Episode 53

Ashley's POV.
The doctor said my father could be discharged that day and I did. I took him back home and later met with the doctor to fix his surgery date. I scheduled for two months from now and he agreed.
I knew it was time to leave for New York, I didn't need Ric to tell me that. Ric and I flew back the following afternoon. Katie had been especially pleased to see me and it was just the same for me. She asked alot of questions and I gave her a lot of answers. We spent the night talking and honestly, I think she got better than how he's been for weeks now.
The following morning,I got to the office as early as possible. I checked in before Trevor and Ric. I sat behind my desk, tending to my piled up paperwork when the elevator chimed open. I instantly looked up to find Ric getting off. Look away damn it! I tried to look away but it was just so impossible. My eyes were literally glued to him.
His eyes caught hold of mine as he approached and I felt my stomach roar anxiously. Even my heart beat made a harmonious rhythm. Ptfff! He doesn't say a word to me as he looked away, a rather charming smile tugging at the end of his lips. That was a sly smile which got me thinking.
I puffed out air, leaning back against my chair as I watched the ceiling.
Riccardo Marcello. . . .
What now? First we kissed in his car and then in california, what's that supposed to mean? What do I want it to mean? Is he still going to be the heartless man I'd been working for for the past months? Or is he going to be that sweet man that got my heart thudding against my ribcage at the sight of him? I couldn't clarify what it was I felt for this man. Did that kiss have a meaning to him? Did he kiss me because he wanted to, because he felt attracted to me or because I was in pain at the moment and he thought to comfort me by kissing me? Should this affect our working relationship?
I gave out a loud frustrated sigh. What the hell am I supposed to do?! I knew I was gonna regret it. I knew it, I knew it.
The elevator chimed again but I don't look to see who it was this time.
"Ashley!" I heard Trevor yell my name and I looked forward to see him walking towards me " what happened? You came so early"
" I know right?" I laughed " maximum respect for me, yeah?"
He rolled his eyes dramatically. " Don't feel too good about yourself,Ash. You're just a few minutes earlier than I today. Quote the 'today'"
I laughed as he started to turn around. He stopped a half degree and turned right back to me again, his brows rose high.
"I remember you promising to go out with me last Friday night but you didn't"
"Oh, shit! Oh my God,T, I totally forgot about it! I'm so sorry"
"Mhm?" He gave me a knowing look.
"Seriously! I was in california for four days. I'm sorry I didn't call, I had this emergency and just couldn't tell you at that time".
"That's fine,"he walked to me, digging his hand into his pants pocket "you can tell me all about this emergency over lunch today. Do you still remember Mac and Jean? That show from Monsters planet? Oh God, don't tell me you don't know that show"
" Of course, I do,T. Katie and I used to watch it back then!"
"Ta da!" He brings out his hand from his pocket, two flimsy looking papers springing up my face " I got us tickets to watch it's sitcom this Saturday"
"Oh my God, Trevor! This is so amazing"
"You sure you don't got any plans for Saturday?" He teased, mimicking my voice.
"Of course not," I slapped his shoulder "I'd cancel any plans for this show"
"Sounds like a plan. I'll pick you tomorrow then?" I nodded "I better get busy" he added before walking to his office.
My cellphone started to ring and I checked to the the caller. Ric. I picked it up.
"Get into my office, now"
That was it. He disconnected the call, leaving my 'hello' stuck at the back of my throat. Great, we're back to this again. I walked over to Ric's door and pushed firmly to see his standing at the window, his back facing me.
"You called me?" I made my presence known.
He turns around without a word, a poker look on his face. He beckoned me to walk over with his hand and I did.
"What's my schedule for the day?" He asked as soon as I stopped at arm's reach before him.
"You're meeting with a Mr Jacob Albertson by 9:30, I'm going to put a call through to him now. Then you have lunch and by twelve and a meeting concerning the uh. . . . Manhattan project, Trevor's team would be ready to give you the Intel later"
He nodded "it that all?"
"Yes. . . It's Friday"
He gave me a skeptical look and I wished I hadn't said that last part.
"You've got plans tonight?"
"I. . . I'm having a thing with Katie and Luc"
"Luc?"
"He's my other . . . Best friend"
I wanted to slap myself. Was all I'm saying even necessary?
"I heard you got plans with Trevor on Saturday night"he said, totally catching me off guard.
I nodded anyways.
He looks down for a minute, his mega watts smile obvious on his slim lips as they casted down. Suddenly, swiftly, he's standing right on me, a symmetrical line dividing our bodies. I felt my breath cut right in my throat at the close proximity.
I tried to breathe but even that was becoming impossible as his eyes held mine in a long gaze. I wanted to appreciate how unusually beautiful his eyes were but that was not the best idea now. What I should be worried about right now is escaping this room with him not noticing how much his closeness caused my heart to race or how hot I suddenly felt being so close to him.
"So. . . .are we gonna keep pretending we didn't kiss back in california?" He said without a bit of care in his words.
Suddenly, the room felt too small for me. And he's standing so close to me. Why is he pressed up to me like that?
I tried to look down but his hand caught my chin and he held it up so I was gazing at his eyes.
"I. . ." He stopped mid sentence, his eyes dropping to my lips. It lingered there for a while before he looked back at my eyes and smiled. Then he let go of my chin but I don't look down again.
"That was the best kiss. . . ."
"Stop" I quickly cut him off, not sure I'm prepared to listen to this casual lies men say to women. Surely, that kiss mustn't mean anything to him, right? He's just doing this on purpose.
"You, Ashley, makes me feel so different" he said, ignoring what I just said.
I stood watching him for another series of seconds before he finally spoke again.
"I know what Trevor is gonna tell me concerning manhattan project today," he said " I'm gonna need to go to London myself. So. . . . Would you go with me?" I watched him.im confusion. Was he seriously asking me that? " Please. As my assistant and as my. . . . Friend"
I opened my mouth but nothing came out of them. I was speechless. Then I stepped out, away from all the heat and the sudden discomfort of having him so up close to me. It was no discomfort. It was. . . .
"Okay," I gulped hard " when is that gonna be?"
"I'll decide after the meeting?"
"Okay. I should go"
I practically ran out before he could reply. I thought I heard him chuckle after me. Damn it. I just made a big fool out of myself again, didn't I?
The rest of the day was spent on a more normal atmosphere. After the conference meeting, Ric came up with a date for the London thingy. A part of me couldn't wait to go, imagine a vacation with Ric, alone. Just the two of us. But this wasn't a vacation. It was a business trip and we'd probably be back to our boring life immediately. Sigh to that.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
I stood before the full length mirror in my walk-in closet, checking out my red dress for what seemed like the hundredth time. It's V-neck was too revealing, am.i dressing up to impress Trevor? No. But am I?
I'd picked out one of my best dresses. I checked my nude shoes again to make sure it went well. Maybe I should change the wedges for pumps? Nah, this is just a casual meet up to watch a childhood rom-com show at a local cinema.
Maybe I shouldn't have worn make up. My lips shone bright from the nude lipgloss on it. And my hair ran curled down my chest.
I grabbed my purse and walked out, meeting Katie at the kitchen counter.
"You look great!" She exclaimed.
"Thanks," I pulled the door open " I'll see you later,Kay"
When I stepped out, Trevor's car was just pulling up. He steps down, his eyes glancing over me for a long minute before a smile crossed his lips and he said " you look so beautiful,I feel so underdressed"
I laughed at his joke " of course you look really nice!"
"Alright," he pulled the door open for me " we don't wanna be late"
His car came to a stop.in front of the old Cinema. We walked in and at a point, he held onto my hand. I didn't feel.the need to wiggle my hand from his and just let myself flow with him. We purchased our popcorn and took our seats. The show was remarkable like I remembered it, it brought tons of Happy memories to me and I couldn't thank Trevor enough.
After the show finished, we walked out.
"Let's get some refreshments over there" he said, pointing at an ice cream kiosk seated at a far end.
"Uwww, refreshments huh?" I teased him " okay"
We walked over and purchased the icecreams. Instead of just standing there till we finished the whole ice cream, Trevor suggested we sit at the foot of the long cinema stairs. We both sat down and devoured the ice cream.
I heard Trevor sigh beside me and I looked to see him watching the dark sky "it's such a beautiful night" he said.
I turned to the sky and realized he's right. The sky had a few number of stars twinkling over us yet it looked so beautiful. " Yes it is." I replied.
I looked back to scoop more ice cream into my mouth only to find him staring at me seriously. I felt the urge to laugh but I smiled instead " what? Yeah, I eat ice cream too much, don't I?" He chuckled and I laughed back.
I went ahead to eat more ice cream, still feeling his eyes watching me.
He scoots closer, closing the little space between us. I turned to him now, his face closed up to mine. His eyes watched my lips for a long while. Then I felt his hand going up my bare arm. His hands felt cold and right against my skin and I found myself gasping.
"You're so beautiful, Ashley" his words comes as whispers to my ear as I casted my eyes down and watched his face close in on mine.
I licked my lips and wondered why I did that the next second. Did i anticipate his kiss? No!
But when his lips brushed firmly against mine, I felt something different, something strange.