Song on side is 'Happily Ever After' by He Is We. They are just amazing! Great band check out their other songs. (May or may not fit chapter but I love the song :) ) 

Happy Reading 

Before I knew it, it was Thursday, the day before the Benefit Gala. The last week and a half flew by with my running all over the place trying to get everything ready for that night. I had made hundreds upon hundreds of calls to different venues, caterers, party guests, the place where the invitations were being made. And on top of that I still had to do everything for Ashton at work, with meetings, filing, reports, running stupid errands for him. It's right to say I haven't slept very much in the last week. I didn't leave the office until 8 o'clock on most nights sometimes even staying until 9 or 10. I was exhausted but I had to make this gala amazing or Ashton would win and I would look stupid and incompetent.  

About a few days into the project I wondered why I was the only one doing all the work and he didn't have others doing stuff too. I was tempted to ask Judy why but I thought she would talk to Ashton about it and that was the last thing I wanted. I didn't want him thinking it couldn't handle it. Most days I almost missed lunch but Neena has gotten in the habit of calling and texting me over and over again until I came down to the cafeteria with her. If it wasn't for her I probably wouldn't eat all day. I had found out that Neena was very sarcastic and seemed to say whatever was on her mind most of the time. On Monday when Neena and I went to lunch Liam surprisingly came and ate with us. Neena had seen him a few times but never talked to him, so when he took a seat at our table she almost choked on her drink. She won't admit it but she was smitten for the data processor. 

Liam and Neena were my only friends at work and I was okay with that. They were both great to talk to and kept my mind off of a certain someone. When Neena came over during the weekend her and Kacey immediately clicked. They sat down on the couch and talked about fashion for a good hour before I interrupted them bored out of my mind. Since that night Neena seemed to come into our friendship and we were now the 3 amigos, but white. Kacey of course was still Kacey. Every night before bed she would lay something out for me to wear and they probably weren't the best to wear to work but since I had nothing else I wore them. She also made me promise once this Gala was over and I got paid we were going shopping. She had it in her mind that if I should a lot of skin Ashton would come running back apologizing and she had it totally wrong. All week he never once looked at me, he only did when he bossed me around to do stuff. 

Even during meetings with board members, clients, or other supervisors he kept his distance and his gaze far away from me. Whenever he did look at me it was with disgust and almost loathing. I guess I was really that terrible looking and disgusting that he regrets ever touching me. I swallowed down the pain everyday and ignored the ache in my chest that seemed to grow every time he asked me to book him a reservation at some fancy restaurant or when I went to his apartment and found a pair of woman's panties on his bedside table. I took all of that with stride but the other day when he came into work and had lipstick smeared on his neck and around his mouth I lost it. I locked myself in my office for a good hour before forcing all of my feelings down and got back to work. It was safe to say my heart had a pretty good crack in it by now. I was happy now that I didn't sleep with him or the pain would be worse. 

Both Neena and Kacey didn't like that Ashton was using me and making me do this whole gala by myself. They both threatened to kick Ashton's ass and do a few other things that I will not repeat but lets just say there was a lot of cussing and Ashton wouldn't be walking or having kids anytime soon. After telling them I was fine and practically yelling at them both to stop they did but rather reluctantly. Everyday they still said stuff about Ashton but luckily didn't do anything. I agreed with them but I needed this job and I felt like I needed to prove myself to everyone. 

Back in high school I was the quiet, shy nerd with the popular best friend. I didn't socialize much, thanks to my parents mostly, and kids tended to pick on me more than others. I never told Kacey that people did and that most were her friends on the cheerleading squad. While Kacey was cheer co-captain, student body officer, and was out going and friendly; I was the total opposite. I never did any sports, I stayed in the library 9 out of 10 times, and I was quiet around people. Maybe it was because I didn't want people to find out what my parents did to me or maybe it was because  my parents threatened me that if anyone found out they would do something way worse than usual. I feared that if I got out of my shell the spotlight would turn to me and shine down on my family and how terrible my home life was. So I stayed the social hermit and let Kacey have all the spotlight.

Once I moved out and went to college I kind of became a different person. Being away from my abusive family was the best thing that could have happened to me. I came out of my shell and loosened up a bit more. I was more out going and actually went to parties with Kacey. My first year of college I got my very first boyfriend, Jason Wells, and I couldn't be happier. He was on the schools football team, very cute, and a about a year older than me. He had blonde hair that was slightly long but short, a pair of really pretty green eyes, and very fine body if you know what I mean. I was one of those girls who had the hottest boyfriend and was a nerd. We got along great and he helped me become more confident and social. Well I kind of had to be when I was dating the schools star running back. 

Jason managed to push down my walls I had built around me and wedged himself inside. And for once I was completely and utterly happy. He didn't seem to care about my past and the huge scar I had on my stomach, he liked me for me. Being a happy and naive 19 year old I lost my virginity to him. We dated for almost 2 years; I was in the middle of my Junior year and he was a Senior. Everything in my life was going great. My grades were high, I hadn't heard from my parents, Kacey was happy with her own boyfriend and I was in love. I remember the day when my whole split in two so clearly like it just happened yesterday.

*Flashback* 

It was the day of our anniversary, 2 years we had been together. I had gotten all ready, dressed up in a tight short dress cause that's what he liked. My hair was curled perfectly as my makeup. I had never gotten this dressed up before but I wanted this night to be perfect. For our special day I went and spent my last 3 pay checks and bought him a specially signed football by his favorite quarterback. I had search for weeks to find one and when I did it was a lot of money. At the time I was working on campus and only made so much but I wanted to get Jason something nice, so I bought it. I wrapped it all nice and made a card telling him how much I loved him and how he had changed my life. He told me he would pick me up at 6 and take me somewhere that was a surprise. Slowly 6 o'clock came and went. I sat on my couch waiting and looking at the door every 5 seconds. 

Soon it was 8 o'clock and he still hadn't shown up. Wondering what was taking so long I sent him a text and waited. When 8:30 hit and there was still no reply I decided to check his room. Maybe something had happen and he left his phone. Thankfully his dorm room wasn't to far from mine and I walked there in 5 minutes. With his present under one arm I knocked on his door, when no answer came I tried again. This time I heard shuffling through the door and a few grunts and moans. Confused I put my hand on the door handle and found it unlock. The voice in the back of my head was yelling and telling me not to go in there but I ignored it. I pushed through the door and immediately froze.

There on the bed was my boyfriend and some blonde. I recognized her from the cheer team but couldn't place her name. They were both stark naked and didn't even seem to notice me there. They kept going at it as I stood there froze and watched. My eyes filled with tears as I realized he was here fucking some other girl while I sat at home waiting for him to come pick me up, and on our anniversary. I must have gasped or something for both of their heads snapped to my direction. Jason's green eyes widened as he took me in staring at them. 

"Layla." He started to say but I just shook my head at him. 

"So this is what you were doing instead of picking me up for our anniversary?' I said surprised my voice came out strong instead of small like how I was feeling. He pushed the blonde to the side and went to stand up a sheet wrapped around his bare waist. 

"Babe." 

"Don't babe me. I am not your babe anymore." I said my voice neutral despite the anger and hurt that was welling in my chest. I should have known this was to good to be true. "Happy Anniversary." With that I turned set his gift on the table by the door and walked out slamming the door behind me. I walked down the hall blindly as tears streamed down my face. I had some how made my way home and collapsed on my bed sobbing. 

*End of Flashback* 

It's pretty ironic how I was in the same position only a week ago. After that day I found him I went back to being a shell. Jason only bugged me for a few days before he stopped and he never talked to me again. After Jason I only went on a few dates but never had a serious relationship. I became who I once was and I didn't want to become like that again. It took my months to get back to semi normal and even than I wasn't the same. That is why this time with Ashton I was determined I wasn't going to do that again and that I was going to prove to everyone and myself I am stronger now than I was before. This gala was going to show that I can do things myself and that I wasn't easily broken. Friday's gala was going to be the best one this company has done and it will be all thanks to me. 

That is why I am here sitting in Ashton's office writing down his speech for him. I wanted to ignore him completely but being is PA and in-charge of everything I had to make sure his speech was written and done. Ashton had to give the opening speech Friday and it had to be good. We have been going at it for an hour and thankfully we were about done. Only a few more sentences to wrap it all up. It was times like these I was glad my handwriting was pretty good. It would suck for Ashton if my handwriting sucked and he had to read it. 

Ashton sat there looking out his window not saying anything as I caught up writing what he told me to. The tension in the air was almost palpable and I wanted out of this office quickly. It was past 5:30 and my stomach was growling constantly. Who knew this job would make me as hungry as I am everyday. You would think I had a physical job but my old job was worse than this and I wasn't nearly as hungry. I was starting to think they put pot in the food so you would keep coming to get more; almost like gold fish.

Being the writer that I am or well want to be I had put extra words into Ashton's speech along with some extra sentences to sound better. Noticing that Ashton wasn't paying attention to me I finished his speech off for him. Quickly re-reading through it I deemed it good and set it down on his desk. I stood up ready to go home. I need as much sleep as I could since tomorrow was the gala. I had a thousand things to do tomorrow at work than I had to get ready and head to the place to gala was being held to make sure everything was set up at exactly 7 before guest arrived. I didn't want to attend but I had to be there to make sure security was placed through out the place, that the food was done on time and had enough, that the tables were finished/set, and that people who were making speeches and auctioning off stuff was done correctly. I wasn't even planning on dressing up, I was just going to wear what I would wear to work. It wasn't like I was important enough to be there anyways. 

"Is that all Mr. Miller?" I asked straightening out my things.

"I need you to cancel all of my appointments tomorrow and reschedule them. I won't be in all day." He said not looking at me. Great just great. More work for me. 

"Sure thing. Anything else?" I saw him shake his head so I stood up and straightened my skirt. "Make sure you are there a little bit before 7." I said.

"Make sure you don't wear anything revealing, not that its going to be hard seeing the way you are. I don't want people talking about how much of a slut my assistant is. And if this gala is terrible it is on your head. Not mine." Ashton said out of the blue. I froze and stared at him. Did he just say I was a slut and that I would be fired if this gala was bad? My chest ached as his words surrounded me. I bit back my retort I really wanted to say. 

"Yes sir." I bit out and left his office. There was so many things I wanted to say to Ashton. Most were swear words and the others were questions as to why he was treating me like shit now. Forcing my legs to leave the building instead of turning around and giving Ashton a piece of my mind was hard to do. As I got in a taxi and drove home I couldn't help but think.

Just you wait Ashton. Just you wait. 

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hi guys! I updated sooner than I said yay! Sorry for the short chapter but the next one will be long because it will be the Benefit Gala. Drama soon to come!!! I am actually pretty proud of this chapter. It is one of my favorites so far. You learn more about Layla and how her heart was first broken. This wasn't how I was going to have this chapter but once I started writing I liked it to much to get rid of it so...I hope you guys enjoy it too :)

Thanks you guys for all the comments last chapter too. I'm glad you guys are liking it so far. The next chapter will be up soon so look out. Sorry there wasn't much dialogue in it and not a whole lot of Ashton but I will put a POV of his next chapter :)

I have spring break in about a week so if anyone wants to recommend any new books to read, or music to listen to I would it!! :) And as always banners or suggestions are always welcome!!!!!!

As always VOTE, COMMENT, and READ!! 

<3 

-Kendoll