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Chapter 60: FRIENDS, FAMILY AND HOME
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Beast Chapter 1: FLUFFY GIRL
Ashleigh prayed that her face stayed as impassive as Miss Celie's face in The Color Purple after Mister smacked her for daydreaming about her sister in Africa. She felt like Celie…like if she had a straight razor in her hand right now DeAngelo would be one second from lying on the floor dead. Not that DeAngelo had ever put his hands on her in that way. But what he'd just done was oh so much worse. Her heart couldn't even beat normally; it felt like a huge invisible fist had reached into her chest and had a grip on her. Maybe she would just die and that would solve everything."I'm so sorry, baby. I know that you hate me right now."? He watched her, probably waiting for her to default to the Ashleigh that he knew so well; the one that would melt when he flashed that perfect smile, or who clung to his arm in pride because he was so fine that sometimes just looking at him caused her entire body to ache—because he was her man, Ashleigh Marie Dalton; the girl that people described as prett
Beast Chapter 2: YOU'RE JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH
She kicked off her pumps at the door and put everything on her dining room table. She was proud of her two-bedroom condo. She had always hoped that it would be her and DeAngelo's…she grimaced and was preparing to strip out of her suit and put on a t-shirt and sweatpants when the phone rang. For a brief second her heart leaped in anticipation—and then dread. He had called her once, but it was to return some clothes of hers that she'd left at his apartment. She knew that he lingered, hoping that she would invite him in; into her home, into her bed, back into her life, but he'd honestly hurt her too bad for her to forgive him. And she'd taken her belongings and closed the door after a brief thank you. She had been strong that day. She didn't know if she would be as strong the next time."Hello?" She said breathlessly as she'd had to hurry into her pants and then to the phone."Ash? Are you exercising?"It was Lance. "Hell no!""Well why are you breathing so hard?""Um…so I can live
Beast Chapter 3: SHALLOW
Lance spotted her first as she entered the dimly lit club and he waved her over to where they were waiting just inside the main entrance. Her eyes didn't know what to take in first. Certainly she'd seen her friends dressed for a night out on the town, but Lance and Kendra both looked really hot and sophisticated, not to mention Kendra's husband Jeffery. He was an athlete turned business owner. He had several properties that he rented out for commercial use. He and Kendra both had deep mocha complexions with exotic looks like they'd come over from the Caribbean. Lance was extremely good-looking and never had trouble getting men…just keeping them. But her eyes were riveted to the two men that watched her approach. Her eyes met those of a man so gorgeous that he almost made DeAngelo look like dog food. Kendra knew just what she liked. He had to have been over six feet with muscles that were evident even beneath his expensive yet casual jacket. He was dark; so dark that she could only th
Beast Chapter 4: BEAST
After returning home from her disastrous blind date with the sweet but boring Ivan, Ashleigh did a critical self-assessment of herself. Ivan found her attractive because he liked big women, DeAngelo had been into her because he wanted her money, but Ashleigh wanted someone to want her for just being Ashleigh Marie Dalton; whether she was big or small. But the key fact is that she wanted someone that she was physically attracted to. Oh she could sit there and think about how she had no room to be judgmental, but if toned, in-shape guys wanted the toned in-shape women, then she'd just have to be that person…or she would have to settle for being with someone that she didn't find physically attractive. And that was all there was to it. So she tossed out the cakes and chips knowing that keeping them in the house would be too much temptation. She bought boneless, skinless chicken breast patties to put into the boiler, turkey lunchmeat and salad packs. And when Monday rolled by she bought h
Beast Chapter 5: THE SUB-BASEMENT
He took his bagged lunch over to the crowded table and was greeted by several others that worked with him in the sub-basement. Once upon a time when he was a kid no one would have welcomed him to their lunch table. But it didn't matter to these guys if he was ugly. He had proven himself to them and they judged him rightfully on that and not on his looks. "Yo Beast," he was greeted in a friendly manner. He assumed people called him this because of his face and not because of his build—most of them were built the same way if not bigger. But they didn't mean it in a bad way and so he didn't mind. "What you bring us for lunch?" TK asked. He was a black male that wore sunglasses every single day, even in the subbasement.Christopher grinned and opened his bag, spreading the food out before him. Half a loaf of bread, a big bowl of spaghetti, another big bowl filled with salad, a container of ranch dressing, a carton of Kraft Parmesan cheese, a gallon sized jug of Lipton Citrus Iced Tea—
Beast Chapter 6: GYM SANCTUARY
Ashleigh got dressed in her ratty grey sweat pants and a pink shirt that had SUPERSTAR written out in rhinestones across the front. She'd been serious about working out when she had invested $90 in cross training shoes because the salesman had said it would maximize her workout. She had purposely arrived at 5:30 even though she didn't have to be at work until 8:00. She figured she would work out for an hour to an hour and a half, take forty-five minutes to get showered and dressed, and another half hour to have breakfast in the cafeteria. She'd seen that they had egg white omelets and turkey sausage now. She'd have time to kickback and recuperate before starting her day. But best of all, by coming so early she'd get to the gym before anyone else showed up.The Federal Building was quiet when she arrived. No one had yet arrived to visit the Social Security Office or to have their taxes prepared. None of the workers were crowding into the building carrying their cups of piping hot St
Beast Chapter 7: FIRST SIGHT
In theory, Ashleigh's plan was great. But nothing worked out as planned. She'd sweated her hair until it was soaking wet and once she got to the locker she'd had to wash it. Her hair was too short to just pull back into a ponytail, and it took her forty-five minutes alone just getting her short hair blow dried and curled into a passable manner. She spent fifteen more minutes on makeup and ten minutes to get dressed. She'd only had time to grab a breakfast wrap and a bottle of juice and to get up to her office where she gobbled it up. Kendra and Lance came into her office and looked her up and down. "Did you work out?" Kendra asked in disappointment. "I did!" She said defensively. "My freaking legs are knotted up and I'm limping," she added.Lance gave her a doubtful look. "Girlfriend, you look like you just left the spa. Make-up and clothes are flawless."Ashleigh smiled. Lance was so sweet, even if he thought she looked too good to have just put in over an hour on her first work
Beast Chapter 8: CAN YOU SEE ME?
Christopher's back straightened. Did she hurt herself? Should he go check on her? He was contemplating this when she pulled herself back up to her feet. She moved stiffly back to the treadmill. She started it again and got back on it!Christopher placed his hands on his hips and watched. She was going to walk it out, he thought. That was good. But then he saw her pushing up the speed and she began running again. Damn…Christopher tapped the controls and zoomed in on her face. Sweat and tears were evident but he could see that her brow was drawn and he saw that she wasn't going to stop until she met her own personal goal. He heard Carlos come up behind him and he quickly flipped the screen to the corridors. He didn't want any of the guys seeing her cry.~*~Ashleigh hurt so bad that even though she knew she shouldn't, she came straight home, popped ibuprofen, took a hot bath and then crawled into bed without dinner. The next day when she went to the gym she was walking stiffly
Latest chapter
- Beast Chapter 60: FRIENDS, FAMILY AND HOME
- Beast Chapter 59: FAMILY REUNION, Part 3
- Beast Chapter 58: FAMILY REUNION, Part 2
- Beast Chapter 57: FAMILY REUNION, Part 1
- Beast Chapter 56: INLAWS
- Beast Chapter 55: NEW FACE, Part 2
- Beast Chapter 54: NEW FACE, Part 1
- Beast Chapter 53: UNWRAPPED
- Beast Chapter 52: SURPRISE VISIT
