Penthouse

"Where are you coming from? And what happened to you?" Ryan asked with a concerned look on his face. I couldn't help but smile at his worried face. 

"The place isn't important. I guess I just needed to let out some tears, so don't mind me," I replied casually, attempting to downplay the situation. Shifting the subject to lighten the mood, I continued, 

"Anyway, what do you have in the house? I'm famished." Ryan chuckled dryly, most likely aware of his bachelor lifestyle. 

"You know I'm a bachelor, right? I don't have any food in the house. Let's order some food instead. What would you like to eat?" Taking a moment to consider my options, I replied, "Fried chicken and chips." Without skipping a beat, Ryan pulled out his phone to place the order.

"Wait!" I exclaimed, blinking my eyes like a baby, trying to capture Ryan's attention. 

"What did you want again?" he asked, slightly infuriate. 

"Can I get some Chinese dishes?" I requested, hoping to change up our food selection. Ryan scoffed before begrudgingly nodding his head. Meanwhile, in the back of my mind, I couldn't help but feel eager to update my I*******m account. It had been days since I last posted, and my fans were eagerly awaiting new content. However, my busy schedule had prevented me from finding the time to upload. The constant calls from that persistent company, demanding their money, had sapped my energy. Now that I was finally free from that debt, I had even considered taking out another loan. Maybe tomorrow.

"Ryan, could you also get me a glass of water?" I politely asked, masking my hidden agenda "Sure," he replied with a smile, unaware that I was only sending him out to capture a photo of his living room. Swiftly and discreetly, I snapped a picture and uploaded it with a clever caption.

"Chilling at my penthouse" I nonchalantly declared, my voice dripping with confidence as I basked in the luxurious surroundings. This opulent space belonged to none other than Ryan, and I reveled in the exclusive status it afforded me. In a society that seemed to disdain the less fortunate, I felt compelled to live up to the standards set by the wealthy elite. I spared no expense in my pursuit of beauty and extravagance, viewing it as a necessary means to showcase my capabilities. Some might call it a facade, a shallow existence, but I vehemently disagreed. 

It was a carefully curated life, one that showcased my determination to achieve success. Ryan returned, graciously presenting a glass of water. In my eagerness, I eagerly accepted it from him. As the shrill ring of my phone pierced the air, I swiftly retrieved it from the nearby table. With a quick swipe, I answered the call, bringing the device closer to my ear.

"Hello, this is Ashley speaking," I calmly responded to the caller on the other end. 

"You aren't okay, Ashley! I've been trying to reach you for the past 24 hours, but your number isn't going through. Where the hell are you?" Jessica's voice erupted in frustration, causing me to instinctively cover my ear with my hands. 

"Who's that?" Ryan playfully inquired, a mischievous glint in his eye. I knew he was well aware of the person on the line, simply teasing me.

 "Just answer my question, damn it! Where are you?" she demanded, her tone filled with urgency, making me take a deep breath. 

"I'm at Ryan's place," I replied, keeping my voice steady.

 "Wait there. I'm coming for you. Your mother has been calling my number constantly," she stated, and a sardonic chuckle escaped my lips. 

 "I don't want to see her. She'll just keep lecturing me, treating me like a child," I remarked in a dry tone, expressing my frustration with my mother's constant advice.

 "Your boss is on the way," Ryan said teasingly, evoking an impulsive urge to strangle him. He had a knack for lighthearted banter, but at times, it tested my patience. 

"Did you know you're beautiful, Ashley?" Ryan suddenly asked, catching me off guard. I wondered what prompted him to make such a statement. He gently raised his hand towards my face, just as the doorbell rang loudly, interrupting the moment. 

"Who's there?" he asked, his tone now tinged with anger. I couldn't help but wonder what had caused the sudden shift in his mood.

 "Your food is here," he quickly responded, rushing towards the door to retrieve our meals.

Some minutes later, Ryan entered the room carrying my meal, followed closely by Jessica who rushed in.

 "Where's that person!" Jessica exclaimed, dropping her bag on the chair. 

"Wow," Jessica commented, licking her lips. Food was the one thing that could instantly captivate her attention; she had an intense love for it, she's even willing to eat from an enemy's plate.

 "Hey, stay away from me. Your food isn't here," I warned, causing Jessica to glare at me, prompting me to quickly fall silent. 

"Ryan, you should join us. I know you haven't eaten anything," she suggested, turning her attention to him.

 "And you didn't even bother asking for my permission before calling Ryan?" I questioned, and she playfully knocked me, reminding me to mind my own business.

 “Ugh, my day was so long! I'm glad we can finally relax," I said, feeling the weight of exhaustion in my voice. Jessica couldn't help but burst into laughter. 

"Yes, it's time to chillax and enjoy some delicious chicken!" she chimed in, enthusiasm evident in her tone. Ryan joined the conversation, injecting a playful comment. 

"If chicken were a superhero, it would be called the Poultry Protector!" he exclaimed with a hint of excitement.

 "If soda were a superhero, it would be called Fizzy Fantastic!" Jessica laughed, her amusement contagious. Ryan chimed in again, sharing his own variant. 

"Or how about the Pop Protector!" he suggested.

 "Alright, enough about superheroes," I interjected, a mischievous smirk appearing on my face. 

"I'm dying to know what everyone's plans are for the weekend. What are you guys up to?" I asked, knowing well that I didn't have the means to indulge in expensive outings, but hoping to enjoy some fine experiences through the generosity of my friends.

"I'm going to the movies with my family. We're seeing the latest superhero movie!" Jessica enthusiastically announced.

 "Ooh, which one? There seems to be an influx of superhero movies lately," Ryan interjected with curiosity. 

"I'm not particularly into superhero movies. I prefer horror movies. I enjoy the suspense and thrill they offer," I replied, revealing my personal preference. 

"You know what's scarier than any horror movie? The prices of movie theater snacks! The popcorn and candy cost an arm and a leg!" Ryan playfully remarked with a smile. 

"You're not wrong! Sometimes, it feels like the popcorn costs more than the actual movie tickets!" Jessica agreed, nodding in agreement. I couldn't help but scoff at the absurdity before adding, 

"We should just sneak in our own snacks!" "Have you guys ever smuggled food into the movie theater before?" I inquired, glancing at their faces. It was then that Jessica chimed in with an intriguing revelation, "I once managed to sneak in a whole pizza! I stashed it in my purse, and no one even noticed!

My phone rang out loud, abruptly interrupting our conversation. Hastily, I retrieved it from the floor and glanced at the caller ID, only to realize it was an important call that couldn't be ignored in that moment. 

"Excuse me," I muttered, rising from my seat. Ryan and Jessica exchanged curious glances, sensing the urgency in my actions. 

"Can't you answer the call here?" Ryan questioned, his voice laced with curiosity.

 "Let her go, maybe she's got someone new," Jessica intervened nonchalantly, causing Ryan's mood to shift noticeably.

 "What do you mean by that?" Ryan inquired anxiously, while I hurriedly made my way out of the living room. Once outside, I scanned the surroundings cautiously before placing the phone to my ear. 

"Hello," I greeted the caller. Laughter erupted from the other end of the line. 

"Ms. Ashley, you certainly did a remarkable job today. I'll ensure your payment is sent early tomorrow morning," the caller informed me, prompting a contented laugh to escape my lips. I couldn't help but revel in the satisfaction of this business.