35 LEAVE HIM FOR A FRIEND

She checked the time to see it was 4.30, she had just 30mins more. She jumped off the chair and dressed up not forgetting to grab a scarf and a pair of dark shades to hide her face.

Ashley sped towards the main door as she tried to button up her coat to her chest. Being in a hurry, she didn't notice something before her until she bumped straight into it, which initially made her think she hit a wall.

"Ouch!" she said almost in a whisper.

"Where are you going?" A familiar voice said.

That was when she realized Cole was standing tall before her eyes. She traced his huge figure to meet his cold and confused eyes.

"U-um, I'm heading to the store to get healthy groceries for Aria," she lied.

She looked into his eyes which seemed not to believe her lie.

"Why can't you send the servants?" he questioned.

"I wanted to be sure of what I'm buying, I need to be" she explained.

She knew he didn't buy such a lie but all she did was hope he would let her go even if it seemed impossible.

"Okay," he said plainly.

This surprised Ashley as she tried to reaffirm his words.

"Did you just say okay?" she asked.

"Or don't you want to?" he asked with a raised brow.

"Thank you!" she said.

She walked towards the door slowly and steadily, fully aware that his eyes were still lingering on her.

"Wait!" he said suddenly making her heart jump.

She wasn't ready for another round of questions. She turned in his direction trying to hide her fear with a confused face.

"Make sure you take the driver," he said.

"Okay!" she said as her pounding heart began to slow down.

*******************

Janet sat on her bunk, she was in the maid's quarters; a place where maids lived after work hours. She had just run away from Tegan but he still didn't live her mind.

The thought of him wearing her already cracked and worn-out wristwatch gave her a tingling feeling. A smile began to form on her face subconsciously as she sank deeper into the ocean of thoughts.

"Janet!!!" a female voice exclaimed.

"Hm?" Janet said already snapping out of her thought.

It was Nancy, her friend. Nancy had been of a great company to her, especially since Ashley had become a busy bee.

"Janet, are you sure you're, okay?" she asked with concern and care.

"You have been moody ever since you came back from your leave, what's wrong?" she asked her.

Janet went mute, she didn't even understand what was wrong with her. She knew it had something to do with Tegan but how could she express herself? Who would she express it to? She was just so confused and depressed.

"The truth is….." she started but stopped once she remembered that Nancy had a huge crush on Tegan; more like an obsession.

"…It's nothing," she said.

"I understand it may be family problems again but don't think too much, you will overcome," she said.

There was silence as neither of them knew what to say. The silence prevailed for a while until it was broken by Nancy.

"I heard Mr. Fox came today" she started with an excited face. "I saw him returning from the lakeside very close to the pond"

Janet's mind flashed back to that incident and a sudden uncertainty and fear rose in her mind once she remembered that she was also with him. She didn't want to be seen with him; not by Ashley, the maids, the servants, Cole, Austin, NO ONE.

"Oh!" she said pretending like she was confused.

"Yes, and he was cuter than usual; I can't wait for the day he would notice me," she said in a dreamy state.

Janet was a bit jealous and uncomfortable with her confession for some reason unknown to her.

"Look, I have to clean the gazette, see you later," she said as she made for the exit.

**************************

She walked into the hotel reception with a scarf covering her hair and dark shades.

"Good, day ma'am, how can I help you?" the receptionist smiled professionally.

"Yes, room 1000," she said deepening her voice a bit to avoid recognition.

"Do you have a reservation?" she asked.

"Yes", she replied. "Vincent Bland," she said.

The receptionist went through a report looking for the name she had just said.

"Found it!" The receptionist said softly. "Room 1000"

Ashley walked through the hallways checking the number on every door she walked past. She stopped right at the door she was searching for; 1000. The room seemed to be on a VIP floor, giving her the impression that he had some status.

She took a deep breath and placed three gentle knocks on the polished door. She waited for a while but there was no answer she placed knocked on the door this time louder than the last.

She waited for a while but got no reply so she decided to use the keycard that was given by the receptionist.

She swiped it through the slot and there was a green light; which showed that the card was accepted. This was followed by a clicking sound.

She opened the door and walked into the dark room making sure she left the door wide open in case of emergency.

"Hello, Mr. Bland?" she called out, standing close to the door.

She didn't want to leave the door for fear that it might be a trap.

Suddenly, the light turned off and she felt a hand violently drag her into the room. so she couldn't think of anything else but her life. She struggled and tried to run out but the hand kept dragging her into the room.

Her heart stopped when the door closed right in front of her eyes, she tried screaming but before she could let it out a palm covered her mouth and dragged her backward.

She could feel her back against a surface, and she was sure it was not a wall or door or any living thing as she could feel its chest moving as it was breathing.

"Shh…." An intimidating voice just behind her ears said.

"Mmmm!" she tried to make an audible sound even with his palm in her mouth.

"I said to keep quiet" he screamed angrily. "Even if you scream no one will hear you, this room is soundproof."

She felt hopeless then after staying some time with his palms covering her mouth, she finally calmed down. She nodded a bit to show that she was completely calm before he slowly let her go.

"Why did you call me here?" she asked.