Secret Scion

When Asher Crawford and Layla Knight entered the room, Joel Harrison's ladies and lackeys all rose to their feet. Only the one dressed in spandex never moved or even looked up at Asher. After everyone had exchanged greetings, Bard Eastwood-the man in glasses-led everyone else out of the room, leaving just Joel, his kitten lady companion, Asher and Layla.

"Well then, Mr. Crawford." Joel grinned. "Is there something I can help you with?"

Asher nodded. "Of course. There's only one reason I came here today: a partnership with you."

"With me?" Joel chuckled as he continued to fiddle with his prayer beads. "Why? Is there a reason I should partner with you?"

"Of course, when we share one common enemy," Asher answered. "As the Gentlemen grows in influence and adds to Rose Schmidt's arsenal, even you would have to wonder... Are they going to be a threat to your family?"

If Joel were to be honest, the Gentlemen's rise to power had already denied him the best opportunity to seek a partnership with Asher, and he certainly had that in mind even before the Gentlemen caught public attention. However, without any benefit in sight, he would not easily agree to join hands with Asher either.

Meanwhile, Asher continued, "If the Gentlemen is allowed to grow, even your place as the ruler of Alexandrius' underbelly would be threatened. There's no question that Rose would come for you after he is done with me. Also, you should consider Jeremiah Macquoid a potential threat— I'm sure he's attending university not just for certifications, but to gather influence, since that's where the powers of the next generation are determined. He should not be underestimated, because he would likewise build a faction of his own once he's older, and that sort of conflict won't do you any good as well. Thinking about it this way, your position is more precarious than mine, since I'm a lone wolf who wouldn't obstruct them from their goals, but that is not the case for you."

Joel's smile faded right away, and he placed the prayer beads on the coffee table to pick up his teacup. "And what's in it for me if I chose to help you?"

Asher smiled. "Leadership over the Gentlemen."

"What, replacing Rose Schmidt?" Joel exclaimed in surprise, but soon chuckled bitterly. "Easy for you to say... It's virtually impossible."

"You won't know until you try," Asher countered. "Sure, the Gentlemen has grown at a rapid rate, but it also means it was not built on a firm foundation that is its fatal weakness. All it takes is for something really, really bad to happen to one of their own, and the others would already be cowering. It's no stronger than a sandcastle as long as they aren't able to achieve genuine solidarity. Also, how many connections or resources you assimilate from them afterward depend entirely on your own ability."

In the end, all illicit business always aimed to go legitimate, and that would inevitably become a long, arduous process for a kingpin like Joel, not to mention that success was never guaranteed. That was why he yearned to win over—or at least establish leverage over-the less known rich kids of Alexandrius, since they could be used as a stay-out-of-jail card.

Naturally, he could not deny how interested he was in Asher's proposal.

"Do I have your assurance that you won't try to steal them from me?" he asked as he stared at Asher's face.

Lighting himself a cigarette and taking a puff, Asher replied, "Like I said... that depends entirely on your own ability."

In the end, why would Asher go so far if he was not going to extend his influence as well?

Frowning in thought for a long while, Joel then asked, "Well? What do you need me for?"

"You basically own most of the fortyish bars here in Bar Avenue, don't you? I just need you to let me take ownership over one. Would that be too much?"

"Are you sure you have the resources and manpower to manage it?" Joel asked in turn.

"That's my issue. Let me worry about it."

***

Bard and the spandex lady waited in the next room for a long while before Asher and Layla

finally emerged from Joel's office, and they returned after the pair left.

"Did you agree to work with him, sir?" Bard asked.

"I've planned to do that in the first place," Joel replied. "This opportunity just happened to fall in my lap."

"But what were his conditions?" the spandex lady asked.

"One of my bars here," Joel said, flashing a vague smile. "Asher Crawford must have been eyeing our turf for a while now... He's probably interested in bringing the network he's built in Rollinsford here to Alexandrius."

The spandex lady frowned. "Then why would you give it to him?"

While Joel grinned smugly, Bard simply answered, "Nina, that's what makes the boy smart. Bar Avenue is the heart of our turf, and no external influence is ever going to set foot here. Hell, even Asher Crawford must know that he won't ever free himself from us here, which is why Mr. Harrison has no qualms about partnering with him—I'm sure Mr. Harrison would not agree to it easily if Asher asked for a bar at any other location."

"Bullseye." Joel laughed. "I doubt the boy would try anything funny right under our nose. Hell, we shouldn't be in this business if we can't do that much. Right now, the issue is to eliminate the Gentlemen, and when I take my stuff back later, Asher Crawford would have done nothing more than to work for me... Haha!"

"Indeed. Your plan is absolutely perfect, sir," Bard chuckled.

***

Once Asher and Layla stepped out of the Crystal Harem, they headed straight for the car, with Layla grumbling in confusion, "Weren't you planning to let Hunter Larson build a career for himself here in the city? I don't get you-why ask for a bar right in the middle of Joel Harrison's sphere of influence? Do you really think there's any chance for the bar to amount to anything?" Asher naturally knew that, and he eyed Layla as he told her, "Do you think the man would agree to the deal if I asked for any other spot? No one is going to allow external forces into their turf... unless they are perfectly confident about controlling them."

Layla understood what he was getting at then, but pressed, "But Hunter Larson is just one man. How is he going to help solve your problems?"

Asher's lips curled up in an enigmatic smile. "Don't worry. We have plenty of options." Hearing that, Layla did not press him for more information, and simply drove him home. Once back in his family mansion, Asher dialed Hunter's number. He happened to be looking for

an excuse to visit Asher at Alexandrius, so he was naturally delighted to get his call. He promised to reach the city as soon as possible.

***

Meanwhile, at a teahouse near the Crawford mansion, Huxley Crawford was meeting the mystery man in the gray coat he ran into before.

Having met the man a few more times over the last few days, Huxley was a lot less wary of the man who called himself Willy the Kid, even though he knew nothing else about the man. He was certainly convinced of Willy's ability, just as he yearned that Willy would help him get what he wanted most.

He just did not know that 'Willy' was no more than a cleaner working for the Schmidts, who had a flair for charming anyone to death.

It was precisely that quality about him that caught Rose Schmidt's eye, and she set it up so that he got closer to Huxley with the objective of manipulating him.

"Are you saying that Asher Crawford has a plan to counter the Gentlemen's influence?" Willy asked as he sat primly, almost embodying sageliness even as one took a closer look. "Impossible... The Gentlemen has over seventy rich kids as members, and even the Macquoids are wary of them. They stand above your family even though yours aren't pushovers. Moreover, Asher is just one of the kids... What could he even do?"

Huxley took a sip of his tea and nodded in solemn agreement, before saying, "You seem to know everything about everyone important in Alexandrius, Willy-even the members of the Gentlemen. I'm really impressed."

Why wouldn't I know? Rose Schmidt herself told me everything! Willy thought to himself. Nonetheless, he waved Huxley off to feign humility, and said, "That's not the point. I just have this feeling that your chance is coming soon, Huxley. The fact that Asher chose to stay here at Alexandrius is advantageous to you this is your chance. Wait for the right time to strike, and claim his place for good!"

"Yes. I'm very confident about that with your help, Willy," Huxley said respectfully, though he would have a stroke if he found out that he was actually speaking with a cleaner from the Schmidt family.

"Of course. Just follow my plan, and it's going to be easy," Willy said seriously.

Willy soon returned to the Schmidts and reported his conversation with Huxley to Rose herself,

but she merely laughed in contempt, "This is going to be good. Show me how you're going to turn the tide this time, Asher Crawford."

***

Phoebe Webb had just stepped out of her room early the next morning when Jerome Webb showed up in her room.

"Grandfather," she greeted him with a cold look.

Jerome was aware that she was upset after he had her engagement annulled, and therefore did not hold her indiscretion against her, even grinning. "Come, let's take a stroll together." Nonetheless, Phoebe kept silent through it all. She was also leveling her hostile glare everywhere else other than on Jerome.

Eventually unable to take it, Jerome asked, "Are you still upset with me, Phoebe? You have to know that there was no other option-Asher Crawford already humiliated our family when he married into the Steward family as a live-in son-in-law during his time at Rollinsford. And now, he's in the midst of a deadly standoff against the Gentlemen. There's every chance that they'll destroy him. You'll suffer the consequences as well if I hadn't demanded an annulment. I'm just doing what's best out of the goodness of my heart, so don't get upset with me, alright?"

In truth, Phoebe had thought about a great many things last night, just as she was already aware that Asher did not give a damn about her at all. Even so, she was not really pleased with being forced to give up on him in this fashion.

Still, she eventually said, "Grandfather, I'm upset because you didn't discuss this with me. It's my marriage, and I had the right to know."