Ashley's POV:I twist my body in front of the mirror in the trial room, trying to inspect myself from all angles after the assistant has buttoned up the dress from the back and left. Honestly, I feel like I have been dressed up as a show stopper for the London fashion week. With a final glance in the brightly lit mirror, I decide to finally walk outside; gathering my courage with the thought that I just have to step out into the studio– not on the road! And this is when I hear some gasps around me. “Wow, ma'am… you are looking so pretty!”“We have always known that everything you wear would look great on you.”“There is no one who can beat your figure and your grace, you are perfect ma'am.”A smile appears on my face– probably, these words will be good to lighten up Emily's mood. She might become less bitter, finally, and the rest of the day would be easy for me.With some sense of relief, I turn my steps in the direction of the sounds.Everyone who has been praising her pauses th
Ashley's POV:“As you order, ma'am.”The designer replies without delay, snapping to attention as soon as the words have left Emily's mouth. Sure enough, the room has been emptied out within a minute. I watch the last of the shop assistants scurry out before I around to notice that Emily's face has gotten significantly redder than before.I didn't even get a chance to address that or say something else, before she opens her mouth and spits out her question.“Do you really think that you are a princess or what?”“What do you mean?”I was prepared for her questions regarding what I do in my company, or how I managed to meet Ethan… but this is something I would never have been prepared for, ever.“Do you really think Ethan is marrying you because he loves you?”“Excuse me!”I get it that she is Ethan's friend and she is important to him… but she is crossing a lot of limits at once and I am absolutely flabbergasted! But if I thought that question was unexpected, Emily's next words catch
Ashley's POV:I snap at Emily and dash out of the store like a tornado of a typhoon, without looking back at once– or without caring that I am still in their dress and I haven't paid yet.I know all these things are manageable and will be taken care of– so all I need to do right now is take care of my mental health before I end up completely destroying the already- fractured dam of my patience, and start raging. I stop at the edge of the pavement and raise my hand to call a taxi, having forgotten that Peter would be waiting for me.I wouldn't have remembered this detail until putting at least four miles between me and Emily, if I hadn't felt a pat on my shoulder just then.Peter's concerned voice rings sharply in my ears. “Ashley! What happened? Where are you going like this! Has that bitch said something to upset you?”His words are painted in the coat of frustration and anger, as he directs a sideways glance towards the store, making me realize that it makes two of us who don't li
Ethan's POV:“Fuck!”I let out a scream the moment I enter the car and finally get the alone time that I have been needing desperately, ever since I dropped Ashley to the studio.Those idiots… did these foreign clients have to arrive today, of all days? It's all because of them shifting their plans forward by two days, that I have to miss this opportunity to meet Emily in person today.And this fact is killing me, but I know; whether I go there or not, everything is already settled. The payment has already been made in full, Ashley has reached there and I know Emily is going to ask her about our love story, tooBecause the way I know her, her over- excited self can't control herself from asking personal questions from other people she meets and likes.And this time, it is not the case of her liking Ashley. On the other hand, I'm sure she must have been dying out of jealousy. And the more jealous she is going to be, the sooner she will accept my love for her… and vice versa.Thinking t
Ashley's POV:“Enough, Tiffy! I know you are upset because you think I hid such a huge piece of news from you, but that doesn't mean you will say just about anything to make me feel bad–”But Tiffany speaks over me again, and I notice a strange smile on her face… like she isn't concerned, but like she is taking some pleasure in saying these words. No, I must be imagining things, or maybe projecting my annoyance with Emily, on Tiffany. After all, I have known Tiffany for most of my life, and she is not like this. She is sweet, gentle and caring, although her words are really contradicting her image right now. “I am not trying to make you feel bad, what's in it for me? I'm just trying to make you see the obvious, that you aren't able to see with your open eyes! Because tell me one thing, do you think the guy has a shortage of his picks? Ethan Johnson has such a reputation and influence that almost every supermodel and actress of this country is chasing after him. And yet, he hasn't
Ethan's POV:My heart drops into a pit, the moment Peter says that he has left Ashley at her friend's place.What does he mean, doesn't he know her at all?! Peter has seen it with her own eyes, how happily this girl flirts with the angel of death– who is eager to take her with him, and still he left her there! At a friend's place!First of all, this girl doesn't have any friends… and those two idiots whom she refers to as ‘friends’ are of no good! That idiot employee of mine… Robert, always tries to hit on her. And that idiot best friend of hers is dangerously familiar to me, but for some reason, I can't remember anything about how or why she seems familiar to me– nor can I recall any information about her… Not her name, designation… nothing.But both of them give me weird vibes, and ever since I have noticed Ashley being upset because of her friend ignoring her, it has made my heart do weird things.In fact she has never told me anything about there being some beef between them– h
Ethan's POVFor some reason, I'm still in Tiffany's living room, my jaw clenched as she is still talking non- stop, but I have to keep reminding myself not to lash out at her. Otherwise, with how much she has already spoken– and considering my beliefs in feminism and the equality of genders, I would have knocked her out with a punch to the face… long ago. I give her a cold glare, hoping she gets the message, but she keeps going, her hand lightly brushing my arm. Who the hell does she think she is, to say all this crap about Ashley! And that too, to my face, knowing who I am?!I keep reminding myself the reason I am tolerating her so far: only because she’s Ashley’s so- called best friend, but even I know that it’s not going to last long. My temper is on a short leash, and she’s tugging at it like she has no clue how close she is to crossing the line.My phone buzzes, and I don’t hesitate before pulling it out of my pocket. It is one of my managers, and his timing was perfect. “So
Ethan's POV:“You really didn't think I would figure it out, smartass?”Liam’s voice continues to harass the senses of everyone unlucky enough to be present in the restaurant, who has dropped their conversations and lunch to focus on our table.But while his voice is just an inconvenience to them, it is a nuisance to me– and each word from his cursed mouth is pushing me further to the edge. “Don’t you think I would notice that when no one else in her blood related family even cares about this black sheep…”The drunk ass suddenly stops, choking on his words. He gags, then he leans forward to spit out blood and vomit on the floor in front of him. Pathetic. I leave the idiot to wallow in his misery and turn my focus back to Ashley. He is not my problem right now.“Water. Now!” I snap, and a waiter rushes over with a glass of cold water. I snatch it from his hand and crouch in front of Ashley, crooning softly to not startle her. “Ash, here... have some water. Drink a little bit, Ashl