His Responsibility (part 2)

After Damon closed the door Ashley hissed and stamped her foot angrily on the ground. Who was he to just dictate where she would sleep or not?

True, outside was not safe for her, not even her own house was but here wasn't safe either. She paced in the room thinking of what to do.

She should try to escape. Where would she go? Even her apartment door was damaged and it was late in the night so she couldn't sleep there.

Maybe she should call Natalie. God, her phone was at home. She was trapped here.

Ashley walked to the window and raised the large curtains. She opened the windows and looked down. Gracious Lord! She was so high above the ground, she couldn't jump down.

She moved away from the window and searched the whole room, looking for a rope or something long enough she could use to go down.

She entered Damon's closet and looked around. It was so big and filled with a lot of clothes. What does anybody need this much clothes for? Ashley wondered.

She didn't find anything useful in there so she came out and thought of using the sheets on the bed. But it won't be long enough.

"Ughhh!" She sighed in frustration and went back to stand at the window.

She looked down again looking for anything she could jump on and keep jumping on till she found her way down without getting hurt and being caught in the process. He probably had guards everywhere.

She didn't find anything safe for her to jump on. She knew she had a phobia for heights so even if she did find something to jump on, she wasn't so sure she would be able to do it. Also, it was already too late to get a cab or a bus. She also wouldn't even be able to get back on her own.

Also, who knows what could hurt her as these people weren't human beings? Perhaps she was safer here than outside.

But something needed to be done to her apartment. Her things were still in there and thieves were everywhere. In the name of protecting her, her door became damaged. Ashley sighed.

After the experience this evening, she was never going to let any stranger into her home again.

Suddenly she remembered that she was to be at work tomorrow. She couldn't miss another day.

Ashley looked around the room again for a telephone she could maybe make use of to call Natalie. She found one on the drawer beside the bed and she quickly went to dial Natalie's number. She tried the first time and it wasn't even going through at all. She realized it was only for use within the mansion.

Letting out another sigh of frustration, she sat on the bed fighting the tears in her eyes back. What had she done to deserve all these things. Life hadn't been fair on her part from the very beginning.

While trying as much as possible not to cry she got up and walked back to the window then watched the city from where she stood. It was a pretty view in the night. The cool breeze hit her face and she closed her eyes inhaling the fresh air and letting it calm her down.

After she felt she had calmed down a bit, she locked the windows, closed the curtains and went back to the bed.

She wished the morning would come in the blink of an eye. She really needed to know what all this was about. But she couldn't sleep. She had to be aware of what was going on around her.

And even after telling herself every reason why she shouldn't sleep she still couldn't help it and eventually gave in. Ashley slept off curled up on the bed without covering herself up.

Damon came later in the night to check on her. He smiled inwardly when he saw that she finally slept off after all the stubbornness. He covered her up and left her alone.

The next time she opened her eyes, it was bright already. She scolded herself for sleeping off when something could have happened to her. She quickly got up to look for Damon. She was not planning on missing work today.

As she rushed to the door and turned the knob to open it she was greeted with Damon who was also about to open the door.

"Oh, you're up. I was about coming in." He said and entered brushing past her.

"I need to leave for work. I can't miss another day." She told him as she watched him enter the room.

"Alright. If you're ready I can take you home." He said without arguing. Ashley felt relieved he was letting her leave.

"But be careful of the people you relate with." He said again firmly.

She nodded. "Are you going to give me an answer to my question now?" She asked him folding her hands.

"Whatever I'm going to explain to you will take a long while and I know you don't want to be late for work."

So now he was giving excuses not to give her an answer. And he used her work against her.

"Alright. This evening. I don't know how or where we're going to see but I want to know." She said then let her arms fall.

"I'm ready to leave."

Damon shook his head and led the way out of the room and downstairs then to the main entrance and out of the house.

Damon led her to his garage where two beautiful cars and a power bike was parked in. She recognized one of the cars. That was the one he used the two times he had given her a ride and that was the one he led her to again today.

Ashley watched as he opened the door and asked her to get in. She wondered what the special treatment was for. He didn't do all that the last time.

He got into the driver's side and they drove out of the large compound.

No much talk was done in the car and soon they got to Ashley's apartment. She was surprised her door was fixed. How?

"Wasn't the door damaged last night?" she asked.

"It was."

"How come...?".

"Don't worry about that, I got it fixed."

How?

At least it was fixed. She had work to worry about. She opened the door and got in. She was relieved all her things were still in place.

"I'll wait while you get ready." Damon said.

Ashley nodded then took out her phone first, it was dead so she plugged it in to charge then she went to get ready for work.

She took a bath and changed into a white skirt and a blue top and decided to let her curly black hair down before she wore her boots, she picked up her phone and her bag and left the room. After locking the door, she turned and saw Damon leaning on the car. Ashley had failed to notice how strikingly handsome he looked this morning because she was worried about work and expecting answers.

He looked up at her and her heart skipped a beat. She shook her head and walked towards him. "I'm ready."

"Let's go then." He said and they both got in and drove off to Topbells, where Ashley worked.

"Ashley," Damon started, breaking the silence in the car as they drove. She looked at him wondering what he wanted to talk about.

"You can't stay at that apartment anymore. It's not safe. There's a lot you have to know and I'll explain as much as I can but it's not safe for you there alone."

"Where am I supposed to stay? I don't have anywhere else to go."

"I'll let you know everything, for now just focus on your work and don't get too distracted. I'll pick you up this evening."

Ashley didn't say anything again. She didn't want to get emotional.

They got to the restaurant and Ashley noticed Cassandra's car parked outside. Oh no! What excuse was she supposed to give.

"Is anything wrong?" Damon asked.

"Yes. That's my boss's car parked over there. She's definitely inside and I have no idea what I'm going to give as an explanation for my absence or my lateness." Ashley replied with a wrinkled face.

Just then her phone rang, it was Natalie calling.

"Gosh!" She muttered and left the car. She got into the shop and met with Natalie's face. The lady shook her head and gave her a 'boss is around' look.

Ashley quickly hurried to her side.

"Where is she?" Ashley asked.

"She's in the kitchen. She knows about your absence from work yesterday but don't worry I already told her you couldn't make it because you were sick."

"I'll go see her." Ashley said and hurried to the kitchen area.

She met Cassandra as she got in.

"Good morning ma'am." Ashley greeted.

"Ashley. I see you're just arriving." The woman said.

"Yes ma'am. I didn't mean to be late I just had an unexpected issue that I had to deal with." She said fondling with her hands.

"Natalie told me you were sick, are you okay?" Cassandra asked with a little concern.

Even though she wasn't exactly sick physically, she was still sick. Sick of life and her fate and everything that was going on with her.

"Yes ma'am, I'm better now." She smiled.

"Alright. If you feel better now then what are you waiting for, get to work."

Ashley nodded, happy that it wasn't more than that. "I will. Have a good day ma'am." S xx ,he said and hurried back to Natalie.

"How'd it go?" Natalie asked.

"No too much talk. I'm glad" Ashley said putting on her apron.

Natalie smiled. They continued work, serving customers and clearing tables.

Ashley tried not to get distracted with thoughts of what happened. So she made sure to keep herself busy all day.

These people after her were not human beings as Damon had said. What would they want from her? Damon said something to the man about hurting her not working this time. Ashley was confused on what that meant. Was there a time they hurt her that she didn't know of?

She chatted with Natalie and they laughed over things which helped her mind a little. Ashley thought of telling her what happened last night after she had left the bus. But she didn't want to get Natalie worried again for no reason. Maybe she should wait till she gets answers first.

Zuka, the man she had talked to at the park came to the restaurant to eat and Ashley was surprised.

"Is it you today or your lookalike?" Ashley asked him with sarcasm when she went to take his order.

He smiled at her. "It's me, Zuka. Since you mentioned the name I thought I would check the place out." He said looking around.

"Well, thank you." she replied as she did a little curtsey which made him chuckle.

"So what can I get you?"

He looked through the menu and ordered french fries and chicken.

"Enjoy sir." She told him with a smile after placing the food on the table. Zuka returned the smile and Ashley left him alone.

Though she was busy through the day, she didn't find it stressful. The day went by fast and the time to close for the day finally came. Natalie left as usual and Ashley was to walk back home. But just as Damon said, he came to pick her.

She didn't want to go with him but eventually did as she didn't want to risk her life walking home alone and also wanted to hear whatever explanation he had for what he did to her.