---
Freya dialed a number and placed the phone to her ears. Her fingers were tapping nervously against her purse. She had a thing with patience. She never liked to be kept waiting and he knew better than to keep her waiting.
It was unconscious that her eyes found another who had been trying to get her attention for a while she had been there. He waved again before signaling for her to come outside.
"About time," she muttered.
She stood and walked away from her table and stepped out of the restaurant as he requested. Her eyes searched for the man that grabbed her attention a while ago. He no longer stood in his former position as if he didn't want to be seen. She found him leaning on the wall of the building close by.
The young man smiled at her and she let out a sigh of relief.
---
"Sir, I've got the report from Mr Frederick," Samuel said as they walked hastily into the company.
"Good let me take a look," Ashton told him, and received the file from Samuel. Never pausing, he flipped through the pages.
"He told me that she nearly died. She seemed to have been hit on the head very hard."
Ashton stopped and closed the file with a flip. "Thank you Samuel."
He continued walking into the building and Samuel followed him.
"How's my mother doing?" Ashton asked.
"She doesn't seem to be taking the death story well," Samuel said.
"And father?" Ashton added.
"He didn't show any emotion I could pick out,"
Ashton nodded. "That'll be all." He told Samuel.
Samuel thought he had better inform him about Thea. For some reason, she was in the hospital. He couldn't just dig the reason out without his boss's permission. He didn't know how Ashton would react to that. He knew better than to mention Thea's name before Ashton but there was no person on Earth that would convince him that his boss doesn't love Thea anymore. So, he had the right to know.
"Well, I saw-"
"Mr. Ryder?" Both their attention were drawn to the figure approaching them. Ashton shook the hands of Jace Lockhart, a client of his.
"I haven't seen you in months. When did you get back from London?"
Ashton replied, "I got back last night,"
Jace hummed in reply. "Okay. Did the model tag along?"
Ashton's reply was a little bit sharper than usual. "You could as well address her by her name Jace and no, she didn't come along. Her shoot ends in 2 weeks time, she'll join me by then."
"Very well then. By the way, I'm really sorry for your loss. I heard just yesterday, that Freya was dead." Jace said.
"Thank you Jace, I have to get back to work anyway."
"You up for a drink tonight, maybe tomorrow or whenever you are free?" Jace asked.
"I'll give you a call." Ashton told him before turning to leave.
"Sure, see you around." Jace said as he watched Ashton walk away from him.
"Well, Samuel, ensure that those documents are finalised today. I would love to see what I own by tomorrow." Ashton said as they turned down a familiar corner of his office.
"Definitely," Samuel said.
---
Thea arranged herself properly before knocking on the door.
"Come in,"
She did so before shutting the door behind her. Thea cleared her throat to draw his attention. His chair was turned away from the entrance and his fingers were quite busy, swinging the pen absent-mindedly.
"I'm listening,"
"Well, someone called and said you were supposed to meet in ten minutes."
"I know Miss Kennedy and I'm getting ready for that," Mr Maxfield told her and she nodded.
"Here are the files you asked for," Thea told him.
"You can leave after you drop them on the table," he said to her.
"Okay sir," but she still lingered longer to notice the black file planted on his desk. She frowned.
She didn't put that file there. All the files brought to him were from her, but this file felt odd.
"Is there something else, Miss Kennedy?" Samson asked her.
She shook her head in reply. "No, I was just leaving." She told him and turned to leave.
"How's your mother Thea?" He suddenly said. Thea halted in her steps and turned immediately.
"Well, she's getting better."
He unfolded his legs, turning his chair to it's initial position and sighed. "That's good to know," He picked up his file and stood.
---
"Who did this to you, Freya?" Ashton muttered to himself. He sank into the chair provided for him.
"Who is it that wanted you dead?" Ashton sighed heavily before picking up his phone call. He stood from his position where he sat, and walked to the window.
"Yes Samuel?"
"Everything is ready," Samuel stated, and that was all Ashton needed to hear. That was the root of the equation. To get something big, you have to make the bits. There was something about this relationship Freya had with Samson. Could it be Freya was killed out of anger, or was it rather jealousy?
Ashton cut the call, taking another look at his sister, he walked out through the door, telling the doctor to remember his promise of secrecy. If Freya's murderer is to be found, she would have to play dead for the mean time. At least that was how it would work.
---
The air around the room stilled uncomfortably. His heels stopped midway as he raised his brow at what was before him.
Not quite bad, he assesses.
It took some people more time to process what was going on.
No way! No fucking way! Their current boss couldn't be Ashton Ryder!
His eyes scanned his environment and landed on a pair of blue orbs. Fiona avoided his stare immediately. He flashed her a smirk of amusement before looking away. He eventually continued his strides down the hall to take the elevator with Samuel trailing behind him.
Ashton checked his watch before saying to Samuel, "Tell everyone that I will call a meeting in 5 minutes' time. Who can't should see me and we can discuss how much I am to deduct from their monthly salary and they can take it as me being kind."
Samuel nodded. "As you say sir,"
The door of the elevator opened and they both stepped out.
"Good morning sir,"
"Good-"
Most of the voices seemed very distant to him because he ignored them all. Each one of them would have passed out from cold feet at his intimidating look.
A brunette found it rather unchallenging to type on her Twitter page that the famous Ashton Ryder is now the owner of E.U
Now that sounds more terrifying than it formally was.
Oh shit!!! Hell's gonna break loose then.
---
Samson Maxfield combed his hair in frustration after moments of thought. He didn't know what he had done to deserve such cruelty. First, he had to file up hard feelings against such a damsel for ruining him.
He finally looked away from the picture that he had placed on the table, then stood and placed both hands on the table, still in thought.
Whatever it was that happened that night, the fact was, Freya was gone from his life and he could finally concentrate, right?
His fist tightened in anger and he slammed his palm on the table, making a picture frame crash into the floor and its glass shatter into pieces. When he turned to stare at what crashed into the floor, he found the picture of his ex-girlfriend smiling back at him.
---
"....the atmosphere should be preferably calm and not rowdy." Samuel read out.
Ashton tapped impatiently on his chair besides his crossed legs. His jelled hair gave him more privilege in beauty than every other male seated in the gathering.
He wet his lips unconsciously, earning looks from almost everyone, mostly the females. Annabelle, a brunette, gulped and looked away immediately when he caught her staring at him. She tapped her chest slightly on feeling her unsteady heart beat, urging herself to calm down.
"And lastly, whoever has a minute to work can have a personal talk with Mr. Ashton Ryder about why you shouldn't work a extra week from your Christmas holiday."
Holidays are to be spent with families, with loved ones. Honestly, he couldn't be that wicked to take that away from them, could he?
Samuel closed the book in conclusion and that was when Ashton stood to address this crowd.
"Well, I have only but a few words to say and yes, I hate tardiness." The silence that reigned was much more uncomfortable.
"If you don't think you should be here 30 minutes before your usual work time, then you can submit your resignation letter to me and I will gladly accept it. Anyone here against that opinion?" He asked and no one dared to speak.
"Well then, welcome to a new dawn." He finished.
___
(3:45am)Andrew sat with his friends, wallowing in his own thoughts. He checked his watch for the nth time that night. He came here to have a little relaxation, but it seemed coming here made things far worse.He swallowed the remaining contents of his cup again."Hey Drew," Andrew raised his glass up slightly, signaling that he was listening."You seem distraught, something wrong?" Scott asked. The girl on his lap played with the Hem of his jacket."I'm fine," Andrew replied.Scott scoffed. "Of course you are.""That's what he always says," answered another, and they laughed. "Is damsel giving you issues?""I'm not sure that's the problem, Paxton, I think he's just stressed out," Mason said."Of course he's stressed, stressed and thinking too much. Work couldn't have caused this, right Drew?"Andrew just stood up, grabbing his jacket from the table, he slightly staggered, finding his way out of the door still.Mason sighed. "I'll go ensure he gets home." He told his friends, then wen
"Hey, wait up!" The girl kept on going, increasing her pace instead. "Hey Thea, stop ignoring me, okay?" "Thea!" He gripped her arm and she was quick to recoil from his touch. His grip was strong, strong enough to keep her from leaving."What do you want? I've told you countless times, I don't have feelings for you, Ash.""Really," he moved closer to her, matching her stare. "You don't have feelings for me?" He asked with a smug look.She scoffed. "Why would you think that in the first place? I'm not like the other girls that swoon over you so easily, Ash-ton. And might I remind you, I'll never make that mistake. Now let go of me!"Something snapped in him and she could feel his jaw tighten. He pulled her closer, very close, so that their noses were almost touching and she gulped nervously. "No," he simply said. "You say you feel nothing for me yet your heart wants to jump out of your chest anytime you see me," She furrowed her brows in confusion. How'd he know? Oh my goodness, Jen
(flashback)"Will Ashton not be playing the game?" A girl asked and her friend shook her head in reply. "I think I see him on the bench, Cecilia.""Coach Peter must be very angry with him to make him sit aside for the Finals." Cecilia said to her friend, Agnes. "But they are going to lose, it's 24-27 already and the time is almost over," Agnes said."Well, the coach will have the principal's reprimanding to worry about losing the game," another brown-headed girl intervenes. "Not only that, basketball is Ashton's passion, losing a game when he is teamed would kill him!" Cecilia said to them and Agnes sighed in defeat. "I can already tell the fate of our school if they do not let Ashton in any minute," Agnes said. They both groaned as their rival school rejoiced as another point was scored. "I think I'm going home, I can't watch this anymore!" Cecilia said. "Wait, Ceecy, I think they are letting him in." Cecilia looked at where Ashton was formally seated, only to see him being exc
"Miss Kennedy, in my office now!" Ashton ordered through the telephone and Thea practically ran to her boss's office. "Yes, Mr Ryder, you sent for me?" She said immediately. She stood before him. He raised his head from the paper he was holding in his hands. "What says the time, Miss Kennedy?" He asked. "I'm afraid I don't have a watch with me sir," she said. Relaxing back on his chair at her words, he said, "How is it possible that my own private secretary doesn't even have a watch to call her own." "Well, I had one before but it stopped working a long time ago and I didn't have the time to get it done," she told me. "Not that I care about your watch replacement, Miss Kennedy, but you always need to give me my coffee. I usually send Miss Weston, but she has a lot of work at hand. Besides, it's your responsibility, isn't it?" "Yes sir, I'll go get your coffee," she said without hesitation. Her eyes lingered on him longer than intended. He raised a brow at her in curiosity. I
"Hello Ashton?" The person at the other end called out in surprise. He didn't expect Ashton to call at all."Jace, you still up for that drink?" Ashton asked, combing his hair with his fingers."Sure, sure, does Aquarium sound nice to you? It's the new club they opened last month," Jace indicated.Ashton said, "Any place that sounds nice to you, I'll comply.""Okay, 9pm?" Jace told him."9pm." Ashton replied in agreement.---"When will you come to see me then?" Mrs. Ryder asked as she walked around her room with her glass of juice in her hands."I have a lot of work to do Mom, I can't come anytime soon." Ashton said to her."These days everyone is too busy to have a five-minute chat with me. I remember when you were less busy and more of a pest. Now look at you, you're a grown man now."He chuckled. "I'm never a grown man with you and you know that.""So you do know," she smiled. He could even feel her smile."I do," he said, nodding. "And father?" He cleared his throat."I haven't s
The morning came really quick unlike the others. Everyone involved in the wedding, anticipated the union. It was dawn but Thea was up already, very excited about what the day held for her. Today was her wedding day. She sighed with a smile as she remembered why she was getting married and who she was getting married to. One of the most eligible bachelor, Ashton Ryder. She couldn't wait. She stared at her wedding dress for the nth time. She even slept dreaming about how the wedding dress will look on her today. When she woke in the middle of the night, Ashton was up too, texting her and telling her that he couldn't wait. She unconsciously played with her necklace, smiling at the thought of Ashton being hers today. "Thea?" Her mother called from behind the door. "I'm awake mother," she said, standing from the chair she was sitting.Her mother sighed. God, she didn't sent that she was nervous. "Very good, hurry up, we mustn't be late.""I'm almost ready, I'll be out in a minute!" T
"I said, I didn't kill her!" Samson roared one more time."Mr Maxfield, you do know that denying it will get you no where. Why don't you say the truth, confess to it and your punishment might be less." The Blondie in charge told Samson as Samson panted in heavy breaths."Do you perhaps have anxiety problem? Maybe you did things you can't remember?""I don't know what you are talking about," Samson simply said looking away from him."Did you get yourself treated? Who treated you?""I said I don't know what you are talking about!" Samson yelled stomping his hand on the table angrily. He held his head, suddenly feeling light headed and groaned softly seconds later. He quickly reached for the glass of water on the table there and drank half of it."As I thought," the officer tsked. "This is the second day and you've refused to say anything. You do not want to stay here forever, do you?" Officer Peter asked."I'm saying anything because I don't know anything!" Samson said to him."You call
"Does your hand still hurt?" He asked mainly because the silence in the car was uncomfortable. She had been looking out the window ever since she entered, avoiding his stare and pretending like he never existed."I'm fine now, Thank you." She still didn't turn her attention away from the boring night."Okay," he said softly. His face, impassive and without emotion. He stole a look at her one more time before concentrating on the road.Throughout the ride, his knuckles didn't didn't loosen themselves around the wheel.Few minutes later, she still sat, staring out of the window in thoughts while his car was no longer moving."Miss Kennedy," she hummed in response and slowly dragged her attention away from the night to stare at him. "We are at your house." He said to her.She looked around in shock, she must have been seriously consumed by her thoughts not to notice this on time."Oh," she muttered. Grabbing her bag to leave, she froze when she felt cold hands against hers. Her once stea