112. Honesty and Anger

It had been three days since Ashley received the call from Mark, informing her that she had passed the initial screening and was invited for an interview. Three days should have felt short—brief, even. But for Ashley, it felt like an entire season of relentless rain pouring over her heart, soaking every corner of her thoughts with anxiety. She hadn't told Josh yet. She hadn’t told him that she applied for a position at Mark’s company, a rival of Josh’s firm back in Korea. And while she also hadn’t mentioned it to her mother, Ashley felt more at ease on that front. Her mother would likely support her decision, especially since it was only a junior designer role. It wasn't a managerial position or anything prestigious. She would still have to go through a six-month probation period. Everything seemed manageable… on that side.

But with Josh? Things were more complicated.

That morning, Ashley stood in front of the bathroom mirror for what felt like forever. The overhead light glowed dimly above her, casting pale shadows on her face, illuminating the puffiness beneath her eyes and the worry etched into her expression. She gently touched the skin under her eyes, then looked down, inhaling deeply. The longer she delayed the conversation, the heavier it became on her chest.

She knew she had to tell him. She couldn’t possibly sneak out every day for work and come home pretending as if nothing had changed. It would only create more problems. And she didn’t want to lie to him—not again. So, today was the day. She would tell Josh. There was no more room for postponement.

The morning air in the penthouse was wrapped in silence, broken only by the faint click of the electric kettle shutting off and the lingering aroma of freshly brewed coffee. The sunlight tried to filter through the tall windows, but even the light seemed reluctant to interfere. Josh was already sitting at the dining table, fully dressed in his business attire. His eyes were fixed on his tablet, forehead creased with concentration. He looked composed, sharp as always, but faint shadows under his eyes betrayed a lack of rest.

When he noticed Ashley approaching, he glanced up and offered a small smile. It was brief, almost invisible, but warm. A habit of his—smiling without fully letting her in.

“Before you leave,” Ashley began carefully, her voice quiet but deliberate, “can I talk to you for a second?”

Josh looked up again, setting his tablet down slightly. “Is there something you want to tell me?” he asked, curious, then nodded. “Go ahead.”

Ashley nodded slowly, then walked over and sat across from him. She rubbed her hands together nervously, her gaze lowered. She hesitated, swallowing down her unease, before finally mustering the courage to speak.

“I... I sent a job application to my friend’s office,” she confessed in a near whisper.

She cast a hesitant glance toward him, watching his expression closely.

Josh raised an eyebrow. His gaze left the tablet and landed on her fully, his face unreadable. He didn’t say anything yet—just observed, processed.

Ashley’s throat felt dry. Still, she pushed forward.

“The one I mentioned before… Mark,” she added. “And… I got accepted.”

Her voice softened, almost as if lowering it could reduce the impact of her words—like whispering would somehow slow the inevitable fallout.

But it didn’t work that way. The silence that followed was immediate and loaded, the air tense and heavy.

Josh placed the tablet gently on the table. Not slammed—just laid down, but even that small gesture felt deliberate, like he had shifted all his attention to her now. And somehow, that felt more threatening.

His jaw clenched slightly, and Ashley noticed the flicker of tension in his face.

“You applied to Horizon?” he asked, his tone flat. Controlled. But beneath the surface, his voice vibrated with restrained emotion.

Ashley gave a small nod. “Yes.”

“And you got the job?”

“Yes.”

Josh leaned back a little, running a hand across his mouth as if trying to make sense of what he’d just heard. “So… you're telling me now? After you've already been accepted?”

Ashley couldn’t bring herself to respond. She knew how it sounded. She knew what it looked like. But she also knew why she did it.

The silence stretched painfully long. Josh stood up, walked toward the large window, and stared out. His shoulders rose and fell slowly as he breathed, and when he turned around, his face was no longer unreadable. It was pierced by emotion—disappointment, confusion, hurt. All tangled into one devastating expression.

“Why, Ash?” His voice was hoarse. “Why are you only telling me now? So I wouldn’t have the chance to stop you? Is that it?”

Ashley stood too, her voice trembling. “Yes. Because I knew you’d never agree to it. But I… I can’t keep sitting in this house, Josh. I’m lonely. I feel like a stranger here. I feel invisible. I need to work.”

Josh clenched his fists at his sides. “But why that company?” he burst out. “Out of all the places in LA—you chose Horizon?!”

“I didn’t have any other choice!” Ashley finally snapped, her emotions boiling over. “At least I know someone there. And it’s not like I’m trying to hurt you. I just… I need to have a life again. Something of my own.”

Josh narrowed his eyes. “This is too much, Ash. You didn’t listen to me at all. Why? Do you think I don’t matter? That after everything I’ve done, you get to just make your decisions without me? Is that how little I mean to you now?”

His words stung like a slap—not because of their volume, but because of their intent. They weren’t loud, but they were sharp, deliberate, and meant to wound.

Ashley’s eyes widened, her voice cracking with disbelief. “I’m not being petty, Josh. I’m not trying to punish you. I just need something for myself. Friends. A reason to wake up. That’s all I’m asking for. Is that really so wrong?”

Josh stepped closer, his tone rising. “Then work somewhere else! Anywhere but there!”

“No,” Ashley shouted back. “I’m taking the job, whether you like it or not!”

Josh’s face hardened. “Fine. Do whatever you want, Ashley. Just… do whatever the hell you want.”

He grabbed his tablet, stormed off upstairs without another word. Within minutes, she heard the door slam—he had taken his bag and left.

Ashley remained at the table, still standing, her breath uneven. Her eyes stung, her hands trembled.

The silence returned, heavier than before. But now, it didn’t come from uncertainty. It came from the space left behind after something broke.

And Ashley, in the middle of it all, wasn’t sure if it could still be fixed.