I'm Afraid I Won't Be Able to Leave

Chapter 43: Chapter 43: She’s Disgusted with My Car?

Leah Sinclair had a bad feeling, and sure enough, the moment she got home, before she could even turn on the lights, Asher Keating took her once in the entryway. Then came the sofa, the bathroom, the bed, and in front of the floor-to-ceiling window.

Asher Keating had said five times, and five times it was—once in each spot, not one less. Leah Sinclair had already begged for mercy in the bathroom, but he didn’t stop. After the final round, he even commented, ”You know, I feel like I might have said too few.”

Leah Sinclair wanted to cry but had no tears left. ’It’s not too few, not at all! It’s only been a few days. Is he calculating this based on one a day? A five-day business trip means five times when he gets back.’

She had wanted to ask Asher Keating about him coming to Aevon, but then she figured he probably wouldn’t tell her anyway. Given their relationship, Asher Keating had no obligation to explain anything to her. Plus, she was just too exhausted and ended up falling asleep while he was helping her clean up.

Asher Keating carried her back to bed, tucked her in, and went out for a drink of water, feeling thirsty as he smoked. When he turned on the living room lights, he saw the bouquet of flowers he had given her sitting quietly on the dining table.

He walked over and touched a petal. Leah Sinclair had taken good care of the flowers. There was even a sunflower. A faint smile touched his lips. After finishing his water, he went back to bed and held her as he fell asleep.

The next day, when it was time for work, Asher Keating told her to ride with him. Leah Sinclair didn’t dare take his car and insisted on going by herself. Asher Keating clicked his tongue and forcefully pulled her into the car.

”Then just drop me off at the intersection ahead,” Leah Sinclair said resignedly after she settled in.

”Isn’t taking the car better than you squeezing onto the subway?”

”I’m just worried someone might see us, you know?”

”What, you’re afraid of being seen?”

”Aren’t you afraid?”

”Do I have any reason to be?”

Asher Keating wondered if there was something wrong with Leah Sinclair’s brain. Although he’d never taken the subway himself, he had seen it on the news.

Riverfall was the most prosperous coastal metropolis, and its subway during the morning and evening rush hours was absolutely insane. Someone had once complained that they’d bought a fried dough stick, only to find that in the crush of the crowd, someone had taken a bite out of it without them even noticing.

’I’m going to the company anyway,’ he thought. ’Giving her a ride saves her from the subway crush. And I’m getting attitude for it?’

Leah Sinclair thought about it and figured he was right. ’He’s the moneybags, what the hell does he have to be afraid of?’ She decided to ignore him and turned to Sean Yates. ”Assistant Yates, I just made lunch. The dishes are keeping warm in the steamer, and the rice is in the cooker. I prepared enough for you and Third Bro. It should be enough, but if it’s not, just let me know, and I’ll make more tomorrow.”

Sean Yates was pleasantly surprised. ”There’s some for me, too?”

”Of course,” Leah Sinclair said as if it were the most natural thing in the world. ”It’s just that I’ll have to trouble you to go pick it up.”

”No trouble, no trouble at all.”

Only then did Asher Keating realize what she had been busy with after waking up nearly an hour earlier than usual. The corners of his mouth curved up. ”Why go through all that trouble? Sean Yates would have arranged for lunch.”

”You’re going to be drinking for a long time. Food from outside is never as easy on the stomach as a home-cooked meal.”

When they were one intersection away from the company, Leah Sinclair told him to stop the car. She looked back and forth several times to make sure there was no one she knew, then quickly got out and bolted. The SLAM of the car door made both Asher Keating and Sean Yates jump.

”Just how much does she despise my car?” Asher Keating finally asked after a moment.

Sean Yates chuckled. ”Miss Sinclair probably just doesn’t want to cause you any trouble, sir. After all, you’ve only just arrived.”

”She’s been ’troubling’ me for a long time now. Have I ever complained?”

Although Asher Keating said that, Sean Yates could clearly tell he was in a good mood. He just smiled and didn’t reply. He felt that ever since Leah Sinclair came into the picture, Asher Keating’s mood had improved considerably, which wasn’t a bad thing at all.

For the next half-month or so, Asher Keating was constantly drinking. Every time he came home after a night of it, Leah Sinclair would be waiting to make him a cup of honey water and watch him finish it.

A few times, it was so late that she had fallen asleep waiting on the sofa. She would wake up when Asher Keating carried her back to the bedroom. Asher told her several times not to wait up, but she never listened, so he eventually let her be.

After all, the feeling of coming home to someone waiting for you was something special.

During this time, Leah Sinclair got her period. On the day it started, she was in so much pain she felt like she was dying. In the afternoon, Mr. Langdon saw that she really wasn’t well and told her to take the rest of the day off and go home to rest.

It was nearly midnight when Asher Keating came home from drinking. He saw her face was deathly pale, and frowning, he felt her forehead, which was covered in a layer of sweat. He quickly woke her up, wanting to take her to the hospital.

Leah Sinclair mumbled that it was fine and she’d be better after tonight. Asher Keating got a little angry. ”What do you mean you’ll be better after tonight? What if it’s appendicitis with this much pain? Get up, now.”

Leah Sinclair grabbed his hand, her face flushed as she said in a low voice, ”It’s not appendicitis... I got my period.”

Asher Keating froze for a moment. He had no idea a girl’s period could be so painful. He only gave up on the idea of the hospital after confirming with Leah Sinclair several times that it wasn’t necessary.

After taking a shower, he went back and held her, awkwardly rubbing her stomach with one large hand and asking if it felt any better.

It didn’t really help that much, but the warmth from Asher Keating’s palm seemed to travel from her stomach straight to her heart. She buried her head and gave a soft ”mhm.”

As Asher Keating kept rubbing, he ended up getting aroused. Looking at the woman in his arms, he got up and took another cold shower. Leah Sinclair sensed it and didn’t dare let him continue, quickly pretending she wasn’t in pain anymore.

One day, Ethan Shaw, who had disappeared for a month on a road trip to The Highlands with Riley Sterling and a few others, showed up in Asher Keating’s office.

He arrived just as Sean Yates brought in lunch. ”Whoa,” Ethan Shaw exclaimed, grabbing a shrimp with his bare hands and popping it in his mouth. ”Whoa, Third Bro, you’ve been hiding the good stuff and eating it all by yourself?”

Sean Yates quickly handed over his own portion. Ethan Shaw didn’t stand on ceremony. ”Sean Yates, I’m taking this meal. Sorry, but you’ll have to make do with the cafeteria.”

Sean Yates quickly said he wouldn’t dare presume, but he felt a little resentful. Today’s dishes looked particularly appetizing. He had been eating Leah Sinclair’s lunches every day for a while now and felt like he had even gained some weight.

”This flavor... Leah Sinclair made this, right?” Ethan Shaw said, his words muffled as he shoveled rice into his mouth.

”Mhm.”

Lately, Asher Keating also felt his palate had become pickier. He didn’t know why. The places he went always served high-quality food, yet he found himself constantly thinking about the soft, slow-cooked congee in the morning and the mystery lunch he would have in the afternoon.

”Not bad. So she sends this to you every day?”

”Sean Yates picks it up. She has to work.”

Asher Keating took a sip of the soup first. Today’s soup was lotus root and pork rib. Leah Sinclair had started simmering it the night before. The lotus root was tender, and the pork ribs were stewed until they were so soft they practically melted in his mouth. Even though he wasn’t a big fan of lotus root, he couldn’t help but eat a piece.

”Tsk tsk. By the way, where does she work? What kind of job? Why not just have her quit? I’d be willing to pay her a monthly food stipend to eat her cooking every day. Ah! This is so good,” Ethan Shaw sighed in satisfaction after a mouthful of soup.

”Eighteenth floor. If you want to eat, go home and have your family’s housekeeper make it for you,” Asher Keating said, shooting him a look.

”COUGH, COUGH! What? Third Bro, you can’t be serious. You’re keeping your mistress right inside your own company?” Ethan Shaw choked and started coughing.