Layla
When my alarm starting blaring at 5:30 a.m. the next morning, I was so close to breaking the damn thing. Last night, Neena had stayed over until eleven or so having a girls’ night, and it wasn’t the greatest idea considering all three of us had work early in the morning. At the time, it was fun and a good idea, but now, as I listened to my alarm, I wanted to take it back. I slammed my hand on the snooze button and cracked open my eyes to stare at the ceiling, dreading going to work today.
Knowing I had to see Ashton today, I wasn’t all too happy. With a loud groan, I pulled my covers off and stumbled into the bathroom scrubbing my tired eyes. The day hadn’t even started and I had a feeling it was going to be a long one. I washed my face, and put a little bit of makeup on before brushing my wavy hair. Going to my closet, I pulled out a new pretty orange dress, and since it had thinner straps, I also put on a cute black blazer. I pulled it on before going to the mirror. The dress hugged my body but wasn’t too slutty or fancy for work, and the black blazer helped make it look more professional. Sliding on my black heels, I grabbed my bag and phone and left the apartment.
When I got to work, I said my hellos to everyone, including Judy. Opening my office door, I was met with a pile of paperwork. Got to love Mondays, I thought sarcastically. With a sigh, I set my stuff down and got to work. I honestly didn’t know how all this work was able to pile up on my desk since Friday night. I only left about twenty minutes earlier than most days; like that was enough time for all this to happen. I spent the next little while slowly making my way through the pile. I knew that if someone honestly asked Ashton how good of a PA I was, I bet he would say I sucked, and I’d kind of agree.
I mean, yeah, I do the work I am assigned and at first, I went to the meetings with Ashton, but lately, I hadn’t been doing so. I had been avoiding him at almost every cost, and in doing so I hadn’t gone to any meetings or even stayed later to discuss some of the paperwork and reports. Thankfully, today time seemed to go fast and I was holed up in my office until lunch came around. I knew that if I saw Ashton, I would break down and probably do something I would regret later. I mean, it was basically somewhat my fault, but still.
The clock hit noon, and I only had a few things left to do, so I decided to head to the cafeteria and meet up with Neena and Liam. I walked quickly past Ashton’s door, but at the same time slow enough where Judy wouldn’t think I was being weird. My heels clicked against the tile as I walked toward the cafeteria. Not really in the mood for anything to eat, I went straight to the Frappuccino machine to get some much-needed coffee. If I was going to make it the rest of the day, I would definitely need a pick-me-up.
Once my drink was done, I turned and looked around the room trying to spot Neena and Liam. Just as I was about to give up, I spotted them in a corner booth sitting close to one another and laughing about something. I was torn between going over and interrupting them or to go back upstairs, I decided to let them be and was about to turn away when I heard Neena yell my name. Turning around, I walked over to their booth and shot them a guilty look.
“Sorry, I didn’t want to interrupt you guys.”
“No, you’re fine,” Liam said, nodding to the other side of the booth. I slid in then took a sip of my drink, watching them. Liam grinned down at Neena, who was curled up on his side, I stared at them, feeling jealous and sad. I wish someone would look at me like that, like I was their entire world. Smiling softly at them, I grinned inside of my mind knowing I helped get them together. At least I could help other people’s love lives. The longer I sat there, the more I felt like a third wheel and like I was ruining their moment together.
“I better go,” I said, standing up, but they didn’t seem to notice what I said and kept talking. Rolling my eyes, I walked away. I figured I might as well get back to work instead of just trying to kill time. The more occupied I was, the faster the clock would move.
About two and a half hours later, I leaned back in my chair and rubbed my head. My eyes were burning from having to stare at the computer for a long time, and my hand ached from all the writing I had to do. I closed my eyes, feeling proud of myself for getting that whole pile done. Not even after a minute of congratulating myself, my work phone decided to buzz.
“Hello?” I spoke into the phone, keeping my eyes closed.
“Ms. Kingston?” a female voice asked.
“Yes, this is she.”
“This is Karen Fielding, the head coordinator in human resources.”
“Oh, hello,” I answered sitting up. They’d never called me in person before, so something must be wrong.
“I hate to bother you, but there is a slight problem with that paperwork you sent to us Friday. My workers hadn’t caught it, but I was going over the file and saw it does not have a signature.”
“A signature?” I asked, confused. I knew what file she was talking about, but I hadn’t known that it needed a signature.
“Yes, a signature by Mr. Miller.” I rubbed the bridge of my nose, trying not to groan. That file needed to be filed and out by Friday night. It was all the paperwork on our newest client and one of the wealthiest ones to invest in us. I couldn’t screw up this file.
“Okay, just a signature is needed?”
“Yes, and any other changes that he wants made to it,” Karen said. “I need it back here by five o’clock tonight.” A string of curse words ran through my head when I said a thank you and hung up.
Okay, it was almost 3:30, so I had about two hours until I needed it back. I can do this, I thought to myself. I quickly left my office and headed downstairs to the human resources level. Asking around, I finally found Karen’s office and got the file back. My heels clicked loudly as I walked off the elevator and toward Ashton’s office.
“Hey, Judy. Is Ashton in?” I asked. Hopefully, I could quickly get Ashton’s signature on the form and get it back with plenty of time to spare.
“He isn’t, actually. He just stepped out,” Judy said. I was looking around the office until she said Ashton was out and my eyes snapped to her.
“Wait? He’s gone? Where did he go?” I asked.
“I don’t know. He just said he was leaving and wouldn’t be back.” No, no, no. This can’t be happening.
“He didn’t say where he was going?”
“Sorry, sweetie, no.” Great, now I have to run all over New York trying to find him for a damn signature. I wanted to yell but instead, I bit my lip.
“It’s okay. Thanks though.” I headed to my office to see if I could get a hold of him. I dialed his number and held my phone between my shoulder and neck while I went through the file. I wanted to make sure I did it right, especially if I had missed getting Ashton’s signature.
The annoying voicemail voice entered through my phone. I tapped my finger against the desk, waiting impatiently so I could leave a message.
“Hey, Ashton, it’s Layla.” Right after I said it, I wanted to slap myself. Of course, Ashton knows it’s you, Layla. “I really need you to call me back, okay? So, when you get this, please call me. It’s very important.” I ended the call and stared down at the phone almost like I was trying to make it ring with my mind. I’ll give him a few minutes then I’ll call again.
I leafed through the file, going over everything. I thought back to the one time Ashton had talked to me last week when he handed me this file.
“I need you get this file all worked out and give it to human resources immediately. It is our new client, and the latest it can go out is Friday. Don’t screw this up.”
I remembered it specifically because I wanted to strangle him as he walked out of my office. When I had re-gone over the file, I decided that was enough time and called Ashton again. I watched the clock as the hands went around and around more time passing. I got his voicemail again, and I had to grip the edges of my desk so I wouldn’t hurl my phone across the room.
“Ashton, it’s me again. This is pretty urgent, and I need you to call me immediately. Please,” I added before hanging up once again. I couldn’t help but think of the irony at the moment; I was Ashton’s personal assistant and I was supposed to know where he was at all times but I had no idea. The clock ticked on, and soon five minutes had passed. My body was full of sudden nerves as I thought about what would happen if I didn’t get this file in before five o’clock. I tried Ashton’s phone one last time, but got nothing again. Instead of leaving a message, I slammed my phone on the counter. There has to be another way to find Ashton or to get another signature.
When Ashton had told me not to screw this up, I had caught the warning underneath his tone that if I didn’t do this I would have to pay. I sent Ashton what had to be the hundredth text in the last minute. When another five minutes had passed and he hadn’t replied, I thought screw it. I grabbed my things and the file before leaving my office. The only place I could think he would be at was his apartment. I quickly made my way to the elevator and to the curb to hail a cab. Sliding inside of one, I told the driver Ashton’s address and while we drove to his place, I looked down at my phone practically willing it to ring. I wasn’t looking forward to going to Ashton’s apartment because of what happened the last time I went, but I had no choice.
“We are here, miss,” the driver said, breaking me out of my thoughts.
“Thank you.” Handing him the money, I got out and headed inside. As I rode the elevator up, I prayed he didn’t have Natasha over again; if he did, I thought I would lose it. Layla, all you have to do is get his signature and then you can leave. The elevator doors opened, and I took a deep breath before heading toward Ashton’s door. I knocked on the door and waited for an answer. He better be here, I thought. When no one answered, I tried again but with the same result. Not having time to do this, I punched in the code and opened the door.
“Ashton?” I called out walking to the living room. Setting my bag, the file, and my black blazer on the couch, I headed toward the kitchen calling out Ashton’s name again. Looking around, I didn’t see Ashton and started up the stairs toward his bedroom. As I came to the half-open door, I heard voices.
“Ash, baby,” a female voice said. That doesn’t sound like Natasha; she doesn’t have an accent.
“No, Allie, I can’t,” I heard Ashton say. Curiosity got the better of me, so I tried to quietly walk toward the door. Peeking my head around the corner, I saw Ashton turned halfway toward me with a very pretty blonde in front of him. I could only see a little of her, but saw she was wearing a tight black dress that barely went to the top of her tan thighs, a pair of studded heels, and her blonde hair was long and wavy down her back. Ashton had taken off his suit jacket and rolled up his button up shirt to his elbows.
“No, Ash, you still want me.” The girl practically purred, running her hand down the front of his chest. From here, I could see Ashton’s jaw clenched and his eyes narrowed. When her hands trailed down his chest, I saw his neck vein popping out like he was restraining from doing something.
“Allie, you need to stop.” Allie? Who the hell is Allie? I watched as she stepped up to him and pressed against him. He grabbed her arms and pushed her away from him.
“Does this have to do with that brunette girl I have been seeing around you? Do you love her?” The girl Allie suddenly narrowed her eyes at Ashton. My eyes widened.
“Layla is none of your concern.” Ashton spoke in a deep, threatening tone. If I were in front of him, I would be shaking with how scary his expression was.
“Layla, that’s the slut’s name?” I couldn’t stop the “Hey” that burst from my lips before it was too late. Both of their heads whipped to my direction. I felt my cheeks turning red, and feeling self-conscious from their gazes, I stood up and smoothed down my dress. I held my head up and walked through the door, trying to act like their narrowed eyes didn’t bug me. Seeing Allie standing so close to Ashton in what could only be called as a long tube top, caused a sudden a wave of anger washed over me.
“Who are you calling a slut? Have you had a good look in the mirror lately?” I heard myself saying in a tone I’d never used before. It sounded low and almost dangerous, and it surprised me as well as them both. I watched as her eyes widened before narrowing once more on me.
“Layla.” She spit out my name like it was poison. “So, this is who you’ve been screwing while I’ve been gone.” Before I could snap a reply, Ashton beat me to it.
“While you were gone?” he almost boomed. “You cheated on me, stole my money, and left for four years!” Ashton yelled. Suddenly, the pieces fell into place. This was the girl who had broken Ashton and made him the way he is. She cheated on him and then stole his money? I felt closer to Ashton in that moment because we both had been cheated on, but his was worse than mine. How could she have stolen money from him then just leave? I took a step closer to Ashton while glaring at Allie.
The anger I felt at Ashton for not telling me and for letting something like this ruin what could have happened between us was building inside of me, but the anger I felt toward Allie was even greater. Yes, Ashton had been a dick to me, but I had seen the good sides of him and this girl was the one to take away the way Ashton used to be. She just used him for money. Played his feelings like an instrument.
“You need to leave. You are not welcome here,” I stated, the tension in the air wrapping its claws around all three of us.
“Excuse me, but I belong here more than you do. Just because Ashton is fucking you doesn’t mean you mean something to him,” Allie said to me.
“You are only back here because you need more money, am I right? So, he may be ‘fucking’ me, but at least I haven’t stolen from him. So, take your ass outside and let the door hit you on the way out,” I said in a sweet tone.
“Leave before I get security up here to force you to leave,” Ashton said next to me. When both Ashton and I glared at her, her eyes kept going back and forth between us two. With a huff and a scream, she stormed past me, knocking her shoulder forcefully into mine. I stood tense beside Ashton until I heard the front door slam shut, and I let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding. That was actually a lot easier than I expected. I thought she would have put up more of a fight, but that, of course, didn’t mean she will go away so easily. I felt Ashton next to me let out a long breath.
“Layla—” he started, but I whirled around to face him. My anger toward him was now starting to surface.
“Don’t you even start, Ashton,” I hissed out. “This is why you couldn’t answer my calls or texts?”
“What? I came home to grab something and she appeared at my door. We had barely started talking when you interrupted.”
“Interrupted? I just helped you and that’s all I get, that I interrupted! I got her to leave.” I barely contained my anger. I’d never wanted to yell so bad my entire life.
“I was handling it just fine. You don’t know anything about the situation,” Ashton hissed back at me, taking a step forward.
“You’re right I don’t! I don’t know shit because you keep it all in! Do you realize that you let her win? You let her break you.”
“She did not break me.” His eyes narrowed even more, and his jaw was clenched so hard I thought I could hear teeth grinding against each other.
“Yes, she did! You don’t think I can see how she has hurt you? You walk around with a shield around yourself, not letting anyone in. She made you this way, didn’t she? Cold, heartless, not letting anyone in.” I watched as Ashton flinch at those words, but I couldn’t stop the words from overflowing. I was finally saying the stuff I had wanted to say for a while.
“That is why you broke it off with me, isn’t it? You think I’m just like Allie, and that I’ll do the same thing.” Just the idea that he thought I would be the same as his ex hurt more than anything.
“Don’t say her name,” Ashton all but growled at me.
“Answer my question,” I bit out. “Did you break it off with me because you thought I would be just like her?” I didn’t need his answer because his expression said it all. His face had always been a mask, showing no emotion until now. Written across his face was guilt, anger, and sadness. Even without words, it felt like a blow to the stomach. Swallowing back the tears threatening to spill, I clenched my jaw and turned to walk away.
“Layla, don’t walk away from me,” Ashton said, grabbing my hand and whirling me around.
“Don’t!” I ripped my hand out of his. I lost my battle with my tears and they started rolling down my cheeks.
“I did it to protect you from me. After what Allie did to me, I haven’t cared about anybody besides my family, women especially.”
“You can’t stand there and make up excuses for what you have done, for what you have said to me!” I yelled through my tears.
“Listen to me.” He grabbed my hand again. “From the moment I saw you at that club, I wanted you, more than any woman I have ever wanted. I couldn’t get my mind off of you no matter what I did. I couldn’t sleep and lay there thinking of your face and your smile every single night. After I asked you out and spent the day with you, I knew I felt something for you. Something stronger than anything I had felt, even for Allie, and she was the first girl I was really in love with. I knew from the way I have treated women that I didn’t deserve you, so I ended anything before it could begin.”
“Then decided to treat me like shit to make yourself feel better, huh!”
“No, I didn’t mean for all of that to come out. I thought the more I pushed you away the better it would be for you. I didn’t want you mixed up with me, but it was so hard to do. Layla, you don’t know how hard it is not talking to you daily, or kissing you every second of the day. It drove me crazy! Then, right when I decided to tell you how I felt, you had to go and get with Alex Ryder, the one guy I hate with everything I have!”
“Why does it matter I am with Alex? I came here Saturday morning but found you with Natasha! So, don’t make this out to be all me! Not even two weeks after you broke it off with me, you showed up to the gala with her on your arm, then kissed her in front of me. Did you not think that would affect me?” Thinking back to that moment my chest hurt.
“Natasha doesn’t mean anything to me! Saturday, she broke it off with me saying she doesn’t want to stand in the way of anybody else. If I had known you were here, I would have gone to you immediately. And I wasn’t thinking! I wanted to get you to move on without me. But I don’t want you to! I want you here with me. I want to kiss you anytime I want, to hold you against me, to see you smile up at me, not Alex!” His blue eyes were blazing as he stared down at me.
“You lost that right when you pushed me away and called me a mistake!” My tears were coming stronger.
“Layla.” He stood right up against me, making me take a step back. We continued this until my back hit the wall. He put his hands on either side of my head, trapping me in. “You are not a mistake,” he said lowly, looking down into my gray eyes. I tried to look away, but he reached and softly grabbed my chin. “You are not a mistake. You are the best thing to happen to me. I didn’t know it until now, when you stood by me with Allie. You are everything I want, you argue with me and make me want to pull my hair out at times, you make me feel like my old self, and you make me want to change,” he said softly, tracing his fingers along my jaw.
My eyes threatened to close, but I kept them open staring into Ashton’s eyes. I saw the sincerity in them, and something else I couldn’t make out. The way he was staring down at me I felt my body heat up and emotion flare inside of me. I wanted him so badly.
“I want you all to myself,” he whispered, lowering his head to my ear. I shivered and felt goosebumps trail up and down my bare arm.
His hands lowered, and he slowly ran them down my arms until he reached my hands. I could feel my body heating up, and I licked my lips. His fingers were through mine. When I was distracted by his gaze, he left my arms up and above my head, holding them in place. His hot breath tickled my face as he leaned in closer. I finally closed my eyes as his lips captured mine. He didn’t kiss me softly; instead, he kissed me with what seemed like everything he had.
It was a hard and demanding kiss. He kept my wrists together with one hand while bringing the other one at an agonizing pace down my neck, down the side of my breast and to my waist before gripping it and pulling me roughly toward him. I couldn’t stop my body from arching into his hard chest while kissing him back. I put everything I had into it, wanting him to feel everything I felt. When we were kissing, everything seemed to fade away and it was only us two. I forgot about all of our problems and focused on his lips against mine and his warm hand on my waist.
Ashton’s lips became more demanding, and his tongue made its way into my mouth. I couldn’t help but moan low in my throat and press even more against him. My moan must have set something off inside of him because he let go of my hands and gripped my waist with both hands, lifting me up. I wrapped my legs around his waist, and he led us to his bed. He dropped me suddenly on the bed, forcing our lips apart and a squeal to escape my lips as I bounced on the bed. Before I was even settled on the bed, Ashton was on top of me in-between my legs. He kept his weight off of me by having his forearms on either side of my head.
I wrapped my legs around his waist, and ran my fingers up his face and jaw before going to his hair. It was just as I remembered, soft as silk. His lips landed on mine again, and I softly bit his bottom lip. With a growl, he kissed me harder and pressed me into the bed further. My body felt like it was on fire, and my hands left his hair and gripped the front of his shirt. My fingers made quick work of his buttons, and soon I was peeling it off of his upper body. My hands trailed down his muscular back, and I dug my nails in when he let go of my lips and starting kissing and sucking my neck.
“Ashton,” I moaned. He took my hint and reached his hand behind my back, slowly unzipping my dress. After he had it off, I unbuttoned his pants and pulled them down and off his legs.
I lay naked beneath him, feeling self-conscious knowing he would be seeing my scar. It was the thing I hated the most and I hated showing it to people. I looked up at Ashton under my lashes to see his reaction. His face was clear of emotion, and I felt his finger run across it. I shivered and looked up fully at him. He leaned down and kissed me so hard taking my breath away and almost saying he didn’t mind it. He looked down at me and sent me a look to ask if I was ready. With a nod and a smile, he spread my legs before plunging inside of me. I gasped and arched my back gripping his hair. We spent the rest of the night in bed together, forgetting everything but us.