(3:45am)
Andrew sat with his friends, wallowing in his own thoughts. He checked his watch for the nth time that night. He came here to have a little relaxation, but it seemed coming here made things far worse.
He swallowed the remaining contents of his cup again.
"Hey Drew," Andrew raised his glass up slightly, signaling that he was listening.
"You seem distraught, something wrong?" Scott asked. The girl on his lap played with the Hem of his jacket.
"I'm fine," Andrew replied.
Scott scoffed. "Of course you are."
"That's what he always says," answered another, and they laughed. "Is damsel giving you issues?"
"I'm not sure that's the problem, Paxton, I think he's just stressed out," Mason said.
"Of course he's stressed, stressed and thinking too much. Work couldn't have caused this, right Drew?"
Andrew just stood up, grabbing his jacket from the table, he slightly staggered, finding his way out of the door still.
Mason sighed. "I'll go ensure he gets home." He told his friends, then went after Drew.
---
(6:34am)
Thea arranged herself properly before her mirror. She grabbed her bag from her vanity table and turned, ready to leave for work already, but halted when she remembered what she was forgetting.
She turned back and collected the necklace that was lying on the table. She unhooked it and took it around her neck.
This necklace had been the only thing keeping her sane these days. She couldn't afford to let it go for even a day.
She sighed finally. Taking her bag, she walked out of the apartment.
---
"Do you want to spend some time with me then?" Freya turned to stare at the man who she had been taking a stroll with. He had stopped walking a few seconds before she did, making her few steps ahead of him.
"I mean-" he chuckled. "Do you want to go on a date with me? When you are free, that is,"
"I would love to," her smile grew wide. When she locked eyes with him again, she giggled and he chuckled.
"I want to take you out for dinner tomorrow night," he said to her.
"Sure, I'm free tomorrow." She told him.
"I certainly am looking forward to tomorrow then." Samson's arm hung around her shoulders as they continued their stroll.
A figure stood watching them silently. His hands tightened in a grip as he watched them.
They both stood to buy cotton candy. Freya's eyes darted to the figure that silently watched them and her eyes widened in shock.
What was he doing here? She gulped nervously as she turned immediately to see if Samson had been looking at where her attention was. She saw him still talking with the woman who was supposed to sell cotton candy to them. She gave a silent sigh.
"Here," Samson passed her a candy and she mustered a smile before turning back to stare at the figure, but he was gone.
"Freya, are you alright?" Samson asked and she nodded, replacing her frown with one of her smiles.
"Sure, I am fine." She replied.
"Let's go?" She nodded in reply this time.
---
Fiona walked into his office and closed the door behind her almost immediately.
"You sent for me sir?"
"Yes, yes I did. I need the export documents at my desk immediately."
"Yes sir-"
"And a cup of black coffee," Ashton continued.
"Yes sir-"
"Did Mr Maxfield not have a private secretary?"
"Well, the thing is-" Ashton raised his brows in curiosity at her sputtering. "She hasn't yet arrived," she finally said.
"I see, and is this a habit of hers then?" Fiona shook her head.
"No sir,"
"Even after my speech yesterday, she decided to come late the following day, I'll have to do something about that, huh?"
"But- I mean she wasn't present yesterday sir."
"Sounds like an indolent employee. Tell her to see me immediately she arrives. I'll have to use her as an example to all when they decide to become otiose." He said as Fiona cursed silently.
Way to make the situation worse!
"But Sir-"
"I have heard enough, you should leave now." Ashton told her.
"Yes sir!"
---
Thea dropped her bags on her table immediately. She checked the time on the wall of her office.
Well shit!
She was 4 minutes late!
She would have to explain to Mr. Maxfield that the doctors called her attention to her mother's condition early this morning and she couldn't make it on time today.
She couldn't help but feel that she was taking advantage of his kindness. He was a kind man indeed. He gave her a day off to spend with her mother even though she was new to work. She was grateful for it.
"Hey Fiona!"
The blonde turned quickly. "Oh my goodness Thea, where have you been?" Fiona asked.
Thea frowned. "I came home late from the hospital. I'm sorry I'm late. I'll make it up to you."
"Tell that to him, he's very angry!" Fiona hushed to her nervously before finding her way down the hall.
She knew he would be angry. Oh Lord! What should she do? Will he fire her? How angry is he? She knew he would one day get tired of making excuses for being late every time. She knew this would all happen!
She let out a breath to calm herself before knocking.
"Come in," the voice said from behind the door. Not too loud, but she caught it anyway.
Here goes nothing!
She shut the door behind her as quickly as she could, before turning only to find his back to her as he searched for something in a safe.
"Good morning sir,"
The figure froze, and so did she. He couldn't be that mad. She looked around, observing the new arrangement of this office. Everything looked almost new. Plus, she noticed the difference in the physique of her boss. The difference in hair color or height or broad shoulders or...
Wait a minute-
He turned to look at her immediately and she recoiled in shock. Her hands went limp as she let the files fall to the floor. All the feelings she had managed to keep locked up so she could concentrate. All of them came rushing back the minute she discovered who was before her.
Her ex.
"Hey, wait up!" The girl kept on going, increasing her pace instead. "Hey Thea, stop ignoring me, okay?" "Thea!" He gripped her arm and she was quick to recoil from his touch. His grip was strong, strong enough to keep her from leaving."What do you want? I've told you countless times, I don't have feelings for you, Ash.""Really," he moved closer to her, matching her stare. "You don't have feelings for me?" He asked with a smug look.She scoffed. "Why would you think that in the first place? I'm not like the other girls that swoon over you so easily, Ash-ton. And might I remind you, I'll never make that mistake. Now let go of me!"Something snapped in him and she could feel his jaw tighten. He pulled her closer, very close, so that their noses were almost touching and she gulped nervously. "No," he simply said. "You say you feel nothing for me yet your heart wants to jump out of your chest anytime you see me," She furrowed her brows in confusion. How'd he know? Oh my goodness, Jen
(flashback)"Will Ashton not be playing the game?" A girl asked and her friend shook her head in reply. "I think I see him on the bench, Cecilia.""Coach Peter must be very angry with him to make him sit aside for the Finals." Cecilia said to her friend, Agnes. "But they are going to lose, it's 24-27 already and the time is almost over," Agnes said."Well, the coach will have the principal's reprimanding to worry about losing the game," another brown-headed girl intervenes. "Not only that, basketball is Ashton's passion, losing a game when he is teamed would kill him!" Cecilia said to them and Agnes sighed in defeat. "I can already tell the fate of our school if they do not let Ashton in any minute," Agnes said. They both groaned as their rival school rejoiced as another point was scored. "I think I'm going home, I can't watch this anymore!" Cecilia said. "Wait, Ceecy, I think they are letting him in." Cecilia looked at where Ashton was formally seated, only to see him being exc
"Miss Kennedy, in my office now!" Ashton ordered through the telephone and Thea practically ran to her boss's office. "Yes, Mr Ryder, you sent for me?" She said immediately. She stood before him. He raised his head from the paper he was holding in his hands. "What says the time, Miss Kennedy?" He asked. "I'm afraid I don't have a watch with me sir," she said. Relaxing back on his chair at her words, he said, "How is it possible that my own private secretary doesn't even have a watch to call her own." "Well, I had one before but it stopped working a long time ago and I didn't have the time to get it done," she told me. "Not that I care about your watch replacement, Miss Kennedy, but you always need to give me my coffee. I usually send Miss Weston, but she has a lot of work at hand. Besides, it's your responsibility, isn't it?" "Yes sir, I'll go get your coffee," she said without hesitation. Her eyes lingered on him longer than intended. He raised a brow at her in curiosity. I
"Hello Ashton?" The person at the other end called out in surprise. He didn't expect Ashton to call at all."Jace, you still up for that drink?" Ashton asked, combing his hair with his fingers."Sure, sure, does Aquarium sound nice to you? It's the new club they opened last month," Jace indicated.Ashton said, "Any place that sounds nice to you, I'll comply.""Okay, 9pm?" Jace told him."9pm." Ashton replied in agreement.---"When will you come to see me then?" Mrs. Ryder asked as she walked around her room with her glass of juice in her hands."I have a lot of work to do Mom, I can't come anytime soon." Ashton said to her."These days everyone is too busy to have a five-minute chat with me. I remember when you were less busy and more of a pest. Now look at you, you're a grown man now."He chuckled. "I'm never a grown man with you and you know that.""So you do know," she smiled. He could even feel her smile."I do," he said, nodding. "And father?" He cleared his throat."I haven't s
The morning came really quick unlike the others. Everyone involved in the wedding, anticipated the union. It was dawn but Thea was up already, very excited about what the day held for her. Today was her wedding day. She sighed with a smile as she remembered why she was getting married and who she was getting married to. One of the most eligible bachelor, Ashton Ryder. She couldn't wait. She stared at her wedding dress for the nth time. She even slept dreaming about how the wedding dress will look on her today. When she woke in the middle of the night, Ashton was up too, texting her and telling her that he couldn't wait. She unconsciously played with her necklace, smiling at the thought of Ashton being hers today. "Thea?" Her mother called from behind the door. "I'm awake mother," she said, standing from the chair she was sitting.Her mother sighed. God, she didn't sent that she was nervous. "Very good, hurry up, we mustn't be late.""I'm almost ready, I'll be out in a minute!" T
"I said, I didn't kill her!" Samson roared one more time."Mr Maxfield, you do know that denying it will get you no where. Why don't you say the truth, confess to it and your punishment might be less." The Blondie in charge told Samson as Samson panted in heavy breaths."Do you perhaps have anxiety problem? Maybe you did things you can't remember?""I don't know what you are talking about," Samson simply said looking away from him."Did you get yourself treated? Who treated you?""I said I don't know what you are talking about!" Samson yelled stomping his hand on the table angrily. He held his head, suddenly feeling light headed and groaned softly seconds later. He quickly reached for the glass of water on the table there and drank half of it."As I thought," the officer tsked. "This is the second day and you've refused to say anything. You do not want to stay here forever, do you?" Officer Peter asked."I'm saying anything because I don't know anything!" Samson said to him."You call
"Does your hand still hurt?" He asked mainly because the silence in the car was uncomfortable. She had been looking out the window ever since she entered, avoiding his stare and pretending like he never existed."I'm fine now, Thank you." She still didn't turn her attention away from the boring night."Okay," he said softly. His face, impassive and without emotion. He stole a look at her one more time before concentrating on the road.Throughout the ride, his knuckles didn't didn't loosen themselves around the wheel.Few minutes later, she still sat, staring out of the window in thoughts while his car was no longer moving."Miss Kennedy," she hummed in response and slowly dragged her attention away from the night to stare at him. "We are at your house." He said to her.She looked around in shock, she must have been seriously consumed by her thoughts not to notice this on time."Oh," she muttered. Grabbing her bag to leave, she froze when she felt cold hands against hers. Her once stea
He gripped her by the waist and pulled her closer allowing the pan to fall from her hands. Thea's hands found his freed collar, gripping them as their breaths became hurried and sharp.He finally let go, whispering her name into the night. "Thea." She breathed tremulously and watched as his nose streamed down the side of her face to her neck and he sucked. She gasped and moaned softly into the night as he kissed and tightened his hands around her. He walked her to the couch slowly as he kissed her on her cheeks, jaw, neck...His hands gripped her everywhere and he squeezed desperately trying to get her closer. His lips found hers once more and she finally tasted the alcohol in them.He was drunk!She finally came to her senses. He only came to her because he was drunk. Not necessary because he had forgotten what happened between them. Tears gathered in her eyes as she f