Chapter 1

ASHLEY'S POV

His kiss on my neck sent chills down my spine. I had never felt that way before. The night was long and passionate. I couldn't remember any further as my head suddenly went blank.

My eyes opened, I felt a sharp pain on my head. I drank a lot last night. I looked around as I struggled to clear my eyes. The room seemed unfamiliar. Then I had a flash of walking away from the club with a stranger I had danced with. We kissed passionately, as we pushed the door to his room and made our way inside, we couldn't let go of each other. It was a rough night, I couldn't remember much as everything suddenly became blurry.

“Shit!” I exclaimed in great surprise, as I looked under the duvet to see I was stacked naked.

"Who are you?" I looked into the stranger's sharp eyes and whispered, my voice shaking. My heart skipped a beat when I saw his strong jawline and chiselled features. Though my recollections of our wild night together were vague, I felt as though I was drowning in his stare because of the way he was looking at me right now—a mix of curiosity and need.

“Woah! Calm down baby girl. Don't tell me you don't remember anything from last night,” He said with a crazy seductive look on his face. “It was a long, and wild night, you wouldn't wish to forget,” he continued, making me look crazy. I only had a few flashes, but couldn't remember vividly how the night went down.

I jerked off the bed with the duvet, picked up my dress and ran to the bathroom to get dressed.

“What have I done, Oh! Poor Richard. How could I have done this to you?” I said in regret as I stared at myself at the mirror.

I dashed out of the apartment, without the stranger's notice. I went home filled with regret and resentment towards myself. I tried to get over what had happened last night, and moved past it like it never happened, but it was almost impossible.

I calmed myself down, saying it was a one-night fling that would never happen again. “Nobody is gonna know. Not even Richard, and besides I am never going to cross paths with the stranger again, so no need to feel guilty or worried. Get over it already Ashley,” I assured myself with much conviction.

My phone beeps, and seeing who the caller is made my heart skip. It's Richard. I couldn't bring myself to pick up. I know he is calling because I missed work. It's so unlike me not to come to the office. He must have been worried. Now I have to tell lies to avoid acting suspicious.

I couldn't think of what to tell him. If I should tell him I am sick, he would rush down here without wasting much time. I couldn't just come up with anything serious, and I know not picking up his calls would be an additional problem as I would have more to explain.

Richard is definitely every woman's dream. Although he is way old enough to be my father, I count myself lucky to have a man like Richard in my life. We've been secretly involved in a romantic relationship for a long time now, and he has been super supportive. I had met Richard when I was nothing, vulnerable and broken. Richard picked me up, offered me a higher position in his company, he did everything for me.

When Richard made love advances towards me, I couldn't resist. A man of such calibre with power, wealth, and protection was all I needed. I have never been in a state where I had to question myself if I loved him or not, but what I was enjoying was all that mattered.

Although, one thing I try to hide is the fact that am scared of him. He is nice to be because he loves me, and treats me different from others even when I started working for him. He is feared in his office, and no one dares look at him straight into the eyes. His dreadful looks and dominating demeanor were frightening, but behind that intimidating exterior lies a man with a sweet soul, and he can goes extra miles to get what he wants.

He shows no mercy to anyone who messes with him. I have heard lots of rumours about how fierce he is from those who have longed worked for him.

Richard could tolerate anything but not betrayal. He could go any length, even if it means killing anyone who betrays his trust. He was a former drug dealer and was once involved in deadly crimes, which is where is wealth came from. That's to show how deadly of a person he could be. This is why I need to trade carefully, and can't afford to let him find out of the one night stand with the stranger. I have to protect that secret at all cost, because just as he is loving and sweat, he can be dangerous too.

Richard was always around me like a bee, he hardly let go of me. He trusts and loves me so much, I can't afford to break his trust or betray him. “Shit!” I exclaimed as the thought of betrayal brought back what had happened last night to my mind. It was a hell of a night. I just wished I could completely lose the memories of that night, but deep down I find myself trying to remember. I keep having flashbacks, but can't fully remember how the night went down.

I can't seem to get the image of the stranger's chiselled features, cute handsome face and strong jawline off my head.

*************

“Ashley!” I clearly heard my name, but waited to know if I was hearing things. “Ashley baby!” I heard the name for the second time, and this time the voice sounded familiar. It was raining heavily at night, with thunder strikes. I looked at my watch to see it was already past ten. “Who could it possibly be?” I wondered.

I stood up from the couch and went to get the door, I looked through the peephole only to see it was Richard. I quickly opened the door.

“What are you doing out here by this time of the night, in a weather like this?” I asked, looking worried but at the same time trembling.

“I have been calling several times today and you weren't picking up, I was so damn worried, so I had to come check up on you,” he explained.

It was then it dawned on me that I had forgotten to pick up Richard's call or called back. Now I have to urgently come up with something to say.

“Uhm_ I am so sorry for that. I have been_,” he didn't let me continue when his lips locked up mine. We shared a passionate kiss for a few minutes.

“I have missed you, so badly,” he said. I was confused at first, but was happy I didn't have to explain myself any longer.

“What have you been up to?” He asked me, but I avoided the question with a kiss. I knew what he wanted, and how to get him to forget about his question and focus on me.

We were kissing passionately, undressing each other, when I suddenly stopped him. Something feels different to me. I was not feeling the same. All I could think of was the night with the stranger.

“Are you okay Ashley?” He asked with so much concern, as it was so unlike me. “If you want we can stop.”

“No Richard, I'm fine,” I said, trying to kiss him back when his words sent shivers down my spine.

“Where did you sleep last night?” His question came as a shock to me as I froze. His eyes, which was once burning with passion and desire, now seemed to bore into my very soul, as if searching for any hint of betrayal. I swallowed hard, my heart racing with every tick of the clock, as I struggled to find the right words to appease the man who held my heart, and my fate, in his hands.