Ashley's trance broke the moment she saw the man approaching her with a smile lingering on his face.
"Don't stand there. Let's eat something first?" Tristen said, holding her hand and taking her towards the table.
Pulling one chair for her, he made her sit and then himself went to the other side and settled down.
Ashley was surprised by his sweet gesture and remembered the time she dated Greg. Never once did he pull a chair for her whenever they went on a date or to any restaurant.
'Why do you think about him, Ash' her mind stopped, and she immediately brushed off the thought.
Soon the servers came with the food and placed them on the table. All this while Ashley's eyes were fixed on the man kept instructing the restaurant manager something, and when he was done, the man left.
Tristen looked up and saw Ashley staring at him for a while, making him smile," You can keep staring at me after we finish eating."
His words broke her trance, and she cleared her throat, averting her eyes from him to the plate on the table.
Tristen chuckled when he saw her cheeks turn pink, listening to his remark, but he didn't say a word just in case she would feel more embarrassed.
Both of them finished their fill quietly, and when they were left alone with no one around, Ashley finally voiced the topic she was here for," I don't know if the person I am assuming you to be is correct or not. Still, I will go with my Instincts.." using her smart brain she knew her to guess was surely going to be accurate, so she didn't hold back.
"Sorry, Mr. Knight, but I don't think I can take responsibility for what happened when I wasn't in my right state" Ashley had already made up her mind and was determined to stick to it.
Tristen, who had guessed it, didn't look surprised by her answer. He knew that the woman in front of him was not someone he could force, but even if she wasn't ready, he had another way too.
He had kept himself away from her because she had someone else in her heart then, but now that Greg was out of her life, he wasn't going to stand back and see other suitors approaching her.
He knew he was her first, enough for him to pursue her the way he wanted. He needed patience and would stir this women's heart for him.
Ashley, who saw him chuckle, frowned and heard him say," I knew you would say that, but Miss Brown, maybe you haven't heard about me" his smile slowly vanished, and his face turned cold in the blink of an eye.
"The moment I lay my eyes on anyone, that thing eventually becomes mine" Tristen's words were crystal clear, making Ashley flinch.
She had read every rumor about him before she came here and knew it would be hard to reject him just like that. A man who never showed his face to the world and kept his identity wrapped and reached out to help her.
But who would've thought that his help meant getting tangled with him for a lifelong?
Ashley composed herself, not letting her anxiousness come into her determination.
"I am not a thing for you to claim, Mr. Knight. I am the person who makes my own decision, and I am very much truthful in my words. You can't claim me" her eyes turned cold as she answered him back, looking straight into his eyes.
"If I have made things clear, then I shall take my leave," saying. She got up to leave when she was stopped.
"But what if I make you come for me? Will you still restrain?" Tristen smirked when he fell on her palm, which clenched tightly.
"I know whatever happened between us was loved by you. Even if you ignore them, you can't ignore my charm" Tristen walked towards Ashley and made her turn with a jerk until their chest collided.
"The way you kept asking for more only concluded that my touch was like by you. Right, Miss Brown" his breath brushed her face as she kept staring into his eyes, that smile looking mischievously at her.
Ashley couldn't ignore his words because all he said was the truth. He was the first man who touched her like she was a porcelain doll held gently.
He made her feel; her body felt like it was worshipped, and she wanted more of him somewhere.
Tristen raised his hand and brushed his thumb on her luscious lips," I know you do, but you won't accept it," he said and moved back, leaving her in a daze.
His lips curled up when he saw how badly his presence had affected her, and he was damn sure to make this woman his.
Ashley, who was left stunned, broke her trance when she heard him laugh. Watching his smiling at her made her blood boil, and she flared in anger.
"No, I don't, and I never will," she huffed, shouting at him and turning back to leave the room.
Tristen broke into contagious laughter when he saw her storm out in anger," You can't ignore me, Ash, because I know I am slowly occupying your mind," he said and walked out of the room.
Outside the restaurant, Karl waited for his boss to arrive. When he saw Tristen heading out, he immediately opened the door for him and let Tristen enter the car.
Inside the car, Karl kept glancing at Tristen, who had a smile on his face, and that made him ask," Did Miss Brown agree?"
Karl knew everything about Tristen and how his boss had tried to pursue Ashley but stopped when she publicly announced her relationship with the top model Greg McAdam.
It was scarce for Tristen to look at anything apart from work. But when he learned that his boss liked the model Ashley Brown, he did all his research about her so his boss wouldn't find it hard to approach her.
Tristen shook his head and leaned back, resting his head on the headrest, and said, " No, she didn't" his words make Karl look at him in confusion.
If he was rejected, then why was he smiling? Wouldn't he be heartbroken, but this face said otherwise.
"She would soon agree," he heard him say and nodded his head, understanding his words' meaning.
Without further words, the car drove back to the company as the meeting with Ashley ended before the assumed time.
***
Ashley, who was boiling in anger, pierced her nails into her palm until her skin turned white. She had never let anyone dominate her to an extent where she would lose herself and become a fool.
"Pervert," she cursed, slamming her hand on the handrest of the car's seat, making Miley cringe in fear.
She was still not used to her boss's sudden outbursts, which came without warning. She wanted to ask her as her curious mind was itching to know what happened inside, but she restrained herself after watching Ashley's sour mood.
The drive became a warning zone as no one dared to open their mouth until Miley's phone buzzed.
She immediately looked at the screen, and her heart finally felt at peace when she saw who was the one calling," Boss, your father is calling"
Mileys, who was still now invisible to Ashley, suddenly got alerted by her voice, and she looked at the phone in her hand.
Yes, her father was calling her, and she knew the call wouldn't be that pleasant after whatever she had done.
Taking the phone from her, Ashley calmed her breathing and took a deep breath sliding the accept button and bringing the phone to her ear.
"H-hello, dad," who was like a fierce tigress a while back, turned into a cub as she talked to her father.
"Ashley Brown...I want you here in front of me right now.." Richard's angry voice made her cringe, knowing her father was furious.
"Y-yes, right there, dad," saying. She ended the call and passed the phone back to Miley, who kept watching her boss change her behavior.
As per her knowledge, this highly thinking woman never feared her father until today because she knew her boss had messed up big this time.
"Ask the driver to take us home," Ashley ordered Miley, and just like an obedient manager, she informed the driver about changing the route and taking them to the main mansion.
Ashley recalled every harsh word she used on her father throughout the drive when he tried to put some brain in her mind. But her blind love for Greg overshadowed his every warning, hurting him with her blunt words.