Chapter 15: Asher gets greedy.

Chapter 15: Asher gets greedy.

Pepper stayed inside her room for the better part of the evening after Starr left her room. She was still trying to pull herself together after the shock she had experienced today. 

The fake news of Gramps' death brought up buried feelings of years ago when she was just a little girl of ten and she had just been informed of her parents' death.

She even thought about her dead dog, Millie, who died two years later when she was twelve years old. She never agreed to get another dog after that.

Grief affects Pepper differently, she buries herself in it until she hits rock bottom.

So she developed a mechanism to keep people as far away from her as possible. The less people she cared about, the lesser possiblity of getting hurt. It has worked so far for her.

Pepper turned around when she heard her laptop beep again. It was Gigi, it was the third time she was calling her.

"Take a hint, Gigi…I don't want to talk to you!" Pepper threw a pillow at the laptop.

She covered her face with her blanket and she closed her eyes briefly.

Five minutes later, someone barged into the room and pulled the blanket away from her. She was ready to yell at Asher but when she opened her eyes, Gigi was standing there holding her slippers.

"Gigi!" Pepper sat upright immediately.

"What are you doing here? I only gave you that key in case of an emergency, you know" 

Gigi came closer with the menacing weapon she was holding. She pointed the slippers at Pepper.

"Tsk! Have you gone mad, Calliope Hart? How dare you refuse to pick my calls?" The closer the older woman came, the more Pepper moved away from her.

"I had a lot on my mind and I needed space" Pepper answered truthfully. She was now at the other end of the bed, away from Gigi's reach.

"Space? You need space for what exactly. You can have all the space you need when we krrh" Gigi stock out her tongue and move it to the side to indicate death.

"Are you not happy your grandfather is alive, Callie?" Gigi said with a more serious expression. She was banking on the fact that Asher kept the information  about Gramps faking his meeting with angels to himself.

"Of course, I am. But had I known he wasn't dying any time soon, I wouldn't have married…" Pepper stopped herself in time from revealing her secret.

"I understand, sweetheart"

"You do, Gigi?" 

"Yes, if you had known that your grandfather wasn't dying then you wouldn't have married in such a hurry. Don't worry, we can still give you a proper wedding with wedding gowns and flowers, darling. You can wear my mother's wedding dress" Gigi said excitedly.

"Eww! I wasn't saying that, I meant…"

Pepper was interrupted by Gigi again.

"Can you imagine what would happen if you had married a fake husband?" Gigi said and laughed like it was the biggest joke of the century.

Pepper cleared the fog on her throat.

"What…what exactly would have happened, Gigi?" Pepper was curious.

"It won't just bring shame to our family and friends, Gramps would have no other choice but to take you out of his will, Callie" 

"But I am your only surviving relative!" Pepper cried.

"Oh! Gramps didn't make the rules, his father and his lawyers did. Your great grandpa believed in integrity and honor and he made sure only honorable people inherited from him. But why am I telling you this, you are Callie. You are the most honorable child I know-"

"Yeah, let's go with that" pepper said and smiled mischievously

"-and your grandfather, will start the process of giving his empire to you tomorrow…congratulations" 

Pepper came closer to her.

"The transfer of the properties, he can't take it back after transferring it to me right?" Pepper dimmed her eyes as she waited for the answer.

"No. It's permanent after three months" Gigi answered.

"Oh, three months? I can do three months…'' Pepper said as she hatched her plan. She can endure the intruders in her home for three months in exchange for her inheritance.

"Hmm, where is your husband?" Gigi asked her.

"He is…is…"

Where was Asher exactly?"

"Honey?!" She yelled "he is somewhere around. I will go fetch him"

Pepper dashed out and found Asher in the living room talking with Gramps.

"Gramps, what are you doing here?" Pepper froze.

"Sweetie, what kind of question is that? Gramps is visiting, of course. He wants to get to know me, your husband. Actually, I was about to tell him how we met for the first time…should I tell him the truth?" Asher said with a face that screams that he was about to blow her secret if she doesn't grant his wishes.

"Of course, we met a few…months ago. It was love at first sight"

"Was it, Pepper? I might be remembering it a little differently. It was in a parking…" Asher started to say but Pepper grabbed his hand and started pulling him away.

"I really want to pee. Come with me, Asher…I am sure you want to pee too. We will be right back Gramps…after peeing" 

They walked away while the older man stared at them like they were aliens.

"Married people pee together now?" Gramps asked as he was confused.

Pepper dragged Asher into Starr's bedroom, then into the bathroom.

"Are you crazy?" Pepper glared at him.

"Oh, I thought we were getting a divorce or did you change your mind? If you did then I want some things in return or I will tell Gramps about everything"

"No, the terms of the contract still stand and you will abide by it or I will…"

Pepper was interrupted by Asher.

"Sue me? I don't care what you will do to me, blowing up your life is worth any punishment, Pepper" Asher said with his face of negotiation .

"Fine. What do you want, Asher?"

"Number one, I want access to your lips without the threat of fear of bodily harm…"