NINE

“I don’t think I can do this Dave,” Ashley retreated.

“Why? Are you scared to walk into your own company?”

What sort of ridiculous question was that? “No, no.”

Dave left her side and stood in front of her. He smelt different, she noticed. “Are you nervous then?”

Her head slightly ducking, she replied quietly, her eyes on the cemented floor, “Maybe. I don’t know. Can you tell that I am nervous?”

“Yes.” She looked up at him. “You have the habit of tucking your hair behind your ear whenever you are nervous.” How on earth did he notice that? “You do it a lot even when you are not aware.”
The tender look in his eyes as he answered her mind’s question got her wondering what else he had noticed about her.

“Can’t I just come here another day?”

“Why? Aren’t you the boss here? Why are you so feverish about going inside?”

Her eyes darting to the side, Ashley let out a huge sigh as she thought of a way to table her emotion. “It’s just… Never mind.”

Reaching out for her arms, Dave pulled her a bit closer and made her look into his eyes. “No. Don’t tell me to not mind. I am here to fix you, remember? So, what is the problem here Ashley?” The somewhat ravenous feeling that she was having because of his huge hands on her bare skin was one problem already.

“I… I just don’t know how to…” A quirk on the brows of the man waiting for a more specified answer, got her spitting out what she really felt. “People will talk, okay!”

“So?”

“So? I am going to be uncomfortable. And trust me, getting uncomfortable is not what I need right now. So, if going to work means not feeling at ease, I might as well just sit at home.”
Ashley detached herself from his hold, her arms crossing as she waited for Dave to tell her to go into the car.

“Ashley, talking is what people do. No matter what you do or say, whether it is good or bad, people will always find something to say.”

“But…”

“Listen to me,” he went on to grab her hands. “,wherever you are, be it at home or at the park, anywhere, you can never escape being talked about. It is in the human genes.”

“I…”

“You need to realize that if your live your life based on what people say or do not say, you are in error.” She frowned. “Yes, you are living a life that’s not yours and you don’t exactly have all the time in the world that you would be hiding somewhere for a long time because you don’t want to hear people talking about you.”

His words were so true, it pricked her where she did not like it. Being someone who hates people telling her what to do, Ashley could have burst with severe anger that had a touch of arrogance. But Dave was right, he was so freaking right.

“Besides, aren’t you the boss here? If your employees know what is good for them, they won’t dare to act all gossipy in front of you.”

Tucking her lower lips in with deep ponder, Ashley concluded that it was high time she resumed her work. Hopefully things were still in order. “Let’s go in.”

“Good.” And they both walked into the building, side by side.

The company which was fitted into a huge bungalow didn’t look like a regular office. As she passed through the reception where she was greeted by Gina with a huge smile- it had a bit of pity behind it- Ashley realized suddenly how much she missed the artistically coloured walls of her company.

The main office looking like a relaxation room with clothes hangers standing randomly, Ashley could not help but recall where she had started from. She really had come a long way.

Met by more smiling faces who were busy at their stations before she walked in, Ashley became more confident.

Sasha, her assistant approached her, “Miss Steve! It is so good to see you.”

“Yeah, you...” Sasha immediately threw herself into Ashley’s arms, the latter startled at first, returned the hug, bliss flowing through her.

“I am so glad you are okay. We tried reaching you to no avail in the past few weeks.” Ashley caught the smile Dave threw her way as the hug was becoming lengthy. “I even came to your house, nobody answered me. Oh I am so glad you are fine.” Sasha gave her a squeeze at the end of her statement which put Ashley in unease.

“Sasha, get yourself together. You are squeezing me.”

“Oh my! Sorry. It is just so good to see you.” She was so giddy, you would think she was a five year old who just got her favorite toy.

“It’s okay.” Ashley turned to the rest. “It is good to see you guys too.”

Uh-oh.

Her confidence was beginning to fail her. They were all smiling, but her mind was seeing twos and threes of gossiping people. They were staring right at her, whispering into each other’s ears as they did.
*‘Look at her, she lost her husband to her mother.’*
*‘Turned out she wasn’t so perfect,’ they said.*

Immediately, she reached for Dave’s hand and dragged him with her into her office.

“Hey, are you fine?” She shook her head, her eyes closed as she tried to achieve a clear mind. “Hey, look at me. Look at me.” Reluctantly, she did. The care he had in his eyes baffled her.
“You don’t have to stay here if you are not comfortable.”

“No,” she pushed his hand away slightly. “,it is fine.”

“Are you sure?” She nodded.
He continued, “Today is all about achieving happiness, no matter how little. Tell me Ashley, are you happy when you work?”

“What sort of question is that?”

“Just answer me. Does your work make you happy? Does this place make you happy?”

“Yes.” His question was still some how ridiculous to her.

“Good. I didn’t make a mistake bringing you here then.” The man was just a mystery to her. The way he thought, the questions he asked, his methods of fixing her, they were weird to her.

As Ashley’s eyes fell on her desk, she groaned at the paperwork left there for her, probably to crosscheck and sign. “I can’t believe I have missed so much work,” she groaned, her legs walking their way to the arc-like aesthetic desk.

A huge male hand soon stopped hers which was already reaching for the pile of documents. “No Ashley Steve, we did not come here so that you could work. There is no such thing when I am around.”

His touch. Damn, his touch. It always found a way to affect her. Groaning inwardly, Ashley wondered what exactly the problem was. Deciding not to give in wasn’t enough or what?

She had no idea what was on Dave’s mind, but when his hand starting stroking hers, drawing light lines in a manner that could led to arousal, Ashley could not help but wonder if he had been feeling the frustration she’s been going through.

“Dave, I thought we decided we were not going to…”

His eyes were dark, like they were at her mother’s. Dave’s free hand went on to comb through her hair, slowly. Ashley shivered a little. “I know what I said Ashley Steve.” The way he said her name, carefully like it was a crate of egg dangling helplessly in the air. “I remember saying we can’t take the risk, but now…”

“Now?” she croaked. Not giving an instant reply, his hand was swift enough to pull her body closer to his. He began to draw the earlier strokes to and fro her arm, his breath fanned her hair, her skin. Ashley felt a little cry in her throat, she really wanted the man.

“Now, I think…”

Moaning lowly as his lips made contact with her exposed shoulder blade, Ashley had to grab on to the edge of the table for support. Dave’s little game was already sending messages to her region down there. “Think… what?”

“I think I am going to take the risk.” A fierce gasp escaped her as he turned her abruptly to face him. Looking so intensely at her, Ashley eyes went to his formed lips. Dave leaned in towards her lips and kissed her close to her mouth.

She wanted him to take her lips. Ashley was loving the risk they were taking, but… “Right here, Dave?”

His lips replied her.