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 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
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 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
Ashley's POV“Ashley, Do you have plans for tomorrow?” My Dad asked me over the phone, interrupting my thoughts.”“I don't have any plans, Dad, I will just stay in and watch a few movies, I'm here on a break, remember?” I replied, laying on the cozy bed in my hotel room ‘it's so comfy’ I told myself.“It didn't seem that way to me. All you ever did since you got there was business.”“Touché, but I'm done with all that, and now I'm going to explore the city of Paris.” I said out of excitement, thinking of all the fun I will have.“I think it's too late for that, sweetheart, I need you here. Micheal is coming back into town, and I'm inviting him for dinner to Welcome him home. I need you to be here when he arrives. You've always liked Micheal since you were a child, you will get to see him again and maybe discuss business with him. it's a win-win for you.”I froze on hearing that name that reminds me of most of my childhood memories. Micheal Kingston. I did not get to see him much bec
Ashley's POV As we arrived at the hotel, we walked in and stepped into the elevator, and just as we did, he moved closer to me and held my face in his hands. He moved my head back slowly, placing kisses down my neck, I tilted my neck more to the side, giving him more access. ‘This is wrong, this wrong’ I repeated those words over and over in my head, but I couldn't stop him.He slowly pulled back and looked up at me. I looked away and blushed.He just smiled and took my hand in his. He took me to a door and opened it, I was shown a luxurious and expensive looking suite.“I need you.” He murmured, leaning forward to rest his head on mine. He ran his fingers across my lips, and at that moment, it was difficult for me to breathe. He kissed me again, his tongue forcing its way into my mouth, insisting on entry and when I did, he forced his tongue into my mouth and kissed me harder, it was a kiss of desperation. I let out a moan as his tongue stroked my mouth with desire, making my tem
Micheal's POV I sat on the luxury seat of the private jet, I had it all to himself, perks of being a billionaire. I looked through the window, my eyes following the clouds passing outside in white patterns. My mind was far removed from the beauty of the cloud. All I could think about was her. The hotel room girl ‘Shit! I don't even know her name,’ I muttered to myself.“Sir, do you need anything?” One of the flight attendants asked, interrupting my thoughts.“No, thanks. I will call for you when I need anything.” She simply nodded and carried on with her job.My thoughts drifted back to events of last night. It wasn't planned that way. The one night stand was supposed to be a way to distract me and help keep my mind from the pains of my past. I had justified that a little fun wouldn't hurt, just like every other night. But then she came along.Her innocence caught me off guard. She wasn't like the women I was used to, experienced, and street-wise. No, she was different, pure, and del
ASHLEY'S POV“Ashley” Uncle Micheal called from the hallway, he followed closely behind me as I walked down the hall, my heart was beating against my chest. I walked faster, hoping he would not catch on. I wasn't prepared to talk about this. Not after all that has happened.“Ashley!” He called me again before grabbing my arm in a gentle way.I turned to face him, pretending as if I had no knowledge of what this is all about. ““Uncle Micheal, what is it? Do you need my help with anything?”His eyes were filled with something I can't explain but I saw the guilt there, the same guilt I am still feeling for allowing myself to fall for his charms, which led my first experience to be a bitter one. He was about to say something, maybe he wanted to apologize or he's trying to explain. But I wouldn't let myself fall for it again.“I would like us to talk about what happened last night. I know I hurt you and i..”“Uncle Micheal, I interrupted him before he could finish. I don't know what
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
Austin's POV I leaned against the kitchen counter, stirring a pot of pasta, my mind filled with thoughts of my birthday, which is coming up tomorrow. I would be surrounded with closest friends, celebrating the only way I knew: loud, wild, and filled with fun. The plan was to have a small party at my place, but after that, we were heading to the club at night. I could feel the excitement building up in my chest. It has been stressful planning everything, and I need to relieve some stress. I can't wait to let loose and have some real fun.As those thoughts of celebration crossed my mind, my phone rang. It was my parent again. They were in London on a work trip, and they had been calling me almost every day to check up on me, asking about life, my work, and everything. I know they meant well, but sometimes, it’s a bit too much. I wiped my hands on a towel, picked up the call, and left it on speaker before answering. “Hey, Mom, Dad.” I said with a cheerful voice but clearly distracte