Chapter 37

"Ashlyn!" Lake called out and hugged her. Ashlyn chuckled and pushed her away. "Do you want me to carry you too?" She told her and showed her the bags she was carrying. Lake laughed and helped her with some of the things. Luke came over and helped her take her suitcase.

"Aunty, Uncle." Ashlyn greeted her uncle and aunt. They hugged and entered the jet.

Once they were inside the Jet Ashlyn sat down in her seat and sighed. Luke and Lake sat in the two separate seats in front of her and so did her aunt. The empty seat beside Ashlyn was left for her manager. " Mn Li Zi will be here soon," Ashlyn informed them.

"Sure! Did you eat breakfast?" Luke asked. Ashlyn shook her head. "Nope. I wasn't hungry. I'll eat later." Ashlyn answered.

A few minutes later a brunette with blue eyes entered the jet. Ashlyn got up and hugged her.

"I still can't believe your back!" Li Zi sighed and ended their hug. "Well you will have to start believing it then" Ashlyn joked.

"These are my cousins Lake and Luke." She introduced the twins. Lake smiled and hugged Li Zi. While Luke and Li Zi shook hands.

"Nice to see you again Luke." Li Zi told him, she wasn't as bright as she had greeted Ashlyn earlier. Luke smiled and nodded in response. They were a bit lost in each other's eyes for a few seconds before parting. "You guys know each other?" Ashlyn asked. "We were high school classmates," Luke answered. Li Zi only nodded in response.

"That was when we moved away in our freshman year of high school. We moved away and Li Zi ended up being in Luke's classroom while I was in another." Lake explained. Ashlyn smiled and didn't say anything. She suddenly thought about her high school years….

Li Zi greeted Ashlyn's aunt and everyone onboard. Afterward both she and Ashlyn took their seats. The first thing Li Zi did when she sat down was hand a file to Ashlyn. " Here is what you asked for." She told her. Ashlyn nodded and sent her a grateful smile. " Everything is here?" She asked.

"Every and last detail is there." Li Zi responded with a smirk. Ashlyn nodded. A few minutes later they took off. It had not been long after the jet departed when Ashlyn received a call from Conner. She hesitated but decided to let it ring. She didn't answer the first two calls and let it ring. Eventually, she turned the volume down and closed her eyes.

"Who's calling?" Li Zi asked. "No one," Ashlyn answered and got up. She walked to the restroom inside the jet and answered the call.

"It's probably her husband," Lake told Li Zi with a worried look. Li Zi pursed her lips and didn't say anything. She wasn't surprised that Ashlyn is married but what she was most surprised about was that Ashlyn got a call from her husband.

According to what she was told, after high school, Conner and Ashlyn broke up. After her mother's death, she got married to some mysterious man and they never interacted after their marriage.

As soon as she answered the call Ashlyn met with Conner's questioning. "Where are you?" He asked. "Calm down first," Ashlyn responded after hearing his tone. "Ashlyn where are you!" He shouted over the phone in anger. Ashlyn being herself was not going to take any of that. She never has and never will. He either calms down or she hangs up. It's that simple.

"Did you eat the food I left?" She changed the topic. "That's not important right now! Answer me where are you?" He asked his tone stern and cold. Instead of a question, it sounded more like an order. "What do you mean it's not important? It took me a lot of effort. I even burned my finger wuu…." She sounded pitiful. She rubbed her finger to complete the act.

"I-" Conner was not sure of how to respond. Something tells him it's a lie but he still chose to believe her. "I'm sorry I didn't," he told her with a sigh.

Ashlyn smirked. 'Got him!' She thought and let her finger go from her hand since there is no need. Even if he can't see her it was still something that just stuck to her. To make it more convincing she touched her finger and rubbed it as if she had been burned. Of course, this is just for the act because she was never burned and it took her no effort to cook for him. It was just something she did so that she could coax him once he realizes she's gone.

Although she was aware that he would call her she didn't block his number and turned on her phone at the last minute. Now that she answered she must also prepare to get more calls throughout the month. She would not be completely out of Conner's sight. With his influence in the entertainment world that's just nearly impossible, especially if she wants to settle her career.

Although she won't join his company Rising Stars it would still not be enough to keep away from him. She decided to join Empire Entertainment, a company in New York City. That is where most of her connections are from so she had to choose New York as her start. Later on, she would take on Hollywood and conquer it. But for now, the first step on her list is joining Empire Entertainment to kick her lovely step-sister out of her way.

If Sissie stays down and doesn't interfere with her plans she'll not ruin her….well at least not completely but if she does then it's game over for her.

She considered everything. Empire Entertainment isn't best friends with Rising Stars but it also isn't an enemy so she won't be siding with Conner's competitors. She investigated before choosing this company and her mom also took part in it before marrying her father and retiring. Empire and Rising stars had also collaborated in various projects so nothing should go wrong.

Overall, she made sure her plans would be executed flawlessly.

"Go and appreciate my food right now!" She ordered him."I'll go back and eat it right now. But make sure to rub some ointment on your burn." He responded. "Sure I already did," Ashlyn replied. "Ashlyn where are you?" He asked. This time he was more calm and patient.

Ashlyn bit her lip and looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. "In a plane…" She responded. Entering the mansion Conner stopped on his tracks. He clenched his fists and continued walking. "When and where are you landing?" He asked.

Ashlyn sighed. "I have a few things to deal with. I will return in a month at most." She responded. Tapping her nails on the sink she silently waited for his response. She shivered. Even from miles away she could tell he's angry or more like pissed.

Conner sat down on the sofa and took a few moments to calm his anger down. He felt the urge to go after her and drag her back home, tie her down on his bed and not let her leave the house ever again.