Secret Scion

This afternoon, Layla Knight visited Asher Crawford out of the blue-she missed him since it had been a while since she saw him.

"How is Dove Yaeger faring on your end?" he asked as they strolled through the courtyard side- by-side, looking just like a couple.

It just so happened that Asher, after considering at length about Dove's request for a job, asked Layla to help out. She headed a headhunter company, and therefore did not have any issue arranging a position for Dove. Still, Asher was worried if she was the right person for the job given her temperament.

"She's doing quite well. I was at first worried about her too, but I noticed after talking to her over the last few days that she must have read about this line of work. She lacks experience, but her theories and knowledge are solid a little work, and she'll be an extraordinary head huntress." Then, musing to herself for a moment, she asked, "So, what's the story there? I have this feeling that she's interested in you."

"Please. We're just friends," Asher said.

"Just friends?" Layla was clearly doubtful. "Really? Care to explain why she keeps asking me about your relationship history, then?"

"Griffin Quinn likes her."

"Ah, so you don't want him to find out that she actually has her eyes on you instead?"

Asher frowned at Layla then. "You like to gossip too?"

Layla pouted, but it was obvious that she was right.

She studied Asher seriously then, but simply could not find anything that set him apart from other men.

Then, why on earth would the finest ladies always fall for him?

Frowning, she said, "Old Harlow will be releasing Griffin soon enough... He may have been let off easy for wrecking Jeremiah Macquoid's car by just being grounded for a month, but he's

probably going straight to Jeremiah when he gets out."

Asher knew Griffin too well, and he certainly agreed the man was inevitably going to harass Jeremiah since he was that much of a vengeful person.

An autumn breeze happened to billow just then-it was still noon, but it was somehow chilly.

Layla and Asher had been strolling along the pedestrian walkway after they stepped out of the Crawford Mansion, with yellowed leaves fluttering about. Still, Asher bemoaned that the one with him was Layla it would be a very special feeling to have a lover with him at this very moment. At the same time, Layla seemed to remember something else. Hesitating for moments, she then asked in hesitation, "Have you heard about this group called the Gentlemen prowling around Alexandrius?"

"The Gentlemen?" Asher did a double take.

Layla nodded. "They popped up recently, and apparently they have more than fifty members, all of whom are children of upper-middle or middle class families."

Something clicked in Asher's head then, and he asked, "If my hunch is right... Rose Schmidt is the leader, isn't she?"

Earlier, Asher already heard from Griffin that Rose had been quietly gathering information about various upper-middle or middle class families. Now that the Gentlemen had appeared out of nowhere, Asher was sure that no one other than her would have the influence to gather those condescending rich kids.

"Well, it has to be her. The leader hasn't come to light yet, but based on what I know, Savannah Anderson happens to be one of the executives. It's public knowledge that she's one of Rose's people, and it's almost obvious that Rose is their boss."

Layla twiddled her hair out of habit, and could not help saying worriedly, "And according to one

of their members, the first agenda after their founding is to kill you."

A large gust of wind kicked up just then, and one usually could not keep their eyes open whenever the winds of Alexandrius were in the air.

However, Asher simply narrowed his eyes as he kept walking. "The Schmidts wanted me dead

two years ago, but I lived. Hell, my head is still on my shoulders, so let them come and take it if they can."

Layla felt various emotions right then, but despite getting upset with Asher from time to time, she knew what mattered when it came to the wellbeing of the people around her. "My family won't stand by and watch if they come after you."

Asher could not help turning toward her at her words, his lips curling up in a grin. "Never knew that you'd actually worry about me, dear cousin."

For some reason, Layla somehow felt a little guilty from his stare and flushed attractively- Asher, who was used to being in the presence of beautiful women, could not resist holding his stare. That was when Asher's phone rang. Whipping out to see that it was Griffin, he chuckled, "Guess someone's getting out early."

***

Regardless of the season, or if it was day or night, there would always be guests already sitting around several tables of the Riverside Tavern, and almost all of them would be rich kids.

As Asher and Layla walked in, side-by-side, everyone turned to stare at them with different looks: wariness, warmth, and even challenging.

In one of the private rooms, Griffin had already started drinking since he could not wait. Still, he rose to his feet and smiled at Asher and Layla when they came in. "Boss! You guys are late- we've already started drinking."

That was when Asher noticed that Dove Yaeger was sitting with Griffin. He frowned, while Layla read his mind and asked with a smile, "Not feeling like working today, Dove?"

Dove simply smiled. "Miss Knight, I'm on break today-did that slip your mind?"

Layla remembered then that Dove was not on duty, just as Griffin beckoned them enthusiastically. "Come, sit. It's been a while since we came out to drink together, so let's make sure we get drunk."

Frankly speaking, it was an awkward scene-Griffin did not mention that Dove was present when he called, and Asher would never have come if he knew.

As they drank, Dove passed Asher some food while telling him, "You should eat something. Alcohol is especially harmful for the liver if consumed alone."

Though Griffin was usually nonchalant, there were times when he paid extra attention to details. Now, he wondered... Why would Dove be so attentive toward Asher, and not himself?

In turn, he used the corner of his eye to observe Dove, realizing then that she was focused entirely on Asher. Even an idiot could tell what was happening, just as Griffin realized that Dove had always been interested in Asher.

His mood promptly falling rock-bottom, Griffin thought to himself that he would have been furious if it were anyone else. Even so, Asher had always been his brother from another mother, and he was not about to change that over a woman.

"Get us some plates in here, garcon!" he suddenly bellowed.

Layla was quick enough to notice Griffin's irritation right then, and she promptly nudged Asher with her elbow.

In truth, Asher noticed that Griffin was behaving differently as well, and he told him, "Come on, Fatty. Let's stay sober for the night since old Harlow just let you out. We'll drink ourselves silly some other day."

Dove nodded. "He's right, Griffin. It won't do if you get drunk, especially if you're drinking for pleasure."

Griffin studied her thoughtfully, but said, "Don't worry, boss. I know how much better you are at drinking, and it's fine if I get drunk."

Griffin's words were puzzling, so Dove simply said, "It won't do if you get drunk too."

"You actually give a damn about me?" Griffin asked, his eyes still fixed on Dove.

She evaded his gaze almost by instinct, while muttering, "I do... We're friends, aren't we?"

Griffin promptly turned toward the doorway and bellowed, "Are you deaf, garcon?! Get us some plates!"

"Yes, of course, Mr. Quinn," the waiter on duty promptly said nervously.

That was when a rush of footsteps could be heard outside as a large group of people rushed along the walkway, and someone asked, "Where's Asher Crawford?"

"In that private room, sir."

"We have orders from above-from now onward, Asher Crawford must not be present at any location that we, the Gentlemen, set foot upon. Get him out of there right now, or this place will go out of business!"

"Are you serious, sir? Chasing Mr. Crawford out of the premises?!" the waiter exclaimed in shock. "What, are you saying that you're going to disobey a direct order?" the man said. "Fine, your bar is going to go out of business now!"

It just so happened that Asher had sensed hostility from other guests when he entered the Lakeside Tavern, but it surprised him that they would go that far. Feeling a pang of indignation, he chugged the glass of beer in front of him.

At the same time, Griffin snarled, "Fuck! Let's see who it is... They are really full of themselves!" "Griffin..." Layla said, but her attempt to stop him was too late.

Asher stepped out as well, and saw over a dozen young men and women, some of whom appeared familiar to him, but he could not quite put a finger on where he had met them before. On the other hand, Griffin was holding a wine bottle as he snapped, "So it's you pipsqueaks! Who are your bosses? How dare you motherfuckers upset my boss here?! Fuck off before I get upset, or don't blame me for getting hostile!"