How would you feel when you suddenly got a marriage proposal when you least expected it, moreover from the man you claim to hate
~~~~~~
ASHTON~~~~
From the start, I shouldn't have let her leave the office. She's a liar and knows how to manipulate people..why this guy another one in her list to use for his money.
I don't care if she uses me for my money but no one else can touch her but me, she's mine.
If only she could apologize, I'll gladly forget everything and start over with her....why was it so hard for her to do it.
"Sir, someone is here to see you" my secretary reported through the intercom.
"Who is it?"
"Claris" she replied.
The sight of her made me angry but...how would Ariana react if she flirted with me In front of her..... seeing her jealous would be so much fun.
I pressed the button and opened the doors for her.
"Ash....." She stopped when she saw Ariana.
Surprise!
"You two are now sharing an office?" She asked.
"Yes, say what you want and leave" my eyes shifted to Ariana... pretending to be buried in work..
"Ashton, your mom just called, she'll be here in five days...and that same day, she wants us to get married" she said....happiness evident in her voice.
What did she think? I'd agree to marry her?
" I was thinking.." she walked towards me, by passing Ariana.
"We should go for fittings at the best mall, don't you think so to" she tried to touch me.
She'd gone too far now. .I stood up quickly before she got any closer.
"You can go..... I'm still busy" I replied coldly.
This woman
"Ok then....Ms Lissio wouldn't mind going with me instead?" She approached Ariana now...what was she upto?
"No." Ariana replied, her eyes still glued to her work. She'd grown bold these years, she wasn't as weak as I expected her to be.
"Why won't you....or so you have some other intentions of your own?" Claris kept pushing her.
She stood up to face her head on.
"Ms. Claris, we have so much work to do....your presence in here is not helping.. ." She replied, before she grabbed her hand, dragging her out.
My brave girl
" Mr Ashton and I would appreciate if you leave us in peace" that was her last sentence before she kicked her out of the office and shut the doors.
This scene gave me piece of mind and I found myself smiling.
~~~~~~~~
"Sir, I'm sorry for dragging your noisy fianceé out" Ariana pretended to apologize heading back to her desk.
She was jealous.
Ashton walked towards her desk and turned her seat around so she could face him.
He then put his hands on either side...all along she was avoiding any eye contact with him... trying to bottle up her emotions.
"Were you jealous just now?" He asked..
"If I say no, would you believe me?" She answered his question with a question.
"I wouldn't"
"Then just leave me alone!" She replied trying to push his hands away from her seat.
"She won't stop coming back, until I marry someone else" Ashton stated.
What was he trying to imply
"Ariana, marry me" Ashton got straight to the point.
"What?"
"Marry me" He suddenly proposed marriage to her.
"No!" She blankly rejected him.
She hated Ashton but she despised his mother more, having such a cruel mother in law!!
"Why? I have everything that you dream if having, just accept" he replied.
" I didn't need your things Ashton, you won't understand me" She said, staring straight into his eyes.
Ashton thought she'd be excited and agree to marry him, like she always wanted back in their past life....but that was the past.
Ariana had changed ...she was completely different from the one he knew back then.
Ashton lost his temper ...he just left her and went to the lounge....before he could say something he would regret.
This woman was driving him crazy. ..the funny thing was....she wasn't even trying but her words and actions got through his defenses.
Every moment he spent with her...he could just keep getting hurt and yet fall more in love with her.
That was how he loved, he knew pain and he could forgive, just to be with her.
~~~~~
~~~ARIANA~~~
How much more was life going to throw at me.
Was fate just testing me again and again? It was just yesterday when my life was peaceful...but look at me now.....
Trapped, completely trapped in my own mess that I created.
It was my mistake to sleep with him.....I was so stupid, thinking he still loved me.
He was going to get married to another woman, he was engaged. I was such a fool. Blinded by my imagination that he could truly come back to me.
Hopeless
I might as well just focus on my job, get it done and disappear from this place... disappear from him. This isn't real, it never was.
~~~~~~~~~
Ariana lost track of time while in the office, it was lunch time. By the time she remembered, it was passed lunch. Ashton was used to this kind of lifestyle...but Ariana's body was just too delicate...he considered it to be so precious.
He ordered Tobe to bring in lunch for them without her realizing it.
"Time to eat" his commanding voice interrupted her working, knocking twice on her desk wasn't enough.
"I'm okay sir, I need to finish this" she replied, without even glancing at him.
Did she take him for a fool?
"When I say time to eat, it's time to eat" Ashton repeated for the second time, more like threatening her. She had no choice or else he'd drag her to the table and shove the food down her throat if he had to.
Ariana was all the more confused, this man! What was he upto treating her like this? Was it part of his plan to get back at her?
"Thank you sir, but you didn't have to" Ariana kept the relationship professional. This was now her boss.
"Drop the act, we're alone in here, call me by my name Ashton" he said, his voice was strange.
"Let's keep it professional, sir" This was indeed his challenge, she wasn't afraid of him at all.
She sat on the couch, ready to serve herself but Ashton stopped her midway.... grabbing her hand and pulling her closer to himself.
What was he going to do to her?