Chapter Forty-Five

“Hello, wild ch-”

The man in the suit stopped speaking in almost the exact same instant that Lila recognised who it was.

“Gabriel?” Lila asked faintly. Asher, who had been staring at the floor, looked up instantly.

“Gabriel?” Asher repeated, stepping forward. Gabriel’s eyes flickered between them and Clare. Clare goggled at Lila as Asher began to splutter.

“Asher? Lila?” Gabriel gulped, readjusting his tie. “W-What are you two doing here?”

“What are you doing here?” Asher asked weakly.

“Hold on,” Clare interjected, stepping forward as well. “How do you all know each other?”

Asher, Lila, and Gabriel gaped at Clare in unison. Gabriel rubbed his face with both hands, sighing deeply before gesturing for Asher and Lila to sit in the two chairs before his desk.

“Let me just get an extra chair for you, Roxy,” Gabriel said quietly, leaving the office. Lila couldn’t look at anything else besides the floor after sinking into her chair. She could hear Clare trying to steady her breathing in the same way that Lila always did. Gabriel returned not a moment too soon, dragging another chair and placing it next to Lila.

“I knew you looked familiar, Lila,” Gabriel said, his usual cheery tone somewhat muted. “To think that you look so much like our top performer, Roxy.”

Lila glanced at Clare, who was pointedly looking away, her face bright red.

“Asher,” Gabriel said gently, “out of everyone here, I owe you an explanation the most.”

Asher looked up at Gabriel, seeming dazed. Gabriel sighed and started speaking.

“Clare, I’m Asher’s family’s private chef. Have been for about, what, 13 years? 14 years? Perhaps even more-”

“Hold on, you’re the private chef I’ve been hearing about?” Clare asked, dumbfounded.

“You talk about me with your family, Lila?” Gabriel asked, his sunny smile returning.

“Of course,” Lila said, returning his smile with her own. “Your cooking is beautiful. There’s no way I wouldn’t tell my family about it.”

“You flatter me too much, Lila,” Gabriel said cheerily, rubbing the back of his head. He cleared his throat before continuing with his explanation, his tone uncharacteristically severe. “When I first started working for the Wagners, I was at a very low point in my life. Spending every day with little Asher and Tabitha gave me such a sense of family that I hadn’t ever had before. They inspired me to grow and hone my skills after graduating from culinary school. I had little want for anything, actually, given I live at their house, and the pay has always been excellent. Then, after about four years, I found my feet and the Wagners gifted me with something incredible.”

Gabriel looked up at his office fondly and patted his desk. “They not only gave me a bonus that helped me to open this place, but they also became investors in this nightclub. But I couldn’t leave the Wagners. Not after they’d been so kind, but also because they’re like my family. You’re my family, Asher.”

His eyes shimmered as he looked at Asher, who stared dumbly at him back.

“Honestly, I haven’t needed to work for your family for about five years,” Gabriel said quietly. “But, while I love running the nightclub, I can’t shake my love for cooking. Particularly, the look you give me when I make something that you find really tasty. And now, I definitely can’t leave.” Gabriel looked at Lila with a bright smile and winked at her. “Not if Lila keeps coming over to eat my food, anyway.”

“So, Asher’s the kid you always rave about,” Clare muttered. She stood up and gave a dry laugh, running her fingers through her fringe. Her eyes drifted to Lila before shaking her head.

“My set’s about to start,” Clare said, folding her arms across her chest. “Lila, we’ll talk when you get home.”

“No, no,” Gabriel said affably, waving a hand. “We can push your set back. This is an important meeting.”

Gabriel pulled out a drawer under his table and retrieved a phone. He dialled a number and raised the phone to his ear. “Hello. There’s been some scheduling changes. Ebony can either continue her set, or Cherry can start earlier. I’m in a meeting with Roxy… no, no, Roxy will perform later. No need to worry about that.”

Gabriel hung up the phone and looked up at Clare, who slowly sat back down.

“Clare, what about you? Why are you working here?” Lila asked, folding her arms as she watched Clare’s every move. Clare suddenly looked mortified, biting her lower lip and holding her left arm with her right as if for comfort.

“I… started working here pretty soon after starting Uni. I needed something to do after… that guy,” Clare glanced at Asher before giving Lila a sideways look and sitting back in her chair. Lila knew exactly what Clare meant by ‘that guy’, but neither of the sisters elaborated further.

“I only started here ‘cause I needed the distraction. I… was super heartbroken. But I realised that I really enjoyed working here. Love all my girls, and Boss is such an amazing owner, too. He takes care of everyone here. It’s also been good for my work-life balance with Uni, and I love dancing. Even though I dropped Cheer when I went into Uni, I still wanted to do something like that and it was perfect. Before I knew it, I built a fanbase here at Coolisimo…”

Clare sighed heavily as she held her face in her hands. Gabriel smiled at Lila softly, and silence filled the room as everyone waited for Clare to continue speaking.

“I’m… not necessarily ashamed,” she finally said tentatively. “But I know Mum and Dad would get beyond upset. Kinda why I haven’t told them about the whole ‘pictures in the bathroom’ fiasco that happened to you, Lila. And technically Asher, too, I suppose. Our parents… don’t like the idea of their kids having sexual identities.”

Asher’s shoulders instantly stiffened as he looked at Clare, openly horrified. Gabriel looked somewhat confused.

“She… found some of the pictures,” Lila explained quietly to Asher.

“What pictures?” Gabriel asked.

“Don’t worry about it,” Asher said, combing his hair with his fingers anxiously. “It’s nothing now.”

Clare exhaled deeply as she leaned back into her chair, locking eyes with Lila. “So, why are you guys here?”

Lila’s face turned red as she exchanged a look at Asher. They hadn’t come up with a cover story yet.

“I-”

“Um-”

Lila and Asher cut each other off, both of them gesturing at the other to finish their sentence.

“It was my idea,” Lila said quietly. “We wanted to get some dinner after practice today. Asher’s been having a hard time, so I thought about going somewhere fancy. And we kinda just wandered into this nightclub to get something to eat.”

Clare’s arched eyebrows told Lila that she bought exactly none of her story.

“You came to the North-City district, looking like that, wearing my clothes, carrying my ID, just for some dinner? And then magically happened to stumble into this nightclub?” Clare asked dubiously. “I know we don’t have a Bouncer at this time, but it’s pretty damn obvious that you guys shouldn’t be here.”

“Now, now,” Gabriel said smoothly. “They’re kids, Clare. They can do some dumb things once in a while.”

“He’s the Dux,” Clare said sharply, looking at Gabriel with narrowed eyes. “Plus, I’m Roxy in here.”

“My mistake,” Gabriel said, laughing heartily. “I know Asher’s the Dux. Besides, Lila said it was her idea.”

Lila felt awkward that Gabriel and Clare were bickering about her fake story but didn’t interject. Asher, on the other hand, jumped in.

“Please don’t think badly of Lila,” he said earnestly, looking into Clare’s eyes. “She’s… been entirely selfless. I’ve… been going through hell, and she noticed and has been doing everything in her power to help me. She helps me even without me needing to ask. If you want to think badly of anyone, please let it be me. I’m the only reason why we’re in here in the first place. A-And besides, Lila’d even take the fall for me, despite knowing the outcome would be much worse for her than me. But I can’t let her.”

Clare’s eyes darted between Lila and Asher, before settling on Asher, who was breathing heavily now. Her somewhat fiery demeanour cooled in the face of Asher’s passionate request. But, Lila still couldn’t shake the feeling emanating from Clare that she was still less than thrilled with Asher by the way she crossed her arms. This was absolutely the worst first impression that Clare could have ever gotten of Asher – almost irrevocably so. Lila needed to do something, say something. But what?

“It’s fine if you think badly of me, sis,” Lila interjected quickly, desperation suddenly driving her forward. “J-Just please don’t think badly about Asher. He’s done nothing wrong. He even said that coming in here wasn’t a good idea, but I convinced him otherwise. He’s such a rule follower. It’s me who corrupted him. It’s me who stole your clothes and ID, he didn’t ask me to do any of that. I suggested it and I went ahead with it.”

Clare blinked rapidly at Lila before her face split into a wide smile.

“Lila-” Asher began to say, but Clare raised a hand to stop him.

“Lila,” she said softly, her smile not dropping. “This wasn’t exactly what I had in mind when I said I wanted to meet Asher, but I’m glad that I have. It also helps to know that this Asher and the kid Boss talks about all the time are one and the same.”

The look in Clare’s eyes spoke to Lila far more than her words did. Was Clare… approving of Asher?

“Anyway,” Clare said, looking at Lila with a piercing expression now. “I won’t tell Mum and Dad about your nightclub visit if you don’t tell Mum and Dad that I work at said nightclub.”

“Deal,” Lila said hurriedly.

“And I won’t tell Marlene if you don’t tell Marlene,” Gabriel said to Asher, a hint of a smile lifting the corners of his mouth. “I think she’ll kill us both.”

“What’ll you do about this Boss?” Clare asked, somewhat dejectedly. “They are wild ones. They did kinda break the law. A few times, actually. Don’t you need to report this to the Police?”

Gabriel pressed his fingertips together, resting his chin on them as he evidently contemplated Clare’s question.

“This… never happened,” Gabriel said finally. Asher and Lila looked at each other hopefully.

“You mean it?” Clare asked, her own face seeming giddy. “Thank you, thank you, thank you! I’m so relieved that Lila’ll be fine.”

“It’s selfish on my part too. Don’t forget Asher is my charge in my other life,” Gabriel said gravely. “But being the owner certainly has its perks.”

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Gabriel slowly rose from his desk, looking seriously at Asher and Lila.

“We’re going home,” he said sternly. Asher nodded emphatically.

“O-Okay,” Lila said hesitantly, looking back at Clare. Clare’s face seemed at peace now.

“Tell Alex that he also saw nothing,” Gabriel said, pulling out a $50 note from his wallet. “If he needs a hand with that, give him this bonus, please.”

Clare took the note from Gabriel’s hands and folded it neatly, placing it in her bra without batting an eyelid. Clare definitely seemed like a pro at that. Lila’s mind flashed back to the rolls of cash she’d found in Clare’s room. That made sense now, too.

“Let’s go,” Gabriel said, gesturing for Lila and Asher to follow him. “You can start your set whenever it seems like it’s a good idea, Roxy. I trust you to make that decision. I’ll be back in a couple hours or so – just let Brian know, please.”

“Thanks, Boss,” Clare replied, nodding. “Will do.”

“I’ll see you at home, I guess,” Lila said awkwardly to Clare.

“I hope you have a different set of clothes,” Clare replied, raising an eyebrow.

“I do,” Lila confirmed, nodding. “I’m not brave enough to saunter on in our house looking like this. Mum will remove one of my organs or something.”

“As long as you know that,” Clare replied with a small chuckle. The group began to head downstairs. Lila was impressed with how Clare was managing to do this so effortlessly in 8-inch heels whilst Lila was struggling in 4-inch ones.

“See you at home, Lila,” Clare said once they reached the bottom of the stairs. Lila waved goodbye at her sister, still staggering at the revelations they had uncovered in the past one-and-a-half hours. Her sister worked at a nightclub that Gabriel owned. All the instances of Clare going out late at night, her increased skills in makeup, and even the things she said about not going out on Sundays because she ‘doesn’t get asked’ by her friends… it had all fallen into place.

“Let’s go, Lila,” Asher murmured in her ear before gently steering her by her shoulders towards where Gabriel was walking. They walked through a different hallway now, which ended in a suspicious-looking elevator. Gabriel pushed the button to go down, and the doors opened a few seconds later with a ‘ding’. The elevator trundled downwards for a few seconds before opening to reveal a carpark underneath the nightclub. Most of the cars seemed to be luxury cars, though Lila wasn’t sure of any of the models. She did recognise, however, that one car was her sister’s. This detail made it feel more real, somehow - that it wasn’t just an elaborate prank played on Lila that Clare was a dancer at a nightclub.

“These are some exy cars,” Asher said with a low whistle. “Is that a freaking Aston Martin? And a 1973 Mustang?”

“Sure are,” Gabriel said pleasantly, strolling towards a humble Mazda 2 and unlocking it. “They’re mine.”

“What?” Asher looked sharply at Gabriel. “Since when?”

“Well, the ‘73 Mustang has a bit of a story,” Gabriel said, opening the back passenger door next to Lila. He gestured for her to get in, and she did so whilst thanking him for opening the door. She shuffled over to the middle seat – a habit she had, given she was the middle child. Asher hopped into the front passenger seat and they buckled their seatbelts without saying a word to each other. Gabriel got into the driver’s seat after a few seconds and started the car. The music he was playing was reminiscent of Clare’s EDM beats that she’d been playing lately. Asher didn’t say anything about Gabriel’s music choice – perhaps this was what he always played?

“What was I saying,” Gabriel muttered as he pulled out of the parking lot and into the blinking neon lights of the city. “Ah, yes, that Mustang. I inherited it from my father, actually, when I first started culinary school. But I had to sell her to put myself through to the end. I tracked down the owner maybe five years ago now and bought it back. Buying that back was like buying a piece of my Dad back. I was very proud to be able to do that.”

“That’s a sweet story,” Lila said, just loud enough over the music. “I’m glad you were reunited.”

“I can’t believe I never knew,” Asher said, looking out his window. “Any of this.”

“I kept it from you on purpose, Asher,” Gabriel replied, glancing at him as they idled at a traffic light. “I didn’t want you to know. It’s not something I ever wanted you to find out. It’s not exactly the most… upstanding business.”

“I think it’s cool,” Asher said softly. “I’m glad you’re able to have fun as well. I’ve felt pretty guilty over the years. Like I’ve stolen your youth or something. Since you’ve always been there for us.”

They fell into a comfortable silence for a few minutes as Gabriel continued to drive them out of the city.

“I’d never think that, Asher,” Gabriel eventually said. “It’s truly been a privilege to work for your family.”

Asher didn’t reply, though Lila was expecting one. Was this what it was like when Asher wasn’t able to be open and honest about his true feelings with people?

“Does Marlene know?” Lila asked curiously, leaning forward in her seat.

“About the nightclub?” Gabriel asked. Lila made an affirmative noise, and he laughed.

“Of course she knows,” Gabriel replied nonchalantly. “She helps out, too – she’s actually a talented seamstress. She makes a lot of the costumes, in fact – the themed ones. And she repairs clothes for the girls if they get torn. Sometimes she’ll pick things up for the club whilst I’m busy cheffing during the day. But I don’t ask her to do much, really.”

“I see,” Lila replied, sitting back.

“Besides, it’d be hard to keep that from her given we live in the same cottage,” Gabriel said with a hearty chuckle. “A sequined suit such as this for a private chef is a bit excessive.”

More silence followed. After a few minutes, Gabriel turned down the music and gave Asher a very serious look whilst they were waiting at another traffic light.

“Now that you’re trapped here with me,” Gabriel said with a grin that, in the dim light, looked mildly terrifying, “I want to know what happened to you, Asher. Last week.”

Asher didn’t respond, but Lila saw him shift in his seat.

“Come on,” Gabriel coaxed. “Please tell me. I’m still very concerned.”

Asher finally sighed before saying in a clipped tone, “Broke up with Holly. She cheated. Is having a kid. Not mine.”

From Lila’s position in the middle seat, she could see Gabriel’s hands clench over the steering wheel. He exhaled harshly before looking over at Asher again.

“I knew there was something wrong with her. Knew she wasn’t right for you. She didn’t like my cooking. Obviously, there was something wrong with her. Plus, she suddenly turned vegetarian a few months ago. Said she goes on and off being vegetarian. What’s up with that?” Gabriel began to ramble before taking another heaving breath.

“Your cooking is amazing, Gabriel,” Lila interjected.

“I know,” Gabriel said, his knuckles turning white over the steering wheel. “Asher, you’ve gotta get a girl with tastebuds.”

Asher didn’t respond to this either, and the energy in the car seemed to have decreased considerably.

“I’m sorry that happened, Asher,” Gabriel said softly after they entered Asher’s suburb. “I wouldn’t wish what you’re going through on my worst enemy.”

“It’s… been real shit,” Asher finally said, still looking out his window. Gabriel nodded, and neither said anything for the rest of the car ride. Gabriel turned the music back up, but it didn’t change the ambiance of the sudden mood shift in the car.

The garage door clattered open once they approached and Gabriel slowly rolled the car in to an empty parking bay. Lila and Asher exited Gabriel’s car and Asher opened the internal door to the house softly. Lila bent down to take off Clare’s shoes, which was much easier than putting them on. Lila was surprised to see that her slippers were not in sight but didn’t think much of it until she stood up again and bumped right into Asher’s back.

Marlene was standing in the hall, her expression frozen in rage.

“Gabriel,” she hissed through her teeth once Gabriel closed the door behind them. “Why are you here? Why did you bring them home?”

“It’s a funny story, actually,” Gabriel said hurriedly, stepping around Lila and Asher.

“I’m sure there’s an excellent explanation as to why it looks like you all just came from your establishment, Gabriel,” Marlene said in a strangled tone. “And I’m sure it’s not funny. They’re underage.”

“Marlene, let’s fix some dinner for these two in the kitchen,” Gabriel cut in, walking towards her, his shimmering sequined coat reflecting shards of light across the floor. “They haven’t eaten.”

Marlene curtly turned on her heel and stomped towards the butler’s pantry, Gabriel following closely behind. The door to the butler’s pantry closed with force, and Lila could hear Marlene yelling almost immediately. Lila exchanged a look with Asher and they both scarpered upstairs.

“It’s… been a weird night,” Asher said once they had reached the safety of his rumpus room.

“Definitely,” Lila agreed. She was suddenly exhausted. Yawning, she reached for her backpack. “I’m going to get changed,” she said, hauling it with her to the guest bathroom again. She heard Asher retreat to his bedroom as she closed the door.

Lila peeled off Clare’s dress and washed off as much makeup as she could before changing into the baggy t-shirt and shorts again. She was actually feeling ready for bed, but if Gabriel and Marlene were making something for dinner, the least she could do was stay for that.

She emerged from the bathroom to find Asher dressed in grey tracksuit shorts and a loose t-shirt, sitting on the couch and scrolling through his phone. His hair was messy again, though it looked like he’d just combed most of the gel out, rather than washed his hair.

Lila took her usual place on the couch and scrolled through her own phone. She was too tired to try and engage in any kind of conversation. It seemed that Asher felt the same as he yawned every so often, prompting Lila to yawn as well.

“Do you want to stay over?” Asher asked after about ten minutes. “The spare room is made up. You seem really tired.”

“N-No, thanks. I’m good. I think Clare would probably kill me if I didn’t go home after all that,” Lila replied, blushing. Even though she didn’t have to worry about how it would look to Holly, Lila had just barely survived a shower at Asher’s that afternoon.

“You know, I’m curious about the origin story of her stage name,” Asher smirked at Lila.

“Oh, I’m definitely asking, don’t worry,” Lila snickered.

“Did you ever think that she was, y’know, a dancer?” Asher asked, his eyes quickly darting to Lila’s face before returning to his phone screen.

“My sister has always been pretty and popular, so when she started staying out late, I just figured she was just enjoying the fact that she was a legal adult. I didn’t think she was working or anything. Just partying a lot,” Lila replied, shrugging. “I didn’t realise she’d been keeping such a big secret from me. But she probably thought I was too young or something to understand. She’s pretty over-protective, but she’s always been a bit rebellious too. Kinda hypocritical, to be honest, but she means well. It’s like… she’s trying to make as many mistakes as she can so Daniel and I don’t have to. If our parents find out about this, though, they’re going to be really mad. Like, Clare would need to move to a new country kinda mad.”

“I noticed the tattoo,” Asher said quietly. “Did you know about it?”

“Yeah,” Lila nodded. “I saw it by accident. She told me not to tell our parents. Mum would probably kill her. Mum… is semi-traditional. She doesn’t necessarily try to put her traditions onto us, but her first reaction is to blow her top. It can be a little scary when she does.”

“She has your birthdate tattooed on you,” Asher noted. “It’s kinda cute.”

“You know my birthday?” Lila asked, her eyes fixed on his face. He seemed to be avoiding her gaze again.

“Yeah,” he said finally, turning his phone screen off. “I helped the teachers make birthday charts in middle school. Just never forgot it, I guess.”

Lila didn’t want to try and read too much into that fact, but her heart was suddenly beating faster. The intercom buzzed to life before she could try and think of a reasonable answer as to why Asher would still remember her birthday, despite the fact that it was always during the school holidays. She’d never had a chance to celebrate it during school...

“Mr Wagner, Lila,” Marlene’s frosty voice crackled through the intercom speaker. “Dinner is ready.”

“I hope she’s not mad still,” Lila muttered as they both got up to go downstairs.

“She’s mad,” Asher sighed as they climbed down the stairs. “She’s, like, mega mad.”

Lila and Asher arrived in the dining room, standing nervously next to their usual spots. Gabriel walked in with a few bowls of what seemed to be a rice soup.

“I don’t know if you know what this is,” Gabriel said conversationally, placing a bowl in front of Lila. “I used to make this a lot during culinary school when I didn’t have time or money to get a lot of ingredients. Some cultures call it ‘congee’. This is a pork version of it.”

“I love congee,” Lila said eagerly, inspecting the congee. It had a healthy amount of pork mince with some coriander leaves and shallots on top. Marlene swiftly entered the dining room as well, carrying a small tray of some chilli sauce and soy sauce, with grated ginger and dried garlic on small dishes next to the sauces.

“Glad to hear it,” Gabriel beamed, sitting in his usual spot. Marlene solemnly sat down as well, her face expressionless. They dug in, the savoury flavours bursting in Lila’s mouth, bringing a sense of comfort to Lila’s fatigued body.

“This is amazing,” Lila sighed, reaching over to add some chilli sauce to her bowl.

“Thank you, Lila,” Gabriel replied with a grin. They ate in silence for a few minutes before Marlene suddenly sighed.

“Mr Wagner,” she said sternly. Asher nearly dropped his spoon into the congee.

“Y-Yes?” he asked tentatively, seeming terrified of Marlene’s sternness.

“I’m very sorry to hear about Ms Reid,” Marlene said stiffly. “I’m also displeased to know that you snuck into a nightclub underage, but I’m glad that it happened to be Gabriel’s nightclub, at least. It’s good to know that the Police weren’t called on you, either.”

“Yes, Marlene,” Asher replied monotonously, pushing around his coriander leaves with his spoon. “Can we please stop talking about Holly?”

Marlene and Gabriel glanced at each other before Gabriel began profusely apologising.

“Gabriel, it’s fine. Let’s just forget it ever happened. Well, forget that I ever dated her. Please,” Asher said, pain carrying through his words. His hand trembled as he reached for a glass of water. Lila looked down at her bowl of congee, suddenly no longer feeling as hungry as she once had. She pushed through, however, to not let Gabriel and Marlene’s efforts go to waste.

Dessert was a slice of a soft, delectable carrot cake, topped with cream. Lila paid her compliments to Gabriel in full and he grinned widely at her.

“My pleasure. I do regret to say, though, that I have to get back to the club,” Gabriel said, rising to his feet.

“That’s fine,” Asher said quickly. “Thank you for taking us home, Gabriel. I didn’t mean to mess up your night.”

“No, no,” Gabriel said, waving a hand. “Letting you two go home by the bus would’ve played on my conscience.”

Asher looked as though he was about to argue when Lila stood up.

“Thank you for everything, Gabriel, even if you think it was for your own selfish reasons,” she said, stacking her bowl on Asher’s. “Have a good night. And take care of my sister, too.”

Gabriel smiled at Lila before waving at everyone and disappearing down the hall. They heard the door to the garage open and close before Marlene stood up and took their bowls to the kitchen. Lila’s Mum arrived not too long after at 9pm on the dot without Lila requesting her to. Lila was glad that she was at Asher’s at this time, rather than gallivanting in the city still, or detained by Police, or whatever the case would’ve ordinarily been if they hadn’t been wandering around Gabriel’s nightclub.

She grabbed her sports bag, hockey stick, and backpack before running back downstairs. She put her sports shoes on as Asher input the security code on the door for her.

“Thanks for coming with me tonight,” Asher said softly as he opened the front doors. “I don’t think I would’ve survived, to be honest.”

“Anytime,” Lila said, flashing a grin at him as she tied up her shoelaces. “Though, I don’t think I’m going to go to a nightclub anytime soon.”

“Neither,” said Asher, shuddering. “That… was nuts.”

“Agreed. I guess I’ll see you at school, then,” Lila said, standing up to look at Asher.

“Yeah,” he nodded, a small smile on his face. “See you then.”