When Ashley opened her eyes, she felt as if she had been sleeping for too long.
There was a throbbing pain in her head and her neck was too stiff. It took her almost two minutes to realize that she was not in her apartment.
Instantly her neck craned to check the time. The sun rays seeping in through the windows gave her the idea that it was late afternoon. Something dropped in her stomach.
And in a reflex, her eyes explored her body only to find that she was still in the outfit of yesterday. And except for the faint ache in her stomach, Ashley felt no such pain down there.
A wave of instant relief hit her. At least she did not end up sleeping with some stranger.
But where was she?
Roaming her eyes around the room it was not hard to conclude that she was somewhere lavish.
The interior of the room seemed to be scrutinising her while screaming: wealth!
Ashley knew that she was not in Skylar's apartment also.
She had been there before and was familiar with each and every corner of that place. Feeling her strength already fading, she leaned on the headboard and looked up at the ceiling in a daze.
Steadily the memories of the previous day hit her.
She went for interview.
Turned out, it was the post of the wife.
She walked randomly for hours only to take an abrupt decision of getting drunk.
She got drunk...what after that?
Ashley furrowed her brows, it was as if she was forgetting something major.
Her headache worsened but than she could vaguely remember a stranger coming to sit where she sat. Post that...
Suddenly her eyes widened. It was Michael! He came out of nowhere.
And just when the faded vision of Michael picking her up in his arms appeared, she sat upright back.
Oh god!
The pace of her nerves fastened just as she pieced the incidents of yesterday together. In her twenty-three years of life, it was the most drastic turn of events that occurred in a single day.
But the question was how Michael even showed up there?
Was he there since before or did he come specifically for her?
Ashley felt she was about to drive herself crazy. There was that stranger also. She knew Michael had some conversation with that man but she could not remember what exactly it was!
And who was even that man?
From the bits and pieces, Ashley could tell that they must have known each other.
Ahhh!
Even after a while when nothing made sense to her, Ashley helplessly dropped the idea of exerting more force on her mind. It was too tiring!
Also, the hangover was not helping.
Her feet rubbed the soft mattress as she slowly made her way to the door which should be a washroom.
Quickly freshening up and moving out of the room, Ashley was welcomed by a short corridor which opened to the living room.
The living room was well furnished and followed the theme of luxury but it was too...showy!
Not personalized from any angle which brought her to the conclusion that she must be in some random property owned by him.
It did not seem as if anybody had stayed here before her.
That was the most logical analysis Ashley could draw at the moment.
Not to forget the fact that there seemed to be no one around. Walking up to the table, Ashley found her bag there. She did not bother opening it immediately and left the apartment.
As she came out of the building, a man came to her, "Mam, kindly follow us. Sir has asked to drop you safely to your place."
Ashley was about to automatically deny the offer but then she realised that she was in a private residential area. It was the most recent project inaugurated under Clarks.
She knew about it because it was blown up in the news to a crazy extent- deliberately or not, she can not tell.
But now having gotten the idea of the place, it would be impossible to find a cab here. And even if she did end up finding one, it would be quite a sting in her pocket.
Looking at the low-key Maybach, Ashley pursed her lips and reluctantly agreed.
It was just a car ride to drop her. She might as well grab the opportunity of travelling in a luxurious car.
The private residential area was totally opposite to where she lived. It was as if they were in opposite corners of the city.
Somewhere in the middle, Ashley had dozed off in her thoughts and did not seem to notice that the car had came to a halt.
"Mam, we're here."
Being pulled out of her thoughts, Ashley nodded absentmindedly and stepped out of the car. In a daze, she stared at the headquarters of Clark Industries and hinted her confusion at the men.
"Sir wanted to meet you. We got notified while in the car."
It was not weird that he wanted to meet her. S
She had kind of expected that but still, Ashley could not tell whether the meeting was related to the previous night's event or the day's. Not saying anything else, Ashley silently followed him.
All the way she could not help but ponder over what he could have to talk. Right outside the cabin door, the man quietly retreated and left Ashley on her own. It was just like yesterday.
Sighing, Ashley got inside.
At this time, Michael was busy looking through some documents on his desk.
But Ashley was starstruck for a moment. She had never, not even in the news seen him wearing specs. Hence it was a new sight for her. On the second thought, everything had been new to her since the previous day.
Ashley shook her thoughts away. Knowing that she was in the room and yet he did not make a move to acknowledge her, she did not disturb him and took a spot on the couch.
From where she was sitting, it was all him that she could see. And she can't help but think more about him.