Chapter Thirty-Three
Aster settled into her makeshift office, her fingers hovering over the laptop keyboard. The events of the day weighed heavily on her, but there was work to be done. She glanced at Edward, who leant against the wall nearby, his arms crossed and his face unreadable. Despite the tension of the situation, she couldn't help but feel a flutter of attraction. His presence had been a comfort, his actions nothing short of heroic. But now wasn't the time for such thoughts.
With a deep breath, Aster started the video call to her sisters. After a moment, Nick and Ari's faces appeared on the screen, relief clear in their expressions.
‘Hello you,’ Ari breathed, her voice cracking slightly. ‘Thank God you're alright.’
‘What’s the situation?’ Nick added. Aster smiled and nodded at Nick, she was grateful to be getting down to business. As she explained the situation of the black-market factory and the slave conditions, she could feel Edward's presence behind her, a palpable tension radiating from him.
‘We'll need to implement regular security measures,’ Aster concluded. ‘This can't happen again.’
Nick nodded, her business mind already whirring. ‘Agreed. We'll allocate funds immediately. I'm actually flying out tomorrow to oversee the expansion of the factory and village. Hal's recommended some private security options we should consider.’
Before Aster could respond, Edward stepped forward, his voice tight with barely contained anger. ‘With all due respect, ladies, your security measures are long overdue. You relied far too heavily on Aster, and you nearly lost her today.’
The silence that followed was deafening. Aster turned to Edward, her eyes flashing with a mix of surprise and indignation. The warmth she had felt towards him moments ago cooled rapidly.
‘That's not fair, Edward,’ she said, her voice low and dangerous. ‘You don't know my sisters or our family dynamics. You have no right to-’
‘No, Aster,’ Ari interrupted, her voice small. ‘He's right. We… we did put too much on your shoulders. We always have.’
Nick nodded, her usual composure cracking. ‘We've taken you for granted, Aster. Assumed you could handle anything. That stops now.’
Aster felt torn between defending her sisters and acknowledging the truth in Edward's words. But that he had spoken to her family this way, that he had overstepped so dramatically, ignited a fire within her.
‘Stop it, all of you,’ she snapped, her voice sharp. ‘Edward, I appreciate what you did today, but you have no right to speak to my sisters this way. And Ari, Nick - you did not put me in danger. I chose to come here. I knew the risks.’
Edward's jaw clenched. ‘Did you? Did you really know what you were walking into? Because from where I'm standing, you were woefully unprepared for the situation here.’
Aster stood, facing Edward directly. ‘And who are you to make that assessment? You swoop in with your mercenaries and your government connections and suddenly you're an expert on my life, my work?’
‘I'm the one who saved your life today,’ Edward retorted, his voice rising. ‘If I hadn't been here-’
‘If you hadn't been here, I would have found another way,’ shouted Aster, cutting him off. ‘I always do.’
On the screen, Nick and Ari watched in stunned silence.
‘Aster,’ Nick finally said, her voice cautious. ‘Maybe we should discuss this when emotions aren't running so high.’
Aster turned back to the screen, taking a deep breath to calm herself. ‘You're right. I'm sorry. This isn't productive.’
‘No, I'm sorry,’ Edward said, his voice softer now. ‘I overstepped. It's just… seeing you in danger today… it affected me more than I expected.’
Aster felt some of her anger dissipate at his words, but she remained wary. This man had the ability to get under her skin was infuriating.
‘Look,’ she said, addressing both Edward and her sisters. ‘What's done is done. We need to focus on protecting our people and our interests. Can we all agree on that?’
There were nods all around. The tension in the room eased slightly, but Aster could still feel the undercurrents of unresolved emotions.
‘Nick,’ she continued, ‘you mentioned flying out. When do you arrive? We'll need to coordinate our efforts.’
As Nick outlined her travel plans and the security measures Hal had recommended, Aster found her temper simmering just beneath the surface. She clenched her fists under the desk, her nails digging into her palms. How dare Edward criticise her sisters? He didn't know them, didn't understand their bond. That Nick and Ari seemed to agree with him only fuelled her anger further.
She glanced at Edward, who had retreated to his position against the wall. His face was a mask of carefully controlled emotion, but she could see the storm brewing behind his eyes. Good, she thought. Let him be uncomfortable. He had no right to interfere in family matters.
Aster opened her mouth, ready to further defend her sisters and put Edward in his place, when a sharp knock at the door interrupted her. Amit burst in, his eyes wide. ‘The police are here,’ he announced breathlessly.
Aster exchanged a quick glance with Edward before turning back to the screen. ‘We'll have to continue this later,’ she said hurriedly, her voice still tight with restrained anger. ‘Nick, call me when you land.’
She ended the call and stood, squaring her shoulders. ‘Let's go see what the police have to say.’ Her tone made it clear that their previous discussion was far from over.
Outside, they found Bill already engaged in conversation with the police chief, a huge man whose uniform strained against his belly. The chief's demeanour was oddly casual, as if he were discussing the weather rather than a violent conflict.
‘Ah, Miss Byrne,’ the chief said as Aster approached. ‘I understand there was some… excitement here today?’
Aster raised an eyebrow at his choice of words. ‘You could say that,’ she replied coolly.
Bill cleared his throat. ‘As I was explaining to the chief, it appears a local band of militia turned on each other. Quite the bloodbath. We simply stepped in to rescue the hostages.’
The chief nodded, seemingly satisfied with this blatant fabrication. ‘These things happen,’ he said with a shrug. ‘Criminals, you know. No honour among thieves.’
Aster caught Edward's eye, seeing her own disbelief mirrored there. Despite her anger towards him, they shared a moment of silent communication, both recognising the absurdity of the situation.
‘Well, we're grateful for your prompt response,’ Aster said diplomatically, pushing aside her personal feelings to focus on the matter at hand. ‘We're planning to implement additional security measures to prevent any future… incidents.’
Bill stepped forward. ‘If I may, I'd recommend a troop of private security. I know a reputable firm that specialises in rural protection.’
The chief's eyes lit up at this, and Aster wondered briefly if he was expecting a kickback. ‘An excellent idea,’ he said enthusiastically. ‘You can never be too careful.’
As the conversation continued, Aster felt her frustration growing. The ease with which they were brushing off such a significant event was infuriating. She could feel Edward's presence beside her, a reminder of their unresolved tension, but for now, they presented a united front to the authorities.
After the police left, the celebrations began. As night fell, the village square transformed into a vibrant tapestry of colour, sound, and scent. Lanterns strung between houses cast a warm, golden glow over the festivities. The air was thick with the aroma of spices - cumin, cardamom, and saffron mingling with the sweet scent of jasmine flowers adorning the women's hair. The rhythmic beat of drums and the melodious strains of sitars filled the air, punctuated by bursts of laughter and animated conversation.
Villagers, dressed in their finest clothes, moved through the square in a swirl of jewel-toned fabrics. Children darted between the adults, their faces sticky with sweets, their laughter rising above the general din. The rescued villagers were at the centre of it all, surrounded by friends and family, their recent ordeal momentarily forgotten in the joy of reunion.
Aster stood at the edge of the celebration, watching the scene unfold. Under normal circumstances, she might have appreciated the beauty of the moment, the resilience of these people who could find cause for joy even in the wake of such danger. But tonight, she felt oddly disconnected from it all.
The fear, the anger, the rush of adrenaline - it all caught up with her at once, leaving her feeling drained and overwhelmed. The noise and bustle of the celebration, which should have been uplifting, only heightened her discomfort.
She had never been one for large gatherings, preferring the quiet of her own company or the intimacy of small groups. Now, with her nerves still frayed from the day's events, the press of bodies and the constant chatter felt suffocating.
Spotting Amit nearby, Aster made her way over to him. ‘I'm afraid I'll have to retire early,’ she said, raising her voice to be heard over the music. ‘It's been a long day, and I'm quite exhausted.’
Amit nodded his understanding. ‘Of course, of course. You must rest. We are all so grateful for what you have done.’
Aster managed a small smile, then turned to make her way back to her room. As she navigated through the crowd, she caught sight of Edward watching her from across the square. Their eyes met for a moment, and she saw him move towards her.
Quickening her pace, Aster reached the relative quiet of the building where she was staying. She had just reached the bottom of the stairs when she heard Edward's footsteps behind her.
‘Aster,’ he called out, his voice low and urgent.
She turned, one hand on the banister, to face him. In the dim light of the hallway, she could see the conflict on his face, his mouth opening as if to speak.
But Aster cut him off before he could utter a word. ‘No,’ she said, her voice sharp. ‘I appreciate what you did today. Hiring the mercenaries, coming to our aid - I'm grateful for that. But what you said to my sisters was out of line.’
Edward took a step closer, his expression earnest, but Aster held up a hand to stop him.
‘I'm tired. It's been a long day, and I need to rest. We can discuss this further tomorrow if we must.’
Turning, she climbed the stairs, feeling Edward's gaze on her back. As she reached her room and closed the door behind her, Aster let out a long, shaky breath.
The events of the day replayed in her mind as she prepared for bed - the fear, the danger, Edward's timely arrival with the mercenaries, the argument about her sisters. It was all too much to process.
As she lay in bed, the sounds of the celebration drifting in through the window, she rolled over with a sigh, pulling the thin blanket tighter around her shoulders. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new decisions to be made. For now, she needed sleep. As she drifted off, Aster's last conscious thought was of Edward's face - not as he had looked during their argument, but as he had appeared when he first arrived to rescue them, a mix of relief and something else written across his features.