SEVENTEEN-DINNER AND BONDING

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN (2 YEARS AGO)

Ashton and I had settled into a routine. He would pick me up from my apartment in the morning, and we would drive to work together, of course, I would enter the building before him much to his disdain, and once the day was over, he would drive me back home. I had grown even more comfortable around him, maybe a bit too cosy. I had not told him but over the last few days, I had grown smitten for him. His actions made me blush knowingly and unknowingly and I was frightened that if he had not caught on, other people had.

No matter what feelings I was developing for Ashton Stetson, I had to ignore them and not act on them. His interaction with me was already taboo and I was so grateful for our friendship as it was, pursuing something more would ruin one of the only good things I had going in my life. Other than not risking our friendship, there was also the most important fact that he was my boss.

I sank back into my seat and sighed, the first crush I had in a while and it was the forbidden kind. Lou looked over to me with a questioning stare, I shook my head and she went back to scrolling on her phone while I pretended to watch the weather on the news channel. I had the weekend all to myself, no work and stress but instead, I was seated cross-legged on my couch thinking about my boss shamelessly.

“How’s work?” This was Lou’s weekly attempt to engage in meaningless conversation and act like she cared about me.

“Well, it’s better now. I don’t have to deal with Mr Samuels anymore.” Maybe entertaining this uninteresting banter would keep my mind off Ashton. I made the effort of shifting my body and looking at her.

“Oh, he’s the jerk that made you work overtime,” she nodded in realisation. “What happened to him?” She asked.

“I was moved to another department,” I responded even though I had told her the day I was moved to Ashton’s department.

She looked over to me as if contemplating and putting a puzzle together before she spoke. “How did that happen? Weren’t your chances very low?” She quirked up an eyebrow and I could already guess the direction her mind was headed.

“Don’t say it,” I warned.

“It’s the man that picks and drops you off, isn’t it?” She probed with a cheshire grin and looked away, partly because she was right, but mainly because my face was growing hot.

She clapped her hands in excitement. “I am right!” she exclaimed. “So? Tell me about the mystery rich man,”

Just as I was about to tell her that it was nothing like she thought, my phone rang and I could no longer hide my flushed face when I saw the name of the caller.

“It’s him!” She hollered and leaned close but I stood up and pressed the phone to my ear after answering.

“Hey,” I tried my best to sound normal and not like I was glaring at my roommate.

When his voice came through, I was reminded just why I had a massive crush on him. His voice was gentle but deep and masculine, the mere sound of it made me giddy and smile. Lou watched me like a hawk with a questioning look and I tried as hard as I could to wipe the smile off my face but the sides of my lips kept lifting.

“What are you doing?” He asked and I looked around, trying to think of something cool that I could be doing on the weekend. “I’m going to guess nothing since you’ve taken long to respond.” He added and all I could say was “um” in response and he chuckled.

“Would you mind joining me for dinner?” He asked and I actually glitched and could not say anything. Ashton and I had shared cups of coffee, but never dinner…he had never asked me out to dinner.

“Janelle?” Ashton’s concerned voice made me recuperate from my momentary disbelief and shock. “I’m alone at home and hungry, so I thought about having a meal with someone to kill the hunger and boredom.”

“Um…sure. Yes, I can do dinner.” I replied awkwardly and Ashton told me that he would pick me up in an hour.

Lou looked at me expectantly after I cut the call and her assault of questions followed right after. “You’re going for dinner? Who is this man? He’s crazy rich, isn’t he?” Her assault of questions was never-ending. “Of course, he is crazy rich if he got you to move to another department and he drives a different car every day.” She mused on her own.

She came over to my side, while I was still trying to organise my thoughts and grasp the fact that Ashton had just asked me out for dinner. Could I consider it a date? Even if he did not consider it a date, my mind surely did. We were friends but my heart and mind wanted more and if it meant grasping at straws, I would.

“Do you even have anything to wear? I only see you in those 2 ugly suits, and these sweatpants.” Lou looked down at my sweatpants in disgust. “You need something classy if you’re going to keep that rich man.”

“I don’t have anything classy other than my suits,” I replied and she tsked and did not look shocked at all.

“Fine, I’ll lend you a dress but you have to tell me the details about this man. He isn’t some old creep, right?”

“No no no!” I shook my head. “Please help me with the dress and I promise to tell you everything when I come back from dinner.”

Lou mulled over it for less than a minute before nodding. “Okay, but if you don’t keep up the end of your deal, I’m burning your pantsuit.” She threatened and I glared at her.

This was a very foreign situation but it felt nice. Lou and I were getting along and I was actually going on a date—even if only I considered it that. My life was actually turning on a whole different axis. I, of all people, had a relationship with Ashton Stetson, the heir of Stetson Hotel, he was my friend.

By the time an hour had passed, somehow Lou had done more than just lend me a dress. We ended up spending most of the time in her room, her doing my make-up and organising what I would wear while we talked about our families. I had always thought that Lou was a spoiled and bitter person who argued with her parents, trust me, I had heard her yell over the phone at her parents, but as she talked about her family, I gathered that she hated going home because it was her father and stepmother.

I knew a couple of things about non-biological parents and did not want to jump to conclusions about why she did not like living with her stepmother. When Ashton finally called that he was outside, Lou was more excited than I was, I blamed it on the fact that she had never seen me go out except to the café down the road to stick my nose in a book or work.

I looked down at the white, backless knee-length flared dress and smiled. It had long sleeves and flowed perfectly down my body, even the bare expanse of my back gave it more detail.

“You look beautiful,” Lou appreciated her work as she looked into the mirror with a huge smile. “I am a miracle worker.” She whisked the makeup brush in her hand and I smiled before turning to her and giving her a hug.

“Thank you. I’ll be back soon.” I pulled away and she pointed the brush at me.

“Make it quick, you have to come and tell me the details.” I waved at her as I left the apartment and went down the flight of stairs.

I wish I could have stored the look on Ashton’s face as a tangible memory when I got into the car and greeted him. He looked surprised, greatly surprised—the good kind of surprised. He smiled at me and even helped me to wear my seatbelt.

“You’re stunning,” He complimented. Naturally, my cheeks heated up and I looked away from his intense gaze. I heard him chuckle before he spoke once more, “We’re going to be late and I am famished.”

When we got to the restaurant, my eyes gawked at every corner in amazement, and the smell in the entire building was so delicious that I could not wait to taste how great the food tasted. Ashton and I were led by one of the staff to a table and as he dragged out a chair for me, I could not help but even feel harder for him, he was so perfect, from looks to mannerisms.

“The food is great, right?” Ashton asked once the food had arrived after we had ordered and we had begun eating.

I nodded enthusiastically. “Yes. It’s very delicious.” I answered after swallowing my food to which he smiled. The night went by smoothly and beautifully like every time I was in Ashton’s presence. It felt right to be with him, it was peaceful and not taxing—it was easy and full of butterflies. When we left the restaurant, I was a bit giddy from the wine and Ashton walked closely behind me while voicing his concern.

“Ashton, I’m okay.” I told him. He shook his head, moved to my side and pulled me to his side.

“I won’t risk it. Come on, I have to get you home.” He responded instead and helped me until we were outside and the valet brought his car around.

I do not remember how, but I ended up sleeping during the car ride and when I opened my eyes, Ashton’s face was above me and he smiled beautifully. I could not help but smile back.

“Should I help you up?” He asked and I shook my head though how charming he sounded. “Are you sure?” He persisted and I nodded.

“Thank you, I had a great time,” I told him before moving close to kiss his cheek.

I bid him goodbye and walked up to my apartment. The lights were off when I entered, so I headed straight to my room. I chose to tell Lou everything the next day. I stripped down into my sweatpants and went to sleep almost as immediately as my head hit the pillow.

………………

I could hear loud screeching and banging on my door, the noise went straight to my head and all I wanted was to continue sleeping until mid-day but Lou’s voice made me sigh and get up in irritation. I stomped out of my bed and unlocked the door.

Lou stood at the door looking haggard, and obviously just from bed like myself. She held up her phone to my face. “Ashton Stetson?” She asked and immediately my eyes opened wider.

There on her phone was a picture of Ashton and I. Ashton stood at my side protectively while opening the passenger seat door of his car. This looked exactly like every scandalous dating scandal reveal I had seen on the internet before, only this time I was the girl in the picture.

“Oh my god!” I exclaimed in disbelief.