Presents

ASHLEY'S POV

The early morning sunlight filtered in through the delicate curtain of the bedroom, helping me rise slowly from a night that's starting to slip between my fingers. I rolled to the other side of the bed and was greeted with the cold grip of the fabric instead of Alex's warmth.

I opened my eyes and sat up in bed quickly, causing my temples to throb in pain.

Wearily, I scanned everything around me. His side of the bed had been dressed leaving no trace of what happened in the night and the pillow was still plopped against the mahogany frame of the bed. I listened carefully for the sound of running water in the bathroom.

Nothing. Everything was still intact.

Panic gripped me and I rose to my feet, ignoring the pain that had built up in my head.

“Alex?” I called out, turning to go to the door. That was when I caught a glimpse of paper neatly folded on the bedside table.

I walked over and picked it up. The white paper still held his scent in it, and I press it to my nose to inhale before unfolding it.

His writing was neatly scribbled in the paper with his initials at the end of the letter.

Little angel,

I'm sorry I had to leave for the office before you wake up. Mother wants me to finalize the deal with Havillah Modelling agency today (I doubt you knew about that.)

You don't have to stress yourself today as Donna would be there to do everything.

I'll be home before dinner.

And it felt good watching you fall asleep last night.

A.J

I blushed shamelessly after reading the last sentence.

Well… he had conveyed his thoughts in the note but could he not have ended with an endearment instead of his initials.

He didn't even say anything about loving me in it.

But Donna?

Who could she be?

I stood and grabbed a flannel shirt from the wardrobe at the same time I heard a soft knock on the door.

“Hold on.”

I leisurely strode to the door and clicked the key in its lock. I opened the door and an older woman with an apron tied to her waist stood outside. She held a tray in her hands.

“Good morning, Mrs Jordan.” She greeted with a placating smile. “I thought you'd still be in bed, so I brought your breakfast up.”

And she had the warmest of smiles on her lips.

“Oh… you must be Mrs Donna. Thank you, and please come inside.” I stepped aside allowing her room to enter.

“Thank you.” Donna chimed before walking inside after me.

She goes straight to the bedside table and placed the tray on it. Her eyes caught a glimpse of the red stain on the bedsheet as she turned to face me.

“I-I'm sorry you had to see that, Mrs Donna.” I stuttered, and walked to the edge of the bed to pull the sheets from the mahogany frame.

“Alexander Jordan is known to be cruel and dangerous. He sure didn't hurt you last night, right?”

My ears perked up and my cheeks flushed red at her innocent question.

She looked up at me with eyes which held nothing but pure motherly affection. Something I didn't get from my cruel mother.

“No he didn't, Mrs Donna.” I replied truthfully, holding the bed sheet in my hands.

No, I don't feel hurt, rather I feel satisfied and more… feminine. My body still craved his touch, and I wanted nothing but to let him make love to me again.

“You can call me Donna. It's more simple than adding the prefix.” The older woman chuckled and collected the rumpled sheet from me. “I'll wash this while you enjoy your breakfast, dear.”

She turned on her heels towards the door.

I smiled at Donna's kindness. I wasn't expecting her to be this way towards me, someone she hasn't met before. Still, it felt good to have someone I could talk to while Alex was away.

Speaking of Alex, there was no way I could reach him. I thought as I nibbled on my breakfast of toasted bread and eggs with a cup of Milo, warm just the way I liked it.

I needed to get a mobile phone for myself especially now that I'd be needing one to reach Alex. After what happened between us last night, I admit I'm finally falling for my husband.

Husband.

Technically speaking, he was my husband and had shown me how I should be treated as a woman.

The sex had been great, he turned on the right buttons in me and knew how to satisfy me. I had watched lots of porn back at mother's to ease of my sexual needs and knew what to expect when I do it. But hell no, Alex's had been different. He showed me new ways a woman can be pleased and had even allowed my roaming fingers explore his body.

I was glad he was my first, and knew I would never get enough of him especially in the next few months.

The three months were fast running by and I wondered what would become of either of us after the contract was over.

I sighed and fought back the replay of last night as I downed the last drop of my tea and rose to go to kitchen where Donna was busy with the dishes and also preparing lunch.

The bulb of onion she was slicing fell off the cutting board and I bent to pick it up.

“Let me help with that,” I said politely as I placed the tray in the sink.

Donna chuckled and turned her attention to the onions she was chopping. “I've been with the Jordan's long enough to know I dare not go against their orders… especially Alex.”

“What orders did he give?” I asked innocently. “Besides, you speak like you've known him for a long time.”

Donna looked at me as I spoke. She was quiet fascinated by my quick observation. It was obvious she was as she flashed me one of her bright smile and wiped her wet hands on her apron.

“I've worked for the Jordan's since Alex and his brother were kids. Both of them are very charming with ladies all over them as they grew, but Alex is the one with the most charming looks. And he wasn't always like this.”

“What was his childhood like?”

“Michael went to a boarding school, leaving Alex in the hands of his godforsaken abusive father.” Donna scoffed as she talked of his father. “Madam Jane, his mother, wasn't always around and he ended up being sent to his grandpa who groomed him to be a man.”

That explained the cold, intimidating stares I had gotten from him back at my sitting room and the defensive wall he built around himself. That explained the scars I saw on his back, he didn't have his childhood easy. I knew what it was like for him to grow up with an abusive parent, but I felt bad for judging him without knowing anything about him.

“He didn't tell me all these.” My watery eyes blurred my vision and I rubbed them with the back of my palm.

“He doesn't tell anyone about it, sweetheart, because he needs no pity. But all the same, I'm proud of Alex and the life he's built for himself. And I know you're just the right person he needs.”

Donna patted me affectionately at my back and went back to her cooking.

Ding!

The doorbell rang and I went to the sitting to check who it was. Maybe it was Felix, I concluded as I opened the door. But it wasn't him. A tall dark haired guy with a wrapped package in his hands towered over me.

“Bonsoir, Je demande à Mme Jordan.” The dark haired guy said in a French that was too fast for me to understand.

I rubbed my hands to my head, trying to interpret his words. He noticed my confused state and chuckled.

“I'm asking of Mrs Jordan.” He repeated.

“I'm Mrs Jordan.”

He gave me a long, hard stare. Maybe he doesn't believe me.

“Sign here, ma'am.” He passed me a printed one page document and I scribbled my signature in the signature box.

He gave me the package he held after I signed and murmured something in french before he left.

I stepped back into the sitting room and shut the door behind me. The box was too heavy and I wondered what was in it and who its sender was because I knew no one here.

Placing it on the center table, I slowly unwrapped it and my eyes widened at its contents - a lush blue dress with silver heels, the Jordan's signature silver earrings which glittered in the bright light, its matching necklace and wristwatch. And there was a note neatly written in his handwriting.

***** Dinner with me tonight by 7 pm. The chauffeur will drive you.*****