Acutely aware of his arm around her waist, Hayley accompanied him to the upscale in-house restaurant of the resort, Rotterdams.
“Isn’t this the restaurant chain Alexander is training to head?” asked Hayley with surprise.
“Yes. Silver Spring is a franchisee owner. Alexander helped me get through.”
“He might have recommended your name, but you’ve got through because of your own capabilities,” said Hayley, eager to change his opinion of himself. It irked her to see him always stay in Alexander’s shadow, although he was more brilliant and more capable! Ashton shrugged, not agreeing with her at all. With zero experience in this field, it was solely because of Alexander that he got the job. There was no point in arguing with her. He wanted to enjoy his first date!
“Have you ever dined at Rotterdams before?” he asked eagerly. As far as he remembered, she hadn’t, but he wasn’t sure since he had lost touch with her in the last four years.
“No, this is the first time for me.” Ashton smiled with satisfaction since he wanted to take her to a special place, a place she had never been to.
The manager of the restaurant came forward to greet Ashton. “Please come this way, sir. We’ve reserved a table for you on the outdoor patio, just as you wanted.” Having met the team after his appointment, Ashton smiled at Mr. Fordham, appreciating his efforts.
“Thank you, Mr. Fordham. This is Hayley Barclay, my special guest.” Hayley released the breath she was holding when he addressed her as a special guest instead of as a friend. She didn’t want to be friend-zoned with Ashton. The man gasped and glanced at the majestic hotel next to them.
“Hello, Ms. Barclay! Please don’t mind me asking. Are you by any chance related to Christopher Barclay of Barclay Grand Suites?”
“Yes, he’s my dad.” Mr. Fordham looked flustered and tried his best to impress them with his arrangements. He led them to the patio where he had reserved a table for them, overlooking a well-lit lily pool. The atmosphere was friendly, relaxed, and truly Mediterranean. They ordered Greek fare since Hayley hadn’t ever tasted any Greek delicacies.
“This is quite romantic,” said Hayley, looking around while Ashton watched her with interest.
“Do you like romantic places? What’s so good in them?” Hayley gave him a look of disbelief.
“They make you believe in love. They make you feel alive and loved. Don’t you like romantic places?” she asked him with wide eyes. She desperately wished she could delve deep into his soul and get to know him better. She wanted to be the one he trusted, not Madison!
“No, it’s all crap! True love doesn’t exist. If it did, it would be in your soul. You need to connect with another person’s soul to feel it.” Hayley frowned at his way of thinking.
“Did you ever feel it?” Ashton concentrated on the menu more, as if it was more important than her question. “You didn’t answer me, Ashton.”
“No, it’s a waste of time.”
“That’s not true at all. It’s a beautiful feeling that everyone should experience! It enriches your life and gives you the energy to surge ahead.”
“I don’t believe in it. Only a few lucky ones connect to another person’s soul and I’m not one of those,” he shrugged and concentrated on the menu again. Hayley shook her head, annoyed by his negative thoughts.
“No, Ashton. You need to open your mind and recognize true love when it knocks on your door. God gives everyone a chance, but if you push love away, you don’t get a second chance in life. You’re doomed to live a loveless life.” Ashton frowned at her, considering her theory.
“I don’t want such complications in my life. I’m happy to live alone! You have an open mind. Have you found true love yet?” Hayley sighed and shook her head slowly, her eyes sad and melancholy. Even after that lengthy lecture about love, she couldn’t tell him how much she loved him.
“See? Actually, there’s nothing called true love! Or else you would surely have been neck-deep in love.” Hayley stared at the mocking expression on his face, her throat choking up with hurt. She was not neck-deep, but drowned in her love for him. Only he didn’t reciprocate her feelings and swore to live a loveless and lonely life. How could she force such a man to feel anything for her?
“It’s real, Ashton. It’s sad that you don’t want to feel it. You’re too blind to recognize it. I’m not neck deep, but completely drowned in love.” Their server chose that exact moment to serve them their food, and Hayley ate in silence, disinterested in the topic now. She realized it would be an impossible task to make Ashton realize what she felt for him. Still, she would try! She would try until her last breath.
“So what were you saying?” prodded Ashton with interest after the server left. Hayley shrugged and concentrated on the food instead of answering him.
“I’m still waiting for you to continue. Are you trying to tell me you’re in love with someone?” he continued relentlessly. He had to know. She used to like him when she was younger. So now that she had grown up, did she prefer Shaun?
“Maybe.”
“Has the person you love ever taken you out the way I am?” he asked, feeling a little jealous by now. Hayley smiled sadly but didn’t reply. It was really unbelievable that he couldn’t understand her feelings for him.
“What’s that supposed to mean? Has he or hasn’t he?” Ashton sounded frustrated by now. He wanted to know so badly who she loved, yet she was being so secretive about the whole thing.
“Yes, he took me out for the first time.” Ashton’s heart constricted with intense jealousy as he glared at her pointedly.
“I see! So, did you enjoy yourself more with him or with me?” He continued, his food forgotten as he held her gaze.
“There’s no comparison at all.” How could there be when he was the one she loved? With all his super intelligence, couldn’t he understand this simple logic?
“Right. Of course, there isn’t. You love him, after all,” grunted Ashton.
He wasn’t in the mood to talk and concentrated on his food, completely ignoring her existence. It was the strangest dinner date ever. Hayley heard tales from her friends about their dates and sighed at her own experience.
“The food is too good. Now Greek food is my favourite. What’s yours?” Hayley made another attempt to get him to open up.
“I don’t have any favorites.” Again, there was a bout of silence. Hayley wanted to grab him and kiss him, or maybe tell him he was the one she loved. Would that restore his cheerful mood?
“When is your day off here?” she made another attempt.
“Sundays. Why? I’m sure you’ll be too busy.”
“No, I’m free on Sundays. I’ll come down to see you. Where are you staying?”
“I have a room here.” He completely avoided answering anything else, and they ate in silence. Ashton paid for the treat and got up to leave. The date was over before it even started, and it was all because of her stupid comment. Why did she have to talk about romance and love? These were topics Ashton hated and avoided more than anything else.
“Thanks for the lovely dinner.” Tears pooled in her eyes and she felt blinded by them as she ran after Ashton to the parking area.
“You’re welcome!” He didn’t even cast a glance in her direction, and it hurt Hayley a lot.
She climbed in and he steered his car out of the resort with a grim expression on his face. “So, are you moving in tonight?” she asked him as a last attempt to improve his mood. He was worse than a child, sulking over such a trivial issue. Why couldn’t he admit he wanted her to love him? Why couldn’t he admit he was jealous?
“Yes.” He drove on without a word more. Hayley grunted with impatience.
“Stop the car right now, Ashton.” He frowned at her and steered the car off the road and parked it.
“What happened? I don’t have time to waste! I need to release my apartment tonight,” he said impatiently.
“Thanks for the treat. You don’t need to drop me home. I’ll take a cab,” she said, feeling upset at his behavior. Ashton gaped at her, a scowl forming on his face.
“Or maybe stay the night with the one you love. After all, he lives nearby, doesn’t he?” he said bitterly. Hayley gaped at him, her eyes wide with confusion.
“Who are you talking about?”
“Shaun Peterson! Who else?” he barked, gesturing towards the street where he lived. Hayley’s mouth hung open as she realized where they were. God! What would she do with this dumb guy?
“You’re the dumbest guy on earth. I don’t feel a thing for Shaun,” she said with an eye roll, opening the car door and going out. Before Ashton could realize what she said, Hayley hailed a cab and sped off.