Three

ASHLEY'S POV

I was in my car when someone slammed the glass really hard. I wound down the glass and a female face appeared.

“Do you want to kill me in my own car?” I asked.

“No please. I'm sorry, I thought it was my car, I…” she paused and looked frightened. When she regained her composure, she continued,

“I'm sorry sir. I'll pay for the damages,” and she turned and hurried away.

“Wait!” I ordered. She paused briefly, took a left turn and bolted.

Heck! What was that nonsense? You break my glass and run away, claiming to pay for damages?

I watched her from the side mirror as she approached a car, jumped in and zoomed off. Why did that face look familiar?

I shurged off the thought and focused on what I was brooding on. I was in my new company earlier this morning and while in a meeting, my friend and assistant, Jay called. I don't pick calls during meetings but Jay was exception.

“Lucas is at it again. He's got a picture of you last night with a strange woman and he will release it to the press tomorrow,” he said to me. Lucas was my greatest rival. He was doing everything within his power to tackle me. I know something happened last night but I have a vague memory on that. Meanwhile, how did Lucas know I was in town? I kept a low profile and rarely mentioned my last name. Many people didn't know me but my last name rang a bell. I raised my face and saw Jay walking back to the car. He had asked my permission to get something I didn't care to know from the bar on our way back.

“What do we do now?” Jay asked, placing the phone on the table. Lucas carried out his threats and the internet went wild with the news of my affair with a strange woman. I took the phone and looked at the picture again. I was in a provocative pose, with a woman whose face was buried in my chest.

“Find her immediately!”

I was drunk last night and I had no idea who I slept with but one thing I knew was that the sex was different. It was passionate, relaxing and I was ashamed to admit that I wanted that woman again. I had never felt that way with any woman before, never! On the other hand, I was annoyed. I wanted to crack her neck for conniving with Lucas to ruin me.

“What do you want to do with her?” Jay asked cautiously, seeing my eyes had changed to bloodshot.

“She's going to pay for it. No doubt, she works with Lucas, for her face was hidden!”

“That's not going to solve anything, Mr Ashley. Our stock is falling, rumours are flying around and it's not good for your reputation. We need to put it in check.”

“What do you suggest?”

“How about we get her to pose as your girlfriend for some time until the press issues dies down?”

I raised a brow but said nothing. It didn't go down well with me and I wanted to kick against it right away. On the other hand, that was quite a good solution but still no!

“Find her,” I finally said.

KAREN'S POV

I was busy with the pile of work pushed over to me from Aria's side when she came in.

“Karen, please, I need your help.”

What other help again? Is doing your left over work not enough? I rolled my eyes.

“What is it?”

“Please, I have a running stomach and I need to go to the toilet. It's almost time to serve Mr Ashley's coffee as well as present these files for signing.”

“Don't tell me you want me to do that for you…”

“Karen please. I need to use the restroom, please.”

Aria let out an unpleasant gas from her anus and I had to cover my nose.

“That's it. Please, I can't lose my job.” With that, she dropped both items on my desk, held her backside and ran out in the same style she came in.

I didn't want to see Ashley for any reason but I knew Aria would not forgive me if she lost her job. I took a deep breath, straightened my clothes and walked towards Mr Ashley's office as Aria's replacement. I knocked and entered when I was given the permission. His handsome figure sat in front of a beautiful mahogany desk and he bent himself over his computer. Another man was seated on the sofa, working on a laptop too.

“Good morning, sir,” I greeted, causing him to look up. Before he could ask, I volunteered the information.

“I'm sorry sir, I'm assisting Aria for some minutes, she's indisposed.”

He wanted to say something but he closed his mouth at a second thought and focused on his laptop. I went closer to him and put the coffee and files on the desk. He raised his face again and asked,

“Have we met before?”

My heart jumped into my stomach. Did he find out?

“No sir. We only met for the first time during the general meeting with all the employees.”

“I met you at the parking lot yesterday, right?”

Oh! Was that what he was talking about?

“I'm sorry sir. It skipped my mind. And I'll pay for the damages,” I added the last part to soften his heart.

“Are you sure we haven't met before yesterday?”

He turned to his friend and said,

Jay, have you retrieved it?”

“It's still in progress,” came the reply. Mr Ashley looked at me for some time, increasing my discomfort and heart beat.

“I know we met at the parking lot yesterday. I believe we have met before that.”

He stood up abruptly and was soon a few inches in front of me. He bent over my neck, sniffed and then stood up.

“It's you. Let me see your ankle.”

See my ankle? What for? I had a beautiful tatoo on my ankle. I drew it many years ago and it was inspired by a trip to Philippines.

“Don't keep the boss waiting,” Jay said. It seems Mr Ashley was remembering something and showing him my tattooed ankle would make him even more certain. He only knew about the tattoo because he had seen it that night. I remember how much he praised the beauty and unique nature. There was no way I was showing him that. He can't recognise me!

“I'm sorry sir, I have to get back to work,” I said in a voice I couldn't recognise as mine. I wondered where the courage came from but I thanked the unknown source and turned to leave.

Ouch! Good heavens! I stumbled on an offending object and fell face down on the floor. I was highly embarrassed, I wanted to vanish!

“That's the tattoo on your ankle. I'll ask one last time. You are the one from last night, aren't you?” I heard him say coldly. Unfortunate fate had chosen that perfect moment to let my trousers expose my ankle. I quickly stood up and bowed before him but not without stealing a look at the damn object that caused my fall. It was a beautiful gift box. I looked at Mr Ashley's face and knew I had to say something. I was finally caught.

“It was…I was drunk sir…I..”

“How much did he pay you, you disgusting slut!” he roared.

Pay me?

“Sir..I was…”

“Answer the question.”

“Sir, I wasn't paid. It was an accident. I was drunk sir. Please…”

“I don't expect a dirty young woman to have any aota of truth in her mouth. You went as far as accepting little bucks to seduce me and have that picture taken? You did his bidding and to secure your job, you went ahead to spread your damn legs for me. Who even hired someone this dirty and filthy to work in this company?”

All I could do was beg. These were all false accusations! I don't even know what he was talking about. Picture, payment and all sounded Greek to me but he would not believe me.

“I didn't do it sir…” I was still talking when the other man, Jay, threw a tablet at me. I could see a picture of a woman in a man's arms as they shared an intimate moment. And for goodness sake, that woman was me with my head buried in Mr Ashley's arms. The views on the page increased by hundreds every second and the comment section was very hot. I had been too busy to check the internet this morning but my story was everywhere. A lot of people were eager to know this woman and many wondered when Mr Ashley got a girlfriend.

“Do you still deny knowing anything about this? You hid your face on purpose to carry out your evil deeds!” Mr Jay said, pulling me from my thoughts. It was his turn to question me. I stared open mouthed at him, unable to get the right words to defed myself. Mr Ashley cleared his throat and said,

“There's your three hundred dollars. You can't fool me. I'm sure you never mistook me for a giglo. Take it!”

I stared in shock at the money on the table.

“You did this to get closer to me and I'm going to give you a chance. I'll propose a deal until the press dies down. Marry me for six months. After six months, we will get a divorce.”