Chapter 3: Ashley

Every day I wished to see him again, the guy with the crazy hair but to no avail, only that one time and then nothing since then. He had the most beautiful eyes I'd ever seen; even from a distance, I'd seen the lightness of them. I've dreamt of him every night since that first day.

Just one glance, and he had captured me. I walk slower when I reach the place where I'd got that first glimpse of him. My heart races every time as I wonder if today will be the day. I know it's just a silly little girl's dream, something that will never be, but it's the only light in my otherwise bleak world.

I want to cry when I don't see him, but I'm stronger than that, so I hold back the tears. Maybe one day I'll see him from afar, and I can relive the joy of the moment as I do now. I sometimes feel a prickling sensation just when I reach this very spot, but I know I'm just being fanciful. Things like that don't happen in real life, and they certainly don't happen to girls like me.

I pushed aside the wave of sadness that threatened to overpower me as I hurried my steps. I didn't want to be late getting to school, I didn't have a good enough excuse for my tardiness, and that was an added headache I did not need. Besides, I didn't want anything marring this one thing that was mine and mine alone. As long as it remained my secret, no one could take it from me. The thought warmed my heart just a little. It was a poor substitute for the real thing, but it was all I had, and I will treasure it for as long as the memory stayed fresh.

***

Gideon

***

I'm watching my girl again. It's three days later. Things with Lynn have been squared away, thank heaven. We never lived together, so there was no moving out to be done, nothing to be hashed out and fought over.

She'd tried that leaving stuff at my place shit more than once over the last two years, but I always made sure she took them with her the next time she came over. She was never too happy about the situation, but I never wanted that much of her.

I'm not ashamed of what we had, I'm a man with needs, and we both scratched an itch for each other when it suited both of us. I never used or abused her in any way and had no need to feel guilt for breaking things off. It would've been more dishonorable to have had carried on dragged things out when in my heart, I knew it was over.

Enough about her, I don't have to give her a second thought; now I can focus all my energy on my baby girl. I have to strategize and plan the way I do with everything, though this would be the first time I'd ever approached a woman in this way.

I'm usually the hunted, not the hunter but in this case, I feel compelled almost to go after her. Because of her age, I'm taking every precaution; if I have to approach her parents first, that can be arranged, and hopefully, they didn't try to play hardball because the way I'm feeling, there's nothing that will stand in my way.

Our first meeting has to go off without a hitch. I want it to be perfect. I have to learn all her habits, so I would know where and when to make my approach. I hope it doesn't take too long for my team to find out what I need to know.

Each day it gets harder and harder to hold off, but I like to know all the players in the game. If her parents are going to prove difficult, I have to know everything before going in.

My dick stays hard now; just the thought of getting my hands on her is driving me insane.

I have one of my security team on her at all times now as well, while an investigator is gathering all the information he can. I should know by the end of business today what moves I need to make thank fuck. It feels like forever since I'd first laid eyes on her.

Since this heat in my body has been threatening to consume me. I should be annoyed that one little girl should have this strong an effect on me, but somehow I'm not. In fact, it's quite the opposite; I feel excited and energized.

Like I'm about to embark on the greatest adventure of my life. The one thing that gives me pause is her age. Will she be closer to seventeen or eighteen?

I'm hoping for good news; I don't fancy ending up in a police blotter as a pedophile. I'm not sure I could touch her if she turned out to be sixteen, legal or not. Neither am I sure I could wait to take her if she turns out to be that young. Fuck!

She seems at a lost today as I watch from my window high above the city. It seemed as if she were looking for something or someone. I know she has no affiliations with anyone; according to my daily reports, she lived a pretty sheltered life. She went to school and then home, but during the day, when she was in class, I had no way of knowing what went on behind those walls. So far, there was nothing to suggest she was attached to anyone. It wouldn't be the easiest thing to break a teenaged girl's heart if she fancied herself in love with some boy, but I know myself, I will let nothing stand in my way.