart races. I think about Asher but I can't think about him too long. This was my future.
I slide the ring on my finger.
“I accept.”
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