THE NEXT MORNING...
"Alright Ariana, you'll be hospitalized for some more days...while kept under observation...until you fully recover" James said,as soon as he finished examining her.
"More days?" Ariana asked confused....
She didn't expect to hear that....she thought she'd be treated and leave right way the next day.
"Yes, more days....and within those days, don't stress yourself.. don't work, just rest" James replied.
"But where will I stay, the patient's ward?" Ariana asked...
She knew that hospitalized patients stayed in the patient's ward...
"Actually...." James tried to say something, but the doors opened and Ashton, who'd stepped out a while back...walked in.... straight to Ariana...with some nurses following behind him.
"You'll be transferred to a private room...and it's ready" Ashton said.
James kept wondering how he even got familiar with the hospital...just after spending one night.
"Private room?" Ariana was more confused.
Ashton didn't reply, he simply carried her off the bed, and placed her in the wheel chair the nurses had brought for her.
The nurses tried to help him...but he did it all by himself.
He didn't need anyone's help when it concerned Ariana.
He took her to the 'private room' he was speaking of....and it was more like a homeroom than a hospital room.
He'd put in so much effort and arranged it just for her...to make her feel comfortable while she stayed at the hospital..
"Give me your hand" Ashton said as soon as they entered.
Ariana obediently extended her hand and he helped her to her feet, wrapping the other arm around her waist...and helped her walk to her bed.
He was taking such good care of her, and handling her like she was delicate.
"T...Thank you" Ariana didn't even know what to say to him.
"Just focus on getting better, don't worry about work or anything else" Ashton had changed.
Completely changed....
The nicer he was, the harder it became for Ariana to push him away....
He'd decorated the room thoughtfully, placed blue roses by the window.... get well soon fruits... comfortable bed...
"Ashton...why are you doing all this for me, you should hate me... I'm not worth it"Ariana softly said.
She didn't want to get used to having him around, if the time came for him to leave...she wouldn't be able to handle it.
"Who said you're not worth it? You're still trying to push me away but I won't leave you alone"Ashton blankly replied.
"But you're an engaged man, people will take it wrong"Ariana said...but immediately regretted it.
"I don't care about people, you shouldn't either..."Ashton replied before he moved closer to her...
So close that he was just inches from her..
"Are you afraid that you won't be able to hide your feelings for me anymore?" He teasingly asked..... staring directly into her eyes.
"W...what feelings?"Ariana asked.... pretending not to know..
"When you stop lying to yourself...you'll realize the answer to that question"Ashton whispered in her ear...
Her weak spot..
Just that little action of his made Ariana crave more of him already.....as if he'd intoxicated her.
Those feelings.... exactly what Ashton was talking about, she wouldn't be able to resist.
She found herself slowly wrapping her arms around him and shamelessly kissing him.
He'd made her get used his physical and intimate touch....it lit flames of desire inside her...and there was no way she could control it.
"Boss I've already prepared the car...." Tobe's sudden entry into the room forced them to separate.
"Oh, I'm sorry boss...I didn't see anything"he closed his eyes and covered his face.
He always showed up at a wrong time.
"Get out already!"Ashton exclaimed.
"Alright boss, I'll wait for you outside"Tobe rushed to leave, closing the door behind him.
"You're leaving?"Ariana asked.
"I have something important to do, but I'll be back soon" Ashton replied...
He walked over to the couch and carried her bag over to her ...it had survived the fire... and he'd recovered if for her.
Her few things were still inside, including her phone.
"Wait for me and this time.....call me if anything happens when I'm not here" Ashton said before he kissed her forehead and left.
"I'll definitely call you this time" Ariana said to herself....but first, she needed to tell Lexie about what happened.
She switched on her phone to call her.....she was scared how she'd react... that place meant so much to her...
She dailed her phone number..
"Lexie..."She said as soon as Lexie answered.
"Ari, I'm so glad you're okay, Mr Ashton called me and told me what happened..."Lexie replied.
Ashton did that for her.
"He.....told you?" Ariana asked.
"Yes, he told me and I'm not mad, I'm just glad that you're out of danger" Lexie replied.
"I actually wanted to fly back right away, but he assured me he'll take good care of you.. he's so nice" Lexie added.
"I can understand why you still love him so much, you even risked your life to save his..."
Ariana's heart ached, Ashton was too good to her...the love they both felt for each other was real....
"We're practically homeless now.... we'll just have to look for a new place to move into"Ariana said.
"Mr Ashton can help is with that, I'm sure he has so many places that he doesn't even know what to do with"Lexie replied.
"Lexie, I don't want to bother him more with my problems, he's already done more than enough"Ariana said.
If things kept on going like this, she'd be forever indebted to him...and she'll have no choice but accept to be with him.
"Alright, I understand...but who else do you think can help us?"Lexie asked.
"I'll figure it out, by the time you come back....I'll have solved the problem" Ariana replied.
"I trust you....I have to hang up now, take care"Lexie said before she hang up.
Unknown to her, Ashton heard their whole conversation.....just outside.
He'd come back to get something he'd forgotten and ended up eavesdropping...
He had to do something about it.
GOLDEN EMPIRE...
"I'm sorry ma'am but CEO Kaur hasn't yet arrived.... he's not in his office" Ashton's new secretary informed Claris....
"Did he say when he'd come to work?"Claris asked.
"He didn't say anything about coming to work today, he even has his schedule cleared out for the day"the secretary replied.
But ofcourse! Claris wasn't surprised...she knew something like this would happen.
She expected it, Ashton would never come to work when Ariana's in the hospital...
His whole world revolved around her...
What was the use of her title as his fianceé....and the Vice CEO of Golden Empire, when in his eyes...only one thing mattered to him.
She tried to call him, but all her calls were either declined or he didn't bother to answer.
"Congratulations on your engagement by the way ma'am"his secretary said.
"Thank you" Claris replied before she walked away....towards the elevator...but before she could press the button, the elevator doors opened...
Ashton and Tobe were inside, but he walked passed her and ignored her like she wasn't even standing there.
"Ashton, please talk to me"she tried to approach him.
"There's nothing to talk about" he coldy replied... continuing to walk towards his office.
"It's important....about your mom" Claris said...and as soon as he heard that, he stopped.
"What's it about my mom?" Ashton asked.
"Can we talk more privately?"She replied, implying that they should go to his office alone.
Ashton didn't object, he was willing to put up with her....just for his mom's sake.. that's how important she was to him.
"Speak...I don't have all day" Ashton said, as soon as the office doors closed.
In actual sense, Claris had nothing to say about Ashton's mom..she wanted to get him alone...
"Ashton what do I have to do, I'm desperate..." Claris almost stripped in front of him.
Taking off her clothes...
"Are you out of your mind!" Ashton rushed to cover her with his coat.
He didn't love her or like her at all, but he was still a gentleman...
"Claris, doing this won't make me love you,you just tell my mom that this engagement is over" Ashton added.
Even if she stripped in front of him, his heart would still belong to someone else.
LATER...
THE HOSPITAL..
Ariana was already fed up of staying at the hospital.....she was too bored...and missed Ashton already.
James would check on her every now and then, but still...that didn't change anything.
Samuel happened to call her at the time she needed someone to talk to.
He'd also heard about her being in the hospital...and he rushed over just to see her.
"I'm so glad you came to see me Samuel" she said, as soon as she saw him.
"I had to come Ariana, this is serious...I could have lost my best friend"Samuel replied.
"I'm fine Samuel... thank you for caring about me"Ariana said.
"Your room is so refreshing...like you're not really in the hospital" Samuel took a closer look at her room.
"My boss arranged it for me"Ariana happily replied...just the thought of Ashton gave her butterflies in her stomach.
"If I didn't know he was your boss, I'd think that you guys are in some kind of secret relationship..."Samuel said.
But they did have secret relationship already...
Samuel still didn't know anything about Ariana's past relationship with Ashton.
He thought he still had a chance with her...even if she rejected him before.
"I brought these flowers to help you recover quickly...and picked up some food on my way here...I'll set it up so we can eat together" Samuel added.
"Sure..."Ariana replied before her phone rang.
Ashton was calling...
"I'm on my way back..."Ashton said as soon as she picked up.
"Ariana... let's eat"Samuel's voice came through from the other side of the line..
"Is that another man?"Ashton's voice changed in an instant...
"Y..yes actually... someone came to see me today, I was going to call you and tell you about it" Ariana replied...
She knew how much Ashton didn't like Samuel....and she hadn't informed him he was coming over.
"Tell that man to leave before I get there"Ashton said before he hung up.
He was clearly mad...
"Come on let's eat" Samuel had no idea about what was happening.
"Samuel, I already ate....I'm not that hungry...and I need to rest"Ariana said..
She was hinting for him to leave..
"But I just got here and you want me to leave already?" Samuel asked confused.
"Yes, we can talk over the phone for however long you want...but right now, you need to leave"Ariana replied.
"Ari, is there something you're not telling me?"Samuel asked.
He wasn't going to give up so easily.
"Nothing... I'm just not in the mood to talk today....."Ariana replied.
"Alright Ari, I'll respect your decision...I'll come back another time" Samuel sadly said... before he left.
She felt bad for him....but there was nothing she could do...
~~~~~~~~~
By the time Ashton got to the hospital.... Samuel was already gone.
"You're back" Ariana said as soon as she saw him...
"I only left for a while and you already invited another man over" he blankly replied...
"I asked him to leave like you wanted..you don't have to be mad"Ariana said...but the thought of another man touching what belonged to him...
He threw all the things Samuel had brought in the trash....
After, he pulled Ariana out of the bed and pinned her against the wall..
"Listen and get this straight, only I have the right to give you flowers, feed you....touch you....not other random men"
"Only I have the right to claim you.. everything of yours belongs to me"Ashton made it clear to her...
"Then go ahead and claim me right now"Ariana's response was unexpected.
He thought she'd throw a fit again, go on about Claris and his fake engagement...
"A...Are you being serious?"Ashton asked.
"Do I look like I'm joking?" She replied....before making the first move again... kissing him.
"Ari, you're injured...I don't want to hurt you" Ashton was worried about her..
"I feel....much better now"she spoke in a seductive tone...
That's all he needed to hear.....he locked the door and they both got crazy...
That was his reason for making her stay in such a 'private room' with a comfortable bed they could both sleep in together....and it was just the beginning.