Ashley's POVAs I pulled my car into the driveway, I couldn't help but think about what happened in Uncle Micheal's office. I only went there to talk, I needed someone to talk to, and he seemed to be the right person at the moment. I can't talk to my dad about what happened in Paris because he will never forgive me if he finds out. My best friend Austin wouldn't understand either. So Uncle Micheal happens to be the only option left, but I never planned for it to go down that way. I kissed my father’s best friend without thinking. I couldn't help but question myself, Why exactly did I do that? Was it because I wasn't in the right state of mind? Do I need a distraction? Or I possibly feel something for him? Hell no…. It can't be. Me? Have feelings for Uncle Michael? That can never be possible. I shake my head to get rid of the thoughts. He's way older and more mature than me. I care and love him like a father…dats all.But why did something so wrong feel right at the same time? No
Micheal's POV“Uncle Micheal, thank you for this opportunity once again, I can't believe it. I am here to submit my business proposal in Kingston's Technology, one of the biggest companies in New york.” Ashley said out of excitement. “You are welcome, Ashley. You have always been a smart girl, and I know your company will be successful.” I noticed she was bright and cheerful today, like Ashley, have always known. “Seems you are in a good mood today.” She smiled, looking away to hide her blush, “I sort things out with Austin. We are good now. “Oh, that's good. So he really meant that much to you.” I asked out of curiosity.“He’s my best friend. He means a lot to me. Uncle micheal, about what happened the last time…”“Let's not talk about that, i know it’s a mistake, and you weren't in the right state of mind.”I know she didn't mean to do what she did, but I couldn't stop thinking about it since it happened…Hell I couldn't stop thinking about her ever since I laid my eyes on her
Ashley's POV My mind wandered as I drove home, Uncle Micheal's face kept resurfacing in my mind, the way his eyes lingered on me, soft yet they were full of unspoken words. I know something was bothering him, but I couldn't figure it out. A pang of confusion stirred in my chest ‘Could he possibly have feelings for me’ but as the thought came to mind, I pushed it out quickly to get rid of it. I couldn't afford to entertain such thoughts.Pulling into the driveway, I parked my car and stepped out of it, but as I did, my phone rang. I glanced at the screen, and it was a group call from my friends.I picked up the call and I regret it immediately, “Bitch where are you?” that was Sophie, screaming on top of her voice.“Come over and get some dick you holy virgin.” Jade yelled into the phone.Then finally I could hear a sane person voice over the phone, “Ash, where are you? The girls miss you.” Austin asked, and with all the noises surrounding him..i could tell they were at the club.“I c
Ashley's POV As we drove to the venue, I looked out the window with my mind filled with thoughts. I couldn't help but think about what happened earlier, how Uncle Micheal looked at me in his office. I couldn't shake the feeling that there's more to it . We both sat in silence until he cleared his throat and decided to talk.“How's the proposal coming up? Is there anything I can help with?” He asked, looking towards my direction.“No, I will handle it myself and bring it to you as soon as possible. Thanks anyway.”He nodded, placing his focus back on the road.I saw a huge building close to us and I could tell that we'd arrived at the venue. “Are you alright?” I nodded quickly “Yea I'm fine, just thinking.”“Don't worry, we will get through this. It's just business.” He assured me while parking his car in the venue's lot.I didn't know if that was to reassure me, but did it help? No.“Right, it's just business.” We stepped out of the car, and I could see a lot of people approach
Micheal's POV I held Ashley’s hands in mine, “Let's get out of here.” She nodded with a smile on her face. The cold night air hit her skin as I pulled her away from the crowd, my hand firm around hers. The sound of the gala faded behind us as we walked through the grand door.The valvet was already waiting with the car, a sleek black sedan that seemed to mirror the dark. I opened the door for her, my eyes looking towards her for a moment. She slid into the passenger seat, and I climbed in beside her. Ever since I saw her in that black dress, I couldn't take my eyes off her. I could hardly focus at the event.“Ashley” I murmured, leaning forward to rest my head on hers, I traced her lips with my fingers, and at that moment, she found it difficult to breathe. “Uncle Miche…”I shut her up with a kiss. At first my lips moved in a slow passion, afraid that she would change her mind or stop me but as she started kissing me back, reassuring that none would happen, my pace grew more hungry
Ashley's POV I knock slightly on Austin's door, holding on to the strap of my purse with one hand while keeping the other hand on the wall, waiting for him to answer. He had invited me over to discuss his birthday preparations, and I'm more than happy to help. Even though I couldn't clear my head regarding yesterday's event, I can't seem to shake the feeling of the tension we both shared. I even tried to convince myself that it was just a moment, a mistake, but I knew better. And for now, I needed to focus on other things, like Austin's upcoming birthday.The door creaked open, and Austin smiled at me. “Ash, come on in.”“Took you long enough, Austin. What were you doing? Fucking?”“I wish I was.” He joked, and we burst out laughing.“Take your horny ass out of my face.” I said, stepping into his house.I stepped into the warm comfort of his apartment. It was small, but the interior designs and some pieces of artwork that were hung around on the wall made it feel like home. His apar
Jayden’s POV I was working on paperwork when I got a call from Mr Williams, an investor we can't afford to lose. He always has his ways of making me feel needed and appreciated. He's a wise businessman, one that knows what he's doing, but he can very cunning at times.“Mr West, It's been a while. I was wondering why I didn't see you at the gala. I was looking forward to seeing you and maybe talking business if we had the time.” Mr Williams said, his tone sharp but friendly. “Although your daughter did quite a number, She handled herself exceptionally well. I'm impressed.”I smile widely, I was proud of my daughter for pulling that off. I knew it’s her first time attending a gala, so for her to do that good and impress a man like Mr Williams, Ashley is indeed my daughter.“Yes Ashley's….She's a natural.” I replied, a little caught off gaurd by the compliment coming from the man himself. “I had some business I need to attend to, but I will be sure to catch the next one.”The conversat
Ashley's POV “Ashley, are you okay? Uncle Michael's voice broke through the silence as I stood by his office desk. The proposal neatly laid out before him.Ever since I saw Aunty Kate yesterday, I couldn't stop thinking about the conversation I had with my father. He doesn't lie to me. He doesn't keep secrets from me. But why do I feel like he's hiding something from me this time? And then there was Aunty Kate, she coming to our house uninvited was unusual.“I'm fine, I was just tired, I guess. I barely slept last night, so I had to work on the proposal.”I looked up at him, and I noticed he didn't seem convinced. He set down the proposal and studied me carefully, his sharp eyes catching the tension in my posture. “Ashley, you are not fine. What's wrong? I know something is bothering you.” “Uncle Michael, I'm fine…Really.”“Cut the act, Ash.” He said, his tone soft but firm. “I can tell something's off. you've been distant ever since the gala. Was it because of what happened that ni
ASHLEY'S POV As soon as I got to my apartment, I couldn't help but think about the trip. I felt different since i came back, It was as if a heavy weight had been lifted off my chest. The trip with Micheal had given me something I've always wanted…peace. And for the first time in a long time, I wasn't overthinking, I wasn't worrying or feeling sad about anything. I was just me. And it felt really good. After I've freshened up, I decided to reach out to my friends and meet up with them. We haven't met since Austin’s birthday party and I missed them. What happened that night was something I kept to myself because I wasn't ready to talk about it. I knew they would demand answers and I'm ready to give them.We met at our usual spot, a nice little cafe in an expensive estate.The moment I walked in, I saw them sitting at our usual spot, already waiting for me. Sophie was the first to notice me as I approached them.“There she is,” she said dramatically, throwing her hands up in the air. “
ASHLEY'S POV I woke up to the sound of waves crashing outside. It was very soothing, so much that I found it difficult to get out of bed. so for a moment, I laid there, wrapped up in the warmth of the sheets. I haven't had a good sleep like this in months . It was peaceful, too peaceful.Then I turned over to the other side of the bed, expecting him to be there, but it was empty. Then I perceived it, the faint smell of bacon filled the air. I slipped out of bed and did a little exercise before making my way downstairs.The sight in the kitchen made me pause.Micheal stood shirtless by the counter with his hair slightly messy. He wore grey sweatpants that hung low on his hip, moving around the kitchen as he prepared breakfast. He kept flipping the pancakes like a pro while he had a fresh pot of coffee beside him. The counter was filled with breakfast: bacon, toast, scramble eggs, with some fresh fruits on the side. I leaned against the doorway, crossing my arms against my chest. “S
I glanced at Ashley beside me as I drove past the city. She was staring at the window as she drew small patterns on the glass. She seemed deep in thought, and her shoulders were tense. Clearly, she looked exhausted, but aside from that, I could see something else, something she's trying hard to bury within her. I knew she was going through a lot after the incident at the club, which is why I decided to do this for her. It will serve as an escape from reality.I placed my palm on her hands, my fingers brushing it lightly. “Trust me, Ash, you're going to love the place.”She turned her head towards me, “You said that earlier, but I still don't know where you're taking me.”I smiled “Now where's the fun in ruining the surprise.”She smiled softly while shaking her head “You and your surprises“Uncle Micheal, why are you doing all this?” She asked suddenly as she looked at me with curiosity in her eyes.My gaze found hers for a second before I returned my focus back to the road. “Doing wh
ASHLEY'S POV It was another busy day as I stepped out of the house. The sun was really bright, bright enough that it could be blinding. It did no help in shaking the heaviness in my chest. I barely had any sleep last night. My mind was filled with thoughts. I kept convincing myself that it's just gonna be another day, that nothing had changed, that I was still the same person I was before the incident at the club. I had a lot of work waiting for me at the office, and I had to be early if I wanted to catch up on it.I slid into my car, adjusted my seat belt and gripped the steering wheel before finally starting the car, the soft sound of the car oddly calmed my nerves, and as I pulled out of the driveway, I place my focus on the road. Observing the traffic lights, street signs, and the route to my company. Few minutes later I arrived at the company, by the time I stepped in, everything was moving fast already, my employees were moving in and out of their various offices, some were a
ASHLEY'S POV The ride back home felt like the longest one of my life. My mind kept taking me back to what happened last night, everytime I tried to forget about it, it came right back at me with more force. Our conversations at the club, the laughter, the familiar faces, All those memories kept me going, distracting me from the bad memories i had about that night.Then there were the darkest memories. The guy I saw at the restroom, his filthy hands on me, the smirk on his face, the fear I felt , and the relief that washed through me when Uncle Michael barged in. He saved me, he protected me and I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude. But a part of me felt guilty. Was it wrong to feel so safe in his arms? Was it wrong to want and desire the very person who was once like a father to me?As the car pulled to my house. I forced myself to be focused. I couldn't afford to look weak, not in the presence of my father. Uncle Micheal had assured him that I was fine but I knew my father
ASHLEY'S POV I woke up to a serious headache this morning. My head kept banging as if I'd hit it on a wall . I looked around me, and nothing looked familiar to me. This wasn’t my apartment. What happened? How the fuck did i get here? Then it hit me… Austin's party, the drinks, they all went through my mind but nothing felt real. I sat up slowly, grabbing my head, hoping the act would ease the pain in some way. My body felt heavy as if I was still trapped in that party.Suddenly the door opened slightly. I glanced up, wiping my hands over my face to get rid of the dizziness. Then I saw Uncle Michael. Wait..why is he here? He stepped inside, walking slowly towards me, I noticed he was holding a glass of water and white pill in his hand.“Here, This should help you with the headache.”I collected the water and swallowed the pill, the cool liquid wetting down my dry throat.“Uncle Michael, where am I? What happened last night? And why are you here?” “You are at my guest house. I
MICHEAL'S POV “Man, this is huge,” Jayden said, laughing as he clicked his glass against mine. “You just signed a deal worth millions of dollars, This is the kind of move that changes everything.”I grinned, leaning back in my car seat. “Yeah, it's a big one. Can't believe I pulled it off. I couldn't have done it without you, though. You convinced Mr Willaims to listen in the first place.”Jayden chuckled and waved it off. “You handled all the tough stuff. All I did was make the intro. But hey, you know you need to celebrate this tonight, right? “Of course”, I said, anticipating the night ahead. “Let's hit the club and celebrate. You deserve it, Jaden.”Jayden hesitated, his eyes flickering for a second. “Actually….I think I'm gonna pass tonight. I promised Ashley I would be home by the time she gets back from her friend's birthday party. It's Austin's birthday.”I nodded, understanding his priority. It wasn't that I didn't get it, but a part of me felt a pang of jealousy. Ashley i
ASHLEY'S POV The night has finally arrived, the night we all have been waiting for. It's Austin's birthday and we are about to have some fun at the club. After all the craziness at the surprise party, it actually felt good to kick back and celebrate, and what better place could we do that than the club? Sophie, Jade, and I were getting ready at my place, and the energy was high. We were all excited, looking forward to Austin's party tonight.I looked at myself in the mirror, checking out different outfits to see which one would make me look my best. My closet seems to be against me tonight because anything I choose is either too plain or too revealing. “I can't decide, guys.” I said, looking down at the pile of clothes on my bed.Sophie, who had been rummaging through my wardrobe like it was her own personal shopping mall smirked at me, pulling out a tight, backless dress that was nothing short of scandalous, “You are wearing this”I raised an eyebrow. “Really? That's what you want
AUSTIN'S POVMy heart was racing against my chest as I got to Sophie's apartment, I was just standing there with a mind full of thoughts. My thoughts were a mix of panic and confusion. Ashley's hurt? How come? But then, as soon as I opened the door, the scene in front of me stopped me dead in tracks.“Surprise” they all yelled in unison. “Happy birthday Austin”The words echoed in my head, but they felt real. I couldn't process what was happening. The room was filled with colourful balloons, and the scent of cake and candles filled the air. There were decorations everywhere, Gifts were arranged in neat piles, each one labelled with letters of my name on it. Ashley, Jade, Sophie. They were all standing there smiling wide, sharing glances at each other, looking completely normal.Hold on.. Ashley! I looked back at her, and I froze, Ashley was right there, standing at the centre of the group. Her eyes were filled with excitement. She looked perfectly fine. No sign of injury on her bod