Alice, who felt she had seen and heard everything and was now ready to leave the world in peace, suddenly felt her body shake vigorously.
"Alice.. are you okay" shaken by Ashley roughly, Alice felt her mind coming back to land, and her eyes looked at Ashley with awe.
"Did I just hear you say, Tristan Knight?" Alice asked, rubbing her ear.
Ashley thought this behavior of Alice was worst than she was expecting. She nodded her head and leaned back as she saw Alice gasp.
"You don't know, girl, but you have hit the jackpot. Tristen Knight, the elder son of Trevor Knight, is every woman's dream man," she beamed her words aloud.
Alice, who knew about the Knights from here and there, had been keen to snap with the handsome hunk, but his assistant never let her team meet the man once.
Ashley, who never paid attention to the news, didn't know anything about the knights except one rumor that all the men in the knight family were deadpan and dominating, including Tristan.
He was in his late twenties and was the most successful man in the business world. He achieved it with his exceptional skill and dedication to work which brought him many business awards, but he was never seen taking them.
She remembered one event to which every business person from all over the world was invited. Even celebrities and models were asked to join the event.
She was supposed to be one of the people who would award him the best business tycoon award.
She clearly remembered how the media was severely dead to click the mysterious man who had shaken the entire business world with his entry. But even after looking forwards to seeing the man take the award, he never showed up even after being inside the event hall.
She wondered how come no one saw him get in. It was like he didn't want to be seen by anyone and just came and went as he wished.
While Ashley was busy recalling the time when she missed seeing him when she heard Alice's voice," Ash, are you there" she asked and saw her look at her in a daze.
"I thought you went back to think about Tristan after I praised him" Alice knew something was wrong with Ashley with how she was talking about Tristen.
It felt like there was something more to it that she wasn't aware of and wanted to know.
No one would ignore a man who was perfect in every sense, then why was Ashley so casual with it.. or... was she purposely hiding it.
Ashley shook her head and sipped her coffee. It had been so many days she had felt so relaxed. Back then, she would always keep thinking about doing things that would make Greg happy; in that process, she lost hers.
But now she wasn't going to let anyone walk on her happiness. She wanted to think of herself first before she thought of others.
After they finished drinking their coffee, Alice paid for them and walked out of the coffee shop.
"You shouldn't ignore the proposal, Ash. You can't let go of a man like Tristen Knight.. he is the perfect blend of smartness and hotness. Have you seen his muscle through that perfectly fitted suit" her words made Ashley recall the time they were in each other's arms.
Yes, she had seen every part of his body: his firm muscle, perfectly built body, and many things.
"Hey, you're spaced out again" Alice, who saw Ashley again, fell into thought and couldn't help but ask her," Ash, is something bothering you" being her friend, she wanted to know what was wrong with her.
Ashley, who hasn't told Alice about having a nightstand with Tristen, would find another reason to pester her into considering dating him.
She didn't know if she was ready to let someone in, which was too soon, but she didn't even have a reason to reject him.
It wasn't his fault either when she was the one who took advantage of him. She shook her head, brushed off her thought, and entered the car.
She was going to drop Alice in her studio before she headed back to her house. Her mind was filled with so much news that she couldn't erase.
On the one hand, she was trying to start a new life, but on the other hand, her father was asking her to consider Tristen. She felt like she was torn in making any decision.
She couldn't find any fault in her father's words but didn't know whether she was ready to trust anyone after getting cheated on by the love of her life.
Dropping Alice, she was returning she got a call from Miley.
"What is it, Miley?" she asked with a lazy tone.
"Ma'am, I have a very urgent message for you," she said in a little worried voice.
Stopping the car at the corner of the road, she listened," Ma'am.. madam Jane had called me to fix a meeting. I told her that you were busy meeting anyone, but she didn't listen and said she would come to meet you if you don't agree to talk with her" Miley panted after she finished and waited for Ashley to say something.
"I should've seen this coming. How was she going to stay still after stealing my man" Ashley's cold words made Miley gulp.
Even if she wasn't physically present there with Ashley, she could tell how deadpan her face would be at this moment.
"Fine, tell her that I am ready to meet her" Ashley had avoided her for too long, and now it was time to show her that she had messed with the wrong person.
She had once considered Jane her friend but not anymore now that finally, she has come to learn what kind of person she is. She not only played innocent but also seduced her boyfriend under her nose.
Ending the call, Ashley texted Miley the location she would be meeting Jane and asked her to pass it to Jane.
She had been portraying herself as an innocent lady, and Ashley knew how to pull down that mask.
Starting the engine, she drove back to her apartment. On her way, she saw many photographers trying to click on her, but she managed to escape them and entered the building.
Being in the limelight for five years had gained many haters, but many loved her for being a good human. Outside Ashley may look like an unapproachable and arrogant woman, but very few knew that she had a heart of gold.
Throughout these years, she did many charity works helping needy people. She would half donate the money she earned from her every modeling consignment to charity.
Very few knew she had opened an orphanage without anyone's knowledge, where she gave shelter to many abondoned kids.
Ashley entered her house and went to the kitchen. She wasn't a fan of cooking, but whenever her mood was down, she would try her hand at making something edible for her to eat.
Changing herself into casual clothes, Ashley entered the kitchen and started preparing noodles for her.
She knew the basics because her father had taught her some cooking. She started chopping the vegetable and making the preparation when she heard her phone buzz.
A smile formed on her lips when she saw that Jane had agreed with her demand.
Keeping the phone aside, she made noodles and walked to the living room with the bowl.
She arranged the small table in front of her couch with all the necessary things and turned on the TV.
She had never felt so relaxed having time for herself that she didn't want anyone to disturb her peace.
Turning on her favorite cartoon channel, she started to fill her stomach.
******
Melanin International
Tristan walked out of the meeting room after rejecting several proposals which would impress him.
Karl tailed behind his angry boss like a scared cat and entered his cabin.
"For what do I pay them? Can't they give me one best proposal" Tristan leaned back and closed his eyes.
Karl had never seen Tristan lose his cool just on a mere proposal. He knew his boss was the calmest and most composed person who liked to keep harmony with his co-workers, but today, he found it too surprising.
"I will ask them for a better proposal in the next meeting."
Tristan, who felt his anger subside, opened his eyes and looked at Karl, who had these worrisome eyes.
'Did he overreact for nothing'
Tristan, who was always a calm person, thought he would get out of his way and lash at his employees just because he didn't get a single message or call from Ashley.
Cursing himself, Tristen looked back at Karl's worried face. He knew he had shouted his lungs out for something too lame.
Karl, who saw Tristan's tensed expression, asked," Boss is there something bothering you."
Karl's concerned words made him come out of his thought, and he looked at him in contemplating way.
"Karl, do you think your first date can leave an unforgettable impact."