CHAPTER 5

ASHLEY'S POV

“Ashley, are you all right? I heard you speaking loudly, so I came to check up on you." My dad asked as he glanced back and forth between me and Uncle Michael.

Uncle Michael jumped in quickly, sensing my discomfort. "She's just upset, Jayden. It's been hard on her with me away for so long. She misses her favourite uncle."

I stood frozen in place, my heart still pounding in my chest. I had been so sure he had heard it all, everything about that conversation.

My dad exhaled, his eyes relaxing. "You are at fault here, Michael. You were supposed to be there more, you know she likes spending time with you since she was young but now you have your chance to do it right. Make it up to her.

 Then my father turned his attention to me, “And Ashley, take it easy on him, will you? He had his reasons for his decision."

I simply nodded, fighting to keep my cool. My dad wasn't aware. He didn't hear any of our conversation, and I had to make sure that he never found out.

 

Sense of relief washed over me, and Uncle Micheal looked the same, judging from his expression. It killed me to hide such things from my dad. He trusts Uncle Micheal so much, and he still believes me to be his sweet, innocent daughter, but he can't find out about this. It will destroy everything.

“I'm here now, and I will definitely make it up to her.” 

 My dad nodded, and then he addressed Uncle Michael again. "Well, I'm glad you two got to bond again after so many years. She wouldn't stop asking about you. “Micheal,Will you be passing the night here? he asked, smiling at him courteously.

"No, I have to go now, I have business to attend to in the morning. Thanks a lot for having me around, Jayden."  Uncle Michael spoke, his voice a bit strained. I could tell by looking into his eyes that he's feeling guilty for  lying and keeping a secret from his best friend.

As Uncle Michael headed away, I tried to mask my emotions. I knew that I could not stand another moment with him in the same space. So I stood facing his back as he went away, feeling a conflicting mix of relief and pain.

As soon as the door closed behind me,  my father looked at me sternly, and then he relaxed his face. "You know you can tell me anything, right?" 

"I know," I answered softly,  "Thanks, Dad."

My dad nodded to me briefly before going upstairs, and I breathed out air I hadn't even known I was holding. My brain was full of thoughts  though. I needed to get out of here, clear my head, and for some reason known to me, the first person who popped into my  mind was my best friend. Austin.

I picked up my phone and sent him a text,  hoping he would reply fast.

"Hi Austin, how have you been? I know it's been a while since we hung out. I just want to know if you are  free to go out tonight? I really need to get out of here."

He replied almost immediately, "Sure, what's up? Do you have any place in mind ?"

"Not really, I just want to go somewhere I can have fun and clear my head.”

"Clubs sound good then. Let's have some fun, baby.” he yelled into the phone. “I will see you at 9 pm then.”

I laughed into the phone  at his answer. Austin always knew how to make things not be so daunting. I showered and dressed as fast as possible, and before 9 PM came around, I was set to leave.

“Dad,I'm hanging out with Austin. I yelled out to my dad.

“OK baby, but you better behave yourself.”

*******

As I stepped into the finest club in the city of New York, the loud music filled my ears, and the lights flashed in my eyes. It was not  my type of scene, but I don't care about that tonight. I just want to have fun.  Austin waved at me from the bar.

“Finally,” he grinned as I sat beside him. “I thought you were going to bail on me. Have missed you so much."

“No way”,I said to him, attempting to keep the smile on my lips. "I needed this, and I miss you too."

We got drinks, and for a while, I was able to focus on the conversation and move to the beats of the music, just enjoying the distraction.  It's just what I need: a distraction. But soon, I was able to sense someone creeping up on me. There were a lot of people around me, too much going on in here.

I couldn't help but notice that feeling that someone was watching me, I couldn't really tell what it was, but ever since the incident at the hotel in Paris, something doesn't feel right.

"Are you okay?" Austin asked, noticing my tense posture.

I simply nodded. "Yeah, just a little off tonight. I'm good, though."

I know Austin didn't believe me, but he let it slide. He sat back in his seat, his eyes observing the area. I looked in the same direction as him, and that's when I spotted him, the guy who had been by the dance floor for quite some time now.

 He just kept staring at me. His eyes were too intense. And he wasn't even trying to hide it. It was getting on my fucking nerves.

I tried to ignore him, but he kept coming, he kept staring at me, I felt a shiver run down my spine. I felt locked in the booth.

"Ashley, you are getting me worried, you don't look okay" 

"Austin I'm fine, It's just…that guy won’t stop staring at me."

Austin looked in the same direction I was facing and he looked a bit closer. "Don't mind him. I think he's drunk."

He doesn't look drunk to me though, I couldn't help but look in his direction again and I notice he's now walking towards me. Before he could make an attempt to touch me, Austin stood up with speed and stood between me and the stranger. Before things could got worse, a voice cut in

“Ashley, are you okay?

I froze on the spot. I knew that voice.

I turned around to see Uncle Michael standing behind me, his face was tense, his eyes scanning the situation. I never knew I could feel so relieved to have him around.

“What is going on here?” His voice was a bit loud and authoritative, as he maintained eye contact with the stranger between me and austin.

The stranger paused, his eyes looking  between uncle Michael and me then he just walked away silently.

“Ashley, are you alright?" 

“I'm fine, Thanks. You didn't have to come here." I was not happy to have him around me but I'm glad he showed up to save the day.

He nodded curtly, his gaze set on Austin, who was back in his seat but still watching what was going on with interest. "No problem. I was just making sure."

I couldn't  even thank him properly. I wanted to scream at him for being there, for how things had turned out, but I was too upset by having gotten so close to that man.

I looked down at my drink and shook my head. Everything felt wrong.

 “Please let me buy you a drink. I know you don't want me around you right now but please just one drink, okay?"

I had already parted my lips to say no, but nothing was happening. So instead I just nodded, knowing myself that this wasn't the end of it, Not even close.