Chapter 4 HEARTLESS

The weekend ended fast and now it's Monday, Ashley's most dreadful day of the week since she joined the company.

"Good morning, Mr. Stanford."

Ashley greeted professionally as she entered the office, opening her tab to check her boss' schedules for the whole day.

Anton inquired while looking at her, "Did you enjoy yourself?"

Her fingers halted from scrolling on the tab screen as she spoke. "What do you mean, Mr. Stanford?"

"You know what I mean! Don't play dumb!" He snapped at her irritably.

Ashley took a deep breath and braced herself for his anger. "I'm sorry, but I don't understand. Could you please be more specific?"

"Huh!" Anton scoffed. "You could've told me about my sister to lessen my pain but you..." 

"I can't reveal that information, it's not my place to do so," she replied professionally.

Upon hearing Athena's account of the events that transpired on the island, Anton reflected on his actions toward the woman. He experienced a mixture of shame and anger for being kept in the dark about the situation but as his sister said, she was the one to blame and no one else.

All this while, he thought that he lost his sister but he was wrong. She was alive and one of those people who knew the truth was working under him, yet he remained unaware! He felt like a fool.

At first, he considered thanking the person who had saved his sister and even thought about forgiving her.

With this in mind, he searched for her around the island. Unfortunately, he discovered that she had already left right after the wedding without letting him know.

He is frustrated with her actions and desires to confront her, but he is unable to contact her for some unknown reason that's why he waited until now.

Anton snorted. "Right! I forgot that you're just being professional. You never considered taking my emotions into consideration even once."

"I'm sorry." She mumbled in a low voice.

Hearing her brief apology somehow lightened his mood therefore he chose to let it pass.

"Proceed with my schedules." He urged as he lowered his head down to look at the document laid in his front.

She nodded and began to brief him. After a few minutes, he nodded.

"You may go." He calmly said and Ashley frowned at his sudden change of tune.

She couldn't help but stare at him, bewildered.

He noticed her still standing in front of him thus he looked up and stared back at her.

"What? Do you still have something to say? Spill it out before I lose my patience!" He finally barked at her.

Her eyes widened then she shook her head in silence before she sprinted out of his office.

'I thought he was acting strange!' she thought as she walked back to her office. 'Thank goodness! He was still the same!'

*****

Too focused on sending emails, Ashley didn't notice that it was already lunchtime until her stomach growls, asking for some food.

She stood up about to head to her pantry when someone knocked on her door.

"Come in," She said while turning around.

"Come with me!"

An intimidating voice caught her off guard making her eyes widen in astonishment as she didn't expect him to come in person in her office. This was actually the first time since she worked under him.

She tilted back in a hurry. "Mr. Stanford?"

"Hurry up!" He barked.

"Oh, okay!"

She hurried to take her belongings and followed him out even if she didn't know where they are heading but based on his reaction, he probably was running out of time.

Along the way, she heard them again whispering behind her back, and as usual, she displayed the same expression though she felt uncomfortable with it.

They entered the lift together and as soon as the metallic doors closed, Anton tilted his head, facing her.

"Where have you been last night?" He asked her as he thought of her excuse at the island.

That time, he saw her answering a call and he wondered whom she was talking to.

Ashley sighed asking. "Did something happen?"

"I went to the bar but you're not there. Have you been meeting someone behind my back?" He accused her.

Her brows furrowed in confusion as she tried to digest his words this time.

As far as she could remember, as long as she fulfilled her responsibilities outlined in the agreement, everything was fine but why was he asking her now about her privacy? What has gotten into him?

She didn't know how to answer him thus she remained silent for a long time until the elevator reached the lobby. 

The dingy sound indicates that the lift has arrived but Anton remained in the same position without the slightest intention of going out as he stared at her.

He asked, "Why aren't you saying anything?"

It was then that Ashley realized, he was waiting for her answer so she opened her mouth and spoke.

"I went to visit my old neighborhood." She said.

'Old neighborhood huh!' He sneered in silence as he descended from the lift, walking ahead. 'Took you so long to say such words. Liar!'

He didn't believe her because he had investigated her profile last week and found out that she had not been living in the city. She had been living overseas for seven years, just two months after her adoption. So where did she really go during the weekends?

She didn't mind his behavior and just followed him toward his car.

Moments later, he flung his keys in her direction, and fortunately, she was quick enough to catch them.

Anton then went to the backseat without further ado as she also occupied the driver's seat.

She bit her lips and attempted to ask while starting the engine. "Where do you..."

"I'm hungry." He interrupted her out of the blue.

Hungry means only one thing so she didn't ask for more. She just drove out of the parking lot and went to the nearest restaurant.

However, Anton began protesting.

"I don't like it here."

Ashley glanced at her wristwatch, her eyes widening as she remembered something important.

She abruptly stopped the car at the next restaurant and said, "Mr. Stanford, I hope this restaurant suits your liking. I... I need to deal with something important at the moment."

"Deal with it later!" He uttered firmly as he descended from the car. "Follow me!"

"Mr. Stanford!" Ashley also jumped out of the car and ran after him. "I really can't go with you right now inside, please let me go for now." She pleaded sounding desperate.

However, Anton just ignored her and went to sit at the table nearby.

"Proceed to order!" He demanded haughtily.

Ashley began to feel uncomfortable thus she tries to distance herself from him.

Anton's eyes darkened at her reaction.

"What's wrong with you?" He asked as he noticed that she was acting strange.

Sweat began to trickle down her face as she answered in an urgent tone.

"I... I'm sorry. I really need to go right now."

With that, she swirled around and walked as fast as she could out of the restaurant.

She took a cab nearby and headed to the sole location in her mind.

Anton clenched his jaws and fist while fishing out his mobile phone from his pocket. Opening the screen, he began typing a text message then he sent it to her.

"Come back otherwise I will add another condition to the agreement!"