The silence lingered in the room.
Ashley got up and came to face him. "You could have gotten anybody, maybe who was even willing to get into it without any materialistic persuasion. So why me?"
A small smirk played on his lips. "Why do you think I will answer that?"
"I don't think you'll answer that." Ashley replied immediately. "But I do hope you can."
"If you can speak and are much more capable of forming sentences, why didn't bother speaking outside?" He tilted his head.
"Don't try to change the subject."
"I am not."
"So you mean I can speak against your family?" She chuckled in disbelief.
"Not against them. For show, you will be my wife for three years. My honor is in your hands and I don't allow anyone to walk over it."
Was he telling her to...take a stand for herself?
Ashley did not know what to say after this. She looked down before meeting his eyes again. "Not even your mother?"
"Not even my mother if she crosses the limits." He did not even blink while straightaway responding.
She took a silent breath and just then her phone rang. It was Skylar. "I need to take this." Michael did not even spew the look at her phone and meant to move out of the room.
He had already rotated the knob when he stopped and stared at her, "Because it has to be you." And then he was out.
Ashley was blank for a moment before realizing he had answered her question.
Because it had to be her...
But why?
His answer put her into another turmoil rather then solving it.
-
Three days passed since Ashley met his family. And for that matter, she did not hear anything from them again.
Was she disappointed?
Not at all.
Ashley knew for sure that there existed a high possibility about the discussions, pretty hostile ones, going on in Clark household currently regarding their marriage.
And after that day, she did not even wish to be included in it in person.
It was much better for her to be rather informed about the final decision through phone or something.
"Ashley?"
"Yes?" She looked up from the batter she had been mixing absentmindedly.
River smiled. "Where have you been lost?"
"Ah...nowhere."
River took away the bowl from her and removed the whisker. "This is overdone so I don't believe it occurred when you were concentrating."
She glanced at the batter. It was really over done.
"I am sorry."
River shrugged it off and smiled. "You don't have to apologize. Just so you know, I am a good listener as well."
Ashley smiled and nodded. River had become a friend of hers in the last few days. He was calm and composed but also cheerful.
"So tell me what were you thinking?"
"Nothing as such. Normally wondering about the life lately." For now, Ashley was under a trainee period of about two months to get familiar with the setting in The Divine.
This basically meant that she won't be having any curvy meeting with Adam Hughes till the ending of this period.
Moreover, River was given the responsibility to assist her throughout.
So if there would be any information regarding Chef Adam, she would learn it from him considering how much River was trusted by him.
"Anyways today's work is done. Would you like to walk through the street at the back? It looks lovely at this time."
"Sure." Ashley spoke casually without looking at his face and removed her apron. She failed to notice the red tint on his face while he was asking.
The evening was setting when they stepped out of the restaurant. The sky was in a beautiful form today with the clouds floating around.
Normally their restaurant would be packed around this time, but it was temporarily closed for renovation, giving Ashley time to master the dishes she'd soon prepare.
"Are you liking working here?" River asked after a while.
"It doesn't feel real."
"Probably because the hectic period hasn't started for you yet. Once you settled in, you will find out how much absorbed you will be in everything."
Ashley nodded.
That would be good too. If marriage was really going to happen then there was no way she would bear with Michael and his family all day.
Spending maximum time here and then only going back at night would be appreciated.
A touch on her arm and she looked at the owner. "You got lost again." River stated through a smile. He had gotten pretty used to it by now.
"Yes-I mean, no. Well, yes...occupied with certain issues." Ashley replied, a little embarrassed that he caught her zoned-out self again.
How could she even explain this now? Her mind only revolved around a certain CEO and his family.
"Not to pressurise you but if you ever want to share anything, or any issue, you can always reach out to me. I'll try my best to find the solution."
River stopped on his tracks and looked at her. He was being genuine and it reflected through his eyes.
"Thank you about that."
"Is it related to the restaurant? Are you worried about Chef Adams?"
"Not at all."
*Horn*
In reflex, both of their attention was pulled towards a low-key bentley coming to a stop not far from them. It was a familiar car and right when her phone rang, Ashley understood who it was.
Excusing herself, she walked a few steps away with her eyes fixed on the car.
"Get in the car."
That's it.
A single command and the call was cut.
Ashley sighed and looked at River with an apology. "Well, I am sorry but I need to go now. You will have to go back to the restaurant alone."
"It's totally fine." Though River was confused, he didn't hold her back. He watched as Ashley went to the car and opened the door before getting inside.
Had it not been for a fraction of second of accidental eye contact with the person on driving seat, River was going to believe that it was Skylar.
She had picked up Ashley from the restaurant yesterday and that was when he was introduced to her.
But it was not her.
It was a man.