Episode 64

Ashley's POV.
I stood before the floor length mirror and stared back at my reflection. I couldn't recognize myself. The dress maker who had introduced herself as Celina earlier as we walked into the clothing store stood behind me, fixing the sides of the dress.
It was a tender yellow gown that came off on the shoulders with a pinned joint around the chest area, exposing my cleavages. My hair ran down my back in spiral waves,my face bearing just the right make up. Maybe a little too much.
"You look just magnificent" Celina complimented from behind me.
I gave her a smile and replied "Thanks"
"Now, for a finishing," she points a long black purse to me, which went with my black heels "your purse"
I beamed a smile at her and took it.
"And just for an extra," she said turning me around to face her. She points a chubby bottle of perfume at me and sprays it all over my body. The sweet smell was intoxicating in a really amazing way, I felt high. I never felt so beautiful before.
"I bet he won't recognize you" she whispered into my ears and I knew he was referring to Ric.
He had walked me in two hours ago and was asked to wait outside while I got dressed. He'd be so surprised when he sees me.
"You're good to go" Celina told me. I slowly turned towards the door, she behind me till we got out onto the first room where Ric sat. He hadn't seen me as I first walked out because he had his eyes perched on a magazine in his hand but after a few seconds, he looked right up to me. I took notes of the changes in his eyes from when he first laid eyes on me to three seconds after. He looked shocked at first but then he started getting used to my obviously different look as he rose to his feet to meet me.
"So? How do I look?" I asked .
"You look. . . . . . . " He reached a hand over my waist ". . . So beautiful, Ashley. So beautiful"
"Thank you"
He'd gotten dressed himself in a deep blue suit with a black inner shirt. His hair is well made now, now cut on the right places. He looked exceptionally handsome tonight.
"I'm so scared, baby," he said, his other hand sliding down my other side to pull me chest to chest with him "there's so many men attending that opening"
"I can say the same," I replied, getting cheesy "you look like a hot fantasized man from the romance novels"
He laughs shortly before leaning in to kiss me but I quickly pushed my face back from him.
"My make up" I told him " don't ruin it"
"I do not know how long that make Up's gonna be on you, love" he winked at me, causing me to grin widely.
"Come on, we're gonna be late" I told him before walking out with him.
The opening was supposed to start at 8p.m. if we waited there any longer, we were gonna be late. Following the address, we came out in front of a large circular building. It's easy to know this was the place given the number of rich looking cars parked out and the number of people walking in through the carpet. Slow, quiet music streamed from the inside and neon lights flashed from every corner. The place was simply breathtaking.
We proceeded inside where we met the room full of people. Women beautifully dressed and men smartly dressed. I was glad I didn't trade this dress for another ugly one simply because I felt too body exposed on this one. The second thing I noticed were the framed arts hung over the tall white walls. Among them were the recognizable images of the Joan of Ark, well detailed African historians, beautifully illustrated landscapes and alluring images of the daily life and other beautiful elements of art.
"Oh my God," I said mindlessly ", these are so beautiful, Ric"
He chuckles " I don't think there's a single art here which beats your beauty"
I turn around to him and replied "really?"
He leans down to my ear and whispered "if you keep looking at me like that you're gonna add to the turn on you're already getting me on and then we're gonna find a bathroom and make a big mess"
I suppress a laughter and but him playfully across the chest before turning back to the painting. I felt his hands drop to my shoulders and his body press against mine.
"I'd get anyone you want" he whispered to my ear.
"Guys!!" Someone yelled from behind us and we turned to see Rebecca.
She has a big smile on her dry burgundy lips, her eyes glistening under the impossibly bright lights which shone from no particular spot noticeable in the wide room. She's dressed in a white fley gown that stopped above her knees, it's sleeves long and laced, a slim green belt placed on her stomach area. Her burgundy shoes shone brightly, her blond hair made with a few bangs to the front and the rest falling out across her shoulders to the front. She looked absolutely stunning.
"Oh my God, Ashley, your dress looks so beautiful!" She exclaims.
"Thank you, you look so nice!"
"Thank you. What are you two doing out here? The party's that way?" She points behind her.
We walked to her and followed her back towards the room which led us into an even wider room with even many more and beautiful art paintings. I was simply in awe by the time Rebecca left us alone and I was back to gazing at everything in the room.
"Seen what you like yet?" Ric whispers behind me.
I'd spent over an hour gazing at all the collections and finally decided on an art I wanted. It was a multi colored painting of a young black american girl sitting in front of a large university, recognizably the Oxford university. It was beautiful and so captivating, it said a lot.
"This," I pointed to the painting "it looks beautiful"
"I agree," he added " would really look great in our home"
Our home? I tried not to acknowledge or make a thing out of what he just said. Soon, Rebecca returned and we started to talk a little. Then the host, her friend made a certain announcement and gave her appreciation to the guests. Afterwards, purchasing of the art works fell in line and people started buying. Then people started to donate since the show was an opening launch. Ric made the biggest donation, getting even a bigger attention from the rich men around the room and the women kept looking at me and whispering to each other.
Yes, I thought proudly, he's my man.
Later on we were served and the music volume intensified. While a few danced, Rebecca pulled me away from Ric to get a drink together. We stood facing the wine table.
"I'm really happy that Ricky is with you now" she said straight forwardly.
I googled at her, speechless.
" I get it, " she smiles sweetly "he's good looking and all but. . . . . . . . Ricky can be really hard to be with sometimes."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I've just never seen Ricky so happy with a woman before. He always had this strange hatred for women, he thinks none of them deserved his love. Not even me. It's part reasons why I left"
"What really happened?"
She sighed loudly "I'm not supposed to say, Ashley. You look like a good woman, and I'm sure you can handle him well"
I beamed a smile , remembering the times I newly started working for him and he was a complete pain in the ass.
"You know I actually started working as his assistant," I told her honestly "when we newly new each other, God, he was on my neck the whole time. He was too demanding, too pushy and a total jerk to me and. . . Well. . Everyone. I quit the job after a month of trying you know? Then he apologized and I just couldn't understand why I went back again. . . . . . That's when I realized I actually liked his jerk ass " she laughs " then we started attending business parties together and he was still an ass and each time I tell myself that I'm gonna quit working for him, I always pick up my work clothes the next day. But. . . I guess we just fell in love. We were both. . . . . Love struck I guess"
"That's really sweet. I'm not staying any longer here and I'll probably be gone tomorrow. I just want you to talk to him"
"Okay?"
She sighs before continuing "Ricky can be really stubborn, Ashley. He has always been. I need him to listen to me but he's not even paying attention to begin with. This thing between him and victoria is only gonna end badly. I've been there before and I know what I'm saying. He wouldn't listen to be but perhaps he will listen to you. Tell him to let go of this project, Ashley. "
"But. . . . . . . Isn't this what your mother always wanted?"
"Yes but she's dead now. Why bring back the past into our lives?"
"What does that even mean?"
She gives me a liplined smile before replying " there's so many things I can't talk about right now but maybe perhaps one day. When all this is over and we can actually get to sit and know each other more, I'll tell them to you"
"But Ric would not let this go without a fight"
"He better not, Ashley. It's your job now to make him leave while he still can. "
I didn't know why I felt warning in her words. Who was she against here?
"What are you saying to my girlfriend?" Ric's voice shocks me from behind and I turned to see him, arms behind him with a big smile on his lips " telling her how bad I am, Rebecca? "
"Of course not, Ricky, " she stands up " I'm just telling her how much of a stubborn child you are. If you'll excuse me," she looks back at me now " I'm sorry, I won't be able to see you out. I'll be leaving very soon"
"That's okay" I replied.
Turning back to Ric, she said " good night, Ricky" and walked out through the back.
I sat still, wondering what the hidden messages were from what Rebecca just told me. how could I change his mind? He has been so obsessed over this project for a whole year now, even before I came along that it feels completely useless trying to get his mind off it now.
"She really told you how stubborn I am?" He speaks, breaking off my thoughts. He takes my hand and looks into my eyes questioningly.
"Yes, " I nodded with a smile "but that just makes you even more appealing, doesn't it?"
He grabs me and kisses me hard. He kissed me for a longer while before pulling back and saying " I told you I'd ruin your make up" he takes my hand in his and leans down to my ear level and whispers "if you reach down to my pants now you'd see what you've caused me. The pain and pleasure of having to watch your sexy body all night has unavoidably turned me on on different levels, Ashley. "
I snapped my head up and watched him talk, a smile creeping onto my face in delight.
"Let's get out of here" he added in a sensual whisper and just like that turning me on.