After eating all the whipped cream, Ash brought the goblet close to his mouth and took a big sip of the latte. His phone rang. It was Raja calling him so he picked up quickly.

"Tell them to call later."

It's your mother on the phone, sir.

Shit... Ash knew something was not right. He bit his lip.

Do I tell her to call later?

"Uhm, no, just pass me the call." Ash didn't like getting in arguments with his mother. She was stubborn and she'd probably make a scene and keep bashing his assistant.

Alright, sir. Here you go.

"Hi mom." Ash spoke after he heard the new line.

Ash! Oh, I called your phone so many times! Don't you have it with you?

"I don't. I think I left it at home." The phone was probably lost under the big pile of empty latte cups on his desk.

You should always have it with you! What if I want to check on you?

"It's fine, mom. You can always call the office." Ash cleared his throat. "How're you? Is everything good back in town?"

Everything is okay. I'm lonely but I don't have a choice!

She always said that. "I'd like to visit but you know I'm very busy with work."

But you still have to visit! There is this little something you have to sort out! Do you remember?

"Huh?"

It's about your girlfriend! When are you going to introduce her to me?

"I-I don't know-there is work back at office and-..."

You can send your girlfriend on her own to Pallet town! I need to see her!

Ash cleared his throat again. He took a sip of his latter. "She's busy."

Well, fine! I'll come and see her!

"No, mom! It's fine!"

Give me your girlfriend's phone number.

"Mom, can I call you later? I have an appointment."

You've been dating for four years and I never got to see your girlfriend! This is not right, Ash! You keep delaying this and you're thirty-five already! If you hit forty it'll be hard for you to find a wife!

"This conversation is unnecessary!" Ash felt like crawling under his desk and never coming out. "I'm working! I can't talk about this right now!"

And why does she always refuse to come to Pallet? Huh?

"Mom! I said I'm working right now!"

If she's busy, then stop dating her! I'll talk with Serena's mother aga-

"No, mom! Wait!" Ash got up. "Don't do anything!"

Fine, then. This means I'm going to see her next time you visit. Is that so?

"Uh..."

Don't worry, dear. If she makes you happy, then I'm happy. I won't disapprove of her! I just want you to be with someone who can take care of you.

"I'm working..." Ash hid his face with his hand. His mother was lying. She wasn't that 'easy'.

Is she way older than you? Is that why you're been hiding her from me?

"Not that-I'm not hiding her-I just..." Ash panicked. He was seriously in deep shit. "We've been very busy, that's all."

What's her name anyway? I think I forgot!

"I-I really have to end this call, mom. We'll talk when I get home, okay?"

Your uncle says you're gay! Is that true? Are you dating a man?

Ash sighed. "No, mom, I'm not gay and I'm not dating a man."

Well?

"It's a long story. We'll talk later. Bye."

Don't forget to call me!

Ash sighed heavily after he hang up. "What's this mess I got myself into..."

He groaned and put his head on his desk.

"Oh my God, he's so boring!"

Misty opened the door of the store and got inside. For her date tonight, she was dressed in a creamy dress and high heels. She attached her long straight orange hair in a low ponytail and added a small touch of make-up. Even though she felt beautiful and she was excited for tonight, her date turned out to be completely boring. He barely talked and he just made her feel uncomfortable by staring at her body.

To cut the awkwardness in the car, she told him she needed to get something from the store.

"Anything for you! Ugh, who still says that nowadays?" He's blurted out a cheesy 'anything for you' when she asked him to pull over. She thought it was completely high school.

Misty took out a bottle of water from the fridge. Right when she turned around, she saw Ash who was picking up something. She quickly walked away.

"Wait, why am I hiding from that idiot?" She decided she didn't need to hide. She had sexy clothes on, she was slender and she looked pretty, so why hide?

Misty peeked at him. It was Ash, indeed. He was wearing shorts and a tee shirt. She's never seen him wear anything other than his suit. Misty's eyes traveled all over his body. He was on the thick side, too well fed. His shoulders were broad and he stood at an average height. She's heard he was from a small village in Kanto. May told her that when he joined the company, he barely talked to the female coworkers.

"What am I doing anyway? Stalking this idiot!" Misty shook her head. She grabbed a second bottle of water and made her way to the register.

She's have gotten to the register if she didn't run into Ash who was walking away from the cereals aisle.

Their eyes met and both stepped to the back instantly.

"Oh, it's you." Misty pretended she was surprised. She crossed her arms over her chest. "Are you stalking me because you have nothing else better to do?"

"No, I'm just getting my groceries." Though, the ton of Ash's voice didn't sound as sarcastic as usual. He didn't look pushy either.

"Well, fine. Get out of my way, then."

"You're on my way."

Misty pulled away from his shopping cart. She glanced at its content. "You need to slow down on the beer and the food, you know? You might pop the button off your pants tomorrow at the reunion."

Ash looked offended. He spoke in angry manner, "You might stay associate vice-president for the rest of your days."

"Burn in hell." Misty whispered and made her way to the register to pay for the two bottles of water.

"I can't stand this witch anymore..." Ash huffed, waiting for Misty to leave the register so he can go pay for his articles.

Misty was incompetent. Ash was sure they only wanted her because she's a girl and she has good looks. President takes her whenever he has to assist to a reception or to a business dinner, and it makes Ash mad because he's her superior and he should be going to those events instead. So what if she had a major in Journalism and she was a great talker? Ash was a business guy. He was better than her. He was more experienced. He was better than her in everything!

"I'll let her die as an associate vice-president..." he mumbled to himself as he headed to the register now that Misty was gone. "I hate her! What a pain in the ass..."

Glancing through the large glassy door of the store, Ash could see Misty hop in a nice Porsche after a guy opened the door for her.

She's dating... He's always thought Misty was a very materialistic girl. She probably likes going out with rich guys and buying clothes with their money. But he guessed they're not to blame. Misty had the looks. She really did... really...

"What am I thinking?" Ash took out his wallet to fetch his credit card. "I'm thinking that witch is pretty! But pretty isn't about the outside! It's about the inside! And inside, Misty sucks! She probably wears spandex anyway!"

The woman behind the register kept staring at Ash.

"Here." He smiled nervously and handed her over his credit card.