Chapter 5: Astrid Ring

"See? That's chemistry right there. We're really compatible with each other," Ashton joshed at her and smiled ravishingly. Ashley just chuckled.  

He stood beside her and pointed his hand at the mirror in front of them, asking her to take a look at their reflection in the mirror. They both looked like a match made from heaven.

"This is what we would look like tomorrow," he remarked.

"You seriously going to hold the wedding tomorrow? Don't you need like some kind of time to prepare all that?" Ashley felt unsettled by his words.

'Could this man really pull a wedding in just less than twenty-four hours? Don't he have family members or friends that he needs to invite in advance before he holds a wedding?' She wondered internally.

"Yes. Why? You're not ready yet? Your ex's wedding day is less than a week. We should hurry up if you want a husband during his big day. Besides, we need to adjust things at home as well since we're going to live together from now on. That takes time," he replied calmly as if the wedding was not such a big deal for him. He rather cared more about getting her a husband for her ex-boyfriend's wedding day.

Ashley gaped in disbelief. She looked at their reflection once again in the mirror. They both really looked good together. 'So this is it? This is the man that I'm going to spend the rest of my life with?' Her head still couldn't fathom the situation.

She didn't even know this guy and she didn't even know if she loves him or not. The only thing that she was sure about him was the fact that they both were really casual with each other as if they had been friends for a long time.

'Yes. That's it. It didn't feel like love. It felt more like a friendship,' she murmured internally. 'But could I marry a friend and be happy with it? Could I actually feel enough spending my life with a friend? Could I be happy with such a relationship?' Her inner voice couldn't stop attacking her with questions.

"Let's change our clothes," he ordered her kindly and made his way to the male fitting room, leaving her alone in her thought.

Fifteen minutes later, Miss Lily brought the couple to the jewellery showroom. They stopped in front of a glass counter that displayed a variety of diamonds ring with different designs.

There was one diamond ring displayed a bit higher and put in the middle of the other rings. The ring had a big diamond sparkling in the middle with its sides, the left and the right had butterfly-shaped diamonds. It looked as if the butterflies were holding the diamond in the middle. Ashley couldn't get her eyes off the ring, meanwhile, Ashton was just looking around the other rings to view them all. Miss Lily approached Ashley as she noticed the lady was only looking at one particular ring.

"That's Astrid. Our most precious collection. There is only one made in this world and Mr Grey wanted it to be in this boutique branch. Thirty-five-carat diamond and cost over ten million dollars," the manager explained the detail of the ring that caught Ashley's eyes.

"Astrid? Ten million dollars?" Ashley gasped in amazement.

"That ring was called Astrid, which means divinely beautiful," Miss Lily explained.

Seeing the two women only focused their eyes on Astrid, Ashton went to join them.

"Mr Grey, looks like Miss White is interested with Astrid. Should I take it out so she could try it on? What do you think?" Miss Lily spoke immediately right after Ashton reached them.

"Oh, no no no... That's just too expensive. I'll just get a regular one," Ashley refused instantly, didn't want to trouble Ashton to buy her an over-priced wedding ring.

"Okay, go on. Take it out and let her try," Ashton ignored her and just spoke to Miss Lily.

Miss Lily gave a wide approving smile to the couple and slowly took out the Astrid ring for Ashley to try. The manager helped Ashley put the ring around the fourth finger of her left hand carefully.

"Isn't that amazing? The ring fits her finger perfectly," Miss Lily exclaimed excitedly. She showed Ashley's hand to Ashton.

A smile appeared on his face and Ashton went forward to take her hand, staring at the ring on her finger with a satisfied gaze.

"We'll take it," he said without hesitation. He ignored the shocked expression in Ashley's gaze and then went along to choose his wedding ring.

Ashton picked a plain platinum ring and instructed Miss Lily to tell the craftsman to engrave the word 'Ash & Ash' on it, in short for their names Ashton and Ashley.

"Isn't that romantic? He even engraved our name on his wedding ring,' Ashley murmured internally as she stared at the man who was waiting for his wedding ring to be done. A while later, Miss Lily came out again and showed Ashton his ring. The engraving was done beautifully and his heart was satisfied. He then helped Ashley choose a pair of earrings and a necklace to match her wedding dress tomorrow.

The time on his watch showed ten minutes before one and Ashton escorted Ashley out of Lovella Bridals. He only took the rings with him while their wedding attires and Ashley's set of jewellery for the wedding were sent straight to his villa.

"Hello, Archy. Is everything done at the villa?" He made a phone call right after they entered the car again. Cory drove the car immediately, heading back to the villa.

"Almost done," Archer Reeves, Ashton's best friend answered shortly.

Archer was the Managing Director of Ashton's company. They were friends since college and he was the only close friend Ashton had and trusted. Archer was also the only one who knew about his past and his family background.

"How about the invitation?" Ashton asked more.

"Done too. I had made sure all the directors inside the company will attend it. Do I need to invite your aunties and your uncles as well?"

"No, unless you want to ruin my wedding," Ashton joshed.

"Well, you almost gave me a heart attack this morning when you said you're going to get married tomorrow. Who the hell would do that?" Archer jested at him too. Ashton chuckled in response.

"How about the priest? Can he make time tomorrow morning?"

"Of course, Ash. Whatever for you, even the world could probably stop spinning if you tell the Earth." Archer knew how much capable this guy was to do things his way. Ashton was a complete perfectionist who would do whatever it takes to get what he wanted.

"Great. I'm on my way home right now. Have lunch with us."

"Really? So, I'm going to meet the woman who managed to steal your heart after being single for years?" Archer was excited to accept the lunch invitation.

"Don't seduce her..." Ashton said domineeringly in a teasing way. The other person just laughed.

***

In less than an hour, the black Rolls-Royce Ghost car arrived in front of the villa.

"It's late. We'll have lunch right away, okay?" Ashton said to Ashley as they got off the car. The woman just nodded in response.

As they stepped into the villa, a man wearing a bright blue t-shirt and black pants greeted Ashton immediately. It was Archer and they both had a quick friendly hug.

"Congratulation. So this is her?" Archer turned to look at Ashley right after the hug. Ashley felt awkward instantly and she just smiled. She got a feeling that Archer was the kind of man that was easygoing and a bit over-friendly.

"Yup. Her name is Ashley White. Honey, this is my friend, Archy," Ashton introduced the two.

Archer stretched out his hand to give Ashley a handshake and that woman just accepted it.

"Archer Reeves. You can call me Archy. Ashton and I had been friends since college, probably over ten years now. Speaking of that, isn't she looks a bit young for you? Have you ever asked her age before?" Archy spoke his curiosity.

Now that they were on the topic, Ashton just realized that he never really ask her that. He did tell her that he was twenty-seven last night, but he was not even sure if she remembered it because she was drunk at that time.

"Well..." Ashton was hesitant to ask Ashley. It was just too awkward to mention their age at that moment. However, he did agree that she looked a lot younger than him.

"Ashton and I were twenty-seven. How about you?" Archer brazenly just asked her.

"I'm... twenty-three," Ashley replied softly.

The men gasped a little but didn't make it too obvious to her. Then, Archer leaned his head closer to Ashton and whispered something to his ear.

"She's way younger than your ex..."

"Don't mention about that woman now," Ashton cut him off immediately and his expression turned stern. Archer just chuckled to brush off the things he said before.

"How about we have lunch now? I'm starving," Archer suggested, changing the topic and the couple agreed right away.