130. New Plan

Ashley hesitated. Mark’s question echoed in her mind louder than it should have. Her mouth went dry again.

She could lie.

She could just tell Mark that she had explained everything to Josh. That Josh had taken what happened to her seriously. That they had talked it over as husband and wife. 

But, she knew what that would mean—more lies, more chances to get caught in details she wouldn’t be able to improvise later. And honestly, she was too exhausted to pretend anymore.

So, finally, she shook her head. Her voice came out strained, thin and barely audible. “No… I haven’t told him yet.”

Mark stared at her. For a long beat, he didn’t say anything. His expression didn’t shift immediately. But something in his eyes flickered. Confusion. Disbelief. And then, disappointment—which only Mark himself knows.

“You haven’t told him, yet?” Mark asked again to be sure in a firmer tone. Slightly squinting as if he couldn’t quite process the answer. “How could you not tell your husband about something this serious?”

Ashley looked down, her hands folding over each other on her lap, tight. “I… I don’t know.”

Mark leaned back a little, as if trying to create space between what he just heard and what he was supposed to say next. “Ashley, this isn’t just a bad day at work. You were targeted. Intimidated. Someone is out there trying to mess with you. You can’t keep that to yourself.”

His voice wasn’t angry. But it carried a sharp edge, carved out by worry.

“I know,” she said quietly. “I know how it sounds. I should’ve told him earlier. But I didn’t. And now I don’t even know how to bring it up.”

Mark leaned forward, elbows on his knees, his tone firmer. “You have to tell him. Whether things are good between you two or not, he’s still your husband. You live under the same roof. He should know what’s happening to you.” 

There was something slightly pushy in the way Mark said his words.

But Ashley didn't realize it. She was too focused on the idea of ​​not revealing too much about her complicated married life with Josh to mark.

Her fingers curled tighter. “It’s not that simple.”

“Then explain it to me,” Mark challenged. “Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like you’re deliberately keeping him in the dark. That’s not like you.”

Ashley met his gaze for a moment, then looked away. She didn’t have a good answer. Not one that would make sense to anyone but herself. There was shame tangled in her silence. 

She couldn’t just tell Mark that her marriage to Josh was nothing more than a business arrangement, one filled with conflict. She couldn’t easily say that—even if Josh knew what she was going through, he might not react, let alone do anything about it, because she meant nothing to him.

After a long pause, Mark exhaled hard and leaned back into the couch. “I’m sorry,” he said, softer now. “I didn’t mean to sound angry. I’m just… I’m worried about you.”

She nodded. “I know.”

“In here,” he gestured around the office, “I can keep an eye on you. At least during work hours. But out there?” He pointed toward the window, the city skyline shining brightly behind frosted glass. “I can’t promise anything. And if your own husband doesn’t even know what you’re going through—” He trailed off, then added, “I would watch over you every minute if I could. But he’ll get the wrong idea again. And I’m not sure how many more times I can take being treated like a threat for simply caring.”

Ashley swallowed the lump in her throat. “I understand.”

“You shouldn’t have to choose between being safe and being misunderstood, Ashley.”

She gave him a weak smile. “That’s the story of my life lately.”

They sat in silence for a few seconds, the kind that wasn’t comfortable but also didn’t push them apart.

Then, Ashley spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. 

“I’ll try to find the right time to tell him.”

Ashley fell silent for a while, her expression shifting. It looked like she was about to say something else, but hesitated—conflicted, as if holding herself back.

Mark waited patiently, sensing there was more she wanted to say.

“Josh and I… it’s a little complicated.”

“What do you mean?” Mark frowned.

Ashley suddenly realized she’d just cast a line without thinking, a careless slip that opened the door too wide. A single sentence, and she’d already said too much. Then quickly, she tried to correct herself. 

“No, it’s nothing. Our relationship is just going through a rough patch, that’s all. Nothing to worry about. That’s just how marriage is sometimes.”

She forced a laugh, but the awkwardness in her voice made the air heavier instead of lighter.

Mark rubbed his face. “So what are you going to do?”

“I don’t know. I’m trying to keep my head above water. Trying not to make things worse than they already are.”

Mark’s voice dropped low. “Alright. But make sure you tell him as soon as possible and in as much detail as possible. I will not let go of finding out the culprit. But I think your husband is obliged to help with this too.”

Mark’s words lingered in the air. Ashley didn’t answer. 

She couldn’t. She couldn't promise.

The conversation ended with a quiet understanding between them. Not a resolution, but a temporary ceasefire against everything that was unraveling in Ashley’s world.

Mark stood and walked over to his desk. “I’ll call a meeting later to address what happened yesterday. Security is being updated. Claire has already filed an incident report, and I’ve asked our company’s legal team to stay on standby in case we need to take further action.”

Ashley nodded. “Thank you. Thank you very much.”

“For now,” he said, walking back toward her with a sense of calm authority, “Try to get through the day. One hour at a time.”

Ashley stood as well. “I’ll try.”

“And… Don’t be so nervous. I’ll always be here for you. You can ask for my help anytime—anytime."

Ashley gave a faint smile, then she walked back toward the office door, her mind still spinning.

But before she could reach it, Mark called after her. “Ashley.”

She turned.

“I really mean it. If anything happens again—anything at all—I want to be the first person you call.”

Ashley nodded slowly. “Okay.”

And then she stepped out, back into the buzz of the office, where the world moved on as if nothing was wrong.

But inside, everything was still far from right.

Meanwhile Mark watched Ashley’s back as she disappeared behind the glass door of his office. His eyes stayed locked on her, sharp and unmoving, even as she vanished completely behind her cubicle—still clearly visible from where he sat. 

His jaw tensed. 

He couldn’t understand why Ashley kept hiding something that was clearly eating her up inside. But if she truly intended to stay silent, then Mark would have no choice but to take matters into his own hands.

His lips pressed together, and he muttered under his breath, barely audible.

“If you won’t tell him,” Mark said, “then he needs to see it for himself.”