Chapter 2

Ashley is having breakfast when the door of her apartment opened abruptly.

"Good morning girl", Kamila shouted.

"Oh Gosh Kami !", Ashley said, shocked.

"I almost had a heart attack. Please next time you want to come at my place, just remember to knock on the door like everyone else", Ashley then said.

"Yes but you know I'm not like everyone.Oh ! And here is your mail, I watched them a little and there are especially letters with red brands on. You're welcome", Kamila replied.

"No ! No ! What have you done ?", shouted Ashley.

"Oh! Come on ! I didn't even open them", said Kamila.

"No, that's not that. It's just that I said to my landlord that I lost the key of my mailbox to avoid my bills", replied Ashley.

"And...", said Kamila.

"And now since you took my mail I have to pay them now when I only get my salary within 2 weeks", Ashley told her as she is about to cry.

"Ah ! Now I see. Ash, you know I'll always be there or you, huh ? If you want to, I can help you to pay them and you can refund later. What do you say ?", Kamila said, offering to Ashley her help.

"I know that but I can't let you do that for me. You know perfectly that it makes me feel uncomfortable when you try to help me financially. So, thank you so much but I have again to refuse your offer. I will find a way to pay them as always", Ashley said.

"Alright, do what you think the best Ash. But know that I'm always there in case you change your mind", Kamila replied.

At the beginning of my friendship with Kamila, I really thought that our friendship wouldn’t last long because of our different financial situations but finally no. Our friendship lasted 5 years already and I hope it will last for years and years.

"Come on ! Let's go now", Ashley finally said.

"Uhm... “ Did you plan something tomorrow night?", asked Kamila curiously as they went down the stairs.

"Tomorrow we are Friday, right. So as usual, I work at the Jo's restaurant. Why ?", asked Ashley.

"Brad and I think that maybe we could go out having fun just the three of us. It's been a while now that we didn't hang out", Kamila answered.

"I'm so sorry Kami but Jo finally let me close the restaurant today and I don't want to miss this opportunity", Ashley said.

"There are days when I really wonder why you are still working for this guy. It's obvious that he hates you and you hate working for him too", Kamila replied.

"Yes I know but the customers there give bigger tip", Ashley told her.

"Ok, but Saturday night, just free yourself we are going to hang out and have fun together and I won’t accept any excuse this time", said Kamila.

"Fine I'll try to finish my work more earlier", Ashley finally replied.

Meanwhile in the suite of Rafael's hotel.

Someone knocks at the door

"Yes come in", Rafael said.

Then Carlos, Rafael's right arm has entered.

"Good morning Capo. Sorry to disturb you as early this morning but I have the information that you asked for about Conrad's daughter", Carlos said.

"Good job Carlos ! I knew that I could count on you as usual", Rafael said.

"Oh ! You're already awake", said a girl only dressed in a shirt and with all ruffled hair and coming from Rafael's bedroom.

"All my apology again Capo, I didn't know that you weren't alone", Carlos said.

"Don't worry Carlos. Lana was going to leave anyway", Rafael said while looking at the girl.

"It's Julia. My name is Julia not Lana", the girl said, furiously.

"Yeah, whatever", Rafael said, not even looking at the girl.

Then the girl shouted, took her clothes and then left the suite furiously.

"So what did you find on the girl ?", Rafael asked to Carlos when Julia was really gone.

"Well, her name is Ashley Jocelyn Conrad, 23 years old, last year student at the University of Wrentford and always major of her promotion. She lives in a small apartment not far from the university", Carlos answered him.

"Which major is she studying ?", Rafael asked.

"Economics and Management", Carlos said.

"Uhm ... interesting. And about her acquaintance ?", Rafael asked.

"Most of the time she is hanging with Kamila Griffith and Bradley Simons when she isn't busy by her three jobs", Carlos replied.

"No boyfriend ?", Rafael asked but curiously this time.

"Nope ! No boyfriend except that this Bradley Simons turns around her for a while now but she always rejected him", Carlos said.

"Ah ! I see. Please continue. How about her financial situation ?", Rafael demanded.

"Well, she is often into the red financially, late rent and bills and apparently, she got a scholarship to study in Wrentford. She also asked to emancipate from her father at the age of 16 and now she is totally independent of him financially. She mainly managed to survive thanks to charitable associations as well as thanks to a few donations", Carlos said.

"And about her mother?", Rafael asked.

"No mention of her mother in all of her school records. Actually no one knows if she is still alive or dead but don't worry, I have already put Roberto on the spot", Carlos replied.

"Well, that's enough. Thank you Carlos, you can leave now and let her files on the table", Rafael said.

"Alright Capo. Do you need something ?", Carlos said.

"Actually I would like you to keep an eye on her discreetly and take care of her rent and her bills as well as", Rafael said.

"Alright Capo", Carlos replied and then left Rafael.

"I don't know why but I'm really impatient to meet you Ashley Conrad. ", Rafael finally said while looking at Ashley's picture.

Later that day

Ashley is coming home after a long and hard working day.

"Finally ! Home Sweet Home", Ashley exclaimed in the lobby of the building were she lives while heading towards her mailbox then took her mails.

Then she met her landlord Bill

"Good evening Ms. Conrad", said Bill, the landlord.

"Hey Bill ! I know that I'm a bit late on my rent but don't worry I asked for an advance on my salary. So my two months of late rent are here ", Ashley said while extending an envelope to Bill.

"But your rent is already paid Ms. Conrad, those who are late and for the next 3 months", replied Bill kindly.

"Excuse-me ?! What did you say ? I think I've heard you badly. Did you really said that my rent was already paid ?", Ashley said, astonished.

"Yeah ! I received an envelope this morning with your name on it and containing the amount of your unpaid rent as well as for the next 3 months", Bill replied.

"Oh ! Really ? But I never sent you an envelope", Ashley ansered still astonished.

"Well if it wasn't you, well someone else does it then. Have a nice evening Ms. Conrad", Bill replied and then left.

"What just happened ?", Ashley asked herself still in shock by what she've just heard.