The car came to a halt in front of a grand door. Two muscular guards were posted on either side of the door. Ashley had to crane her head to see the top of the lofty building. She realized they were in front of a hotel. The driver opened her door removing the glassy barrier between her and the outside world. She twisted her neck to her side and realized that Daniel had already alighted from the car. She gulped back her apprehensions and climbed out.
"Thank you," she uttered to the driver and walked towards Daniel who was standing just a few steps away from her. Daniel was typing something on his phone. They begin walking towards the entrance once she caught up with him. Her heart was threatening to jump out of her chest as they padded towards the entrance. Daniel looked indifferent. Maybe bored.The guards greeted them with a bow before drawing the door open for them. Ashley let Daniel take the lead but Daniel wanted her to walk beside him. This is why he would stop everyDaniel didn't stop glaring daggers at Leo even after he stepped back."Sorry pal, I didn't know she is taken.....by you" Leo raised both his hand in surrender. Ashley's whole face had turned red by now. Daniel still had his arms wrapped around her waist as if he had all the right in the world to do so. Ashley didn't know what to think. She waited for Daniel to correct Leo but the billionaire seemed to be too busy destructing Leo with his cold gaze. She tried to step away but Daniel's tight hold didn't allow her."Umm...we are not together," Ashley finally spoke up realizing Daniel was not going to clarify it. Her words surely had an effect on Daniel as his head turned towards her the moment she spoke the line. Ashley's heart skipped a beat when her eyes met with his. His cold orbs had softened as they landed on her but there was something in them that caused her heart to scrumple. It flickered and disappeared in a flash. And then his eyes hardened again. He slid his hand o
DANIELDaniel was furious. The compulsion to raze the whole world to the ground bit him hard when he saw handprints on Ashley's cheek. Her beautiful hair had been manhandled into a mess. Her eyes had swollen due to constant crying. She was terrified to the bone. Her trembling form and the way she was holding onto him explained how unsettled her state of mind was. He held her in his arms not caring what people would label them as. He tried to cool her nerves down while himself boiling from inside. And the message that doodled on the mirror didn't make the situation better.The incident had shaken her to the core. Her body craved protection. Yearned assurance. But was he in a position to give her assurance when he had failed her twice? Ashley placed her faith in him and he failed her yet again.Daniel and Ashley stayed like this for a while until Ashley felt a little less bad. She detangled herself from him and brushed her tears off. Daniel scooted over allowing her more spac
ASHLEYThe existence of the moon totally faded away when sun rose up in the sky with its bright glory indicating the beginning of another day. But Ashley was still a prisoner of the last night. Those memories had chased away her sleep despite how tired she felt. They haunted her like a relentless witch. She cried, sniffled, cursed, and fell silent after losing all her energy. It wasn't lost on her that Michael wanted her to pay for bringing him behind the bar. That is why he was so hell-bent on having her back so that he could torture her in the most inhuman way possible. The thought caused a shudder to pass through her body.The event had triggered chaos in her mind and she had been so engrossed in repressing it that she couldn't notice a silhouette sneaking in her room from time to time to check up on her throughout the night.Next morning, she woke up when Dayna came in with a tray of breakfast and gently nudged her shoulder to awake her. Ashley had given in to sle
ASHLEYAshley inwardly groaned when Dayna informed her that Jack is downstairs waiting for her. Her face twisted in displeasure as her body was still aching because of the hardcore training she was put through by him. By hardcore, she meant a few physical exercises. Ten days had passed by since the party incident and more than a week since she had been taking self-defense classes. Daniel insisted on her learning self-defense and had appointed Jack as her trainer. She was also excited to learn to fight on her own or may be able to defend herself when the situation demands.But her fiery spirit watered down on the very first day itself when her trainer told her to run five rounds across a vast ground. She did her best but couldn't make it after 3rd round. That night her body ached as if a car had run over it.Ashley strode out of her room after fixing her soured expression. It's not that she didn't like Jack. He was a sweet guy with an incredibly handsome face but one t
DANIELHe heaved a sigh of relief when his father slammed the door of his room shut and disappeared from his line of sight. Daniel couldn't leave the office at his usual time as his father had apparently planned a surprise visit to his office. Daniel pulled himself from his chair and shot a glance over his wristwatch. He had gotten late by half an hour. Without delaying any further, he made a b-line to the parking lot and pulled his car in motion after settling into it.He had made it a point for the last few days to return home early before Dayna's shift gets over. He would have gotten home in time had his father not come and gave him an extended lecture on the fatal consequences of taking a poor class divorcee in. Daniel's father had an obsession with money, status, and power. He had spent his entire life acquiring it and subsequently losing his family. It was his obsession that pushed Daniel's mother into depression. It was his obsession that ma
ASHLEYWho would have thought spewing out the content of her heart in front of "not really a stranger but not also a friend" would make her feel this good? After that little episode, she waited for embarrassment to coat her cheek or remorse to hit her conscience but nothing happened. On the contrary, she felt content and light. Not that she was complaining.It's not that her fear for Michael had vanished away like a cloud of smoke in the sky. No. She was still scared of him but now she had chosen to fight her fear head-on instead of cowering away before giving herself a try. She slept peacefully that night."Someone's looking very happy today. Dreamt of me last night?," Jack asked her with his ever mischievous smile.Ashley was doing some stretches when he made the comment. She rolled her eyes in a playful manner and said, "Ain't you full of yourself?""No, I am not. But girls want to be," he responded while throwing a wink her way a
DANIELAn innocent touch of her and all his carnal desire stirred back to life. That night he laid awake on his bed. His mind was intoxicated with her thoughts. A grin spread across his face every time he recounted their moment. The moment when she had willingly surrendered herself into his arms. Her body pressed hard against him. His member twitched zealously in his pants when he remembered how her soft breaths tickled his hard chest. How the alluring scent of her hair had sent his mind into a haze. How her plumpy lips were tempting him to devour them like an animal. And the strangest thing was that she had no idea what her proximity was doing to him. Daniel didn't want her to find that out either. That is why he shifted her a little so that she doesn't feel his arousal begging for her touch. But when the pressure became unbearable, he asked her for dinner. The billionaire immediately rushed to the bathroom to release himself after she let him go.He closed his eyes and h
DANIELDaniel paced back and forth across his study room. This new piece of information had thrown him completely for a loop. The words of his PI kept ringing through his head repeatedly making him more restless. He didn't know what to make of this new information. There was no denying that this new lead, which most likely was going to meet a dead-end, had only added to this puzzle.Daniel cudgeled his brain, trying to look for any incident or clue that he might have missed earlier but nothing came to his mind. He couldn't understand why would someone have a number on Ashley's name. What could be the intention?He didn't know who was playing this game and why but he knew one thing that Ashley had nothing to do with it. Even though he might not have known her for long, he trusted her.He slumped in a chair and rested his head on the back of it. He closed his eyes and a smile crept over his bow-shaped lips when her flustered face flashed behind his close-lidded eye
Daniel gave her a heart-melting smile while approaching his chair that she returned with her own.He sat down and fixed his eyes on her. He liked watching her. Every movement of her. Her every expression. He was a goner and he knew that.Ashley felt uncomfortable under his scrutiny but she didn't object. Whereas a part of her wanted him to take his eyes off her the other part liked the way he was looking at her. Passionately.She sat next to him after serving him his plate. The smile was still pasted on Daniel's lips. He wasn't looking like his usual self that is stiff and untouched. He looked adorable and so cute."You can start," Ashley spoke to break his gaze on her. He blinked and lowered his gaze to his plate."It looks delicious," he beamed at her before picking up his spoon and scarfing down the food.That's it. That expression was what she was talking about. Him beaming like a child at the sight of his favorite food. That was her reward that she cherished m
Daniel flipped the sign to close as soon as the last customer walked out of the cafe. He sneaked into the kitchen where his wife and the owner o the bakery was working. There was no one on the premises except for the two. Daniel had already given earlier leave to the other staff members.His heart suffused with immense love when he saw her drowned in her work. He stalked over to her with quiet steps and wrapped his arms around her waist. He grunted and rested his chin on her shoulder while smooching the length of her neck, causing a radiating smile to chase across her lips."May I ask you what you doing, Mr. Smith?" she closed her eyes and tilted her head to allow him more access"Loving my wife. You gotta problem with that, Mrs. Smith?" he mumbled between kisses.The temperature dropped drastically in the room when his hand started stroking the sides of her body. His movement became urgent so did his kisses."Someone will see," she arched her back and close
FOURTEEN MONTHS LATERAshley's POVA lot of things have changed in the last fourteen months. I have my own bakery shop now which, by the way, is doing great. I also bought a house for my Mom.But if you ask me whether I have changed or not then I would say no. I haven't changed. He didn't want me to change but, yeah, I have surely become a better version of myself just like he wanted me to. I am still the same old Ashley but with a lot more confidence, faith in myself, and a new perspective on life. I am not afraid of my past anymore. I have learned to own my past and embrace it as an experience. An experience that taught me, toughened me up, and most importantly gave me a chance to meet him. Yup, I am all about him now.You know, Initially, I was mad at him for sending me away. But as time ticked by, I realized he was right. He was always right. I needed to spend some time with myself. I needed to discover my true self and then work on my shortcomings. I needed
Daniel cradled her face. His thumb wiping her tears away. "Baby..I want you to give yourself some time. You are..."Ashley grabbed his lapel and pulled him down. "No...I only need you. Please...Daniel..please....Don't do this to me. Don't push me away. I know you are mad at me... I....I am sorry, Daniel. Beat me if you want to..slap me..hit me (she takes his hands and starts slapping herself but Daniel retracts immediately) Ashley cupped his pain-etched face. "But please, baby, don't..don't push me away..I love you, Daniel..," she pleaded and attached her lips with his. She kissed him passionately, hoping that would change his mind. Tears streamed down her eyes.Daniel pulled away and rested his forehead against hers as his eyes too started to water down, "I love you too. So much that it hurts, Ashley" he squeezes his eyes shut but then opens them again and meets her desperate gaze."And I am not pushing you away, angel...I can never push you away...Do you understand?
Ashley glanced over to the goon with pleading eyes. She couldn't believe this was happening. The goon strapped her to the bed and stormed out of the room.Mr. Watson placed the gun on the table and went to lock the door once again."You are a brat, Ashley. You shouldn't have done that. You shouldn't have hit me. Your master," he spits menacingly while taking threatening steps towards her. Ashley cowered away in fear. Squeezing herself into the headrest. Her dress rode up her thigh, exposing her panty. But she didn't pay no mind to it.Mr. Watson tangled his fingers into her hair and pulled at them with full force. Ashley shrieked in pain but there was no one who could listen to her."Scream bitch. Scream louder. No one is going to hear you. Not tonight not ever," his palm smacked hard against her cheek, leaving the imprint of his palm.Her head spun by the impact as her face fell down to one side. He pulled her hair with more force making her head tilt up. T
"You are sick," she stated, realizing that the old man was indeed a psycho. Horror and understanding were written all over her face.Mr. Watson chuckled as if she has cracked some joke. He walked behind her and tightly clutched at the edge of her chair."Guess what. This sick man is going to decide your fate," he whispered in her ears. The back of his hand caressing her wet cheek. Her heart was thudding frighteningly against her chest.Ashley jerked away from his touch. " You can't do this to me. I am like your daughter," she bit out.Mr. Watson laughed at her words and paced across the room. His footsteps sounding off the walls. Blake was sitting like a statue in her chair. listening to everything, seeing everything but too helpless to do anything."Daughter? You are my slave, Ashley. My personal slave," the maliciousness in his voice rattled the strings of her heart. He resembled a maniac. A lunatic. How couldn't she see his true self?"But don't worr
Her eyes flickered onto the woman sitting in the wheelchair, catching a lone tear trailing down her cheek. Blake was listening to their conversation."My mother died in a car accident," she affirmed without blinking away from Blakely. Her eyes scanned her for any similarity but except their eye color, there was nothing common between them."Is that what they told you? No wonder. Well, it's a half-truth sweetheart. Your parents did meet a car accident but Blakely survived and your pathetic father died," he said casually.Anger fired up through her veins as she jolted the ropes that were restraining her."Don't you dare talk about my parents like this," she warned him in a cold tone."No?" he questioned mockingly. And then started laughing."Ohh Blake you've got a lovely daughter," Mr. Watson spoke to Blake gently caressing her cheek.Ashley had no idea how to react. But she didn't like the way he was treating Blake." Why am I here?" she gritte
She was hovering on the edge of unconsciousness when approaching firm footsteps caught her attention. Her ears perked up at the sound of the opening of the door and the footsteps became louder."Oh...There you are.......Sugar" a manly voice greeted her, causing her breath to hitch. A chill coursed through her body as the hair on her nape pricked up in response. His voice resonated: a freezing wind in a cold night. So unfriendly and so threatening. She had heard this voice. She knew it in her guts. But where? Her chain of thoughts was severed when he heard him approaching her. Step by step. Ashley whimpered in fear as a drop of warm tear trickled down her cheek.Her body grew stiff when she felt his finger pad wiping her tear.And then he tsked."Poor Ashley. Life has always played hide and seek with you. Isn't it?" he mocked her. And then she felt him going behind her back."Wanna know who I am?" he whispered in her ear from behind. Ashley breathed in his cologne and
Daniel spent the whole night at his office. Drowned in the darkness and shrouded with an eerie silence. This is strange, how one starts to see things more clearly in the dark. He saw it too. He saw how one truth turned his life upside down. He knew he was doing wrong when he signed those papers. Even though it was the right thing to do. He was hurt but not angry. The man still hadn't forgiven himself for that, then how could he expect Ashley to forgive him. But still, he couldn't help himself but feel hurt by Ashley's words. This must have been really tough for her.He knew Ashley had trust issues after what she went through with Michael. Her ex-husband, who pretended to love her until he got his fill of her body. It must have been really challenging for her to start trusting Daniel. But despite it all, she had started to trust him and the man had given her all the reasons.He didn't blame Ashley for how she reacted. It was natural for her to go frenzy after learning that