26

Ashely
I slowly turned my head at the sound of the bell ringing, my lashes fluttering at the sight of Mason.
Impulsively my hands reached to touch and adjust my hair as I walked towards him with quick strides.
Casting a shy smile at him, I crossed my arm across my chest and muttered an inaudible, “Hi.”
“Hi, Ashely.” I heard him whisper.
“What’s wrong? Is there anything up?” I asked, guiding him out of the shop, closing the door behind me.
Fiddling with my hands, I glanced at him and he looked away.
“If it’s about the date-”
Mason cut me off in mid-sentence.
“The date is definitely on. I just wanted to sure that you are still interested,” he spoke, “And I also don’t have your number or know your home address. ”
My mouth opened and I let out a reassured chuckle.
“Oh.”
“What were you expecting? Did you think that I was calling the date off?” Mason muttered.
“Probably.” I touched the nape of my neck and shot him a smile.
“I wasn’t…. “Mason started, “Why is that guy staring at you, Ashely?” he pointed towards the transparent large window made of glass, Leo was standing there with his arms crossed and his eyes shooting daggers at Mason.
“He’s just a creepy pervert and he just joined us. ” My hands pushed into my apron as I let out a sigh.
“A pervert?” Mason moved closer to me, “Should I be worried? Do I need to call the police?”
I waved a hand, halting his speech.
“It’s okay.” I laughed, “He’s just crazy and really annoying, that’s all. ”
“But he’s still staring at you and I don’t like it.” Mason whispered with a frown on his face.
“Maybe if you stop looking at him, it would be all better. ” I explained, “Can you give me your cell phone so I can punch in number and my address?”
“Of course.” I watched Mason, his hands dipping into his pockets to find his phone. With an outstretched hand, he pushed his cellphone gently into my arms.
I punched in my numbers hastily and returned his cell-phone with a smile on my face.
“We shouldn’t have kissed, ” Mason spoke, “I mean, it was too quick and I just don’t want you to think that I’m taking advantage of your feelings.”
“I understand you but I’m not supposed to be here talking to you when it’s not my lunch break, ” I responded, “So we’ll talk tomorrow? On the date?”
“Sure,” Mason shrugged.
“Yeah, I’ll do my best to be pretty, enough.” I let out a warm giggle.
“You don’t have to do anything Ashely,” Mason laughed, “You can wear this and you’ll still look beautiful. ”
“Don’t flatter me.” My cheeks were burning with so much intensity that my eyes became fixated on the ground rather than his eyes.
“We’ll talk tommorow?” Mason winked and I covered my mouth, trying to hold back another laugh.
“Yes.” I hastily responded, “Bye, Mason.”
I turned on my heels. The feeling of relief washed into my veins. For a second, I thought he was going to call the date off with an excuse but his way of showing his affection and consistency was so attractive. I looked back and smiled at his retreating figure.
Walking into the bakery in high spirits, I heard someone clear his throat.
“You seem happy. ” I heard Leo say.
“And you like eavesdropping.” I countered back.
With his hands on his hip, he answered, “I didn’t even hear a word. You were the one who kept laughing. How come you never laughed like that with me?”
“But you were staring at him. He could have misinterpreted it. ” I retorted.
“And why would he? He’s your boyfriend.” he answered.
“He is not my boyfriend, not yet. ” I rolled my eyes, “And why would I laugh with you?”
“Can you guys just stop bickering for a second? ” I heard Emily say as she walked into the chaos, “We should be thinking of what we’re going to do. Are we just going to sell coffee till evening?”
“Well-” I was about to suggest going to the market to get some flour when I heard a small truck park beside the bakery.
“What on earth is going on?” Emily muttered. I observed as a bunch of men stepped out, each grabbing a bag full of flour and carrying it towards the bakery.
“Is this Mrs Ping’s bakery?” One of the men asked, his voice out of breath.
“You don’t look like the guys who deliver flour here. ” I said, “-So who are you?”
“I asked you a question, miss.” he answered.
“So did I. ” I dramatically responded with my palm on my chest.
“This is Mrs Ping’s bakery,” I heard Leo say as he took a step forward, “She’s just on edge. ”
“Okay, we were asked to make this delivery here since we were wired some money.” The other man spoke.
“You can just drop the flour and leave. Thank you for your generosity.” I heard Leo speak.
I watched as the men left and then I turned around to see Leo struggling to carry a bag of flour.
“Did you do this?” I asked.
“Obviously not. ” I heard him say, “Think of it as a stroke of luck.”
“Oh really?” I shot up a brow.
“Maybe someone just wanted to help us,” Emily said, “It could be someone else ”
“And how did that person know that we needed flour?” I asked with my gaze fixated on Leo.
“I have no idea, ” Emily responded, “Just cut Leo some slack , okay? Let me go get some of the kitchen staff to help with this.”
Immediately Emily was out of sight, my focus was entirely on Leo.
“I know it was you. I just know it.”
“Too bad, it’s not. I’m not even rich.” I heard him say with a laugh.
“Don’t pretend not to know anything about the watch. ” I confronted him.
“That was my grandfather’s gift to me,” he responded, “That doesn’t make me rich. You’re obsessed with me, Ashely. ”
I scoffed as he succeeded in carrying the bag of flour, balancing it with both palms.
“You said you danced with the Prince of Midon?” He asked.
“It was not even a dance.” My lashes fluttered as I let out a deep sigh.
“And I’m guessing you ran away.” I heard him reply.
“I didn’t. ” I yelled, kicking him on the ankles as he dropped the bag of flour on the ground, his eyes shooting daggers at me.
“What is going on here?” Emily asked, “I hope you’re not giving him any trouble. ” She turned to look at me.
“I didn’t do anything, Em,” I said, “Leo here, just can’t get it up.”
I observed as he sat on the ground, his forehead beaded with sweat and his chest heaving. A smirk landed on his face when he looked at me.
And guess what? I was totally whipped by it.
*****
The inflow of customers that walked into the bakery was minute. Some walked in to grab a coffee, read the newspaper, giggle and leave while the rest were teens who kept yapping about their crushes and the festival.
There was a festival which happened every four years in order to honor the royals. It had been happening for years. The previous ones, I never interest in it since I was tired from my cleaning jobs. I hardly slept throughout the night with the drums and flutes that was played in Midon.
Why should there be a festival to celebrate a bunch of people who wear crowns, titles and rip us out by taking taxes from us?
I sighed for the upteeneth time, noticing Leo tapping the counter table. I was about to speak when he said;
“Don’t bother telling me to stop. It’s not like we have anything doing. ”
I shrugged as I turned my gaze towards the door. A deafening sound coming from my pocket stole my attention. I reached out to grab my phone. I opened it and picked up the call.
“Ashley. ” I heard a voice say. I shook my head in confusion and looked at the screen, intently.
Lucy.
Oh great, I thought. Did she need cash again?
“What do you want?” I asked.
“You have to….” I heard a break in her tone and I wondered why.
“What? Can you speak louder? I can hardly hear you. ” I yelled.
“R-Run…” I heard her say.
“What?” My legs touched the ground, my hands fiddling across my waist.
“Run, Ashely.” I heard her say again and I groaned aloud. What the hell did she mean?
I was about to ask when someone bursted in through the door and another person followed. They were dressed in black and their hands were holding clubs.
“Who are you?” I heard Leo say.
“Who is Ashely Boark?” I heard one of the men speak, his tone deep and scary. He had a scar on his cheek and on his neck, a big purple bruise.
“It’s me. ” I muttered slowly, my hand slowly placing my phone close to my ear, “What did you do, Lucy?”
“I kind of…” I heard my mother sigh, “I borrowed money from a debtor in your name. I feel so stupid. ”
For a moment, I was dazed. My lips were unmoving even as the man in front of me was striding towards me with his club, raised.
My mother was simply… the devil.