“What condition is that?” I asked suspiciously, wondering where the idea was coming from. I had no idea what he was going to say, but I could already feel it would be a crazy thing.“I want you to go on a date with me,” Ashton replied, his tone just casual as though he were asking for coffee, not a date after everything that had just happened.I was taken aback and I let it show in my words, “What? Are you seriously asking me out on a date at this critical time? Basically, we are at the brink of having our project fail because of that video, and now what you want is for us to go on a date?”At this point, I knew I couldn’t hide my anger anymore. “You’re joking, right?”“No, I’m not joking,” he said, and I could hear the playful edge in his voice. It was clear that definitely none of these issues on the ground really bothered him. “If you want me to make that live video to the world saying you apologized to me … then yes, I am asking you to go on a date with me.”“Wow, really? Are you
“Are you freaking serious?” Rita whisper-yelled, her hands on her mouth as she literally could barely control herself after hearing what I told her.I shot her a look of disbelief. “What is there to be happy about?”She laughed; her oozing happiness literally knew no bounds. “Why won't I be excited? You’re going on a date with Ashton! Ashton! Finally!”“What the hell, man” I scoffed, wondering why she was so chipper about it. “I can’t believe I even told you.”Rita moved closer, taking a seat next to me, still smiling like a child that was handed candy. “Oh, come on, Helen. This is huge! You’ve always still had feelings for him.”I shook my head. “No, no, this is not what you think. We’re just meeting to settle things for the project, Rita. It’s not a date!”“Not a date?” She laughed. “Please! You’re going to dinner with your ex-husband! That’s basically a date.”“It's just a normal meeting. He’s going to make that live video and clear everything up. That’s all we’re discussing,” I in
I was in my office just chilling, music playing softly in the background, I took another sip of my wine. The smooth taste reminded me of how things might finally turn around. Soon enough, the door swung open and Dan walked in, looking both curious and excited.“How the hell did you make this happen?” Dan asked, his voice loud over the music. He practically had the surprise look on his face.I chuckled, taking another sip. “It’s a miracle, man. Just pure magic.”“Magic? Come on, tell me!” Dan was grinning from ear to ear, leaning closer. His eyes sparkled with obvious glee. “Why are you keeping all this excitement from me?”I just smiled, enjoying the tease. “Guess how I got Helen to agree to go on a date with me.”He tapped his chin, pretending to think hard. “Hmm, did you send her flowers? No, that’s too basic. Wait! Did you charm her with your billionaire smile?”I laughed, shaking my head. “Nope, not that either.”“Okay, let me think,” he continued, looking at me intensely. “Did y
I sat at the corner table of the Italian restaurant, watching the door as people came in and went out. “I have been waiting for, like, 30 minutes now,” I thought, looking at my watch for the third time. “Where is she?”I tried not to sound bothered. I knew she’d show up—maybe just a little late. But part of me wished she wouldn’t bail on me this time, because she might plan to. I adjusted my tie, feeling the silk glide against my skin, and once again, I marveled at how good I looked in this suit.My dark hair was neatly combed back, and I hoped I had just the right balance between professional and approachable. I had no idea why I felt so excited when we both claimed this meeting was just about solving our online issues and not anything personal.“Please, waiter, can I get a cup of water?” I called out to a passing waiter. He nodded with a smile and replied, “No problem, sir! Anything else?”“No, just water is fine,” I said to him. He disappeared into the restaurant to get it, and I
“Sorry for what exactly, Ashton? For betraying me on our anniversary? For ruining everything we built? Or for showing up six years later and acting like an apology will fix it?”I felt bitter at her words, the bitterness in her tone hitting me harder than I’d anticipated. “I—I didn’t betray you, Helen. That night… I don’t even remember what happened. I swear, I never—”“You don’t remember?” She interrupted, her eyes looking intensely at me. “How convenient. Let me jog your memory.” She came forward, her voice dropping to a hiss. “I came to your penthouse to surprise you. I was excited, Ashton. I wanted to celebrate us. But instead of you, I found your secretary. Rose. In your shirt. Handing me divorce papers.”Her words felt so shocking. What was she talking about?“Helen, I never signed those papers. I never even…” I paused, running a hand through my hair. I hated the fact that I couldn't remember shit that day. “I didn’t know about any of that. Rose lied to you. She set me up.”Hel
“There is no ‘us,’ Ashton. There hasn’t been for a long time. And no amount of apologies or explanations will change that.”Her words were so strong that they broke my heart, but I don’t know why I refused to give up. “Helen, please. Just hear me out. Let’s… let’s start over. Not as lovers, not even as friends, but as two people trying to move forward.”She looked at me and just laughed. “Move forward? Ashton, the only reason I’m here is because I have respect for Mr. Anderson. My boss sent me to this city to be an actress, and he said I must clear the mess I made. Once that’s done, we go our separate ways.”“It doesn’t have actresses like that,” I begged desperately. “We can—”“It does,” She interrupted. “And you need to accept that.”I’d spent years imagining this moment, hoping for a chance to explain myself, to make things right. But now that it was here, I realized just how far apart we’d grown.“Fine,” I agreed finally, seeing there was no use in pushing this further. “If that’s
I stared at the pregnancy test results in my hand, tears rolling down my cheeks in torrents. I was a month gone. I felt relief wash over as more tears fell, my heart pounding with joy and gratitude.Finally, after years of struggling with infidelity, I was pregnant. I couldn’t help but smile through the tears, a warm sense of joy filling me up. I had tried everything, consulted the best doctors, undergone countless tests and procedures, and still, nothing had worked. Until now. I looked up to meet the friendly gaze of our private doctor, who smiled at me. “Congratulations, ma’am,” she said, holding my hands, her face beaming with genuine happiness for me.Who wouldn’t be happy for me? My life had been nothing but bruises and thorns after three years of marriage with nothing to show for it. My marriage was on the verge of collapse. Ashton, my husband ignored me like I was some kind of plague, and his mother—hmph!—his mother was the worst. She made it her day job to maltreat and hu
How could he do this to me? Why would he cheat on me? I can understand that he was desperate for a child, but cheating? Cheating was way out of line.“Helen, are you there?” the voice of the lady he was with boomed through the phone and I clenched my fists as tears rolled down my cheeks.“I want to speak with Ashton,” I demanded, trying my best to hide the hurt in my voice. “Now.” I added.She laughed. “Don’t you want to know who I am first?” She chuckled, but I was quiet. She was going to introduce her bitchy self anyway. “Of course you’d get to see your lovely husband, but I want you to know me first. I’m Rose, his secretary and next wife.”My eyes twitched. Rose? I knew her. Ashton was cheating on me with his secretary? I shook my head. “No!” I snapped. “I can’t believe this.”A picture came into my phone instantly, and I checked, my eyes widening. I recognize that chestnut brown hair and physical build anywhere. It was Ashton… and… he was on top of her, naked. My eyes burned with
“There is no ‘us,’ Ashton. There hasn’t been for a long time. And no amount of apologies or explanations will change that.”Her words were so strong that they broke my heart, but I don’t know why I refused to give up. “Helen, please. Just hear me out. Let’s… let’s start over. Not as lovers, not even as friends, but as two people trying to move forward.”She looked at me and just laughed. “Move forward? Ashton, the only reason I’m here is because I have respect for Mr. Anderson. My boss sent me to this city to be an actress, and he said I must clear the mess I made. Once that’s done, we go our separate ways.”“It doesn’t have actresses like that,” I begged desperately. “We can—”“It does,” She interrupted. “And you need to accept that.”I’d spent years imagining this moment, hoping for a chance to explain myself, to make things right. But now that it was here, I realized just how far apart we’d grown.“Fine,” I agreed finally, seeing there was no use in pushing this further. “If that’s
“Sorry for what exactly, Ashton? For betraying me on our anniversary? For ruining everything we built? Or for showing up six years later and acting like an apology will fix it?”I felt bitter at her words, the bitterness in her tone hitting me harder than I’d anticipated. “I—I didn’t betray you, Helen. That night… I don’t even remember what happened. I swear, I never—”“You don’t remember?” She interrupted, her eyes looking intensely at me. “How convenient. Let me jog your memory.” She came forward, her voice dropping to a hiss. “I came to your penthouse to surprise you. I was excited, Ashton. I wanted to celebrate us. But instead of you, I found your secretary. Rose. In your shirt. Handing me divorce papers.”Her words felt so shocking. What was she talking about?“Helen, I never signed those papers. I never even…” I paused, running a hand through my hair. I hated the fact that I couldn't remember shit that day. “I didn’t know about any of that. Rose lied to you. She set me up.”Hel
I sat at the corner table of the Italian restaurant, watching the door as people came in and went out. “I have been waiting for, like, 30 minutes now,” I thought, looking at my watch for the third time. “Where is she?”I tried not to sound bothered. I knew she’d show up—maybe just a little late. But part of me wished she wouldn’t bail on me this time, because she might plan to. I adjusted my tie, feeling the silk glide against my skin, and once again, I marveled at how good I looked in this suit.My dark hair was neatly combed back, and I hoped I had just the right balance between professional and approachable. I had no idea why I felt so excited when we both claimed this meeting was just about solving our online issues and not anything personal.“Please, waiter, can I get a cup of water?” I called out to a passing waiter. He nodded with a smile and replied, “No problem, sir! Anything else?”“No, just water is fine,” I said to him. He disappeared into the restaurant to get it, and I
I was in my office just chilling, music playing softly in the background, I took another sip of my wine. The smooth taste reminded me of how things might finally turn around. Soon enough, the door swung open and Dan walked in, looking both curious and excited.“How the hell did you make this happen?” Dan asked, his voice loud over the music. He practically had the surprise look on his face.I chuckled, taking another sip. “It’s a miracle, man. Just pure magic.”“Magic? Come on, tell me!” Dan was grinning from ear to ear, leaning closer. His eyes sparkled with obvious glee. “Why are you keeping all this excitement from me?”I just smiled, enjoying the tease. “Guess how I got Helen to agree to go on a date with me.”He tapped his chin, pretending to think hard. “Hmm, did you send her flowers? No, that’s too basic. Wait! Did you charm her with your billionaire smile?”I laughed, shaking my head. “Nope, not that either.”“Okay, let me think,” he continued, looking at me intensely. “Did y
“Are you freaking serious?” Rita whisper-yelled, her hands on her mouth as she literally could barely control herself after hearing what I told her.I shot her a look of disbelief. “What is there to be happy about?”She laughed; her oozing happiness literally knew no bounds. “Why won't I be excited? You’re going on a date with Ashton! Ashton! Finally!”“What the hell, man” I scoffed, wondering why she was so chipper about it. “I can’t believe I even told you.”Rita moved closer, taking a seat next to me, still smiling like a child that was handed candy. “Oh, come on, Helen. This is huge! You’ve always still had feelings for him.”I shook my head. “No, no, this is not what you think. We’re just meeting to settle things for the project, Rita. It’s not a date!”“Not a date?” She laughed. “Please! You’re going to dinner with your ex-husband! That’s basically a date.”“It's just a normal meeting. He’s going to make that live video and clear everything up. That’s all we’re discussing,” I in
“What condition is that?” I asked suspiciously, wondering where the idea was coming from. I had no idea what he was going to say, but I could already feel it would be a crazy thing.“I want you to go on a date with me,” Ashton replied, his tone just casual as though he were asking for coffee, not a date after everything that had just happened.I was taken aback and I let it show in my words, “What? Are you seriously asking me out on a date at this critical time? Basically, we are at the brink of having our project fail because of that video, and now what you want is for us to go on a date?”At this point, I knew I couldn’t hide my anger anymore. “You’re joking, right?”“No, I’m not joking,” he said, and I could hear the playful edge in his voice. It was clear that definitely none of these issues on the ground really bothered him. “If you want me to make that live video to the world saying you apologized to me … then yes, I am asking you to go on a date with me.”“Wow, really? Are you
“Hey,” Ashton started as he walked up to me, smiling as though we were cool. “I really appreciate your input during the meeting. You handled everything really well.”“Thanks,” I replied nonchalantly. I was ready for any conversation with him. “I was just trying to do my job.”“I get it,” he replied. “You’ve always had a talent for this. You know you shouldn’t have lost it earlier on. I thought we were cool.”Is he fucking serious? So this is all he has to say after literally making sure he pissed me off with his annoying statements.I rolled my eyes, trying to make sure that I answered him as calmly as I could. “So sorry about all that.”“I know. It’s fine,” he said. “But I want you to understand that I’m still rooting for you. For the project and for you personally.”“Right,” I replied, crossing my arms defensively. “Let’s just keep things professional, Mr. Ashton. Can I go now?”A smile appeared on his lips. “Still stubborn as always?”“Have a nice day, Ashton,” I scoffed and wanted
My immediate response surprised even myself. “I have nothing to say to you.”He looked at me intensely with his hands tucked in his suit pants, “You can’t avoid this forever.”“It’s easy to avoid someone who’s only bringing negativity,” I scoffed, shaking my head as I walked away.Regardless of the fire we had just exchanged, soothing my anger felt like a victory. I needed to find a way to handle this mess—the film, the meeting, and especially Ashton. But for now, I just wanted to escape the chaos of that room and breathe.The door closed behind me, and I took a deep, calming breath. I knew my actions would have repercussions, but at this point, I didn’t care. All I wanted to do was tell Ashton my mind, and that was exactly what I did.“Wow, what the hell was that, Helen?” The voice shook me, and I turned to see Mr. Riley walking towards me; his face had this mix of anger and concern.“Mr. Riley, I’m sorry,” I apologized quickly, raising my hands in surrender. “I didn’t mean to be rud
The atmosphere in the conference room suddenly grew cold the moment Ashton walked in. The noise of hushed conversation stopped abruptly; all eyes turned towards him. I felt a sharp pain in my stomach as all the memories we shared in the past came running back. His sharp suit, that confident look, and that unshaken charisma—it all took me back to a time I wished I could forget.“Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for your patience. I trust you all enjoyed your lunches?” Ashton’s voice was deep and smooth, carrying authority as he looked around the table.Everyone nodded quickly, excited murmurs about the food filling the room.“Great! I just wanted to take a moment to celebrate all the hard work everyone has put into this project.” He paused for a while, scanning the room. His eyes then landed on me, and my heart skipped a beat. “I hope you found the lunch satisfying. I thought it would be a nice surprise.”Suddenly, it clicked—Ashton was behind the lunch package. The last remnants