Chapter- 9

On her way to the office from the coffee shop, Ashley got a call from an unknown number. She picked up to hear that smooth voice.

“Off to work?” he asked.

“Yeah, what you’re doing?”

“I am going to work too,” he answered.

“Okay,” she smiled. “So you know my schedule, right?”

“Yeah,”

“How did you know that? I am curious,” she asked.

“It’s no big deal, Ashley. You’re a very normal person, I can easily guess what you will do,”

“Is it? Then tell me what I will do?”

“You will go to work in the morning after getting a coffee for your boss and sometimes for your colleague. Then you work until the afternoon then you get lunch for your boss. I don’t know why that bastard wants you to pick his lunch when he has his men to do that,” he frowned.

“He’s giving me a good salary and so I have to do what he says,” she replies, “You continue the rest,”

“Then you will leave office once your work is done which is mostly around 6-7 pm. You come home, watch TV, cook, read, bath and then sleep,” he finished.

“Oh God, you know everything and I am living a very boring life,” Ashley chuckled.

“You’re living a good life and I am glad that you’re doing well.”

Ashley was quite surprised by that statement and she said, “Thanks,” with a smile and blush.

“And the reason why I called you is, tomorrow I want to be with you,” he came to his point.

“Okay and you already know that I will be free too,” she answered.

“I know that,” he said.

“Okay cool. I will see you tomorrow night then,” she told.

“Bye,” he ended the call. With excitement, she went to the elevator next to the CEO’s private elevator.

When she’s waiting for that to open, Hector’s approaching footsteps got her attention. Oh my God, I am late today, she gritted. Every day she used to be there in her place with that coffee on his table before he could reach the office but now she’s late and she thought he’s going to make a remark about her late arrival. He’s a perfect example of an annoying boss.

“Hey Ashley,” he smiled.

“Good morning, sir,” she said.

“Morning. Is that coffee mine?” he asked.

“Yes it’ is,” she nodded and handed it to him with a smile.

When his elevator opened he looked at her, “Hop on,” he offered a lift in the elevator and she got inside with him. Standing inside beside him made her feel nervous. He’s young, must be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight. He has all the qualities for a CEO and he’s charming. But why he’s single is what she marvels at sometimes.

“You want to say something?” he asked her.

“No, I don’t have anything to say,” she answered.

“But I have something,” he interested her.

“Tomorrow, I am going to a meeting in the evening and I want you to join me. I already asked Meghan but she told me that she has unavoidable plans. So what do you say, are you coming with me,” he asked.

Ashley thought about how she will miss tomorrow. She has promised to see Vincent and she doesn’t want to cancel it yet here her boss wanted her to accompany him to his meeting; God knows where it will be? She can’t say no it will be worse than anything.

“Can I know how long I have to stay there, sir?” she asked hesitantly.

“Is there anything important after that?” he retorted.

“No, it’s something else,” she nodded. He has this weird thing for always pulling the personal things especially, with me! Why can’t I just be happy? He irritates me in every way.

“Okay, you can leave at seven,” he told and she smiled.

“Thank you, sir.”

“And one more thing, you have to dress in Black. Dress means not that men-in-black suit that you’re wearing, it should be a dress,” he said sipping his coffee and she nodded.

“Whatever,” she muttered after he walked away.

In the middle of her work, Ashley asked Meghan about the meeting and she said what Hector told. She’s going out with her husband to meet their friends. Ashley decided to call Vincent to tell him that they should meet after seven tomorrow. But the problem is she doesn’t have a good black dress and she has to buy one or she has to borrow it from someone. Anne has a lot of dresses but Ashley wondered whether she will lend one.

In the evening when she got inside the house, Anne was already there having a coffee watching television.

“Hey,  you’re early today?” Ashley asked.

“Yeah,”

“I need a black dress tomorrow for the meeting, can you come with me to the store, I need to get one,” Ashley asked.

“What now?” Anne frowned, “Hey, look. Don’t do this last-minute purchase.”

“Then how can I get one?”

“You can borrow mine,” Anne told.

“really?”

“Yeah, I love to help you,” she said and stood up from her seat. They went inside Anne’s room. Her bed is the best thing; it’s pink and soft. Her room is always organized and clean. It’s all white and pink. Anne opened her wardrobe and Ashley's jaw dropped. So many dresses and so many colors.

“Oh my God, everything is pretty.”

“Thank you, pick one of these black dress and rock the meeting,” Ashley told and sat on her bed. She selected that long-sleeved half-shoulder black dress. It’s simple and pretty.

“Wow, nice pick. Do you have shoes for this dress,” she asked.

“No,” Ashley nodded.

“I will give mine,” she said and took one of her black stilettos which are shining bright.

“Thank you for this,” Ashley smiled.

“That’s okay,” she said.

Ashley returned with the dress and shoes to her room. Then the night passed conversing about their plans and having the wonderful pizza they ordered.

Before going to sleep she got a call from Vincent and she immediately picked to talk to him.

“I was waiting to call you and you did,” she said.

“I know you better than anyone else,” he said and she blushed.

“So why do you want to call me?”

“Tomorrow, I am going out for a meeting with my boss. I can’t skip it so can we meet after 7 pm?” she asked.

“Okay, I think I will be free too,” he answered.

“Thank you,”

“You don’t have to say thanks for this,” he said.

“Yeah, you’re right,”

They passed a few moments in silence, and he broke it by saying, “You know I was thinking about you the whole day,”

“How? Naked?” Ashley giggled.

“No, in a dress, a black one,” he said.

She smiled, “Tomorrow I am going to wear one,”

“I can’t wait to see you,” he said.

“Me too,” she nodded. “You’re going to sleep now?”

“No, I have a lot of business to take care of,” he answered.

“Okay, carry on then,”

“Good night,” he said.

“Night,” she smiled and ended the call.

As usual, her day passed and she didn’t wear her dress in the morning itself. She doesn’t want anything to happen to Anne’s things so she came with it and decided to wear it in the evening. Hector came early to the office but he was busy all day. They didn’t talk much during office time.

And in the evening, Ashley got ready in one of the dressing rooms in the office. Anne helped her with the hairstyle and some makeup because she doesn’t have any makeup stuff.

“You look so pretty, Ashley,” she complimented.

“Thanks but I don’t think I am that pretty,” she said.

“No, you’re. I am so right in this,” she told which made Ashley smile.

“Okay, I got to go,” Ashley said when she saw the message on her phone that Hector’s ready to leave.

Ashley walked out to the entrance and he’s waiting in his car. With a smile on her face, Ashley moved there. Hector couldn’t take his eyes off her. She’s so beautiful compared to what he has seen in her for all these days.

She felt quite awkward when she got inside, “Shall we go, sir,” she asked when he kept staring at her.

“Sure,” he nodded and took his eyes to clear this romantic ambiance which he’s not intended to create. As the car moved, both of them didn’t utter a word until Ashley got curious to know what she has to do there.

“So what is this meeting is about?” she asked since he dressed in his fancy tux instead of his business suit.

“You will know it when we get there,” he uttered heaving a sigh.

“Okay,” Ashley nodded and looked at the colorful New York City. Being impatient inside to meet Vincent doesn’t excite her to attend this meeting. But the strangest thing is she’s resisting not to admire this incredibly hot guy sitting next to her. She doesn’t understand why she wanted to be loyal to Vincent like he's her real boyfriend.

The smell of her cheap perfume overpowered by his cologne in the ambiance. This isn’t helping her to get rid of Vincent out of her mind.

The car stopped before the costliest hotel in the city. Strangely Ashley noticed it took the same amount of traveling time when she goes to Vincent’s place. She got down looking at how tall that building is!

Maybe this is the place where we first met, she assumed.

“Hold my hand,” he offered his hand surprisingly.

“What?” she raised her eyebrows.

“Just do what I say,” he ordered, and without having any other option she did.

They walked inside and a man escorted them to the elevator. Ashley wondered why on earth they are keeping parties on the top floor, isn’t that scary. She’s afraid of heights, she had a lot of nightmares like falling from the top floor building or slipping into the broken ceiling, and so on.

When the door opens, Ashley was shocked to see the exhilarating party hall, she turned her head to Hector and he smiled apologetically.

“You said it’s a meeting!” Ashley exclaimed.                         

“Yeah, meeting kind of party,” he corrected her.

“Why you didn’t say it to me?” Ashley questioned but when she realized that she’s talking to her boss, she added, “Sir?”

“I would have told you but I thought you won't come. I have to bring here a date and at the last moment, all I could think about was you or Mrs. Kersley. She couldn’t make it so I asked you,” he reasoned and there Ashley confirmed that he doesn’t have a girlfriend.

“Okay, sir. I understand,” Ashley cools off the situation and looked around at the elite party people.

“Look you’re my date here and if anyone asks about you, just tell them that’s you’re working under me, okay,” he told and held her hand again. Ashley nodded in agreement.

They walked inside and Hector’s business partner Anderson came to welcome them. It’s his thirtieth birthday so he threw a lavish party for his friends.

Ashley wished him and mingled in the crowd along with Hector as per Anderson’s request. Thankfully no one came near to Hector to have a chat with him. That felt so unusual for Ashley. They just gave a small smile to him and leaves.

Holding her champagne glass, Ashley saw the people who are living a dream-like life. She sometimes wondered how it feels to have everything in your life, especially money? Which she has never had. If there’s money in your hand you can buy whatever you want and she thought how that feeling will be when you get those pricey things. It will accelerate greed yet it gives satisfaction.

She then turned her attention to Hector who’s odd out of all the rich men who are here. He turned to her and said, “You look good in this dress,” he complimented not in the kind of flirting way. He’s casual and silent compared to when he was in office.

“I borrowed it from my friend,” she answered without lying, “I am so new to this kind of environment, sir.”

“I see that,” he said.

“You know what, I am new too,” he said.

“I can see that too,” she smiled.

“I don’t know anyone here except Anderson. I don’t really mingle with this kind of people and this is my first time attending a party like this,” he said.

“That’s surprising,” Ashley shrugged.

“Can I surprise you again?” he asked.

“What is it?” she smiled leaning on the table.

“I have never accompanied a woman before,” he said.

“Really? Not even to your prom?” she asked.

“Do you think I am that guy who attends prom? No,” he said.

“Don’t take me wrong, sir. You never had any girlfriends?” she asked.

“No, it’s all just flings. I don’t even remember the faces of the woman I fucked,” he said. Ashley felt strange not to hear his sexual life but that tone. It’s reminded, Vincent.

Ashley sighed and smiled. “That’s surprising!”

“I feel like for so many years I have been occupied only by men. Your presence is different for me,” he said.

“Thanks, sir. I am glad that you’re feeling that way,” she chuckled.

They took a sip from the glasses and look into each other’s eyes.

“Again don’t mistake me for asking this, are you gay?” she asked after hearing his statements.

“No, I am a straight guy,” he answered with no remarks about her being nosy here.

“What about you, did you had many boyfriends before the current one?”

Though she’s surprised by that question, Ashley answered, “No, he’s my first boyfriend.”

“Okay. I don’t want to go into that detail,” he ended it there with a smile.

“Come on let’s go there,” he took her to the balcony to see the beautiful city from there through that glass wall.

“Wow!”

“How beautiful it looks from here,” he said and she nodded but she couldn’t stand close to the wall.

“Come on, take a closer look,” Hector said sipping his new glass of champagne.

“I am scared of heights,” she said but her legs moved closer to see the beautiful view from the top.

“These days I am doing a lot of facing your fears thing,” Ashley remarked with a smile.

“That’s a good thing,” he nodded.

“I want to ask you this for so long, what kind of perfume you’re using?” she asked him. She doesn’t know why but after this point he looked so friendly in her eyes.

“You don’t like it?” he asked.

“No, I like it. I know someone who uses the same kind of perfume so I wondered what’s so special about this one,”

“Clive Christian. Actually, it’s the costliest perfume in the world. It's a limited edition. I think that person might be a classy man like me,” he said.

“Maybe,” she smiled and turned to look at the city.

“You seemed to be a different person here. Why don’t you mingle with these people?” she asked.

“I am not like anyone here; I am so different. No one can be friends with me,” he told.

Ashley couldn’t understand his hypothetical statement and just nodded her head.

“How does it feel to be rich?” Ashley asked.

“Kind of pressuring. Sometimes you will be respected only for the money you have,”

“What about your boyfriend? What kind of person he is?”

“Why you’re suddenly asking about him?” she asked.

“Just curious to know people,”

“He’s an ordinary guy and a reserved person,” Ashley answered thinking Vincent.

“Do you have any siblings or cousins?” he asked knotting his eyebrows.

“No, I don’t have anyone. I am more like an orphan.”

“It’s great that you have come this long. I really appreciate that,”

“Thank you, sir,” she said and her heart fluttered.

They stare into each other’s eyes, Hector’s gaze glides to her lips and they both equally had that urge to kiss but Ashley turned away. She doesn’t want to do anything mad.

“I think, you can leave now,” he said looking at his watch.

“O-okay,” she stuttered.

“I will see you tomorrow sir,” she said before walking out of the place.

After coming to the entrance, she saw Danny’s car waiting for her.

“How do you know that I am here,” she asked in surprise.

“Your phone’s GPS.”

“Get in,” he opened the door and she got in.

She’s excited to meet Vincent but there’s something that happened to her after spending time with Hector. She can’t stop thinking about his eyes.