Ashley woke up the next day to the greatest surprise of her life, giant bunches of red roses, and a lifetime supply of chocolate, which she loved too much at her doorstep. She exclaimed, stopping short at the sight of massive bunches of flowers being brought out from a delivery truck outside. Mountains of red roses, some of them tightly furled buds, some in glorious full bloom. Two men had stepped out of the delivery truck to assist the driver, and the three of them kept going inside the truck to fetch bouquet after bouquet wrapped in stiff white lace paper. When Ashley thought it was over, they brought more, a huge crate filled with brick-sized parcels wrapped in brown paper. “What are they.” she asked the delivery man. He unwrapped one of the parcels with great care. He spread the waxed brown paper open to reveal a damply fragrant bar of chocolate, its spice adding a pungent note to the smell of the roses. Ashley watched in awe, with her hands folded at her waists, only one
Aiden relaxed in his private pool in the Greenville resort. The pool was large enough to contain a family of ten but he had it all to himself. He also had a private quarters, where he usually tidied up after swimming. Aiden had tried to distract himself from thinking about Ashley, but all his tricks failed, so he came to his private pool, the one place where he could put his thoughts together. Aiden wanted Ashley...he needed Ashley, he had never felt this urgency towards anything except business, but this was a whole human being, he wanted to feel her skin against his, he needed to breath her, make love to her, wake up beside her everyday...he needed to own her. But he knew he couldn't, why did he always craved for things, that were way above his ability, but like everything he had ever craved for, he had gotten, so Ashley will be no exception. "There's a lady here to see you." His assistant voice jolted him back to reality. Aiden looked confused, a lady? nobody came here except h
He kissed her, all the way to the bedroom. They fell onto the bed together, their wet bodies pressing against each other. His hands were everywhere, caressing her skin, pulling at her bikini top until it came off. She arched her back, offering him easier access to her breasts. He suckled on her nipples, teasing them with his tongue while his fingers found their way inside her, stroking her wetness. She moaned, her hips bucking against his hand. "Oh Aiden," she gasped, her body on fire. His free hand slid down her stomach, teasing her lower lip before dipping into her folds. She cried out, her hips arching off the bed as he found her clit and began to tease it expertly. "Aiden," she whimpered, her body shuddering with pleasure. He kissed his way down her body, tasting the sweetness of her skin, before pulling off the remaining obstacle and tossing it aside. She spread her legs wider, offering him easier access to her core. He smiled down at her, his eyes burning with desire as he le
The museum was like a living being, its ancient walls whispering the secrets of a time long past. Ashley wandered through the halls, her fingertips trailing along the cool marble bannisters, her heart filled with a sense of awe and wonder. Beside her, Aiden followed, his presence a comforting warmth in the chilly museum air. They strolled through the halls, their hands entwined, their hearts intertwined. The air was heavy with the scent of polished wood and the faint aroma of worn-out paint, each breath a testament to the countless stories that filled the museum's every crevice. Aiden sighed contentedly, his eyes sparkling with admiration. "It's amazing how much history and culture is contained within these walls. I can only hope that someday, I'll be able to bring children of my own here, to share this experience with them and watch as their minds are blown wide open by the sheer magnitude of human creation." He turned to Ashley, his expression hopeful. "Do you want that, darling
Ashley sang to herself as she prepared to go over to Aiden's Manson for dinner. She had called Nichole to explain her current predicament with Aiden, and Nichole had said. "That billionaire is definitely into you." She had argued and refused to believe Nichole, but she knew Nichole was always right. Ashley decided that tonight's dinner will be the last. She had gotten exactly what she wanted from Aiden, she wanted three dates, and Aiden had given her more than that, and above all Thomas witnessed it all. So Ashley had made up her mind to end everything tonight. Aiden was yet to make his intentions clear, but she knew that it was tonight's menu. Aiden was just a pawn in her revenge game, now that she had gotten that ticked off. She had to end whatever it is she shared with Aiden, and focus on the next item on the list. Ashley stepped out of her apartment in a nude color dinner gown, a pair of lady's heels, and her luxurious jewelry glowed in the dark night. She saw a tall handso
As the evening wore on, they moved into the living room once more, sipping their drinks as they talked. Aiden gestured toward a beautiful painting on the wall, asking her opinion of it. She studied the abstract work for a moment, genuinely admiring its unique beauty. "It's stunning," she said honestly. "I could look at this all day." He smiled, seeming pleased by her reaction. "Thank you. I commissioned it from an artist I met during my travels. It reminds me of you, in a way. The way you see beauty in everything, even the smallest of details." Her heart skipped a beat at his words, but she forced a casual laugh, trying to downplay their significance. "Oh, you're just saying that." She gestured toward the fireplace, where a few embers glowed softly. "But speaking of beauty, I love how cozy this room is. It's perfect for a night like this." She glanced around, taking in the comfortable furniture, the soft lighting, and the warm, inviting atmosphere. Aiden followed her gaze and nod
In the dimly lit confines of an opulent mansion, the once-mighty Thomas sat slumped in an armchair, a bottle of whiskey clutched tightly in his trembling hand. The crystal tumbler clinked against his teeth as he took a deep swig, the alcohol burning a path of sorrow and regret down his throat. Once a billionaire, Thomas had it all—wealth, power, and the love of the woman who had stolen his heart. Ashley had been his guiding light, his reason for living. But all of that was gone now. In a desperate attempt to regain his financial footing, he had made a Faustian bargain with Maris, the enigmatic daughter of the Devil. As the liquor coursed through his veins, Thomas's mind raced. He had traded Ashley, the only woman he had ever truly loved, for a marriage of convenience. Maris was beautiful, yes, but her cold eyes and calculating smile chilled him to the bone. She had promised him wealth and power beyond his wildest dreams, but at a terrible price. A single tear escaped his eye and
As Ashley strode confidently through the polished marble corridors of The Thomas Enterprise headquarters, her heart fluttered with a mix of excitement and nerves. It had been months since she had stepped foot in this building, let alone in the boardroom she was about to enter - as the new CEO. Dressed in a sleek power suit that exuded authority, Ashley's eyes sparkled with determination. She had worked tirelessly for this moment, clawing her way up the corporate ladder, fueled by her ambition and desire to prove herself. Little did she know, fate had a surprise in store for her. Just as she reached the impressive oak doors of the boardroom, the sharp voice of the secretary halted her in her tracks. "Excuse me, ma'am, but this is a private meeting. You can't just barge in like that." The secretary's tone was firm, her posture reflecting her unyielding stance. Ashley smiled politely, her gaze meeting the secretary's. "I understand, but I'm actually here to lead this meeting." Her v
Ashley's heels clicked against the gleaming marble floor of the private airport terminal, echoing through the vast, empty space. She looked around anxiously, her eyes scanning the sleek lines of the chrome and glass walls, hoping to catch a glimpse of Aiden's unmistakable silhouette. The sound of engines roared in the distance, muffled by the thick panes of soundproof glass that separated the opulent lobby from the tarmac. Her heart raced, a frantic drumbeat in her chest that grew louder with every passing second. The clock above the bustling departures board ticked away, reminding her of the dwindling time she had left. Aiden's flight was due to take off any minute, and she had to find him. She had to apologize. Her thoughts were a tumultuous storm of regret and fear, a toxic brew that threatened to spill over at any moment. The weight of her actions bore down on her, a heavy burden that she hadn't realized she'd been carrying until it was almost too late. Her eyes darted around t
"YES, I did it." He attempted to touch her, but Ashley stood up and screamed. "Don't touch me!" The force of her anger scared him, and he retreated back immediately. "I can explain.""Explain what?" Her chest rose and fell in quick successions."My plan was never to hurt you.""But you did." Ashley chuckled. "You sent men to kidnap, torture and rob me, as if that wasn't enough, you still accused Aiden.""There weren't supposed to hurt you."Ashley shook her head. "Do you want to know what is so disgusting? It's the fact that you imputed your guilt on Metaphor."Thomas took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment before continuing. "Metaphor is actually guilty."Ashley shook her head again. "Why are you so confused?""The men who kidnapped you, they are members of the Metaphor." He paused. "I'm sorry. I was too jealous when you and Aiden were together. I--I had to find traitors amongst Metaphor and pay them enough to just make you disappear for a while." He desperately tried to
"ASHLEY, you're not going to believe this," Nichole announced breathlessly, her eyes wide with annoyance. She and Genevieve bursted into the room, their footsteps echoing off the walls.Ashley looked up from her wineglass, curiosity piqued. "What's going on?" she asked, setting the wine bottle in place. The light from the pendant lamp above her cast a warm glow on her face, illuminating the puzzled expression.Nichole's features hardened as she handed over a thick envelope to Ashley. "It's the report from the detective," she said, her voice dropping to a serious tone. "They've found out who was behind your kidnapping and robbery."Ashley's hand trembled as she took the envelope. The weight of it felt like a brick in her grasp. She stared at the unassuming paper, unable to process the words. "What does it say?" she managed to ask, her voice a mere whisper.Genevieve sat down beside her on the couch, her own expression somber. "Thomas," she said simply. "It was Thomas. He's the one behi
THE next few days in Ashley's house was a hide and seek game between Ashley and her mom. Ashley did everything in her power to ignore Mira, and Mira sensing it, intentionally ignored her, but she still prepared breakfast, ste the alarm clock so loud so that it would wake Ashley on time to be early to work. Mira never brought up the topic of a fresh start again, but her presence and conducts were literally begging for a fresh start. Her presence was like a taunting nightmare, which caused Ashley to leave the house very early in the morning, her herself as worked up as possible and return home very late. They never had to cross paths for a conversation lasting more than 15 seconds. Mira's presence and constant effort was slowly weakening hee resolve. She needed to know her mother's side of the story. She needed someone to hug...she needed a friend but more importantly, she needed her mom. Ashley returned on Wednesday with a changed mind, but she was welcomed by the greatest surprise
ASHLEY stirred, her eyes slowly opening to the soft glow of the morning sun filtering through her blinds. She took a deep breath, inhaling the tantalizing aroma of pancakes and coffee wafting from the kitchen. The smells filled her room with a comfort she hadn't felt in a long time. Her stomach grumbled, reminding her that she had barely eaten the night before, consumed by the shock of her mother's unexpected return.Her mother's voice, filled with an awkward nervousness, called out from the hallway. "Ashley, sweetie, I made breakfast. It's ready for you."Ashley sat up in bed, her body stiff from a restless night. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and glanced at the digital clock on her nightstand. It was almost 9 AM, later than she usually woke up. Her mind raced with the events of the previous evening: the doorbell ringing, the awkward meeting at the parking lot. Her mother had been gone for 22 years, and now she was here, trying to slip back into her life as if nothing had happen
HER final destination for the day was Blue Skype modelling. The moment she pushed the glass door and entered inside the building...the models, the talent managers, and other employees all stared at her, and she knew something bad was about to happen to her. She asked herself, what's the worst that could happen?Mr Shaw stood in the gathering of some important shareholders and signalled her to come over. She nervously reached them in just a few steps. Mr Shaw gave her an envelope. Was she being dismissed? Her first reaction was to turn around and leave, but mr Shaw stopped her, and all the eyes in the building were literally begging her to open the envelope. She opened it and retrieved a white letter, before her brain could process what she saw. The crowd cheered, clapped and choruserd congratulations.She will be going to Paris to feature in the international fashion magazine, that was the biggest job ever yet. The entire building was full of cheers and clapping, how did they know?"A
THE last person Thomas expected to see after a stressful night at the Met met gala was his wife, Maris laying on his bed. He absently entered his room, threw his tuxedo to one corner while he undid his tie. Thomas stopped dead in his track when he saw Maris, his eyes widened in shock. "Maris?" He managed to ask."Hi Thomas. Where have you been?" She laid on her right side and stared at him."What are you doing here?" He hesitated. "Chole, she's still out there, what if she find you?"She slowly stood from the bed. "Oh relax husband. My daddy has taken care of chole, she will never have to bother us ever again." She traced a light touch down his chest.Thomas was still not convinced. "It's not safe here.""Hmmm...is there something you're hiding from me?""What?" Thomas laughed nervously and pulled her closer to him. "There's nothing I'm hiding from you.""Good." She placed her hands on his chin and tilted his head to the side, she kissed him. They stumbled backwards and fell on the be
JUST as she thought she had found a safe haven, she collided with a man dressed in an eccentric outfit that matched the avant-garde theme of the gala. She stumbled back, her hand shooting out to steady herself. "I'm so sorry," she said, her eyes flicking up to meet his. To her horror, it was Thomas, his handsome face etched with confusion. "Ashley?" he questioned, his voice a mix of surprise and concern. Her mind raced as she tried to formulate an excuse. "Oh, Thomas, what a... pleasant surprise," she said, trying to sound as casual as possible. "I was just looking for the restroom, and I seem to have gotten a bit turned around." He tilted his head, his eyes searching hers. "You okay?" Ashley's pulse hammered in her ears. "Yes, yes, just a bit overwhelmed by the grandeur, you know?" Thomas nodded, his gaze lingering on her for a moment too long. "I can see why," he said, his voice low and comforting. "Would you like me to walk you there?" Her heart skipped a beat. "No, no, th
"WOULD you like a drink?" Thomas asked, mistaking her nervousness for thirst. "I'll grab us some champagne.""No, no, I'm fine," she replied a little too quickly. "Just...just give me a moment to admire this piece." She gestured to a mannequin dressed in an outlandish outfit that looked like it belonged on an alien runway.Thomas nodded, his eyes lingering on her before he stepped away. Ashley took a deep breath, willing her heart to calm down. She had to find a way to get to Aiden without Thomas finding out. The room was crowded, but she spotted a narrow corridor leading to the next exhibit. It was her chance."Thomas, I think I'll just step out for a moment to...uh, to check my makeup," she said, her voice shaky.Thomas nodded, engrossed in a nearby conversation. "Take your time, darling. I'll be right here."With a silent prayer to the fashion gods, Ashley slipped away. She stepped into the corridor, her heels clicking against the floor as she moved swiftly. The walls were lined w