Hayley locked her apartment and went out but there were no signs of Ashton anywhere. He wasn’t waiting for her like he did the last time. A little disappointed, she went down to the jogger’s track and started her walk without Ashton.
After five minutes, she started jogging at a slow pace when Ashton and Paula jogged past her. “Good morning, babe!” said Ashton, stopping to match her pace. Hayley mentally grimaced at the endearment, but didn’t react at all in front of him. Although she was intensely jealous and hurt to see them together, she looked him in the eye.
“Good morning, Ashton!” she said in a cold and aloof tone, before picking up pace and jogging off in a different path than them. She didn’t need to collide with them. Ashton, however, followed her.
“Are you trying to avoid me?” he asked, catching up with her and grabbing her arm to stop her.
“No. You’re most welcome to jog with your f*ck buddy. You spent last night with her, didn’t you?” She wrenched her arm free of his hold and jogged away, but he persisted.
“You don’t have any reason to be jealous. Paula isn’t what you’re thinking of her to be.”
“I’m not interested, Ashton. It’s your life. Spend it with whoever you like. Just stay away from me.” She lost interest in jogging and went out of the condominium towards the beach, just to avoid him.
She stood watching the waves playing along the shoreline, her mind in a total state of confusion. It was clear Ashton preferred Paula’s company more. Obviously, with a figure to kill for, she was sure they couldn’t get enough of one another. At that moment, she hated Ashton more than anyone else.
Definitely now, she started repenting, having shifted to his building.
“What’s a pretty woman like you doing here all alone?” said a flirty voice from somewhere behind her. Hayley turned to find a, tall, good-looking guy with blonde curly hair and bright blue eyes, smiling at her.
“Excuse me? Do I know you?” she said, turning back to stare at the vast expanse of water in front of her. He chuckled and came to stand beside her.
“You can get to know me. I’m Jake Bailey. I live in there,” he said, pointing at Ashton’s condominium.
“I’m Hayley Barclay and I live there too.” The man’s eyes lightened up, and he looked extremely interested.
“Seriously? How did I miss meeting a hot chick like you?” Hayley rolled her eyes at his impossibly flirtatious pickup line.
“I moved in recently.” She walked back to the building to get ready for work, but Jake seemed to have other plans for them.
“Are you going back? What’s the rush? Join me for breakfast. I usually go to Big Joe’s cafe there. They are a favorite here,” he said, pointing at a food joint further up the street.
“I have to go to work, Jake. Maybe sometime later,” she said with a polite smile.
“You will have to go home and make breakfast for yourself. Wouldn’t that take up more time?” he reasoned and Hayley smiled, giving up. She really didn’t want to make breakfast now.
“Fine, let’s go.” Jake gave her a mock salute and led her towards the cafe. As she walked past their building, she had the uncanny feeling of being watched. Who could it be? She turned to look, and her eyes met Ashton’s furious gaze.
Hayley cared little for his anger! She wasn’t answerable to anyone. He was most welcome to flirt around with Paula. She nodded absent-mindedly at Jake’s non-stop banter, following him all the way to the cafe, acutely aware of Ashton’s angry gaze pinned upon her. He greeted the staff and occupied a table outside the cafe, open to public view.
“Can’t we go inside? I’m not comfortable eating here.” Jake grinned and stood up to lead her inside.
“Is this comfortable?” he asked, leading her to a corner table.
“Yes, fine.” They ordered and waited for the food.
“So, what do you do? Are you in college?” asked Jake with interest.
“Nope. I’ve graduated last month. I’ve joined my dad’s business. How about you?”
“I’m a photographer. I have my studio nearby,” he said proudly.
“Oh, that’s wonderful.” Jake looked excited as he told her about his latest experience at a fashion show.
“I was appointed the official photographer to cover the event, and it was such an honor. Now I have invitations from two such events.” Hayley smiled at him, but soon lost interest in his bragging. She wasn’t interested in fashion shows. Her line of work was totally different.
“I’ll take you there the next time. With your looks, you have a good chance of getting the famous designer Vincent Frazier’s attention. He can make you famous, Hayley. If you are interested, I can do a photo shoot for you, free of cost. I’ll accept a different payment, only for you,” he said, leaning in to whisper the last part. Hayley’s jaws dropped with horror at what he implied.
A sudden commotion outside made her look up, and she froze at seeing a furious Ashton storming into the cafe, shoving everyone away who tried to stop him.
“Back out Jake, she’s off limits,” he growled, his bloodshot, murderous eyes making her pale. Jake looked at him with his jaws dropped to the floor.
“What’s up with you, dude? Why can’t you be happy with your girl?” asked Jake with the same laid-back attitude, not getting worked up at all.
“Coz Hayley is my girl!” he grabbed hold of Jake’s collars and gritted through clenched teeth. Hayley’s mouth hung open on hearing his announcement. What? When did she agree to be his girl? Wasn’t Paula or Madison more his type than her? Jake looked from one to the other, too dumbfounded to form any reply.
Ashton released his collars and shoved him away. Then his gaze turned towards Hayley and he grabbed her arm and pulled her up from her seat. Before she could protest, he picked her up on his shoulder and marched out, a fit of mad anger coursing through his body.
“I can walk, Ashton,” she protested, but he turned a deaf ear to her pleas, marching all the way towards their building with the entire world watching the drama.
“What’s the big deal? I was just catching up on a quick breakfast before leaving for work.” She tried again but he scoffed at her excuse.
“You could have gone alone. Why Jake, of all people? He’ll sneak into your pants and make porn videos of you. Then you can spend a fortune saving your honor.” Hayley froze at his description. So that was what Jake was? Ashton walked straight into the elevator and dumped her roughly, making her wince.
“I can take care of myself. I don’t see how people can do such stuff to me without my permission.” Ashton gave her a look of disbelief.
“Don’t tell me you’re that naive? He doesn’t need permission. He can spike your drink and take you back to his place with him. Would you know?” He scolded her, making her eyes widen with horror.
“Oh, thanks for saving me, but you didn’t need to lie about our relationship. I don’t fall into the same category as your Paula and Madison.” She stormed out of the elevator towards her apartment, her stomach growling with hunger. To her immense surprise, he pulled her into his apartment instead, shutting the door roughly behind him.
“What the f*ck, Ashton!” she gritted out, but he slammed her against the door instead. In a split second, his fingers delved into her hair to grip her head and he smashed his lips hungrily to hers. It was a punishing kiss indeed as he bit and parted her mouth to plunge his tongue deep inside her. She took small gasps to keep pace as he devoured her wildly.
Her lips tasted the same. This was what he had been craving for the last four years. Ashton drowned in the kiss, urging her to kiss him back, but she didn’t. He pinned her roughly with his body, his arm trapping her against the door.
“Kiss me, Hayley,” he ordered against her lips.
“No, go to your wh*res!” she gritted out, placing her hands on his chest to push him away. Ashton gazed at her wordlessly for a while, hurt by the determined look in her eyes. He slowly eased himself off her and stared at her longingly, with a brooding look in his eyes.
“I have kissed noone in the last four years, Hayley. There’s been no one since the day you asked me out to your prom night.” Hayley stared at him in shock! What?
“I don’t believe you.” She opened the door to leave.
“Please believe me. I’m not as bad as you think me to be.”
She opened the door and ran out, his words echoing in her head.