Chapter 9

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Asher's POV

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“A custom suit would be 10k,” the seamstress says.

I am at Madame Roussands. She's one of the top suit makers in Los Angeles. I was referred to her by this guy I used to mess with. Supposedly I was going to get a discount. This didn't seem anything like a discount.

“Good lord,” Sebastian tells me.

I know I shouldn't have brought him but I needed support.

“Listen I know Alex,” I tell the seamstress, “He told me you would hook me up with an excellent discount.”

“That is a discount. 40% off,” the seamstress says.

Sebastian and I look at each other. The old lady has a stone faced. Her son is standing behind her. He looks at me and he's crossing his arms at that moment and seems to be laughing at the fact that we are shocked by this.

I look over at Sebastian, “You think I should get it for Diamonte's birthday?”

Diamonte's birthday is this weekend. He'd been letting me and my family stay with him for almost a month now. His big fashion show as coming up and he just didn't have the time to focus on me. He's been spending all of his time at the office. I'd been saving up and doing odd jobs hoping to get something to repay his kindness.

“Does this suit come come with free orgasms?” Sebastian asks me.

“No...Sebastian, I'm pretty sure I'll want to rip it off of him when I see him in it though,” I laugh, “Hell maybe if I'm lucky he might leave the suit on. That's what I call fucking in style.”

I laugh but Sebastian isn't laughing with me.

“You still haven't gotten any from him have you?”

“That's none of your business,” I say before turning to the seamstress, “Look...can you do it for 5k down and I give you the other 5k when the suit is done.”

“I need all the money now,” the seamstress says.

“I don't have all of that money right now,” I explain.

“Too bad. Come again.”

I don't have time to argue with this lady. She isn't going to bullshit with me. I find myself walking out of the shop feeling down. I'd been saving up to do something special for Diamonte. We were growing distant even though we were living in the same house and that was something that I didn't want. I wanted to ask him out again. I wanted him to wear a nice suit. I wanted things to be special.

“Listen...Men's wearhouse has a nice suit you can buy him,” Sebastian suggests putting an arm on my shoulder, “They got some nice blue ones. Blue to match your balls.”

He laughs at that moment.

I push Sebastian off of me.

“Can you stop playing?” I say shaking my head annoyed at my best friend, “There is a crazy ass man named Remus out there remember. If it wasn't for Diamonte I'd be dead right now.”

Sebastian seems to be struggling with this, “Didn't Diamonte say that Remus should be in jail by now? Has he updated you on it?”

“No...he says his lawyer is still waiting.”

“Waiting for what?” Sebastian asks.

To be honest I didn't know the answer to his question. I'd asked Diamonte several times when charges would be pressed on Remus. He never gave me an answer. He was always too busy to really talk about it. He was always too busy to talk much about anything lately. That's why I think it's so important for me to show him that I can afford things with him.

“It's just complicated...justice system stuff,” I respond.

“In other words you have no fucking idea.”

“I have no fucking idea,” I admit.

Sebastian shakes his head at that moment, “I am all for you and your stone faced Shade King. But honestly do you think that maybe he might just see you as a friend. It's been a month the two of you don't flirt, you don't sleep together, he barely is at the house since we moved in. Where could he be spending this time.”

“He works late and just goes to the hotel across the street.”

“You sound like you should be cast for the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills son,” he sighs grunting, “You can't be that naive. There are dead pimps rolling in their graves right now. What have you become?”

I look at Sebastian, “Man what are you talking about.”

“Do I need to spell it out. He's F.U.C.K.I.N.G someone else. Probably found him some rich dick. That's how people like Diamonte work. You can't really think he's all that into you can you.”

“Actually I do. I think it's Fate...”

Sebastian shakes his head, “Fate? I don't know her. That's one female that you fucked didn't tell me that. Maybe you should take Fate, Hope and Chastity, have a threesome so you can stop sweating Diamonte Rose.”

“You don't get it.”

Sebastian used to get it at a point but right now he's looking at me as though he doesn't get it. For a minute I wonder if he might be right. What if I am putting too much into Diamonte? What if this whole idea of fate was just bullshit.

My heart is racing at that moment. I didn't really think about at that. I just assumed that Diamonte was focused on work and that he just didn't have time for me. Fashion week was coming up. He'd be presenting his first individual line without Alexander's name attached to it.

As I'm standing outside of the door of the seamstress thinking about this and worrying about it, I ask God for a sign.

Just at that moment the door opens and out comes the Seamstress's son.

“Excuse me...”

“Yeah?”

The kid has to be no older than 15. He has this big playdough eyes. Sebastian looks him up and down as though he's annoyed. Sebastian wasn't good with really being around guys that weren't attractive and this boy's acne was a serious issue. Sebastian crosses his arms like a mean girl and rolls his eyes.

“Can we go?” Sebastian rudely asks.

The boy stops us again, “I overheard you guys saying that you needed a suit made. You said the name Diamonte. You couldn't be talking about Diamonte Rose right?”

Sebastian and I look at each other. Diamonte was a big name in the fashion world but people outside of the fashion world didn't really know who he is.

“Yeah...why you ask?” I wonder.

The boy shrugs, “Oh my god. This is huge. Listen my name is Troy...”

“Listen...your jailbait maybe you should try guys your own age,” Sebastian suggests.

The boy looks confused for a second but then all of a sudden says, “I'm not...gay. I'm a designer. I was wondering that. I don't know. If you let me make that suit for Diamonte Rose--- I'll do it for free.”

Sebastian looks at him suspiciously, “Fuck for?”

“This is huge. If he likes a suit that I make this could really propel me forward in the fashion world,” the youngin' says, “I can really show my skills.”

“How do we know you are going to do a good job?” I ask.

“This is my one shot,” Troy explains to me, “I've learned everything from my mother and I'm not going to fuck this up. Trust me...this will be better than any $10,000 dollar suit.”

Diamonte's POV

“Just because you are DRESSED TO KILL does not mean you should be strutting like the Walking Dead,” I scream out at the models coming down the runway.

The model fitting for fashion week is underway. It's my birthday and most people wouldn't work on their birthday. The problem with that is that I wasn't attempting to be most people. I didn't want most people's careers or most people's income. If you wanted to be above “most people” you had to put in work that “most people” wouldn't do. That included working on my birthday. I can celebrate my birthday when I'm a fucking legend as far as I was concerned.

I'm on the panel with a few assistants as one after another girls walk the runway. Remus is sitting next to me. He has a hand on close to me. I watch as he leans closer to me on the bench.

“Next! Too skinny.”

“Next! Ass too big.”

“NEXT! I don't like the walk.”

“I have more girls you can choose from,” the modeling agent states, “The next girls coming in are the top models. The ones before this were just warm up. I promise you you'll be happy with the next girls...”

“These clothes are made for goddesses,” Remus tells the modeling agent, “You don't want to make Diamonte Rose upset do you?”

“Of course not sir,” the agent says.

“Good. Well then put oil on the runway and show me what your girls can really do,” Remus explains.

I turn to Remus. For a minute I'm shocked. This is something that I would have come up with. Remus is actually turning me on by stepping in like this.

“Oil?” The agent says.

I can see the agent's throat swallow a huge wad of spit. Remus looks over at me. Underneath the table I can feel his hand rubbing up my knee. For some reason Remus taking charged is turning me on and him rubbing on the upper part of my knee is straight sending me over the fucking edge. What THE fuck was going on here.

“I only want the best for Diamonte. In other words I won't take any model how can't walk a runway that is covered in oil.”

The model agent is sweating bullets. I watch as he disappears in the next moment in an attempt to find oil.

“I love it when you take charge,” I whisper to him.

He licks his lips at that moment in a sexy way, “My brother wasn't ambitious. He didn't want to see you win. I'll never make the same mistakes as him.”

A part of me has to admit that I'm attracted to Remus. I've always been attracted to Remus in a way that I was never attracted to his brother. Now that Remus was here he was giving me an offer that I couldn't refuse.

Remus leans over and kisses on my neck surprising me for a minute. A couple of the designers in the company stare at us. They probably are suspicious as fuck and they have every right to be. Yes...Remus did kill Alexander. Yes...I did know about it. Yes...I did accept his proposal to marry. I was doing something shady and I didn't give a fuck what they thought about me.

There was someone else though...there was someone else that I just couldn't stop giving a fuck about.

“Sir...” Neverland states.

“Wait,” I hold a finger to Neerland.

She has a way of interrupting me when Remus is around. He's not around all the time but I know rumors are going around in the company that something is happening between the two of us. Remus has gone from nibbling my neck to holding my hand. He's pulled my chair close to him as the first model starts at the end of an oil drenched runway.

I signal the first model down the runway. The model makes it only halfway down the runway before she falls, busting her ass, slipping into a split and letting out the most eerie scream I'd ever heard in her life.

I watch as a couple guys come to drag her off the stage.

Remus gives the most evil look to the model agent, “Next.”

As the next model prepares to walk I look over at Neverland, “What the hell do you want?”

“You have some calls sir.”

“Can't you see I'm in the middle of business?” I ask.

“Go ahead babe...” Remus explains just as the next model falls down the runway sliding like a bowling ball, “I can take care of the model search until you get back.”

He's being assertive. He's being ambitious. For the past month Remus has been doing everything that I wanted him to do. This was everything that I needed. He was rich, he was beautiful, he was creative and his dream was my success. I'd found everything that I dreamed of having.

Right?

“Fine,” I say looking over at Neverland, “Who is it?”

“It's Asher.”

Just at that moment Remus isn't so comfortable with me picking up the phone. He looks over at where Neverland is standing.

“Asher needs to understand that Diamonte has actual business to attend to and doesn't have the time to entertain his bullshit,” Remus explains.

“Tell him...I'm a little busy,” I tell Neverland agreeing with Remus.

Remus sits back in the chair. I can tell he's uncomfortable even though he doesn't say anything. Model after model walks down the runway and model after model busts their ass. Paramedics are being called and assistants are dragging 6 foot models off of the runway by their heels. None of these models are making the cut and I'm a second away from cancelling this whole event and working with a nother modeling agency. It's a waste of time. My mind wanders into thinking about what Asher wants.

“You're not even paying attention,” Remus states.

He's been watching me. Since Neverland told me that Asher called I'd been out of the zone. I'd just been thinking about him.

“Nothing to pay attention to,” I make an excuse, “We need different models. None of these girls make the cut. I should head home. Call it a day. It's getting late.”

“You mean head home to see Asher?” Remus asks me.

I shake my head, “Don't be ridiculous. I have a ton of work to do. I don't have the time for that.”

Remus doesn't believe me. Truth is that I do have a ton of work that I have at home to do. I still have to book the location for the Fashion show and I needed to find the right spot. My assistants narrowed it down to about 10 locations that they wanted me to vet. The thing was...Asher was at my house as well.

“He called to tell you happy birthday,” Remus explains, “He doesn't understand that men like us don't give a fuck about our birthdays. Men like us work through our birthdays. Right?”

I nod. Remus was right. That's how I feel. That's how I felt...except when it came to Asher.

Regardless I nod, “Yeah ok.”

I get up from the chair and start towards the room. Neverland hands my coat and I put it on. Remus is standing right next to me and it's clear he isn't done with this conversation. It's clear that he isn't only assertive but a little too pushy as well.

“Maybe it's time he left the house,” Remus suggests, “I told you I wouldn't try to hurt him or get anyone to hurt him again. I won't. We have an agreement.”

“So if you don't want to hurt him or his family why do you care if he's in the house?” I ask.

“Because you like him more than you should,” Remus acknowledges.

“Bullshit.”

“I'm not stupid,” Remus states, “I told him. You can fuck him all you like. You can have him fuck you if you'd like. Love is not a part of our agreement. If you want my designs or i you want my money, then you won't fall in love with him.”

I look over at Remus and give him a hard look.

I walk close to him. Inches away from his face.

“Listen carefully. I decide what I want to do with him. You don't. Look around you. Everything you see---it's mine. And when we get married---it'll be mine as well. I like when you are bossy. I admit it turns me on. But don't feel yourself. No one gets bossy when it comes to me.”

Remus nods. He takes a step back.

“I undersand.”

“Good. Find me a model. I'm heading home,” I respond putting my coat on and not paying attention to this.

A part of me is worried that Remus may be a problem. He was starting to feel himself a little too much in our agreement already.

I am back at the apartment by nighttime. I walk into the apartment and it's actually quiet. That is rare. Usually Asher's mother is reciting her scriptures or his father is going through a drug withdrawal somewhere while his best friend Sebastian is recording some slutty ass snapchat video. None of that is going on though. Everything is super quiet and for a minute I think I'm home alone.

As I walk into the house though I realize that isn't the case. There are dim candles on the carpet. At first it think they are directly on the carpet but they are in small plates so that they don't spill over.

The carpets form a pathway.

What the fuck was this?

“Hello?” I ask.

There is no answer. I follow the pathway of lit candles into the living room. There are more candles and the path that I'm walking on now has rose pedals all over the carpet. The beautiful rose pedals crunch underneath my feet.

The path leads me into the dining room. The dining room has been arranged in the most beautiful way I've ever seen it before. Alexander was too busy fucking all of his young prostitutes to ever do something like this for me.

There is a sign on the chair of the dining room. It reads: Sit here.

I take off my coat and hang it on the back of the chair before sitting down in the chair. When I sit down on the chair I see a bottle of wine that is chilled and freshly popped. It seems like a really decent bottle of wine.

A label on the wine says: Pour me.

“Asher...” I start off.

Just at that moment music is playing. That is when I see him walk into the room and my mouth almost drops. Asher has his hands in front of him. He is shirtless. Matter of fact he doesn't even have any pants on. Asher doesn't have anything on!

“Happy birthday...” he says.

He has a gift in his hands. It's a box. It's covering the front side of him blocking off his dick but I know that Asher is completely naked behind the box. His body is shining with oil. As he walks his huge muscles shake. The music in the background is slow, romantic and sends a shiver down my spine.

With every step that Asher takes towards me I can feel my heart dropping a little bit.

“Asher what are you doing?”

“I'm in my birthday suit giving you your birthday present---what's it look like,” he states

I shake my head at that moment, “Asher I don't do birthdays.”

Asher shrugs, “I don't care. Open your gift.”

I can't help but to look at him as he is talking about the gift. The small patch of pubic hair that I can see and the happy trail leading behind the box is something that is blowing my mind. When I remove the box out of his hand Asher is standing in front of me in all his glory. My mouth gets wet when I see his dick, shining by candle light inches away from me. It's taking all of me not to grab that long piece of meat of his.

“Is the gift the box or you?” I ask raising an eyebrow.

“Listen...you already opened me up,” He nods.

That's when he does something that makes me so uncomfortable. He leans over to me and he kisses me. It isn't a sexy, “I wanna fuck the shit out of you” right now kiss. This kiss is a “You mean a lot to me” kiss. It sends a warm shiver down my spine. I don't know how to react to it.

So all I whisper is, “Fuck.”

“Open it up,” he says.

I unwrap the gift in front of Asher. I unfold it and realize that it is a suit. It is tailor made. There are embellishments across the collar that are amazing. I'd never seen the details in a suit to be so unique before. I look at the suit and all of a sudden I feel something. It's something deeper than anything I've felt before.

“Well...” is what comes out of my mouth.

“Well? Well what?” he asks, “Do you like it? Do you want to try it on?”

It's beautiful. The suit is the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen in my life. It's even more beautiful than the Prima Rose gown. The suit has embellishments are hand sewn with no appliques. It is cool wool, two-toned pattern, lapel collar, single breasted, 2 buttons, fully lined with a rear slit. The sewn on emblishments start from the lapel and make its way down one sleeve reminiscent of an older time and aesthetic.

I want to cry. I'm so happy. I look up at him.

He's looking down at me. This man isn't just naked out of his clothes. It's more than that. Asher is completely nude in front of me. He has barred his entire soul.

“It's hot.”

“Hot?”

“Yeah. It's hot,” I tell him at that moment.

Asher raises an eyebrow, “Why do I feel like you are about to say a but...”

I stare at him. I take a deep breath.

“I have something to tell you.”

“What?”

“I can't accept this,” I explain to him at that moment.

Asher is confused, “Why the hell can't you accept this? It's your birthday. I'm doing this because I care about you. I'm feeling some...deep shit for you...”

“And that's the problem...” I explain.

Asher stops.

“Excuse me?” he asks.

“I'd like to have you in my life,” I explain to him, “I want to be around you. Hell I even want to go upstairs and make have the best sex of my life.”

“So why don't you?”

“Because it'll mean something more to both of us than it should,” I explain to him, “I can't fall in love. I just...can't put myself out there like that. So I decided I'm taking another offer.”

I've just broken this man. It's exactly what I feared. He's just staring at me. He is just staring with this completely blank face.

“What offer...” he asks.

“I'm marrying Remus.”

There is silence at that moment. I don't think it clicks to Asher. I don't think it really makes sense to him at that moment. At that moment he is just lost and confused and I feel like shit. I care about this boy but I can't put him in front of myself. I can't put my career and my dreams on hold because of my feelings for him. I've worked too hard to get to where I was and right now Remus was offering me everything that I needed to build my empire into what it had to be.

I couldn't let love get in the way of that.

Love...

Is that what this was?

“Fine.”

“Fine?”

Just at that moment Asher grabs the suit off the table. I don't know what he's doing when he grabs it. It isn't until he starts heading into the backyard that I watch him. I watch him go up to the grill area. He grabs the lighter fluid.

“Asher what the hell are you doing!”

He's not crying. He isn't showing any sort of emotion like that. Asher just looks...mad as hell. Asher takes the lighter fluid and throws it all over this beautiful piece of art. MY FUCKING MOUTH DROPS and I let out the biggest scream in my life.

That suit was a work of art and now it is on my back patio drenched in lighter fluid!

“You said it was hot...well it is. It's so hot it's on fire...”

With that Asher takes a match and lights the fucking suit on fire. I stand there watching the suit burn as Asher turns and walks out of my life...

to read the next chapter go to www.crushedcrown.com