Episode 49

Ashley's POV.
I watched my phone's screen intensively as Drako's now saved number went into dial,the sound of it's ringing from his end causing me to want to throw away my phone so when he picks I wouldn't be here and the whole problem would be solved cause he's gonna think I bailed on him and just leave me the hell alone. But I knew better. As the ringing prolonged,I mentally prayed he didn't pick it.
Well I personally always had bad lucks with wishes. He picks eventually,his broad voice booming right on my face before I took the phone closer to my ear.
"Drake!"
"It's Drako,"his voice sounded bored and robotic "are you in california yet? Or . . . "
"I'm here,Drak....o. I'm at the house "
"Good for you. Meet me at my apartment"
"Your apartment? Hold on a second. . . What do you mean your apartment? I thought you wanted to see me"
"Yeah? I choose where I wanna see you,got it?"
"But that's not fair. You might be a serial killer waiting for me to walk right into your trap called apartment so you can assault and butcher me!"
"Very funny,Shawn. I'm not a rapist. . . "
"That still doesn't make it okay that I have to meet you in your apartment"
"Fine. Let's talk over lunch. There's a french restaurant downtown, it's called flitch glitch,meet me by twelve o'clock. Bye."
"Wait. . . . "The disconnect beeps shut me up,leaving me silently watching my phone's screen light go into dimness,my lips agape.
Hmm that bastard.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
By the time I woke up the following morning,my head felt heavy. I reached for my phone to check what time it was but instead,met a message from Ric. I tapped it open.
Ric: Good morning, lovely. I'll be coming over to pick you up. I need you to go somewhere with me.
Lovely? What's up with the sweet names these days? I think the real question here is what's up with Ric? Does he feel pity for me? Well that's very understandable.
I texted back.
Me: you have a thing now? What?
Just as I dropped my phone to try and stand off the bed,his message came in. God,does he have someone attending to his messages for him or it's just him?!
Ric: Not exactly. I wanted us to eat. The hotel's food isn't really my thing.
I walked to my door and pulled it open whilst typing a reply.
Me: so you're gonna ditch breakfast then?
Ric: no. We're gonna go eat in the next one hour.
Standing on the stairs landing,my eyes glanced down for a second to see my dad, slumped backwards against his rocking chair. He appears to be sleeping. It's freaking past 8a.m. I liked closely, trying to see the causal movement on his neck,fear building inside me,nearly chocking me until I saw the barely noticeable heave of his chest.
Me: I don't know,Ric. I need to tend to my father and I can't promise you anything yet. Maybe dinner?
Ric: oh right, I totally forget about that sorry. That's alright. But why not lunch?
I started going down the stairs.
Me: yeah, I'm meeting with Drako at this french restaurant downtown. He says it's called flitch glitch. Stupid right?
I stopped just before my sleeping father, leaning toward him to take a proper look at him. He looked pretty tired and. . . . . Old. My phone notified me of a message and I clicked it open.
Ric : okay. Have fun.
Me : Thanks. Later.
I slipped my phone into my jeans back pocket, reaching over my dad's shoulder and patted softly.
"Dad"
He slowly opens his eyes to see me.
"You are not alright Dad. It's past 8. You never sleep so late before"
He tries to sit more comfortably now,a smile forcing its way through his lips as he said "I've been sleeping really late these days, Ashley. It's nothing to worry about"
"Okay. I'm just going to make you some green tea" I started to walk past him before stopping midway and turning around to see him again "Dad. . . I'll be going out later. Need to see an old friend"
"That's good, Ashley" He replied.
After preparing his breakfast and eating,I decided to get dressed in the dresses Ric had gotten me. I didn't exactly bring any clothes with me and my old clothes didn't really fit so well anymore. Plus they look really out of fashion now.
I stopped a taxi and asked to be taken to this restaurant. When I got off the taxi,I stood facing a single restaurant building painted yellow. The windows were tinted,making it impossible to see who or whatever was inside the building. The building seemed small for a french restaurant and I could've sworn I was at the wrong place if I hadn't seen the banner above the entrance door reading "FLITCH GLITCH DELICIE"
Making up my mind after sighs after sighs,I walked up to the door and pushed it open. The whole room is remarkably tidy. . . . And by remarkably,I mean there's not a single person here either. I stopped before the first seat, turning around to make sure I was at the right place. It's already twelve o'clock,and a few minutes past, so I couldn't possibly be late.
"Hello?" I said more to myself.
I started to hear clicking of shoes from the kitchen, hurrying towards me. I watched closely as a middle aged blond woman walked out, a radiant smile on her face,her black fitting gown beautiful.
"Hello" she said with a smile " I already prepared your table"
"Okay?"I replied,confused but I followed her to the back anyways.
"Excuse me?" I nearly tapped her shoulder as we approached a table with a yellow table cloth spread over,a banquet of flower on top of it and a wine bottle with two pairs of a red wine and water glass at each side of the table.
"Yes?" She turns around to face me.
"I'm sorry,I think I may be at the wrong place. "
"Oh no you're not dear. Mr Drako Black booked the whole place for the day. He said you'd be coming"
What?
"Of course you're in the right place, Ashley" a foreign voice said from behind us and I turned around to see Drako, wearing complete black suits. I've only ever seen him once in my life before and I couldn't quite recognize him. More like didn't know him. Didn't know this was how he looked.
His skin was tea tanned,not what you'd call white, leaving the impression that he was possibly a Mexican man. His eyes are slanted upwards,giving him an Asian kind of look with the black hair on his head.
His eyes did a sweep of my body,his eyes trailing my legs up to my face.
"You're all grown up, Ashley" he said with a small smirk before looking behind me to the woman and saying "get us our food and leave"
The woman walks past me and towards the kitchen. He starts to walk towards me and I backed away. When he got to me,he smiled foolishly before sitting down with a heavy sigh. Grumpy!
"Well what are you waiting for? An invite?," He said to me "sit down and let's talk"
I was getting a sick feeling about this and my every instinct told me to get out of here but I couldn't bring myself do do it. Slowly,I sat down and faced him. He reached into the bowl of grape fruits beside the flowers and tossed them into his mouth,his eyes not leaving me even for a split second. I bit on my teeth nervously before courageously looking at him. I had thought of putting my phone on record so I could get any valid evidence against him in order to shut down his growing blackmails. I hope that's not such a bad idea. .
"So. . . " I started " what did you wanna talk about?"
He doesn't say anything but instead, just chewed away.
The lady comes back with assorted dishes and placed them before us with a smile. Her smile gave me the chills. You know one of those horror movies that starts like this? You stumble across a murder house where everyone seems so nice to you,only to turn into serial killers later. I always thought people in such situations were stupid enough not to see the other side of their creepy smiles and get the hell out of there before it was too late. I'm like those people now. I'm that stupid person in the horror movie.
After pouring our glasses,I watched her walk out through the exit door. I turned back to Drako who still had his eyes perched on me.
"Why does she have to leave?" I asked.
"This is a date,"he replied carelessly "so why not?"
"A date?"
"I don't know what a date means to you but we're just meeting to talk alright? "
"Well what do you wanna talk about?"
"I told you,"I started eating his food "I want something that you have"
"Yeah and I guess I'm here to find out what it is that I have that you want. I don't have any more money if that's what you want okay?"
He laughs mockingly, amusement in his eyes as they watched me.
"You've grown up so much, Ashley," he said " and you've grown quite into some beautiful woman" his head angled in a way that his eyes watched my behind on the chair, before roaming back and settling in my breasts.
"Stop looking at me like that!"
"I'm sorry. It can't be helped"
"Then I'm leaving!" I put down the napkin I hadn't realized I was holding and stood up.
"Are you gonna leave without paying off your father's depth?" He said calmly, causing me to stop.
Slowly,I sat back down.
"I didn't think so" he replied, clicking his tongue.
"But I already paid four times what my father owes you"
"Four times?" He laughs " you don't seem to know how things work Ashley. And I thought you were smart like your father"
"Why are you doing this?"
"You better eat your food before it gets cold. French foods are best enjoyed hot"
"What do you mean my father's dept isn't fully paid yet? I personally sent you the money and I'm sure you have the evidence now"
"That won't be enough now is it?" He leaned over the table,his eyes tearing into mine " I want something more, Ashley and you of all people should know that"
I felt sweat trickle down my side. I swallowed hard,my head giving the appropriate meaning to what he just said.
"What. . . "
"I want you, Ashley" he pointed.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"You know what it means. Unless you want your father's dead body by the end of the day. Your choice"
This is tougher than I'd thought it would be. When he had said he wanted more money and that I should meet him I didn't think he was gonna ask me to sleep with him. What had I expected? And now I'm trapped here with this pervert, alone. The thought of him laying a single finger on me made my stomach knott. It was getting difficult to make a choice.
"You don't need to think much," he said, a smirk on his lips "I could take you right here. There's a counter over there,"he pointed " there's even more counters and tables in the kitchen. Tick tock, Ashley"
I couldn't help the feeling that built up inside me as I watched him,a tear threatening to break out of my eyes.
"That's it" he slammed his hands on the table and carried himself up. His voice rang through my head, instilling a fear so deep inside of me,I wanted to disappear. I instinctively rose up,his height intimidating me. Who would believe he could have such an angry side? He was just smirking and smiling a while ago. What was he going to do to me? I knew I should've turned back when I thought this place was strange as fuck. He started walking towards me and I backed away, saying the only thing that made sense to me that moment.
"Stop. . . ."
But he doesn't.