Anya's POV

  The night was slipping away.. And I wanted to hold onto it.. I was desperate to. I didn't want anything to end.. But even though night was still young, Ash was determined to make the best of it.

  The opera ended with me ripping and twisting a small piece of paper.. Ash teased me in the most frustratingly tempting way, daring and challenging every atom of my body..

  He kissed my lips, my neck, my shoulders, my arms, keeping his one hand constantly over my thigh, higher towards the middle of my legs, before he would back out, leaving me almost shaking in frustration.

  We were at a public place, surrounded by other loges and so many people around.. It wasn't exactly something familiar to me to do such things in public places, nor would I ever think someone could get me into it..

  But he teased me to the point where I almost got angry at him for building such a need for release, this urge for more, that I just didn't want him to ever stop.. He did grin though, satisfied from my frustrated groans, and simply continued down my neck.

  Eventually, we continued listening and watching the fantastic show, even though my mind was constantly wondering if he was looking, constantly aware of his hand that yes, was still over my bare leg, and my rapid heartbeat that refused to steady seemed to make me doubt that he could even hear it.

  I drank two glasses of wine, and the tension inside me didn't go away, because dang he knew what he was doing.. He wanted to get me all heated up, all lost, and then stopped.

  He was preparing me for something that he promised would be unforgettable, with certainty and confidence that didn't make me doubt for even a second, but it had only been two hours of the night.. How much longer did he intend on making me go through that torture?

  So I sat still in the chair, yet unable to stop twisting the little piece of paper I had in my hands, ripping it in pieces in my lap as I was seemingly focused on the show..

  I even heard him chuckling when he saw me take out my nervousness on the paper.. I wasn't really nervous, but I was a little frustrated because he was a damn devil when it came to seducing and tempting, yet also a master of his resistance..

  I obviously wasn't and I didn't even realize how noticeable that was from my actions. He stopped me by taking my hand and intertwining our fingers together. I glanced at him, but he was concentrated on the show. He held my hand firmly in his, swallowing mine in his large palm and keeping it warm.

  I liked those little gestures. They did sooth me. And yes, they did make up for his previous sly successful tempting stunts.

  How could it not? He was a dream of a man. I couldn't be frustrated with him. I just hoped that by the end of the night, he could make up for his actions properly, because he really was a god when it came to seducing, tempting, and pleasing.

  The opera eventually ended, and I was still in awe from the whole experience. My chest was full and the smile forced itself on my face. Especially when we left the loge, walking towards the back exit while he kept holding my hand and leading me through.

  The staff greeted and thanked while we went through the private narrow hallways and got out of the back exit, lead by two men, one in front and one behind us..

  Of course Ash made sure to get rid of the press. I wasn't sure what time it was, but it wasn't that late for a city like Paris. I still did have questions for his further plans, but I waited for us to be alone to ask..

  I thought he was going to lead me towards the car, but he stopped on one side near the entrance, beside one of the gracious large white pillars and let go of my hand..

  Even after a warm autumn day, the night was pretty cold, drastically even.. White little clouds escaped Ash's lips from the chilly air. The black coat he was wearing made him look even more intimidating added by his large and tall figure, but at the same time, near him I always felt more safe and protected.

  He took something out of his pocket and I noticed it was a cigarettes pack.. I had seen him smoke only once before and I won't lie, he made it seem damn hot, but I didn't like it becoming his habit.

  He took one out and lighted it. The pack was full, so I realized that he probably only did it in critical situations.. I still didn't understand what kind of crisis this moment was.. He didn't seem as eager as the time I saw him in Richwood, when we arrived at the restaurant where we had dinner with Marino, but his expression was definitely serious while he kept escaping eye contact with me.

I leaned on the pillar beside him, crossed my arms over the white fur wrap that I had over my shoulders and arms, observing him take in and then exhale the smoke slowly..

  My father smoked cigars and I used to hate the harsh smell as a kid, but now the scent wasn't as strong so I guessed it was because cigarettes weren't as strong.. He blew it front of him and kept his eyes focused in that direction, while I was leaning on the pillars on his right and observing from the side..

  The smoke mixed with the clouds that formed from his warm breath against the cold air and I found the picture, the scent, the sounds of traffic in the back, simply mesmerizing. It was as if I was staring breathlessly at this man that was a true work of art.

  He had the most fine and sharp features, the most slender profile and damn sharp jaw framed with that very slight beard as those silver eyes stared somewhere with focus, almost concentrating on the smoke he exhaled.

  God created a masterpiece from him, a fascinating art from this picture before me, and I felt lucky that I got to witness it.

  "It seems like it's becoming a habit of yours." I found myself speaking; my voice quietly breaking the silence between the two of us while I couldn't keep my eyes off him still.

  He looked at me, fixing his eyes on mine, holding the gaze for a second and then focusing on my lips. I had already fixed my lipstick from kissing him and he cleaned himself up too, but with the way he so intently scanned my face, I had the feeling he was wishing to smear it all over again.

  "It's becoming a way of distraction." That deep hypnotic voice filled the air in the most sincere way possible while his eyes explained the rest.. "It bothers you?"

  "No." He sucked in some more smoke, still observing my face in the most focused, promising way possible. "If I'm honest, you make it suit you." I finished and intently watched how he exhaled it.

  "And here I am thinking that you are one of those that would scold me and start blabbing a whole lecture on how it's bad for my health."

  His words words explained that I wasn't the first woman he smoked in front of, and I kind of didn't like the thought. I found myself frowning very slightly while thinking how I kept wishing to share some special moments with him that I would be the only one beside him that knew about. And this was one of them.

  "I didn't say it wasn't." Another slight pause was made as we stared at each other for a few seconds. "Why do you do it?"

  I managed to ask, wishing to break the tension that I felt starting to build, but his moves were more and more of a distraction, and I couldn't get myself to break the gaze he held locked with his.

  He was the first one to look back in front of himself for a second while I kept leaning on the pillar on his side with my arms crossed and finally managing to look away too.

"Old habit. I did stop, but then I met you, and trust me when I tell you, Anya, I truly have no luck in finding any kind of other distraction from you. And the crap doesn't even help." He sucked in the smoke again and looked at the cigarette. "Control is not my strongest side when I'm around you."

  The last sentence he added was by looking at me with the kind of ardor behind his eyes that caused my heart to shallowly skip a beat. I was suddenly more aware of the cold air that filled my lungs as I desperately inhaled it, while I struggled to find my distraction from him.

  I realized he had turned so he was facing me, observing and scanning in a way that made my blood boil, my skin heat up to the point where I no longer felt the cold air, but rather desperately wished for it.

  There was space between our bodies enough from my crossed arms. That's all it was. And while he exhaled the smoke slowly, satisfyingly straightly, I found myself inhaling.. The moment had hypnotized me and I found myself closing my eyes for a longer blink, wanting to take in and absorb that scene, that brief moment of the sharp scent of cigarettes, whiskey and his sweet cologne.

  "Good to know." My answer was quiet and almost a mumble as I blankly looked back at wild silver eyes that had thunders of desires behind them, but he still kept it together perfectly.

  It made me think how I was actually the one that easily lost resistance, so I needed an immediate quick distraction.

  I looked on the side, nervously bringing my hand up to the side of my neck while keeping my another arm crossed over my chest as I cleared my throat silently.

  "Are we not going on the cocktail party at the hotel?" The desperate need for a subject change was clear and obvious, especially when he smirked at me, satisfied with the effect again.

  He took a step back and brought the cigarette to his lips again, looking down at it as he took in the smoke.

  "We're ditching for a bit.."

  I would've never guessed that Ash Bonner could have a rebellious side, the dangerously intimidating businessman that wanted everything done a certain way, valuing responsibility and commitment to work.. But often his actions proved that he had a different past hiding behind his workaholic mask..

  He threw the half finished cigarette on the side, even though I'm pretty sure that wasn't allowed, before those silver eyes locked back with mine within a second, making me once again aware of how damn much I actually wanted him.

  So I pushed myself off the pillar and stood straight, once again finding distraction in speaking.

  "We could've done this some other time. I know these conventions are important to you."

  "They're important for my business. Like I said before, I'm not a fan of public social gatherings." He did mention that.

  "Why?"

  "I like doing work privately.." My sexy date grinned and took a step closer, reminding me I was darn lucky I had a boss like him. "Joined by my very hot assistant that I get to share a room with tonight."

  That dazzling smile was contagious and the closeness was daring.. "Roommates in Paris with you?" I was grinning so hard, I even chuckled in joy too. "Sounds fun to me.."

  And he found my smile as an approval to press his hands against the dips of my waist, over the small of my back and pull me closer, while I.. I effortlessly gave in, wrapping my arms around his neck in that kind of hypnosis I could not seem to snap out of.

  His sharp sweet scent drunken me, his closeness weakened me to the point where I was holding on to him closely, thankful for his hands that he ran over my butt and hips, since they kept me standing.

  Our faces were inches away, and the more closeness we had, the more serious he became, exploring every inch of my dips and curves with his fingers like he was trying to remember them..

  His breath against my own made me feel owned by that closeness, lightheaded by the thought of being in his arms. My eyes closed for a second and I suddenly realized we were outside, thankfully at the back entrance, but still almost presenting our little secret to the world.

  He seemed to had remembered the same thing as for we pulled away somewhere at the same time, without even a touch of our lips to smolder the flames..

  His touch disappeared and so did mine. We took a step away from each other and it seemed like torture. We did seem aware of our moves, and just like we were reading each other's thoughts, we looked at each other with full understanding.. Almost painfully finding space between one another but still managing to do it.

  "If we're not going to the convention though, where are we going?" I asked with a smile that stretched my lips since I couldn't help but think about what kind of perfection the night was till then..

  "Tonight, Anya, I'm going to show you one of my favorite places in Paris." His voice was joyful as he allowed a little smirk to creep on the corner of his perfect lips. "We'll be here for the next few days, so I'll leave my second and third favorite place for then."

  At hat point, I didn't even realize how naturally we held hands, allowing my hand to fit in his perfectly as we walked down the little stairs of the marble porch and towards the parking lot.

  "And I suppose I shouldn't bother asking 'cause it's a surprise?" My voice revealed the smile even if someone wasn't looking.

  There was thankfully no one around so we held hands in peace. He must've payed the press big money to give us privacy. Or used other methods, but either way, we were alone on the parking lot.

  "No no, I'm living to see that pretty face in full fascination.. And then hear you gasp in surprise-"

  "I don't gasp in surprise!" I laughed so naturally, my whole chest vibrated, and I hadn't had such an honest laugh in a damn long time.

  He laughed too and I couldn't believe I had Ash Bonner laughing in front of me.. It happened a few times before, but this night, it was just magical.. He used to be the most intimidating arrogant man I had ever met, but was now my source to getting honest laughs and smiles so wide, my lips hurt.

  "You do. Very classically."

  We reached the car and Ash stopped Marc — our driver for the night, from opening the door for me. Instead, he did it himself, making me look at him meaningfully from his words, yet I couldn't help the laugh that threatened to escape at the back of my throat, so I held the smile static.

  He was grinning widely too, and it was just too intoxicatingly contagious.. "And it's very cute." He added as a way of getting himself out of calling me a 'classical gasper' and even winked at me. Charming and playful.

  I got in the car and Marc held the door for Ash, while all that was left for the night was me wondering on what magical place he was going to take me next, and how I was going to be able to handle it without falling for this man.

~

  My breath escaped me more rapidly with each step we took up the stairs.. It seemed like there were millions of them.. Curved and endless. And I.. I was definitely not active enough to be able to take that much walking.

Ash kept making me laugh and that did not help at all.. My stomach hurt and my eyes were watery. I kept stopping and he kept pulling my hand to continue, joking about how I needed to start taking morning runs with him.. I was seriously starting to consider it.

The building was ten minutes away from the opera and it was basically in the very center of Paris. It was an old, tall building with an architecture that of course took your breath away, but then again, I was more and more used to Paris and how it was probably the most beautiful city I had been in, or was ever going to step foot in.

"Come on, lazy ass, there's just another floor." His voice was filled with laughter and it made my heart flatter in the most soothing way.

"I'm basically dressed for a ball, Ash," He rose my heels that he was carrying to prove a point. "Yes, taking off my heels was a relief, but still.."

I exhaled sharply and looked down at the stairs.. My feet felt like they were about to fall off and my muscles were tightened to the point where I thought they would give out on me.

"Excuses, excuses," We finally reached the final floor and like I was brainless, I still had no clue what he was going to do or why we were even in that building.. "It's worth it, trust me."

Once we reached the last door in the head of the narrow hallway, I followed how he reached for one of the bricks near the white door at the end, pulled it out effortlessly and took out a key.

"We're not breaking in, right?" I mumbled once I caught my breath, once again making him grin widely as he glanced at me.

"No, princess, it's all legal." He unlocked the door and pushed it open, once again taking my hand and leading me inside.

I furrowed my brows in the sudden darkness, taking a few steps in as I heard him turn the light switch on and close the door behind.. The lights flattered on, and the cold space was brightened.

It was an apartment. A perfect wide large apartment.. Light wood decorating the floors underneath my bare feet, white leather furniture of the living room in front of us finished with a few large green plants.. There was the kitchen on the far left with a tall counter and also in those beige and white marble colors.. A small narrow hallway continued on the right from the front door with a few more doors, while across from us..

Across from us, up on a small step and behind the dining table was a glass wall, seemingly like a one single huge window graciously presenting a view that so effortlessly, so damn immediately took my breath away..

An unreal picture of the whole city; shimmering and blinking lights making it seem like it was sparkling, while the beauty was spread for miles and miles, like it was an endless space of city lights..

I was glued to my spot. I couldn't- I was shocked. I had no clue how we got there, how it was possible for me to be staring at something as damn beautiful as that.

"Ash," My voice was almost questionably confused..

Where the hell were we? Those steep curved stairs seemed to had lead us to heaven and I didn't even notice how we got there.. I needed a pinch to wake up. Or to at least get some kind of a prove that it was real.

"This is- Wow," I exhaled almost through a sigh..

I felt delightfully lightheaded.. I could hear his steps closing up on be from behind but I didn't move.. I couldn't move closer to the view. Not until I felt his hand at the small of my back, slightly pushing me to walk closer to the window.

He chuckled at my statement. "I'm glad it is wow."

"An apartment?" I asked as we climbed up the single little stair, unable to take my eyes off the clear window view. "You have an apartment in Paris?"

We were now standing in front of the large window, the beautiful view making my voice fade as I lost myself in that mesmerizing picture of the city of lights. Seine sparkled somewhere near the Eiffel Tower and my heart flattered as well..

"I studied college here."

Just like that, Ash responded making me look at him and see the picture of him slightly shrugging his shoulders as he stared at the view, his hands in his pockets and his expression now serious and thoughtful.

My lips parted for me to say something, but that information was like a thunder out of the blue. He studied college in Paris? Perhaps that was my answer to why he spoke French so fluently..

"Oh." Was all that managed to escape me. "I didn't know that either.." He looked at me and I felt unconfortable for staring..

  It was just that finding out new things about him reminded me that we were just getting to know each other. Even after two months of knowing him, he was my boss..

  There was attraction going on, for sure, tension and all of that.. But the kind of honesty, the kind of opening up about our private lives.. It still hadn't happened..

   He never talked about himself.. Heck, he never even told me about the woman he loved for years, Jane.. He did mention her when he was drunk, but not once did he mention that he was engaged to her, how she died and how heartbroken she left him..

  If it wasn't for Kristin, I would've never known what kind of dark past he was carrying with him..

I sighed with a heavy chest from those thoughts, but was soon positively distracted by the marvelous view.

"Medicine?" My voice came out quieter as I crossed my arms over my chest, keeping my eyes out the window..

  He told me that that night after we gave into our desires and spent hours doing things in the guest room, deciding to keep them for ourselves only..

"Medicine.." Well shit, I didn't know that he studied it in fricking Paris.. I thought,- no, it doesn't matter what I thought. He studied medicine in Paris. Facts. "At least that's how it started. Then I dropped out after my fourth year."

"I had no idea." The words somewhat managed to find their way out, blocked and almost coming out as whispers from confusion. "I mean you told me you studied medicine, but Paris? I never thought you wanted to be doctor in Paris.."

He smiled almost weakly as he looked at me. "I wanted to be a lot of things, Anya.."

"Why- Why did you drop out?" I almost sounded like a shocked parent, so I dialed down my emotions and tried keeping my thoughts straight..

He told me a little of the reason why he dropped out that night too, but I had no clue he studied college in France.. That changed everything.. A pushy father shouldn't had been a reason for him to drop out. So I asked again, wanting to hear what more he had to say..

"I had to." Again, the answer was similar, just this time he exhaled heavily, probably remembering about those times before he dragged his answer, finally explaining the real reason why he said his father was 'pushy' that night. "My father liked my choice for medicine, but he did need someone to look after our companies. My older brother, Jackson, hasn't spoken to my father for almost 7 years now because of that exact reason.. He didn't want to take over my father's business.. The whole weight fell onto me."

There it was.. Another little detail of his life that I was hearing about for the first time.. Talking about this brother Nathan — that I by chance had heard about from Kristin too, but it was just a mention that they were three kids and that he didn't live in Richwood.. Now Ash was opening up and the view was nothing compared to his words that allured me to hear more. My chest felt full listening to him.

"But,- you're so good at what you do.." I was looking at him intently now, speaking mechanically, following how he looked at me and my heart as usual skipped a pleasant beat when those silvers met mine.

"And I love my job. Now." He shook his heard slightly, looking on the side and frowned some more.. "I used to hate it."

After a few seconds he seemed to had forced himself to snap out of his thoughts, still keeping his hands in his pockets as he cleared his throat slightly and turned around back towards the room.. I was still there in front of the window and observed him walk down the step and towards the couch.

"It's cold in here.." He gestured towards the fireplace in the living room area. "The place hasn't been warmed in almost six months now."

"If you have an apartment literally in the center of the city, why are you staying in a hotel room?" I insisted with my questions, wanting to hear more since I was starting to find out things about him that I never knew..

He smiled at my curiosity and I was glad I got to get it out of him, in whatever way it was..

"Like I said, it's not ready for staying here yet. I pay a woman to keep this place alive. She's a neighbor and used to be my aunt's friend, who in fact was the owner of this apartment before she moved away.." He gestured towards one of the plants. "The plants are hers. She made me keep them." Again, his slight smile fascinated me. He was perfect. Everything that night was perfect. "But it's still cold to stay here at night.. And it's away from the convention."

"It's beautiful." I looked back outside the large glass window, hearing how my voice faded as I once again went through my thoughts on what I saw, what I experienced, and what I found out that night..

It still made him even more perfect.. I was truly fascinated by this man. Admiring the kind of person he was even after everything he had been through.

I could hear his footsteps from behind me.. I felt him closing up on me.

He stopped beside me again and looked outside the window. "It is.. When I studied college, I stayed on campus, but I spent my weekends here.. Still, I liked keeping this as private as possible." He turned a little towards me and I felt him scanning me, observing me from above. His height shadowed over me, shielded me, and his gaze that I could feel on me made me look towards him. "A little number of people knew about it. And now you."

I smiled, even though I felt some heaviness in my chest from thinking about his past.. I had a harsh past too, but it seemed to hurt me just as much to know what he had been through.. His father making him work for the family business which required him to drop out of college, his passion.. He lost someone he loved and I knew how that felt too..

I gulped back the slight lump in my throat and smiled some more, taking a step closer to him and wrapping my arms around his torso. I felt those strong arms wrap around me almost immediately, so damn soothingly..

The side of my face was pressed against his chest within only a second, right where his heart beat rhythmically while I.. I could help but inhale that familiar scent of his cologne, the one that so easily stayed calmingly stuck in my nostrils for hours after.. It was just a doze I needed to take followed by the immediate relief in my chest.

"Thank you.. For showing me." I mumbled against his chest, once again getting reminded how short I was compared to him, especially now that I was barefoot. But with his arms around me, I felt like I fit perfectly. It made me smile as I looked up at him a bit. "I would've never guessed."

He looked down at me with focus that made me melt.. His expression was serious, like he was scanning, processing and admiring every little feature on my face, frowned a bit with concentration as those perfect gray eyes searched mine..

The way he held his gaze locked with mine caused warmth to trace through me, and once he focused on my lips, butterflies made my stomach tingle.. I didn't regret my decision on giving into those desires with this man once..

"God, Anya.. I can't get enough of you."

I wanted a kiss, I wanted at least a touch at that point.. His words flamed those yearnings inside me. But I pushed them back. We both did.. Aware that if we give into each other, we weren't leaving the apartment. Not for the night at least.

"You say that so easily." I heard myself exhale and press my head against his chest again. I had to. Looking at him was too big of a fight with what every atom of my body craved.

I felt his breath over my hair, kissing the top of my head slowly and softly, inhaling very slightly and allowing me to get used to that kind of closeness, to his lips pressed against my hair for a long few seconds..

"Because it is.. It's just facts." He mumbled against my hair and pressed his chin right there, making me realize just how perfect that scene was, with the whole view of Paris beside us.. Just how perfect I felt in his arms.

And then it occurred to me that it was in fact like a first date.. We weren't dating 'cause we agreed on keeping us a secret and, well, basically decided to stay friends with benefits, but with each second that passed by, I was more and more used to actually being with this man..

More and more confused on that question, were we really just friends that shared intimacy and lust? A professional beneficial fling.. Or something more. Something a lot more. It sure felt like it was.

It was like he gave me a taste of us, and I was desperate for a bit more..

"Do we really have to go to that convention?" I didn't want to let go.

"I hate to say that yes, we do.." We slowly pulled away just so we could look at each other, and that charming grin he flashed so effectively made my knees go weak within a second. "I will get you back here though.. Tomorrow latest."

"Okay.." I smiled and took a small step back as we both created some space between the two of us, keeping out hands to ourselves with that mutual awareness of what might happened if we don't.

I looked back towards the window, allowing his gaze to swallow me, to scan me for another second before he asked.

"Want a drink?" He walked down the stair again and towards the kitchen, making me turn around, crossing my arms firmly over my chest as I looked at him.

"No.. As much as I'm hypnotized with this view and desperate to stay here, I just want to get this convention over with.." I walked towards the living room area and looked at the heels that he had put beside the couch. My handbag was on one of the cushions that I couldn't even remember putting down. "But promise you'll get me back here when we have time?"

I looked back at him and he once again so naturally smiled at my seriousness for that promise.

"There's no need for promises, darling, you're the only one I want here. I just wanted to share a little secret for tonight.. And who knows, we may end up staying for the rest of the trip." He winked as he walked towards me, making me grin in satisfaction.

Bending down, I took my heels from beside the couch, and by the time I looked back at him he reached his hand as a sign for me to give him my shoes. His expression was again a bit more serious, taking the shoes and effortlessly pressing his palm at the small of my back again, the usual warmness of his large hand making me take a few steps and allow him to lead me.

I liked his hand there.. Just slightly above my butt, often daringly lower, just like in that moment.. He tightened his fingers around the material slightly, and I inhaled almost sharply as we walked towards the door.

"Let's go because I am at the edge of ripping this dress off of you, which is probably not such a good idea.. You still need it for tonight."

~

Ash's POV

The night could not be more perfect. Anya made Paris seem like a different city, not the simple popular city that I studied in, filled with millions of tourists that I felt like I was actually one of even though I spent four years there as a citizen.

But she.. She made it what Paris actually was.. She made the city part of us, and I was starting to live to see the sparkles of fascination behind those eyes, living to see the lights shimmer and reflect in those azures.. She was adoring every inch of the city, and I couldn't help but feel fulfilled, proud even to be the one to present her that.

Now we were back at the hotel, in the large hall and lobby that were both very much crowded.. Black, white and gray was on men, different colors on women, but one thing made them all similar.. At least fifty percent of them would stop near Anya and me and congratulate about the engagement, fake still, but interesting to hear the nice wishes..

I had the feeling that in the beginning Anya felt uncomfortable, but as the first hour passed, I could tell she was pretty much openly talking with people, making me make up the story about the proposal however, since 'I was the one that got us into this mess'..

I couldn't stop grinning because I had this gorgeous breathtaking woman beside me, and not only cause she was mine, but she did standout, she did caught attention because she was damn beautiful.. How could I not be proud and cocky when I had her beside me?

My hand was constantly at the small of her back as I kept pulling her as close to myself as possibly, keeping that mouthwatering body of hers against mine and shielding her perhaps a bit openly too from all those eyes that were constantly on her.

She didn't seem to mind but rather put her arm over my back too while pressing her hand over my chest when we talked to people.. Only three people in that room thought we were acting, Ethan, Josh and Kristin, while the rest thought that it was all real.. And it was.

We perhaps weren't in love, but I could not keep my hands off of her. Feeling her against myself constantly made me think how little it would take to rush her to some near room, bathroom or even the elevator, to rip that dress of off her and have what I've been longing for for so damn long.

I moved my hand over the small of her back, up, down, and she comfortably scooted closer each time some woman came to talk or focused her attention on me for longer than a minute, making me think that my girl over here was jealous. She shifted and grinned, looked at me from up close and allowed me to hold her as close as I pleased, because she wanted exactly that.

What I didn't like was the fact that after an hour of greeting and thanking the people for their congrats and wished, Anya went to the ladies room and was gone for more than 15 minutes now..

I saw her walk in a different direction like she was called after, so I assumed it was some group of people taking her on the side to congratulate her. I went for the save, but she wasn't in the lobby either.

When I say that I worry, I do usually have my reasons to, pasts and disagreements that I did my best to leave at that.. Just past. But when it came to Anya, my brain raced and worked quicker than ever..

I even started physically feeling pain in my head from all those thoughts that rushed through me so quickly, feeling almost furious at all of those that stopped me to once again say the same damn things, congrats and all that crap, while I was losing my mind with the worry that started drowning me.

Twenty minutes. Twenty minutes and Anya was still nowhere to be seen.. I went to the quieter part of the convention, rushing through the hallways and ditching Josh because he was starting to annoy me..

There were things I should've thought through and warned Anya about, people that could take advantage of the fact that I had a fiancée with me, who was also a worker in my company..

For all I knew she could've been looking for me too, but at times of such panic and worry I did lose my thoughts and focused on nothing else but finding her.. I was easily paranoid for reasons that hunted me for damn years, and Anya was not someone that I should've experienced that kind of worry for.

After what felt like ages, I herd a female voice near one of the halls.. The problem was, that hall was empty and the convention was on the other side of the hotel.

I still went in that direction because it sounded like a pretty damn loud conversation, and since the voice sounded like Anya's, I firstly assumed she was talking on the phone..

Instead, I heard another familiar female voice and realized it was Sophie.. My heart was still rapid against my chest, and I have no clue how in all that panic I found the patience to stop behind the large wooden doors that were actually opened and listen to what was going on..

What the hell was going on? Anya talking to Sophie? She hated Sophie. She barely knew her name, mostly because she refused to learn it. And even at that point, in the hall they were in, it sounded like the conversation was pretty tensed.. But the curiosity won, and despite the worry, I was desperate to hear what was going on in there.

They seemed a bit far in, since their voices were muted unless some of them rose their tone, and at that point, it was Sophie's voice that got louder first.

"You may had fooled him, but I know damn stealing is in your blood.." Sophie's voice cleared out, another few words added that I didn't manage to make out, but the first point was clear.

I frowned and leaned closer to the door hearing Anya shout over Sophie's voice. Something tightened in my chest. What the hell were they talking about?

"Stop saying that!"

"It is your last warning, alright? I know exactly what you're trying to do. You're using this marriage with Ash to get documents for citizenship in America. Tell me, did they send you a warning that they'll deport you already?"

My heart seemed to instantly drop at the pit of my stomach. Sophie's words were clear and seemed to even echo through the empty hall.. I couldn't believe my own ears.. Hell, I- I was in shock to even hear something like that come out of Sophie. She sounded angry and determined to prove a point while Anya kept quiet for the next few seconds..

Shock from those words washed over me like cold sweat, and anger from Sophie's disrespect towards Anya built the very second as well..

I took a step closer, wanting to walk in and stop that nonsense, knowing that the engagement was fake and Anya hadn't even mentioned anything about documents.. A warning? How could she- no, it couldn't be true. She would tell me if she got a deportation warning.

  Sophie continued beside Anya's tries to interrupt, and damn me for not walking in sooner.. I was blinded by the need to hear what kind of a deportation warning Sophie was talking about. It was Anya, for fucks sake.. Anya she was talking about.. If anyone meant something to me, it was her..

"I know exactly who and what your father was, and today you only proved me right. You want to marry Ash because you'll get deported back in England in less than twenty four hours unless you have a stable string. And like that job in that company wasn't damn enough.."

"I- I already told you it's not like that! What the hell do you want me to do to-"

  Anger seemed to boil inside me harsher and stronger with each word that Sophie said.. I was grinding my teeth at that point, and hearing the hurt in Anya's voice tore me apart. It was the moment I realized what her weakness did to me, and how in fact she was the only weakness inside me..

  Yet I was still furious with the thought of Sophie's words being true.. Refusing to accept the fact that they actually might be.. That Anya was getting deported and that she didn't tell me.

  As for the marriage that Sophie claimed was Anya's way of staying.. She was talking nonsense. First there was no actual marriage, and second, Anya was too pure to even think of a beneficial marriage like that.

"Drop out." Warning in her words was clear, and if Sophie wasn't a woman, I would had already been thinking of ways to strangle her. "I won't let you use him, Anastasia. Break the engagement, or I will."

  It was enough for my fury to explode and for my legs to move on their own. I walked inside and all that my vision was at that point were black and red dots as anger boiled inside me, worry and confusion towards Anya even more, and seeing both of them stand there in the middle like two cats ready to fight drove me mad.

  They both instantly looked at me and while Anya cussed something under her breath and turned to the side, Sophie's expression instantly softened.

  How many fucking things were going on behind my back while I was too damn blind to notice them?!

  Anya's deportation problems that she obviously hid, and Sophie's dumb false accusations that drove me fucking insane!

  "What the hell is going on here?"

***

O oh.. I smell trouble!

3/3 from the 'A taste of..' chapter series! 

  What do you guys think, how will Ash react? There was a bit revealed about Ash this chapter, but it seems like there will be a lot more revealed in the next chapter too 😉

Comment & vote babes! I will make sure to keep the updates as frequent as possible!

Kisses 😘