Chapter 19: Meeting Alice

Ashton's POV

"Why didn't you go after her?" I asked Zachary when I found him in the lower basement parking, and I could tell he was also running since I could see the sweat on his forehead.

"You didn't tell me to chase after them if they leave the parking lot. You only told me to come here to the lower basement; besides, Megan drove her car like she was on a race. I didn't even know what happened at the shop, and I think we are now very late, Ashton." He said.

"I got her this time, but I lost her again," I said, feeling so defeated.

"You already lost her eight years ago, Ashton, I was there that time, and I told you to give her a chance to speak with you, but you drove her away." He said, and I could feel the bitterness in his words.

"I know, Zach, I was young back then, and I know I made a stupid mistake, and right now after seeing her for the first time after eight years, I realized she is still the one in my heart, and I am now ready to take her back, I don't care if I have to steal

her from Gael. This time I will not be a coward anymore. I wasted eight fucking years for nothing. I felt so empty, Zach, and I know she is the only woman who can make my life complete." I said.

"I think you're late for that, Ashton. Have you seen how much she tried to stay away from you? She ran from the mall towards her car because she doesn't want to talk or to be in the same space with you." He responded.

"And you know why she feels that way? Because she is still in love with me, Zachary." I replied, and he shook his head.

"You don't have any idea how much you hurt her that time, Ashton. You shattered her dreams by breaking her heart. You don't know how much she suffered because of you. For how many times I told you to look for her, but what you did was you kept on dating celebrities, and you tried your best to forget about her, and the worst thing you did, you got engaged to an heiress." He responded.

"I know, Zachary, but this is not the best time you should remind me of the things I did from

the past. I only did all those things because I felt so hurt that she didn't wait for me, and I hated her for replacing me immediately. If you look at it, I could tell their child is now seven years old, meaning she got over me easily. She could have at least waited for a while before she dated again. I thought she loved me." I said, and I saw my best friend's face fall.

"I don't know if you are an idiot or stupid. I told you before Megan would never replace you with anyone, and it bothers me that you didn't listen to me. You only listened to your broken heart, which was funny because you were the reason why you became like that. You only injured your own heart, Ashton." He said, and his words confused me.

"What do you know, Zachary?" I asked, but he only shook his head.

"You have to find out about it on your own, Ashton, and to tell you honestly, I don't want to help you, and it hurts me that after eight years, nothing changed; Megan is still in love with you." My best friend said, and I laughed.

"Oh yeah, she still loves me that she even pretends she doesn't know me; it hurts like hell that the woman I dreamed of almost every night doesn't recognize me at all," I said as I walked to my car, and I could hear his footsteps behind me.

"What is your plan about, Megan?" He asked.

"I am going to steal her from Gael, and I don't care if I will wreck her family," I said.

"I know you are not that kind of person, Ashton. You are stupid for hurting her years ago, but I could say you were also hurting for the last eight years. I have seen you date girls, but I have never seen you smile the way you used to. And you didn't even bring your fiancee to your grandpa's place. And you are not a homewrecker." Zach said, and I stopped in my tracks and turned around and faced him.

"I want to talk with Megan for the last time, you ask her forgiveness, but if what you said was true that she is still in love with me, I will try to win her back and do everything I can so I can convince her to forgive me. But if I find out she is happy with Gael, who am I to take her away from him?" I responded.

"All I want for Megan is to be happy, and I know I was a jerk for hurting her, but you know how much I love her, Zach, I just wanted Megan to finish her studies, and I want her family to have a happy life away from my father's manipulation. I did all that for her. I don't have any regrets, but knowing she is Gael's woman made me want to go back on that day, and I wished I never listened to my father, but I couldn't afford to be selfish knowing her entire family would suffer." I said, and I could see the sadness on Zach's face.

"I know. That is why I go for Alice." He said, and my eyes widened.

"You were able to talk with Alice?" I asked, and he nodded his head, and I felt so triumphant even if I am not sure if he gathered some important information about Megan.

"Yes, and she handed me this after saying it is about time you should correct the mistakes of yesterday, and she said you better call her," Zach said. I couldn't stop crying when my best friend handed me Alice's calling card, and I realized she is now the VP for Finance with one of the leading perfume companies in the country, the M&A Wonderful Scent Co.

"Thank you, Zach," I said as I stared at Alice's calling card.

"Before you thank me, we better go back to the mall and buy the gifts, and we are fucking late, Ashton." He said, and I beamed at him as we went back to the mall.

"Alice said we needed to buy a football, and she asked me to bring it tomorrow at her place." He said, and my face fell.

"Is it Megan's son's birthday?" I asked, and he nodded at me.

"Can I go to Megan's place?" I asked.

"I don't think that is a good idea, Ashton, don't make a scene yet. You have to speak with Alice first before you make a move." Zachary said, and I let out a heavy sigh as I realized Zachary had a point, and I knew I would not be able to sleep tonight after my encounter with Megan.

I bought two football balls, one for Austin and one for Megan's son, and I smiled when I realized his son loves football instead of guitar. His parents are both music lovers, which is odd, but I realized maybe Megan's son took after his uncle. Dexter was the quarterback during his senior year.

When we arrived at our coach's house, they had already finished eating dinner because we had arrived so late since we caught up with traffic. And I can't deny it feels so good to see the boys after not seeing them for a while. It feels like the old time. They were all interested in knowing about my life as the new CEO of our company, and for the first time, I felt so proud working at my dad's company, and I realized maybe it was not that bad at all. I talked with our coach, and I can't deny I missed talking with him.

I drink in moderation because I can't wait to call Alice, and when I said goodbye to them, they all complained, but no one could stop me from coming home since I wanted to speak with Alice. I called her after leaving my coach's house, and I only pulled over my car on the side of the road since I couldn't wait to talk with her.

"Alice, this is Ashton. I am in Megalopre now, but I can't wait to call you because it will be late when I arrive at Majuscule, and I have work tomorrow. Can we meet after I arrive in the city? I am going to give you the football ball." I said the moment she answered my call.

"Ashton, what a coincidence. Are you living here in Megalopre?" She asked.

"No, I attended a birthday party of my friend's son," I replied.

"I am here in Megalopre. Can we meet at the cafe near the plaza?" She asked, and I couldn't believe she would be here too.

"Of course, see you then, Alice," I said, and then I ended the call after saying goodbye to Megan's best friend, and I couldn't stop my heart from beating so fast, and it feels like destiny favors me after eight long years. I couldn't stop feeling so anxious as I waited for Alice to come. The moment she got inside the cafe, my heart danced with happiness because at last, I was going to have a clue about Megan's whereabouts, and I felt so afraid to learn the truth, but I knew it would set me free, and that is the only way to make me feel whole again.