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Ashley went back down. Her mission for attending the party had been a dead end. But not entirely unproductive. For one, she had Rachel in a messed up corner. That alone was enough to make up for the night. And it brought her great joy. The other, she got her hands on something very important. Something she could use to bring Bruce down. As she reached the base of the staircase, she weaved her gaze through the crowd to where she had left Pamela. She hissed. Pamela had moved. No longer in the same place. She would need to find her. She plowed ahead and blended into the crowd, darting her eyes through the small cluster of people, looking for Pamela. It didn't take long before she spotted Pam, intently focused in a conversation with a strange man. Ashley walked up to them. She heard Pam giggle girlishly as she closed in on them. Who was this man? And why was Pamela entertaining him? “Pamela.” She called, but her call went unanswered. “Pamela!” Ashley called forcefully. This tim
Pamela eagerly got in the front seat, her interest in Thomas no longer subtle. “Thank you so much.” She buckled her seat belt, her gaze not once flickering off the young man. Thomas glanced at her. “It's no problem. Where're you girls headed?” “Up East.” Pamela answered. “Up East?” Thomas exclaimed. “That's on the other side of town.” He pointed out. Pamela chuckled. “Yes. Ashley's father lives on that side. And she lives with him.” “So what brings you all the way out here?” “Business. We are expanding our horizon, moving our business this way.” Pamela responded genially. “Oh!” Thomas nodded, understanding flooded his mind. “Yeah. We had our debut exhibition here sometime last month. A small awareness about our brand.” Pamela chortled. “I heard about that and I wouldn't call that small. Although I didn't attend, I saw a glimpse of it all over the net. It was a great show… Awesome designs… I couldn't get over the number two collection.” He chuckled. “So much so that I place
Pamela's heels clicked angrily as she matched past Ashley. “Pamela.”. Ashley stopped her. “You should see these.” she dug her hands into her purse to fetch out something. “I got my hands on Bruce's financial record. And you won't believe what they contain.” “Good for you.” Pamela said sarcastically, not bothering to take a look at what Ashley had in her hands. “Are you alright?” “These damn signals.” Pamela muttered cusses under her breath. Her finger punched her device as though she was in a fierce battle with it. Frantically trying to book a cab, the reception on her cellphone was in opposition to her wants. “What are you so worked up about?” Ashley asked, catching up to her. Pamela ignored her, kept pressing on her phone, exiting and re-entering the app as she received the same service unavailable response. “Argh.” Pamela groaned in frustration. Ashley stole a glance at the screen. “Let's get to my house. I'll ask a driver to drop you off.” Ashley suggested seeing that P
Ashley shut the voice in her head constantly scolding her for spitting hurtful words at Pamela. Pam had been right. Maybe she was controlling, acting like an overbearing mother. And even though she didn't trust Thomas, she couldn't have at least respected Pam and tolerated him. All he did was help them. Grateful for the walk, she had enough time to reflect and simmer down. She would apologize to Pam. She reached her house and saw the car parked in front. She recognized the car as DJ’s. She glanced around and was pleasantly surprised to find DJ, but stunned to see him seated on the cobblestone step. “DJ?” She quickened her steps and met up with him. “Why are you sitting out here? Why didn't you go inside?” She asked, her gaze darting to the house, wondering if someone had asked him to stay out. “The maid who answered the door said you weren't in but would be back soon, and I didn't want to wait inside alone.” “You could have called me.” “I didn't want to disturb you.” She passed
Ashley wakes up to a pair of eyes watching her with love and admiration. She scoffed and chuckled groggily. “Don't tell me you stayed like this all night.” She said in between stifling a yawn as she stretched her muscles to wake. DJ grinned. “What if I did?” Ashley rolled her eyes. “Creepy.” She twisted her head to check the digital clock on his nightstand. DJ rolled his eyes. “Lemme guess, you have to go.” Ashley chortled. “Accurate guess. I just need to handle a few things. And I need to see Pamela too.” DJ furrowed his brows. “You see Pamela every other day.” He said pointedly. Ashley sighed. “This is different. We had a fight last night after we left your brother's.” DJ lifted his brows and whistled. “That bad?” “Yup!” She responded, pulling the covers off her body to reveal her nudity. “She already texted last night that she wanted the day off today.” “Can she just do that?” DJ asked, his eyes raking the perfect symmetry of Ashley's body, feeling his member ha
Ashley left DJ's place floating on cloud nine. She headed straight to the office after making a stop at her house for a change of clothes, all the while pleasantly humming to herself. She reached her office and paused at her door when she heard movement from inside. She had earlier met Benita on her way up and was certain it couldn't be her inside. Slowly, she peeled the door open. “Pam?” Pleasant surprise adorn her tone. Pamela, who had been busy setting down files that needed Ashley's attention, raised her head, glanced at Ashley and continued her work. “Good morning.” Pamela muttered under her breath. The telltale of annoyance tinged her tone. “I thought you said you wouldn't be coming in today?” Delight coursed through her voice at the sight of Pamela. “You need to sign these.” Pamela responded in a tight voice. “They are due next week.” Ashley strode into the office, her gaze fixed on an unsmiling Pamela. She placed her bag on the table and walked up to stand in front of
A towel wrapped around his waist, Bruce dried his damp hair with another towel as he walked out of the bathroom. His head still ached from his drunkenness last night. Rachel entered at that moment and Bruce smiled. His erection springing back to life very quickly. Ashley had stirred a lot of steam in him the previous night. He had wanted to let some of it out on his wife after the party. But he had slept off waiting for her. There was a lot of cleaning left to do and Rachel had deliberately stayed back to supervise the maids that night. She didn't want to be anywhere near Bruce as she was still very mad at him. She wanted to talk to him but needed to simmer down. Bruce smiled and tugged the towel around his waist loose, freeing his díck. He walked towards her with a smug smile. “You came back late last night.” He said as he made his way to her, hoping she would welcome him like she always did. “I didn't think you'd notice.” Her voice was tight. He reached her and spread his ha
“It's done.” Pamela scurried behind Ashley as her wide eyes trail Ashley's back as she enters the office and beeline for her seat. “So quickly?... Did he see you?” Pamela asked. “No.” Ashley took her seat. “I didn't go as me. I used a proxy.” She said with a satisfied heave. “Wow! So now you own the company?” Pamela asked with incredulity. “Now I own, Bruce.” Ashley smiled. “But he doesn't know it yet.” Pamela gasped and let out a chuckle. “Oh my God! You finally got what you wanted.” Ashley's gaze fixes straight past Pamela. Her mind, brooding and brewing. “Not yet. I still have many scores to settle. One of which I haven't been giving a lot of attention to.” “What's that?” Ashley raised her eyes to meet Pamela's. “Rachel.” “That bitch!” Venom dripped from Pamela's voice. “She won't be one for long. I intend to strip her of that snarky attitude of hers.” Excitement flicked through Pamela's eyes. She had always, always hated Rachel and her ‘better than everyone else's atti
Rachel wasn't herself the rest of the evening. She kept stealing petrifying glances at Ashley.Ashley had become a difficult puzzle; she couldn't place its missing piece. How did she know so much? Who was feeding her with so much information?Was Bruce stupid enough to tell her?She couldn't figure anything out. She just couldn't wrap her head around any of it. She was more than pleased when the time came for everyone to leave. She and Bruce bade them goodbye, shaking hands, passing hugs and farewell kisses to her parents and Bruce's parents, and avoiding Ashley and DJ.She managed a half hearted smile at DJ and didn't look at Ashley at all.Ashley smiled and moved to hug Rachel in front of everyone. Rachel froze on the spot. Her eyes widened and her heart stopped. She couldn't respond.“I'm so glad we had that talk.” Still smiling, Ashley rubbed the length of her arm. “It warms my heart to know that we are on good terms now.”Rachel blinked, she felt Ashley's hand run the length
Ashley matched the old woman's gaze, watching her intently until she disappeared into the living room. She was the least bit intimidated.She smiled at herself. Mrs Fox didn't know what was coming. She didn't know half of it yet. Ashley would let her be. For now.She turned around to face a glaring Rachel. Her eyes trailed the length of Rachel. She noticed the napkins on Rachel's hand. “I didn't think you were one to get your hands dirty.” Ashley commented. “Where are your maids?”Rachel had never been good with house chores and seeing her helping to clear the table was a rare sight.“What do you want? Rachel asked. She yanked a careless discarded napkin off the table and added it to the pile she had gathered in her hand. A task she had begun in a bid to simmer off before joining them in the living room.“I thought you could use the company. Your face looks like a rock. Smile.” Ashley smiled at her, showing Rachel how to.Rachel scoffed. “And you think your presence would make me smi
“This is a family dinner, why did you invite her?” Rachel bellowed at Bruce who stood in front of their mirror, attentively fixing his tie.“Because she's family. She's my brother's fiancee.” He responded without glancing at her.“You don't realize that she's your brother's fiancee on those nights when you stayed out late on dinner dates, frolicking with with ‘brother's fiancee!’” Hot fumes literally escaped Rachel's ears.“We are business partners. You know that.” Bruce walked around her as he spoke. He beelined for her vanity table where he had earlier laid his cufflinks.Fixing the tiny piece of accessory to his suit sleeves, he continued talking. “Stop being so petty. You keep ranting about a woman who is least concerned about you or what you have.” He finished fixing the cufflinks and walked back to the mirror, examining his finished look. Satisfied with his reflection, he turned to Rachel.“Go get yourself dressed up and come down. We are the hosts, we shouldn't be late to our o
“Paul.” His name was a breath of stale air as it rolled out of her lips.She could see the curve of his sinister smile even in the darkness.“Missed me?”Ashley's chest rose and fell in quick successions. Her eyes wide with terror, she watched him closely. Calculating and anticipating his next move. She hadn't forgotten the last time.Fixing her eyes on him, she allowed the corners of her eyes to scan around her, looking for an easy grab and suitable weapon.She flinched, shifting backward as he lifted a hand to her. Her breath paused. His hands approached, taking a lifetime to reach her. When it finally did, his index finger trailed the side of her face and tucked a mass of her disheveled hair behind her.“Go back to sleep. We'll talk better tomorrow.”Not another word and he was walking out the door. No fights. No argument. No attack. He left.Ashley exhaled, clutching her chest, fearing her racing heart would explode. She hadn't realized she had been holding her breath.Go back t
“I’m not surprised Rachel could stoop so low.” Pamela remarked as they walked out of the bar.Ashley scoffed, shaking her head ruefully. “They have no morals.”They reached the car, Ashley clicked the doors open and they got in.“Ashley, don't you think you revealed too much to Rachel? She'll begin to suspect.” Pamela's voice was laden with concern.“That’s what I want. To raise doubt and suspicion in her mind… You don't have to worry. She can't hurt me.” Ashley assured her, knowing the reason for Pamela's concerns.She kicked the car to a start and drove to drop Pamela off at her apartment.“Thanks girl.” Pamela said in appreciation as she got down. “Want to come inside?”“No. Thanks. I'm going up east.”Pamela knitted her brows. “Is everything alright at home?”“Yeah. Dad's coming back tomorrow and I want to be there when he arrives.” Dad; the word came to her naturally. There was an inexplicable excitement at the thought of seeing Mr Knox again. The man that saved her and gave he
Stan's eyes met the menacing man standing beside Pam. His huge frame contrasted spookingly to Pam’s small frame.He parted his lips and swallowed the words he was about to utter. The warning look on Thomas’ face left him speechless. He recovered quickly, cleared his throat and grunted a goodbye to Pamela and Ashley as they left.Once both women were out of sight, Stan stood at attention, feet closed, chest out and hand lifted up to his head in salute. “Sir!”Joe watched horrified. Trembling, he mirrored Stan's posture in salute to his boss whom he had never seen. “Sir!” Joe’s salute came out shaky and fear filled.Thomas dismissed them and occupied the stool Ashley had earlier vacated. His scrutinizing gaze fixated on both men as he motioned to them to sit.“What was that all about?” Thomas asked, his tone authoritative and bossy. Nothing like the voice he spoke to Pamela in.“Are you two selling sensitive office information out?” He probed further. “What are you two trying to pull?”
“Darn it!” Ashley cussed under her breath as Pamela and Thomas reached them. She wasn't ready to deal with Thomas again. She didn't know the guy and she didn't trust him. Just her instincts. And it didn't help that her investigation on him came back with nothing. Nothing! Almost as though the dude didn't exist. She hissed and clenched her fist. An unrest that didn't go unnoticed by Pamela.Pamela met Ashley’s eyes with a glare. “See who I bumped into.” Pamela beamed. A warning directed at Ashley underlied her voice.Ashley took the cue and wore a sweet welcoming smile. She had to behave for her friend. Pamela liked him and until she had proof to convince Pamela otherwise, she'd have to tolerate him.“Hello, Thomas. It's nice to see you again.” Ashley greeted. Thomas smiled and nodded. “Hello Ashley. Nice to see you too.” He returned, all the while switching his gaze between Rachel and Ashley, curiosity embedded in his grey eyes.Ashley turned to Pamela who was standing beside her, a
The drink was served and placed before Rachel. An awkward silence stretched between them in the noisy bar. Rachel's mind mulled over Ashley's knowledge of such a tiny detail about her. She began to wonder how close Ashley was to her husband, Bruce. Not many people knew about her strong aversion to wine. Only her parents, Bruce and Lilian. But Lilian was dead and her parents have never met Ashley. That left only Bruce in the equation. She kept stealing glances at Ashley, the Martini in front of her barely touched. “Got to do a number one. I’ll be right back!” Pamela excused herself, scurrying off to the ladies, leaving Ashley and Rachel alone. “You know, this isn't a funeral, Rachel. I believe you came here to have a good time but you've barely touched that drink.” Ashley turned to her, lewd assumptions flitted through her eyes. “Or are you perhaps waiting for someone? A lover maybe?” Rachel scoffed. “I’m not a tràmp.” Her tone betrayed her insinuating accusation. “Unlike you, I'm
“It's done.” Pamela scurried behind Ashley as her wide eyes trail Ashley's back as she enters the office and beeline for her seat. “So quickly?... Did he see you?” Pamela asked. “No.” Ashley took her seat. “I didn't go as me. I used a proxy.” She said with a satisfied heave. “Wow! So now you own the company?” Pamela asked with incredulity. “Now I own, Bruce.” Ashley smiled. “But he doesn't know it yet.” Pamela gasped and let out a chuckle. “Oh my God! You finally got what you wanted.” Ashley's gaze fixes straight past Pamela. Her mind, brooding and brewing. “Not yet. I still have many scores to settle. One of which I haven't been giving a lot of attention to.” “What's that?” Ashley raised her eyes to meet Pamela's. “Rachel.” “That bitch!” Venom dripped from Pamela's voice. “She won't be one for long. I intend to strip her of that snarky attitude of hers.” Excitement flicked through Pamela's eyes. She had always, always hated Rachel and her ‘better than everyone else's atti