Ch. 56..60: Charmed by the Billionaire CEO Chapter 56-60

Chapter 56: What will she think of me

"Umm..."

Alice stirred on her bed and turned to tap the space next to her," Did he already leave?" she muttered and slowly opened her eyes only to find Noah staring at her like a raging bull flaring his nose in anger.

"Good... morning," she said and pulled herself up, waving her hand lazily.

"How did I reach here," he asked, glaring at her.

Alice, who saw his behaviour change, raised her brow and said," Don’t you have any memory of what happened last night?" she folded her hand against her chest and watched him frown.

Noah fell silent listening to her words, when everything flashed in his mind. He watched her with some other guy, then went to the bar and drank to vent his anger, and then she helped him walk to his apartment. He remembered everything.

Alice saw him and understood by the looks on his face that he had already recalled everything.

"You passed out outside your door. I tried to wake you up, but you didn’t bulge or open your mouth. I had no other option but to bring you into my apartment," Alice said casually and began to tie her hair in a bun.

She had to go to work, and for that, she had to shower, but with him being here, she couldn’t do anything.

Noah was embarrassed by his action. He wasn’t a heavy drinker and didn’t realize when he ended up gulping an entire bottle and did things that made him act out of his character.

"I-I sorry I just raised my voice on you without thinking anything," he said and slowly climbed down the bed.

His messy hair fell on his forehead while his clothes were crumbled with the weird position he slept in last night.

Alice nodded and watched him scratch his head looking at the messed self.

"I think I should leave now. Thank you for helping me and not leaving me outside my door," Noah said politely and began to walk out when he heard her and his steps halt.

"The boy you saw is my bother, Xavier. So next time, mind your words when you talk something wrong about him," she said and walked inside her bathroom, shutting the door.

Noah’s eyes widened, and he gulped, nodding his head and turning to apologize to her only to find her gone.

Now he was more than embarrassed. How did he judge her when he saw her with some other man?

Noah left and entered his apartment, brushing his hair roughly and cursing," Argh!! How can you be so stupid, Noah" he yelled and started pacing inside the living area.

"Now, what will she think of me" he blabbered and wanted to cry for making that blunder.

He didn’t know he was a wasted person when he would get high, and the proof he got just now was when Alice told him about her brother, whom he thought to be someone else.

"Now, how am I supposed to face her," he cried, mentally cursing himself.

****

Alice walked out after taking a shower, and her eyes fell on the bed. The memories of last night crossed her mind, and her lips curled up.

"So you don’t like me talking with some other guy, huh?" she said, thinking Noah’s words which he kept blabbering the whole night.

Alice was sound asleep when suddenly she heard Noah say something. It wasn’t audible before and sounded like a whisper, but when she moved closer to listen correctly, she heard him call her name.

’Alice... why don’t you talk with me with a smile on your face? And that man you just showed you bright teeth, even hugged him. I don’t like it when you talk with other guys apart from me’ Noah was blabbering in his sleep, but his words moved Alice’s heart, and she watched him even more closely.

She had ignored his care and treated him like a stranger, but now when she heard him, she wanted to mend their relationship. He was always kind to her, but what she did gave him the cold shoulder.

No, if he was trying to be good to her, it wouldn’t cost her to give back the same kindness.

Keeping that in mind, she adjusted the bedsheet and cleared the mess inside her room before she got ready and stepped out of her house.

****

Knight mansion

After spending some time in their new penthouse, Tristan and Ashley drove back to the Knight mansion since his mother wanted Ashley to be with them for some days.

They respected their decision to keep their marriage a secret, but she didn’t allow them to forget they had a family.

"Where do you plan to go for your honeymoon" Gwen, who was having her breakfast sitting next to Ashley, asked.

Ashley coughed, listening to her words and looked at Tristan, who sat opposite them. His eyes threw a dagger at his sister, who sat down next to his wife.

"How about Paris? It romantic place and all couples go there," Gavin said casually and took a bit of the bread.

Grace also thought it was better if they enjoyed their married life before they got busy with their work.

"I think Paris is a good place to visit", she agreed with her younger son and saw him smile cheekily.

"What about the Maldives? Paris too common now," Gwen cut in and smirked, looking at Gavin.

"Hmm, even Maldives is good," Trevor said and looked at Grace with eager eyes," Honey, didn’t we spend our fifteenth anniversary in the Maldives? That was so fun."

"Ahem..." Grace turned red in embarrassment listening to her shameless husband talk about their anniversary in front of their kids. Only she knew what had happened that time.

"Why are you shy, honey" Trevor grinned next to her ear and got a kick on his leg.

"Ow... that hurts, honey", Trevor whined in pain and pouted his lips, looking with pity at his ruthless wife.

She ignored him and turned her attention towards the couple who weren’t responding," Leave them. Where do you both wish to go?" she asked them instead.

"We haven’t thought about it yet" Tristan wiped his lips and looked at his mother, who frowned.

"Why?"

"We have too much work mom, in fact, Ashley had a tight schedule starting next week. I don’t think we would be able to go anywhere" his words upset the elders who were busy planning a honeymoon trip for the newlyweds.

"Hehe... I was hoping for this to come. How can he go when he was already on a one-week break," Gwen said casually but soon realized what she had blurted.

"One week. Wasn’t he on a business trip" Grace asked in confusion, and this time Ashley coughed?

"Oh.. honey, have this" she passed her a glass of water and patted her back until she calmed.

Gwen, who was the culprit, didn’t look at anyone, especially her brother, whose cold eyes were already giving her chills, immediately vacant her seat and left from there.

"I have a meeting to attend. I will be in the study" Tristan, too, got up, giving a meaningful look at Ashley and excused from there.

Grace forgot what she was asking and continued having breakfast with others.

*****

Gwen heaved a breath in relief and looked behind to see if her brother had followed her. But thankfully, she was spared.

Adjusting her bag, she was about to ask her driver to drop her at the company when she saw a familiar car standing outside their mansion’s gate.

Walking towards the car, a smile appeared on her lips when she saw Karl waiting for her.

She smiled, recalling that her brother wasn’t going to the company today, but Karl came. Didn’t it mean he reached for her?

Without wasting time, she opened the car’s door and hoped in. The drive towards the company was pleasant as Gwen couldn’t stop herself from seeing Karl’s side profile.

She was whipped entirely by his handsomeness that she could get her eyes off him. He was like a Greek god, and the specs on his eyes enhanced his looks.

She kept looking at his face starting from his eyes, then his nose and stopping at his lips which kept moving. All she could do was stare at him like a lovesick puppy.

"Miss Gwen, did you hear what I said" Karl was telling her about the meeting they had to attend in Tristan’s absence, but even after explaining to her, he didn’t hear her say anything.

Turning his attention from the road, Karl looked at Gwen, who was smiling in a daze while looking at him.

"Miss Gwen... Are you alright?" he asked her but again didn’t get any response.

Karl was confused by her behaviour and snapped his fingers in front of her face breaking her trance, and asked," Miss Gwen! Are you alright? I have been talking with you for so long?"

Gwen’s thought broke, and she looked at Karl in confusion when she realized what she had done," Oh... ha... Yes, sir, I heard everything", she said, clearing her throat and turning away from him immediately.

’Gwen, you are being too obvious’ she said, smacking her head and looking out of the window with a flushed face.

 

Chapter 57: Do you like what you see

After finishing the breakfast, Grace took Ashley to her room. She wanted to share her childhood with Ashley and even let her learn about her mother, who was a beautiful soul and the good friend she could ever have.

Inside the room, Grace pulled out one old album from her cupboard, which she had kept secure with her until now. She could be close to her friend and connect only by watching her photos.

"Raven was a vivacious girl," she said, looking at the pictures and showing them to Ashley.

"She was a smart lady with a witty brain and knew how to deal with people who looked down on her", Grace said proudly of her friend and smiled with a sad smile.

She still blamed herself for never once reaching out to her when she was counting her last days. If only she had kept in contact with her, she wouldn’t have been blaming herself now.

Ashley never got the chance to spend much time with her mother because when she was born, a few months later, her mother was diagnosed with a tumor that spread rapidly in her brain.

Her father took her to the best doctors, but they couldn’t help recover her health.

There wasn’t anything Richard did to keep his beloved alive, but fate was cruel to him, and he couldn’t do anything but watch his love die in his arms.

Ashley was just one year when her mother died. She couldn’t even remember how she looked. All her stories were told to her by her father, and that way, she felt connected to her.

Ashley was mesmerized by Raven’s exceptional beauty and drowned in it as she watched more of her picture.

’No doubt her father was madly in love with her.

Grace kept telling her stories about her childhood and time with Raven before she shifted to another country for higher studies.

Ashley was overwhelmed learning how kind soul her mother was and how even now, she is missed by her loved ones. She only hoped that even she would have gotten to know her as a person.

After spending time with Grace, Ashley left her room and was heading to hers when she remembered Tristan wasn’t in their room.

Quickly changing her mind, instead of heading toward her room, she walked towards the study three rooms away from their room.

Gwen had been a good guide who showed her the entire mansion, and now she memorized every place without any doubt.

Ashley reached the study room and was about to knock on the door but stopped thinking for a while before she opened the door and stepped in.

She didn’t want to disturb him if he was in some meeting but instead have a look on her own and then leave.

As soon as she stepped in, the first thing she saw was a huge shelf of books. It was arranged so neatly that she kept staring at it in awe.

She then averted her gaze from the bookshelf and turned to look at Tristan sitting in front of the table while his eyes focused on the screen.

As if sensing her presence, his gaze shifted from the monitor to her, and the time seemed to stop for them.

How was it so easy for her to get drowned in that blue eyes that never waver the emotions he felt for her?

A smile automatically appeared on Tristan’s lips, and he immediately looked back at the screen ending the meeting.

"I thought you wouldn’t come," he said, getting up from his seat and walking to her.

Ashley was so mesmerized by his aura that she didn’t realize when he stood before her," Huh!"

Tristan smirked, bent down to her level with his face just an inch away from her, and said," Do you like what you see, wifey?"

His deep voice reached her cords, and she nodded like a fool.

Ashley’s mind turned blank; right now, all she could see and think was about the man standing in front of her.

Tristan let out a chuckle that broke her trance, and she blinked her eyes, registering everything slowly.

Ashley closed her eyes and looked elsewhere, avoiding his teasing gaze, and cleared her throat," Forget what I said" she tried to find an excuse for him to divert his thoughts from what just happened.

Tristan watched her turn away from him, stopped laughing, and approached her by hugging her from behind.

"I can’t forget that cute face which kept drooling over me," he said, pressing his lips on her shoulder.

Ashley wanted to get angry with him, but his gesture stopped her, and she hissed when she felt his lips touch her skin.

’He always so good at this she thought and closed her eyes, feeling his kiss trail up next to her ear, and she gasped when he tucked her earlobe.

"Tristan... someone might come," she said, understanding where this was heading and trying to stop him.

They were in his study, and it would be a monumental blunder if someone caught them like this. She would be embarrassed her whole life.

Tristan pulled himself back and retreated, losing his hold on her, and walked to lock the door before turning back his attention towards her.

Ashley turned and watched his gaze burn with desire as he approached her, taking a long stride and pulling her by her waist, capturing her lips like a hungry man.

Caught off guard by his sudden attack Ashley immediately composed herself and kissed him back with the same passion.

Tristan was so addicted to her kisses that he felt he wouldn’t get enough of her and immediately claimed what he wanted. They were so into each other that

Ashley didn’t realize it when Tristan lifted her locking her legs on his waist, and pinned her on the bookshelf.

His hand cupped her breast and squeezed it light, making her whimper in pleasure.

Ashley was utterly immersed in the kiss and was delighted with how her body reacted to his touch. It felt magical until someone knocked on the door, and they pulled away from the kiss with a hush.

Resting their forehead, both panted heavily as they tried to catch their breath. Once both were stable, Tristan carefully made her stand on her feet and adjusted her clothes before he walked and opened the door.

"Young master, Mr. Richard Brown is here to meet you" the maid who stood next to the door with her head low informed Richard about paying a visit and wished to see them both downstairs.

Listening to her father, Ashley immediately walked them and said," Inform them we will be down in ten minutes" listening to her, the maid immediately left.

Tristan looked at Ashley with an unpleased look and saw her smile," Let’s continue in our room", she said, pinching his cheeks and walking out of the study to meet her father.

Tristan’s mood also lifted, listening to her words, and he followed her without fuss.

Soon, the couple reached downstairs, and Ashley saw her father stand up, his hand to her. Ashley took his hand and gave him a side hug with a smile on her lips.

"You look different" his words made her blush, and they both settled down.

Richard felt the change in Ashley as her eyes shined differently. It gave him a sign of relief that his decision to choose Tristan for her was right from the beginning.

"I just missed her, so came as soon as I finished my meeting" Richard used to live alone in his mansion but didn’t feel lonely because Ashley would come to meet him every day.

But now that she was married, Richard started to sense her absence, and he began to miss her.

After Raven, Ashley was his only source of happiness, and now with her getting married, he became all alone.

Ashley looked at her father and frowned," Dad are you taking good care of yourself" she asked when she saw him a little weaker.

Richard was like a kid as he grew older and didn’t care about his health. He was a diabetic patient, and his weight kept fluctuating now and then.

Ashley was always concerned about his health and would keep him nagging to eat something.

"Ahem... I don’t think so" Richard tried to avoid her sharp gaze and looked away.

"You can’t fool me, dad," she said, folding her hand against her chest and arching her brow, making him sigh.

"Fine, I surrender. There is no way I can hide anything from you" Richard gave up, knowing it was hard to hide anything from Ashley.

Everyone watched the daughter and father duo argue as Ashley kept lecturing her father for not taking good care of himself. It was blissful to see her talk so much, which showed how she cared for everyone she loved.

 

Chapter 58: You look like monkey

Spending some time with his daughter Richard left the Knight’s mansion. Ashley too felt nice to meet her father after so many days and felt more delight when she saw how happy he looked when he watched her smile without holding back.

After he left Ashley sat with her in-law and chatted with them when Noah entered the house.

"Why is my son looking sad?" Grace asked reaching his hand for him and making him sit next to her.

Ashley who sat on the other side smiled when Noah pouted and gave Grace a side hug. When Alice introduced him as her nagging neighbor, she was quite impressed with the guy who managed to mess up Alice’s composure.

She was like a queen who liked to keep boys on her fingers tip and make them sway according to her words. But in Noah’s case, it was different. She had seen her go mad over his little things and she felt it strange that she didn’t teach him any lesson for pestering her.

There was something which made her think about his liking towards Alice but this man himself didn’t know about it yet. His eyes kept fixated on Alice even when she would scoff it off showing how much he was into her, yet they both couldn’t see it.

"Mom, I made a huge mistake and now I don’t know how I should mend it" he was still thinking about how he was going to face Alice after he judged her relationship with her brother without thinking that his assumptions were wrong.

At that moment he was so blinded by jealousy that he kept thinking about whatever popped into his mind and now he felt miserable.

Grace looked at Noah who seemed to be depressed and had lost all his liveliness.

"Awe my poor baby," she said hugging him back and seeing him pout even more.

"Do you think you look cute with this pout on your lips? Just go and check the mirror it’s torturing" Tristan finished up his work and came down to join the family chat and saw Nah clinging onto his mother like a monkey and taking all her attention to himself.

Noah shot a glare at the cold voice and fumed," You better keep your mouth shut. I am not talking to you" he said and again hugged Grace.

"I always thought you were a koala but now you look exactly like a monkey with that weird pout" taking the seat he tease Noah even more.

"Mom look what he is calling me. Do I look like a monkey " he asked with an innocent puppy-like face.

Tristan just rolled his eyes at him and ignored his nagging. Noah had been like this who like to complain about him pulling his leg to Grace. And the same would go to his mother who dotted him more than her son.

Grace passed a firm look at Tristan and warned," Tristan..."

"What? You keep taking his side mom. That’s not fair" Tristan too didn’t hold back. He would always get scolded by Grace for teasing Noah.

"Because she loves me more than you" Noah teased him and ignored his grumpy face before he turn to speak to Grace.

"Give me some advice mom," he said ignoring everyone.

Ashley too was interested in whom he was so worried about and why he wanted eagerly to mend his mistake.

"First tell me what you did. How am I supposed to guess" her words made him open his mouth in a big round and spill everything he did without taking Alice’s name.

Grace sighed when she heard him but didn’t once doubt it was a girl he was talking about. While the other two were smart enough to get his riddle-like words and only continued to watch.

"Noah, it’s bad to assume everything. Even if your friend judged someone you should have knocked his brain stopping him from going such a mistake" Noah pursed his lips because he lied to her that it was his friend not him to judge the girl he was interested in.

"Ask your friend to go and apologize to the girl before she finds someone better than him" Noah’s eyes widen at her last words and he shook his head.

"No, she can’t find anyone" he yelled in fear just by thinking Alice getting a better man than him.

He was still getting used to his liking toward Alice but if one day comes and she finds someone who isn’t judgmental then what would happen to him?

Grace looked at him in confusion," Why are you so excited" she asked and saw him relax," No I was just saying..."

"Forget everything... If your friend likes her then apologizing isn’t a big deal" this time Ashley voiced her thoughts.

Noah looked at her and nod his head," Okay then I must go and-... no no I will tell my friend to apologize to her if he likes her" he stood up and walked out of the house in confidence leaving everyone to look at him with surprise.

"Why did he look more eager than his friend" Grace chuckled watching Noah rush out in hurry and excused herself.

When there was no one except the couple Tristan shifted to sitting next to his wife and poked her arm," Was he talking about your friend Alice?" he asked.

Tristan knew Noah was a playboy who never liked to have a committed relationship but that day in the registration office he had seen him sneaking at Alice now and then which somehow made him conclude that he was interested in her.

It was rare for Noah to genuinely like anyone, especially a girl but when he did he was the most loyal in the relationship.

"I am not sure but the way he was talking it felt like it was Alice to whom he was referring" Ashley was good at reading anyone’s body language and it wasn’t difficult for her to get what the person was talking about.

Giving a meaningful look to each other Tristan then cleared his throat and leaned next to Ashley whispering in her ear," Should we head back to our room"

Ashley understood what he meant and nod her head before they walked upstairs to their room.

*****

After leaving the Knight Mansion, Noah rushed to Alice’s workplace and stepped out of the car before walking to the reception only to get disappointed.

"Where did she go?" he muttered stopping in front of his car.

Noah only knew she owned a studio and was very professional with her work. But now when learned she isn’t inside something bothered him.

"Should I wait for her?" he thought but dropped the idea because he didn’t know when would be returning.

Dejected he stepped into the car and drove to his company hoping he would apologize to her when he meets her in the evening.

*****

Karl and Gwen reached the company where they were supposed to meet the client. Tristan had asked Karl to take Gwen along with him so she would get the idea of how to deal with the people she would meet in the future as the representative of Melanin.

Gwen was never introduced to the social circle and no one knew how the other two children of Grace and Trevor Knight looked. With that benefit, Karl too agreed with Tristan and look Gwen with him.

Sitting inside the Chairman’s office Gwen observed the man who was just her elder brother’s age and not as good-looking as him.

Luke Ford, was one of the clients who wanted to work with them and finally got the chance to bang a project with them.

Karl kept discussing the project while Gwen kept noting the points. Gwen was amazed at how flawless Karl was with the client he met and how polite he was whenever he spoke.

’No doubt she had started liking him"

By the time the meeting ended Gwen noted everything that would benefit her in learning business.

"We look forwards to working with you Mr. Luke," Karl said reaching his hand for a handshake.

"It’s my pleasure," Luke said and then turn to handshake with Gwen.

Luke’s eyes stuck on the innocent beauty whom he failed to notice earlier.

"I haven’t met you before. Are you new here" he asked after getting a handshake from her.

Gwen was about to answer when Karl cut in," She is the new assistant" he said and turned to look at Gwen who was smiling looking at Luke.

"Oh... it’s nice to meet you, Miss..."

"Gwen, my name is Gwen," she said with a smile.

Karl who saw their interaction fumed when he looked at how Luke was trying to befriend her. The same feeling from her past interaction in the company popped into his heart and he felt suffocated.

Turning back to them he said," I think we should leave" he said cutting their talk and walked out without waiting for Gwen.

Reaching down in the parking area Karl hopped inside the car and flared getting angry with the way Luke was staring at Gwen. He didn’t like the way she would smile at them because he wanted her only to talk and smile looking at him.

’What? Why would you want that’ his subconscious mind poked.

Chapter 59: Hidden relationship

Gwen stepped inside and settled down, sitting next to him and watching him start the engine.

She turned to look at him but stopped when she saw his straight face.

’What happened to him? She thought, pursing her lips and looking away.

The way he left her behind and walked away made her feel weird. He had never been like this with her but now being quiet made her wonder if she had made any mistake, which is why he was silent.

The atmosphere inside the car had turned gloomy as no one spoke. Gwen kept glancing at Karl but didn’t speak. Maybe he wanted to drive without any disturbance, she thought, and she turned her head to the other side, looking out the window.

As she looked at the passing landscape, the car suddenly stopped, and her link broke.

"Dammit..." she heard Karl curse and step out of the car to check what happened.

The meeting they attended was two hours away from the place they lived. They weren’t even halfway, and their car broke.

"What happened?" she asked, getting out and looking at Karl, who was examining the tier.

"We will need a mechanic," he said, pointing to the punctured tire.

Gwen gasped, looking at the tire, which wasn’t in good shape. She raised her head and saw Karl making a call to someone when suddenly the cloud turned dark.

"I think it’s going to rain," she said, looking at Karl, who was done informing on the call.

"The mechanic will come to pick up the car. We shouldn’t wait here and find a place to wait until he fixes the car" Karl didn’t want them to stand in the middle of the dense road.

Gwen agreed with him, and they started walking after taking their belongings from the car.

Walking a few distances, they found a motel and rushed in when the rain started pouring heavily.

Gwen followed Karl as he walked to the reception by brushing the few water droplets on her clothes.

"We need two rooms," he asked the man at the reception.

The man looked into the screen and faced him, saying," Sorry, sir, but we have only one room available."

Listening to his voice Gwen’s eyes popped out, and she looked at them in shock.

She gulped, thinking of them sharing one room, enough to make her feel giddy.

Karl thought for a while and turned to ask Gwen but stopped when he saw her shocked face.

He thought it wasn’t a good idea to share a room, and it would make her feel uncomfortable around him.

He was about to reject him when he heard her," It’s okay, we can share one room" her words made him turn back at her, and she gave him a weak smile.

"It’s raining heavily outside, and I don’t think we will be able to step out and find another place" her words made sense, and Karl looked out only to find it suitable.

Karl nodded and booked the room, taking the keys from the man and heading to the second floor where the room was.

It was a great place but better for them to spend a few hours than roaming on the road.

Gwen turned on her phone and was about to call her mother but found the signal dead, and she slumped her shoulder in defeat.

’How will I inform her about being a little late’ Gwen knew her entire family would turn upside down if they found her missing. It was better to inform them before they registered a missing complaint.

"Argh!! Why isn’t there any connection" she sneered, lifting her phone and trying to catch the signal?

Karl looked at her and chuckled before opening the door and stepping into the room.

"I don’t think we would be able to call anyone. The line seems dead due to the rainfall," Gwen followed inside and heard him say.

Leaving the thought of getting connected, Gwen looked around the room, decent enough, when her eyes fell on the bed, and she gasped, covering her mouth immediately.

’Are we going to share a single bed’ she thought, looking at the big bed in the middle of the room.

Karl, observing her, followed her eyes and saw her gawking at the bed.

"We won’t be spending the night here. As soon as the car is ready, we will leave," he said and saw her staring at him in a daze.

’What! Night?’ she heard him, and her mind began to process.

"I wasn’t thinking that," she said low when thinking about what he said.

Karl smiled, looking at how embarrassed she was when he caught what she was thinking inside her tiny brain.

He didn’t say anything and stepped out, asking her to get change. He didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable, so he stepped out and gave her the time to dress before he went and checked the situation outside.

After Karl left, Gwen quickly changed, wearing the clothes in the small closet. It wasn’t her size but was better than wearing the wet clothes on her body.

After some time, she heard a knock on the door and guessed it was Karl who had returned. Rushing fast to the door, she opened it and saw Karl standing outside.

On the other hand, Karl was stunned to see her standing before him, wearing a long shirt that reached her above her knees.

’Damn.. is she trying to brainwash me’ he thought when he saw her slender legs exposed a little for him to see.

"Ahem..." clearing his throat, he ignored her and stepped in, trying to divert his mind from going elsewhere.

Gwen watched him walk past her and enter the bathroom without sparing a glance, and her heart dropped.

’Why is he acting strangely’ she couldn’t figure out and closed the door before she went and sat on the bed.

*****

Tristan’s bedroom

With a sullen face, Tristan glared at Ashley, who was busy with her phone doing something and completely ignoring his presence. He thought they would be spending time cuddling each other, but her stupid phone kept ringing, taking all her attention away.

’I should’ve hidden that cellphone away somewhere’, he muttered under his nose and watched her heaving out a sigh.

Ashley turned her cellphone back on the side table to see Tristan with a smile, only to watch him sit like a grumpy man.

She didn’t realize she had taken an hour to finish her work and completely forgot him waiting for her all this while.

"I am so sorry I didn’t realize I took so long", she tried to explain, but he turned his face away, ignoring her.

She received messages and calls from Miley, who informed her about her schedule and the few endorsements she was about to sign. She was so focused that she forgot to look at her husband, sulking while sitting beside her.

Ashley watched him, still ignoring her, and that made her crawl onto his lap, and she cupped his face making him look at her," I’m sorry", she said with a pout that softened his heart, and he closed his eyes before wrapping his arms around her waist.

"You ignore me", he complained.

"Not on purpose. It was important I couldn’t ignore it," she said and saw him nod.

When she was busy talking to Miley about the photoshoots and runway, he had already guessed that their lovely time together was till today, and she would have to resume work before the due date.

Tristan didn’t want her to choose between him and her work because he liked what she did, which made her happy too. But just thinking about them getting busy with their work made his heart heavy.

Hiding his face into her chest, he said," We will be getting busier now" his voice sounded a little upset, making her melt into his hold.

She knew her work didn’t allow her to stay in one place but now that she had someone who wished to be a part of her life, she didn’t want to disappoint him.

"I know.." she said, caressing the back of his head lovingly. His depressed voice showed how careful they would have to be from tomorrow onwards. It felt better with her close to him, but now they had to find ways to meet each other.

’Why can’t they show off their relation openly’ Tristan thought but shoved those words away because he knew Ashley had her reason, and he didn’t want to force her.

He pulled back and looked into those deep brown orbs, which looked sadder just like his. Tristan leaned to kiss her but stopped and pulled away and said," We will be like those teenagers who would be in a hidden relationship, secretly dating without getting caught" he tried to ease the air with his playful words and saw her chuckle.

"Hmm... wouldn’t it’ll be fun to meet in secrecy? It would be adventurous" she played along and saw him rub his chin while he kept thinking," Hmm... not bad. I would love to be with you in secret," he said and pulled her before he sealed her lips.

Chapter 60: I want to see her

Motel room

"The roads are jammed due to heavy rainfall. I think we need to stay here until everything is cleared" Karl said wiping his hair and turned to look at Gwen whose eyes were already fixed on him.

Their eyes met for a few seconds before he pulled away. He suddenly started to feel hot just by taking a look at her and he felt uneasy.

"Let me order something for us," he said trying to avert his thoughts and made a call to the reception.

Gwen watched him again ignoring her and that made her irk. She wanted to ignore it but now when she saw how purposely he was shoving her away she couldn’t hold back and finally asked.

"Mister Assistant, did I do something wrong for you to ignore me," she asked getting down from the bed and standing in front of him with her hands folded against her chest.

Karl looked at her in confusion and saw her raise her brow," Don’t act as if I don’t know anything. I have been observing you for a while now. Since the moment when left the meeting, you have been acting distant" she voiced out and watched him twitch his brow before turning away.

"W-why would I do that miss Gwen? You are assuming everything on your own" he lied because he didn’t want to read his thoughts.

Yes, he was annoyed with her being friendly with other men apart from him. But he also knew he wasn’t anyone to stop her from meeting new people.

Gwen’s frustration raised, even more, when he tried to again change the topic and she rushed pulling him by his shoulder and making him face her," You are lying. I can tell that"

She wanted to know if she had done something wrong that upset him but she couldn’t guess where she went wrong.

"I am not" he snapped at her.

"No you are lying" she moved close to him making him retrieve his step

"No, I am not"

’’ Yes you are"

She kept approaching him until his legs touched the edge of the bed and he fell down taking her along.

"Ouch!!" they both yelled and landed flat on the bed with Gwen on top of Karl.

Gwen tried to get up but fell back again and this time bumping her forehead on his.

"Ow... my head" she complain rubbing her forehead and moved up a little to find Karl laying with his eyes closed.

He looked like he had been suppressing his pain when he slowly opened his eyes and stared back at her. His brow creased while he opened his mouth to say something but closed back again and let out a groan.

Gwen was initially attracted to his deep orbs but her trance broke when she felt his cock touch her stomach. Alarmed by their position Gwen looked down and saw her stomach resting on his dick while he let out a painful groan.

"M-miss Gwen can you just move aside," he said gritting his teeth and remaining as calm as possible.

"Huh!!" she looked at him and saw him pointing down and she jerked pulling herself up and getting down immediately.

Gwen’s cheeks burned with shyness and her palm automatically rested on her flat stomach where she felt his shaft touch.

’How can you be careless Gwen’ she scolded herself inwardly and dashed inside the bathroom ignoring the man who laid on the bed even when she had gotten up.

*****

Noah finished his work and rushed back home hoping he would meet Alice and apologize to her. He had been feeling bad for assuming everything on his own and even getting angry at her for nothing.

He reached the residential building and stepped out looking for Alice’s car but he didn’t find it.

"Isn’t she home yet" he muttered and walked inside the building and was about to enter the elevator when his phone rang.

Noah creased his brow looking at the unknown number but received the call anyways.

"Hello... is this Mr. Noah," the person on the call asked.

"Yes, it’s me how can I help you?" he said.

"Sir I am speaking from a Healthcare hospital" listening to the name hospital his frown deepens and he asked," What happened?"

*****

Driving his car at maximum speed Noah rushed to the hospital where Alice was admitted.

When the man informed him about her accident, he felt his blood run dry. Her face started to flash in front of his eyes and his mind began to think worst.

Stopping his car in front of the hospital Noah ran as fast as he could and reached the ward where Alice was treated.

"Sir you can’t go inside" the nurse who just walked out from the ward stopped him.

"I want to see her" Noah’s heart was beating extremely fast that he felt it would come out if he won’t see her.

"The patient is resting. I suggest you stay here until the doctor comes and informs you about her condition" saying she walked away from there leaving the restless Noah behind.

After ten minutes the doctor stepped out and he saw Noah rushing toward him," What happened to her?" His voice chock when he approached the doctor.

The doctor looked at him and asked," Who are you?’’

"I-I am her friend," he said with hesitation.

"There is nothing much to worry about. Mild bruise and nothing major. Just make sure she gets rested and eat healthy food as her blood level decline which lead her to lose control over herself and slammed the car onto the tree" listening to the doctor’s words Noah finally breathes a sigh of relief and nod his head.

"Can I meet her?" he asked eagerly and saw the nod his head.

As soon as the doctor gave his consent, Noah didn’t waste a second and dashed inside the room. His eyes fell on the sleeping figure and his legs moved on their own towards her.

Stopping right next to her bed Noah took a deep breath," Thank god nothing happened to you" he said low and took the chair sitting next to her bed.

While on his way to the hospital, only god knows what all emotional rush he went through but one thing stuck in his heart and that was he was scared with the thought of something happening to her.

Noah had never let anyone in his life because he liked to have control over himself. Love was just fictional that made anyone fall weak and lose control over themselves. But now he wanted to laugh at himself because he had gone through that strange feeling while he came running to her.

If it wasn’t love then what would he termed it, he wouldn’t know.

Sitting patiently next to her, Noah reached his hand to hold hers and whispered," Do I love you Alice?" he knew he was stupid to ask a sleeping person but he wanted to let out what he was feeling for her.

Alice was different or say weird but her strange act made way to his heart and now he didn’t know what was he supposed to do.

Resting his head on their intertwined hands, Noah closed his eyes when he heard Alice groan in pain," Ah..."

Jolting up he watched her open her eyes and look around.

"How did I come here?" she asked and tried to get up but was stopped by Noah," You need to rest Alice" his gentle voice made her turn to look at him and she frown.

"Noah..." she asked and gently sat on the bed with his help," What happened?" she asked looking at the small bruise on her hands, "And this, how did I get those," she said looking at him in confusion.

"You dashed your car on the tree Alice," he said and watch her crease her brow.

"Did you eat anything the whole day?" he asked when he saw her struggling to remember something.

"I had an outdoor shoot and I wanted to reach the location taking my camera from the studio. It just skipped my mind" she said with a pout.

Noah shook his head and found her so stupid to skip her food for that stupid shoot which wasn’t important as her health. Is she even taking proper care of herself?

Alice could feel his gaze on her and she didn’t dare to look up because she knew it was her stupidity that landed her in trouble. Luckily she only dashed the car into the tree and nothing major happened. She thanked god for saving her.

The silence between them was killing the mood when she heard," Anything would have happened Alice. Don’t you fear death?" Noah said with pain in his voice.

He couldn’t bear it if something would’ve happened to her. But she was she even cares about herself.

Alice pursed her lips and looked up to meet his worried eyes. Why was he so concerned about her, she thought while she stare into those eyes which showed so many emotions in them but the more evident one was fear.

"It won’t happen again," she said without thinking.