ASHLEYA dull ache settled into the corner of my head, and then, it began pounding heavily, causing me to groan. I turned, snuggling further into my pillow and soft snores emitted from my lips. I tried to open my eyes, but I was failing miserably at it. My eyes wouldn't stop snapping shut. The moment they fluttered open, I struggled to keep it that way. The first thing I could make out through my hazy sight was the white walls of the room, the rays of sunlight shooting directly into my eyes, eliciting an internal wince from me. I didn't know how long I laid down, trying to recall where I was and how I got here. My brain was blank. I couldn't come up with anything.I exhaled and my eyes glazed over to the masculine frame beside me. The seductive smell of a cologne along the line of citrus and berries assaulted my nostrils, rendering me dizzy with the feeling of satisfaction that washed over me.It was soft, but I could smell it everywhere. That was what the room smelled like. Every si

ASHLEYRunning.That was what I was going to do. That was what I had resorted to. I meant that I was going to run in literal terms. I was going to dabble in distractions, things that took my mind off the recent disaster. I was done wallowing in sadness, and if all I had to do was wear a mask over my actual self if that was what it would take to suppress the pain. To suppress self-loathing. The self-disgust.Then, I'd do it.After all, that was one thing I was good at doing. Hiding underneath the shell, the perfect shell I have painted for the world to look at. The perfect facade. The one I have worn for years. I was going to hide till it all went away. A big part of me was still hoping it was some dream that I so desperately wanted to wake up from.What was the perfect definition of a distraction?Work.I was going to go to work after two weeks of crying my eyes out. After two weeks of shutting my friends out, Dawn and Ivanna have been blowing up my phone with calls, but I wasn't i

ASHLEYI was slouched against my chair, which was opposite the reading table that was in my room. I was dozing and jerking my head off. Then, I jolted upright like I had been doing for the past few hours. I tucked away a stray strand of my hair that I had tied in a messy bun earlier, and I removed my glasses, wiping the dirt off, and then I wore them back.I shook my head lightly and continued typing, determined not to fall asleep. I had to finish drafting Genevieve's meeting schedule for the month. If I didn't, I might actually get fired this time around and I wouldn't want to do anything to get on her bad side anymore.Not again. At least.My phone sounded with a loud ding, a hint that a message had just popped up on my screen. I halted what I was doing and picked up my phone, then I saw a message from Dawn.DawnieWe are coming in!I furrowed my brows and got up from my chair, ambling to my living room where I found my door wide open with Dawn and Ivana snuggled up against each oth

ASHLEYA devastating clearance.The clearance that I needed.His room wasn't a sight to see. It was almost empty, nearly everything was gone. I shook my head sideways, in disagreement. I marched towards the bed, ripping the sheets and duvet off, scattering the pillows, and kicking my heels off my feet. "Adam!""Adam!""Baby, where are you?!""Baby, I'm here." I croaked, marching into the bathroom, hoping I would see the shower running, and see him relaxing in the bathtub, where he was waiting for me to come to join him. I pushed the door open and my eyes narrowed on the sink that always contained his toiletries, staring back at me, void of even a pin!The tears won't stop dropping from my face, increasing even. I weakly let go of the doorknob, leaving the door that led to the ensuite bathroom ajar. I strode into his closet, and my palms found themselves plastering over my mouth and snapping it shut, in shock.His clothes were all gone.His belongings were nowhere to be found.How cou

JAXONDarkness.Utter darkness, with nothing in view. I couldn't keep track of how long I had been seated here, twirling my knuckle rings that felt cold against my fingers, my thoughts running wild. Non-stop, about the situation of things in the last few days. If I had been getting roughly two hours of sleep for several months, I stopped getting any, and I stopped trying a few days ago. The only thing that kept me going was coffee, cold baths, and a change of clothes.My thoughts wouldn't stop straying from the conversation I had with him. The bastard who used to be Peach's boyfriend. After Duncan got back into the country, he had been gathering as much information as he could about her, with the little we got from the CCTV about her that night. He was able to deduce where she lived, and where she worked, and the information about who she was in a relationship with sprang up.I tracked the bastard down and paid him off. I wanted him far away from her. Out of her life. I didn't want hi