Episode 25

Episode 25.
Ashley's POV.
It's becoming rather impossible for me to open my eyes,let alone move my body. I felt like I was confined to a spot and a large weight's been placed on me,preventing me of any movement.
I'll just sleep for a little while. But nothing seems right. My surrounding is brightly lit,I can tell even with my eyes closed. Of course,that's why I'm finding it hard to open my eyes. And my head throbbed.
I slowly peeled my eyes open,then shut them again. But wait,where am I? I forced my eyes open and gasped tiredly. The light burnt my eyes and I squinted to adjust properly to the brightness. Once able to,I moved my face to the side to see a white wall. There's a dresser table there,it's mirror showing me the image of me lying on this bed,my bra strings on my bare shoulders and my chest covered with the bed duvet.
My eyed went wide and I exclaimed "Shit!" I abruptly sat up and pushed the duvet off me to scan my body. I'm actually wearing a white night gown with spaghetti straps and a matching night pants. What the?
I looked around to find my bra seated on the table next to my right side. The bed is high,the ceiling white just as the floor and the walls. There's two doors to the front,a chandelier hanging up high and shining with it's lights. The window is floor length, curtains draping to the floor.
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my head and I suppressed a cry. I still didn't know where I was or who was behind those doors.
What had happened? I tried to think but each time,it resulted in a series of headache washing over me.
Then I could see an imagine of Mr Marcello. At a place with people. At the party. Last night. Slowly, I began to remember how I ended up here.
I'd been drinking with Mr Marcello and a woman from last night. I'd refused her offer to drink but soon started drinking and drinking and talking about something I seriously can't figure out anymore. At a point I'd found myself in Mr Marcello's car and in the next minute he's pulling me out. Then carried me bridal style.
"Put me down" I remember telling him sleepily but I'd heard him say "No princess" then I'd dozed off.
What?!! I'm probably screaming inside me now. I am screaming inside! I flinched from the bed and looked out the window,feeling my vision clouded by something. This was a hotel room. He brought me to a hotel? My heartbeat increased as many thoughts about what might've happened last night appeared in my head. I tried to remember how he brought me in here but I couldn't. What the hell happened?!
My phone started ringing from the side table and I ran over to pick it.
"Hello?"
"Get dressed and be at the office right now"the voice boomed into my ears. I brought the phone to my face again to see who the caller was. Not saved. I put it back on my ear again.
" sorry....who am I talking with?" I honestly had no clue. And what office?
"Again,Ashley?," he said "God you have the worst hangovers I've ever seen. There's a pill on your table. It'll help with the hangover" my eyes went over to the table and there's two pills on a bone plate with a bottled water beside it."Be here in twenty minutes " and he disconnected the call.
He's so rude. So rude.....so......rude. My eyes flew open instantly. Shit! It's Mr Marcello!
I quickly dropped the fun and started running towards the door I think leads to the bathroom before turning back again to swallow the pills and running back into the bathroom. There's a new towel on the towel rack and once I was done showering, I walked back out. That's when I noticed the pile of dresses on the far end of the bed. I went through it and it's a pair of black skinny trousers and a yellow corset top. As disgusting as it felt,I was my bra again before dressing up on the jeans and top. I found my purse neatly set on the table beside my shoes and I quickly picked them up before running out of the building. Then I had to run back in to grab my phone from the bed again. It's true that you only wind up late when you're in a hurry.
I ignored the people in the lobby who watched me as I ran out of the building and entered the first taxi that stopped for me.
Once in front of the skyscraper where I worked, I wondered how I'm gonna face Mr Marcello. He didn't do anything to me last night,I tried to convince myself, and he also didn't change my clothes. If he didn't, then who? Maybe the Hotel help?
I hurried into the elevator and presses for the office. Once the doors slid open after the arrival jinxing sound,I stepped out. I started to hear very quiet murmurs from the conference room. I stopped at Trevor's office. He's not there. I walked over to the conference room and I stood stunned at the people seated inside.
The room is filled up with people,more than half I've never seen in my life and the others a few workers here that I wasn't quite familiar with except for Trevor and Mona. And my eyes met Mr Marcello at the tip end of the table,his chair turned to me and his eyes watching me hard,causing shivers to run up my spine. His eyes dared me,glared at me and I wondered what the hell that was about.
"There she is," He announced, causing everyone to look up at me "She's late. Again"
My heartbeat accelerated beyond normal and in the process,hurting me. I didn't know what this meeting was about and I clearly don't remember having any meetings today. Wasn't today supposed to be Sunday? Or am I imagining things?
Trevor's hand rose up and he beckoned for me to walk in. I slowly walked in,all eyes still fixed on me. Their eyes followed me to the front,before the presentation board and I just stood,disorganized,not registering what was happening in my front. My head suddenly hurt again. But when I saw Trevor's urging eyes to say something, I tried to rid myself of this tension and say something.
"Good morning, Ladies and gentlemen" my voice is hoarse and strange.
"Your boss told us about the house plan you constructed for a club house" One of the men in suit said. He looked like a Chinese. And also an American. I shook my head,trying not to think about his look but what he's saying.
"I wanna tell you that we like what you did and we want you to make a plan for us" he continued.
Suddenly, I could barely hear what he was saying. I heard a piercing sound and I wanted to scream out loud. This just has to be a dream. I have no idea what he's talking about. That happens only in dreams right? Soon the piercing sound died down and I could hear nothing. No voice,no sound. Just faces staring back at me.
"So,what do you have to say?"another man asks me.
"Oh,ah.......I didn't know that you liked it," I stammered "I'll really do a great job for you sir"
They waited,like they needed me to say more but I was more confused.
"So?" The first man urged.
"Ashley," Mr Marcello called and I turned to him "The papers you printed on Friday"
Papers? I tried to think. Yes,Mona had sent me and email of some sort and asked me to print them out. I'd done that and dumped them on my draw. Nobody told me what that was for and I never went through it.
"Mr Marcello," the first man called "She doesn't know?"
"Of course she does" he replied with a smile that shook me off the edge. What the hell was he playing at?
"Ashley" Trevor whisper-Called me,pointing some papers at me. I quickly took them from him,muttering a 'Thank you' before standing back on the stage.
I flipped through the papers,my hands trembling, wondering what I was supposed to say or read from this thing. I took a few seconds to brush through the first few lines of the paper before looking back at everyone.
"Well....the idea for a club house now is really great. Now is the time to put money into a club business because...."
"We know that," another man interrupted me "Where do you think is suiting enough for such a business now"
"China" I replied almost immediately.
"China?" A woman asked.
"Clubs are all over China towns,Ashley,"Mr Marcello said,his voice challenging" That sounds like going for a total loss even when you're seeing it"
"Hong Kong then,*I replied daringly " Or Thailand. You can find bars and club houses in these places,especially in Thailand but they are all locals. And Frankly, I think our tourists would like a little bit of something new"
The first man began to nod "that makes sense," he said "Thailand then"
Ashley"Mr Marcello called and I turned around to face him "Thailand sounds a little bit off. How much do you think Mr Kim would make in year. There's barely enough money there"
"But the tourists....."
"What if there's no tourists" he cuts me off "What then?"
I took a sharp breath in,slowly running out of words.
I summoned all the courage in me and replied "There are rich men in Thailand too"
"You wanna tell me these rich men's daily income? What business they do that makes you so sure that they will bring money Into this club house"
I watched him,feeling the sweat trickle down my neck. The sweat on my face was disturbing but with the intensity of hate on this Man's eyes,I suddenly felt the urge to run and hide from his gaze. I didn't know what else to say.
I looked down in defeat and replied "No"
"Then you aren't even sure what you're up against in this room,Ashley. Do you ever ask yourself that? " what am I doing here?" "What are these people here for?" No,all you do is stand there all day thinking life is just about playing it smart "
I just stood there,watching him,listening to him say all those words and the more that were coming. Everyone watched me. I felt embarrassed and in desperate need to disappear. Why was he being this cruel all of a sudden? Why does my misery give this man so much more. Does he want me to quit? Or he's just never contented with what anyone has to offer.
What the hell am I even doing here?! Why am I still standing here listening to him say all those words to me?! Haven't I heard enough already?! Haven't I endured enough? What the hell did I ever do to deserve all of this hate?! I wanted to scream my head off,wanted to leave and never come back. My eyes watched his lips,his words suddenly so distant from me. I felt the urge to break down and cry. Why isn't anything ever enough for men like him? Why do they always push people like us into the wall? Why did they always enjoy seeing us at our weakest?
And I decided. I wasn't gonna give him the pleasure if seeing me break down in front of him.
And I turned away and walked out. I hurried out before the tears on my eyes ran down. He'll never see me like that. I hurried out, breaking into a run till I reached the bathroom where I threw myself over the sink and cried my heart out,remembering all Mr Marcello just said like it was happening all over again,right now. I couldn't take this. What the hell went wrong? Why the hell does he keep doing this to me?! Why?
So many whys that I'll never get an answer to. I continued to cry till my chest hurt.
Then I felt a firm knock on the door and I stiffened.