It's your first time being gay

The remaining guests had begun watching this new drama unfold. 

Meanwhile, Emmaline was horrified. 

She hadn't expected to have broken up anyone's relationship. It hadn't at all occurred to her that one of the problems of their contract relationship was existing relationships. 

Ashton's ex-girlfriend sniffed and slid her sunglasses back on, adjusting her tiny handbag on her shoulder. 

"I just wanted to see what you were like and if you were better than me," She informed Emmaline, crossing her arms. 

She seemed like a socialite of some kind. With her long, tanned legs and her sparkling headband, Emmaline couldn't help but feel inferior to her. 

Was this the type of girl that Ashton liked?

The man in question had yet to respond, instead he shifted so that he was between Emmaline and the ex-girlfriend first. 

"Leanne," He rumbled with a hint of warning in his voice, "I didn't leave you for Em, I left because you were two timing me."

Emmaline's mouth fell open. 

Who would be fool enough to cheat on Ashton? 

Was the heir of Wright Enterprises not good enough for you? 

Leanne didn't even look ashamed. She flipped some chemically straightened hair over her shoulder. 

"I already told you, I was just casually seeing the other guy," Leanne had the nerve to say to Ashton. 

Ashton's expression hardened. 

A pang of sympathy for him struck Emmaline's heart. 

Who knew that someone like him would also experience getting two-timed? 

"Casually or not, I thought I was clear that we were exclusive," Ashton bit out, his face like stone. 

Leanne shrugged, looking way too blase. 

She hadn't come because she wanted Ashton back, Emmaline realized. Leanne was here to show off or to get an ego boost after seeing Ashton's new squeeze. 

This wasn't her fight, Emmaline knew that. 

"Are you stupid?" She asked outright. 

Every single person watching the drama turned to look at her with mixed looks of horror and delight. 

Ashton was staring at her as if she had grown two heads. 

Emmaline just kept going, "Obviously I'm better than you because I'm not dumb enough to cheat on Ashton."

Leanne made an outraged sound. 

"You didn't even need to come here to know that, but whatever. You can run along now, bye bye," Emmaline wiggled her fingers at Leanne who was so frustrated that she stomped her foot. 

"I didn't-"

"Cheat?" Ashton cut Leanne off with ice in his voice, "Leanne, I believe we agreed we have two very different definitions of that word. Since you don't think getting caught in bed with someone else is cheating, then let's just say I'm conservative and end there."

Leanne opened her mouth once more but Ashton overrode it with his tone brooking zero argument. 

"Our relationship is long over and if you have the mistaken sense of self importance to come here and insult Em then let it be the last time. An ant can't begin to compare with an eagle."

Leanne looked from Ashton to Emmaline and both wore matching disdainful expressions. 

From her position on the sidelines, Layla snapped a photo for posterity. 

"The birth of a new power couple," She mumbled to herself as she saved it, "Hashtag goals, hashtag do you need some ice for that burn?"

Leanne had already started backtracking to her car, especially since the younger guests had their phones out. 

She wouldn't risk getting shamed on the internet and quickly hopped into the convertible. 

"You're just a phase," She hissed to Emmaline, "This man will tire of you soon enough."

With that parting shot, she drove off and Emmaline shook her head. 

"I'm sorry about that," Ashton looked embarrassed. 

"I can't believe all you're doing here is saving Ashton's ass," Layla whooped, "Ashton your knight in shining armor is here!"

Ashton gave her a wry look before turning back to Emmaline. 

"I've dated a few people," He admitted. It wasn't anything shocking, she had seen his photo with several beautiful women when she researched him. 

"At first, I tried to find someone I could love, for the condition my parents set but after a while, I realized they all only wanted my status or my money," He shrugged, "So I stopped looking."

Now, Emmaline was surprised by that. 

She had just pegged him as a typical playboy who flirted for fun. 

But after seeing the world he was living in and the people he had dated, it wasn't so hard to believe that he had just given up on a genuine relationship. 

"Aww, it's okay," She adopted a lighthearted tone, hoping to ease the dejected look on his face, "Like Layla said, your knight in shining armor is here now!" 

She pretended to drop into a fighting stance, just to see the smile break out on his face once more. 

Something warm washed over her when he ruffled her hair as he usually did, "Yeah, what would I do without you?"

Emmaline caught movement out of the corner of her eye and tilted her head to see Great Grandmother Wright standing at the parapet. 

Slowly, but definitely, Great Grandmother Wright nodded at Emmaline. 

A single, approving nod. 

In response, Emmaline bowed her head just a little, to accept the older lady's regard. 

As she did so, she missed Ashton turning to Layla with panic in his green eyes. 

"Okay, so let's say you may be right," He kept his voice low, but the urgency bled through, "About what you said last night. What do I do now?"

Layla cackled and slapped him on the back, "Accept it, bro. And it's time to get serious."

***

"Why are you panicking?" Layla asked, her head dangling off the side of the bed and her feet propped against the wall, "You've had relationships before."

"I've had bad relationships before, and never with someone like Em," Ashton pointed out from his pacing around the room. 

"Oh, right, it's your first time being gay, I forgot," Layla popped another sour gummy into her mouth. 

Ashton paused to glare at her, "It's not about that."

Layla raised her eyebrows to contest it, never stopping her chewing. 

He shook his head, "I've never met anyone like Em. Everyone else seems to just… Dim in comparison."

Layla laughed so hard that she slid off the bed and onto the floor. 

"Sorry, sorry," She wiped a tear from her eye, "Who knew the unshakable Ashton Wright would fall so hard?"

Ashton caught sight of himself in the mirror. Dark blonde hair messed up from constantly running his hands through it, green eyes wide and troubled, jaw tight from clenching it for so long…

Layla was right. 

He'd never been so worked up over someone else before. 

There was just something about Em. 

His fierce determination, the bold way he lived, the talent he possessed. The caring part of him that he hid with a tough exterior. 

Ashton Wright hadn't expected to question his sexuality over a contract relationship but here he was. 

He let out a frustrated sigh. The contract. 

"What?" Layla was looking at him while stuffing another gummy in her mouth. 

"I- The only relationship Em and I have is a contract," He growled, "I even told him not to develop feelings for me!"

This time, Layla laughed so hard that she choked on her gummy. 

"You're worried that if you end the contract, you'll never see each other again?" Layla asked when she finally caught her breath. 

More than that… Ashton recalled the horrible rush to the hospital, and the pallor of Em's face when he got the call that sent him there.

He could still hear Em's voice when the doctor brought up the transplant. 

Em needed this contract. 

If Ashton brought up his own feelings and offered to break the contract, where would that leave Em? 

"Not yet," He came to the conclusion, "I have to make him fall for me before the contract ends."

"Easy," Layla clapped, "Unless he's not gay."

Ashton buried his face in his hands and groaned. 

But he had to try. 

Which is how he ended up lurking nearby one of the destination filming locations. 

He knew Em had told him not to visit while filming, but Ashton had pulled some strings and discovered that this day trip to film near the forest was happening. 

What better way to stoke a romance than with a romantic walk in the woods?

For now, he was at a little cafe near the set, biding his time. 

A pretty girl walked in. 

Ashton paid her no mind at all. 

Pretty girls were a dime a dozen, but there was only one Em. 

She was a star or dressed to look like one with huge sunglasses and a cap over her platinum blonde hair. 

The only reason Ashton's attention was caught was when he overheard part of her conversation on the phone. 

"No… No dressing room with 'Spelt' on it…" Ashton's ears pricked up. 

Perhaps she was acting in the same show as Em? 

Maybe she could help him surprise Em! 

That's when he heard snatches of the next portion of her conversation. 

"Blue shirt and black pants… Ruin the seams… don't care how, make it unwearable."

Every muscle in Ashton's body tensed. 

He didn't need to hear any more to understand what was happening or about to happen. 

He turned his head slightly to get a good look at this woman now. 

She was gorgeous like a doll, pouty lips and a good figure. 

Casually getting up from his seat, he pretended to bump into her, causing her to drop her phone. 

Quickly, he leaned down to pick it up and sure enough, she hadn't even saved the contact. 

Perfect, he wouldn't have to hold on to her phone for long. Memorizing the number, he smiled charmingly in a way he had perfected. 

"Sorry, can I get you a drink to make up for that?" He asked smoothly. 

Predictably, she said yes, taking off her sunglasses and he took the extra time to get a proper look at her features. 

At the same time, he got her name and number input into his phone, things she was all too willing to give once she took a glance at his face and his pressed suit. 

Five minutes later, Ashton watched Priscilla flounce out of the shop with a fake name and number in her phone. 

"I need you to track two numbers for me, one is more urgent than the other," He made a swift call, his heart racing, "I need this as fast as possible along with another item that I'm going to message to you."

If Priscilla thought that she could mess with Em, she thought wrong. 

Not if Ashton had anything to say about it!