His Absolute Insistence: A Scandalous Billionaire Love Story (Jessika, #2)
back just in case the voicemail ignore button thing was an accident, but decided against it.  I called Asher instead.
    He picked up almost immediately.  "Jeremy, hey," he said.  "Is everything alright?  Please don't tell me something's wrong.  I'm dealing with plenty as it is."
    "Hi, Asher," I said, meek.
    "Jessika?"  Asher sounded confused.  "What's wrong?  Where's Jeremy?  Is everything alright?"
    "Oh, yes.  Sorry.  He's in the kitchen."  Belatedly, I realized Asher had no idea where I was.  "I mean, um... no, he's fine.  We're fine.  Nothing's wrong.  I just wanted to call you."
    "Kitchen?" Asher asked.  "Are you home?"
    Should I say yes?  Sort of?  I wasn't at our home, but I was at my old home.  I didn't know if that counted.  "How did things at the hospital go?" I asked.
    He paused.  "I don't know yet.  I'm working on figuring a few things out, but it's not going so well.  I wish Lucent was here, but that might just make it all worse.  I'll figure something out.  It seems like everything's getting more out of hand by the minute."
    "What happened?"
    "I'd rather not talk about it," he said, hesitant.  "Not right now, at least.  It would be better to do it in person.  I'm leaving soon once I finish up with a few more direct issues at the Tower, but then I'm coming home.  Is everything fine there?  From what they told me, the police investigation could last for a few days.  They want to send in some specialists.  I don't know what they're spending so much time on.  We can stay in the guest house for awhile if you want.  It'll be quieter."
    "About that," I said, moving the phone from one ear to the other, then back again.  Both sides felt uncomfortable for what I was about to say.  "I thought maybe we could try something else?  Stay somewhere else, I mean."
    "Oh," he said.  "Sure.  A hotel?  Whatever you want.  I can make reservations.  That's fine."
    "No, um..."
    "What's wrong?" he asked.
    "I haven't told you something.  And maybe I should have told you a long time ago.  It's weird and bad and rude and you're going to get the wrong idea about it and I'm so sorry."
    Asher paused, then cleared his throat.  I froze, panicking.
    "Alright, so...?" he said.  "What is it?"
    As easily as that, he just wanted to know.  He didn't say anything more, didn't get angry.  For now, at least.  He'd probably be angry in a second once I said it.
    "I never got rid of my old apartment," I said.  "I haven't gone there or anything like that.  I mean, I didn't go before now.  I wasn't sneaking away or planning to leave or hiding, you know?  I don't want you to think I kept it because I don't trust you or that I didn't believe in our relationship, so please don't think that.  I just... it's hard sometimes.  I wanted a place that's mine, even if I'm never there, if that makes any sense?"
    "I can't say it makes that much sense," he said.
    And that was it.  I regretted everything.
    "If it makes you feel comfortable, it's fine, though," he continued.  "Maybe it worked out for the best, too.  You're there now?  It's a good enough hideaway.  I doubt anyone will find out about it."
    "Oh," I said.  Just that.  I thought I should say more, so I added, "I thought you'd be mad."
    I could practically hear Asher shrugging on the phone.  "No, I'm not mad.  I have the guest house, so it's not like I don't understand needing to get away sometimes.  If you wanted to get away, I could have come with you.  That's all.  I've never been to your apartment before."
    "Asher, I haven't been here in nearly a year, I promise.  I know that's kind of dumb.  I wasn't trying to hide it from you and I don't come here randomly, just because.  Jeremy and I came here today because I didn't know where else to go, but that's it.  This is the first time I've been here since..."
    Since I moved in with him, since months before we got married, since almost forever ago it seemed like.
    "Does that mean you're asking me

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