Chapter 5

Dawn was finally here, two hours ago she had won her battle against insomnia. She reluctantly rolled to the other edge of the soft comfy bed that had a large maroon-colored duvet. Placing her legs on the round carpet that was made of fur.

Releasing a deep sigh, annoyed with the sleep in her eyes, she stood up and walked into her bathroom, switched the lights on, poured paste on her white and blue toothbrush, and began to brush her teeth.

Sad memories always found their way into her head and this time it was the directive from Mr. Johnson last night; Ashley felt her legs numb, confused as to what her next move would be. Was this the only way for her to prove her worth to her boss? Everything seemed messed up for her, not that she did not like Logan but after Andrew, she disliked every man for they deemed themselves proud and look down on the opposite gender. If not because of pride, why would a man turn her down that badly? He did not find a way to let her down slowly and at least show her a little sympathy. Ashley was angry at the fact that men ruled the world in which she found herself, but she needed to go against all odds and become the amazing writer she always wanted to become.

After rehearsing how the conversation should go, Ashley wanted to go in professionally, she would call him and let him know why she was calling and nothing more. They would have a decent conversation about the Night club he runs via the recorder she was going to set, then she would spend the next day preparing a well-detailed article for her boss.

"This should be easy." She muttered to no one but herself and thought about the process over and over again, after a while, she believed she was ready to take the bull by the horn. Her questions were ready, and hopefully, he would give her the answers she desires. Ashley summoned her strength and dialed the number that was given to her.

"Hello Ashley, I was just thinking of you," the male voice from the other end said.

Damn! this was never part of the plan, she cursed and continued to struggle to be in line with her plan.

"Good morning, please am I on to Mr. Logan Reeves?" Ashley was impressed with herself for taking charge.

"Yes, you are?" Logan had a questionable expression.

"Thank God, My name is Ashley Biggs, I am calling from The Johnson's News Daily."

"Okay." She smiled a little feeling satisfied with the whole situation.

"I would like to ask you a few questions about your nightclub while I record."

"Are you done acting all professionally?" His question caught her off guard.

"What do you mean, Sir?" She asked.

"I was admiring your tenacity of being a professional journalist or writer or whatever is it you do but..."

"But what?" She was about to accept defeat.

"But I have a lot on my plates now, I will have loved to keep up with your act but I already have you guys booked for noon. I can send you the address if you want this interview" Ashley struggled to find the right words to reply but she was found lurking, everything she had rehearsed was out of the window.

"Ashley, are you there?" Logan asked

"Yes, I am" Ashley answered after a while. "Send the address," Ashley said and hunger off. Immediately her phone chimed with a message that was already on her phone.

Even though in the future she will look back and thank her stars for the day she interviewed Logan, Ashley had never felt the urge to stop the clock like today. She hated the huge digital clock that hunged on the wall in her sitting room and was furious with her phone that it could tell the time, Ashley at this moment loathed anything that would remind her that she has an interview with Logan as the time slowly and steadily headed towards noon. Ashley reluctantly prepared for the work she had once looked forward to, she was always at her happiest whenever she was preparing a story or writing an article but some days were completely different, days like today when she had to interview someone she did not want to have anything to do with, someone that had insulted her at first and had fixed her car out of guilty conscience even after explicitly telling him not to do so.

At eleven thirty, Ashley had finally prepared, trying to look, professional, she wore black suit trousers and a white blouse, taking a black bag from her large bag collection. Ashley became very nervous when she looked at her reflection in the large mirror that stood in her bedroom, next to her dressing tables that had numerous creams, perfumes, deodorants, and almost everything that made a lady look beautiful and smell attractive. She began to think about finding an alternative. She decided to call her colleague.

"Hello."

"Hey, Jessica, it is Ashley." Ashley tried to act like everything was normal not forgetting the fact that she had ghosted on her friend for a while.

"Why is your number hidden?" The lady from the other end asked.

"Oh, is it?" Asley tried to act like she hadn't hidden her number before the call.

"You know I am furious with you."

"I know, and I will explain everything to you when we meet, but I need a favor."

"Did you call me because you needed a favor, Ashley? I thought we left that a while ago."

"Fuck! Jessica stops acting party, I told you I will explain everything to you when we meet. Can you just do me this solid favor?" Ashely asked, using a pleading tone, hoping her friend will take the bait.

"Feel me in," Jessica finally said.

"Mr. Johnson gave me a client to interview and I have a bad history with the guy, can you help me conduct the interview? I really will owe you a big one." Jessica's hysterical laughter could be heard all over Ashley's room.

"Babe what have you gotten yourself into?"

"Will you help me?" A frustrated Ashley asked.

"In as much as I will love to help you, I am out of town now, went on an assignment to Paris." Jessica sounded sorry over the phone.

"When? And you never mentioned it to me."

"Says the lady that went MIA on me. Don't get me started on how I called, sent you messages, and even came over but you wouldn't answer the call or pick the phone," Ashley could tell she had pushed her innocent friend aside.

"I am sorry, I owe you a big explanation and I promise I will when you get back."

"Alright, take care of yourself, love."

"I will, I love you!"

"I love you too and take care of yourself!" she hung up the call.

Ashley rolled a blunt and smoked half joint to calm her nerves. Sprayed some colognes and then strolled to the car and drove off to the Southville Estate.