Chapter 9 Awkward

"Ms. Ashley, are you okay?" I looked at Abby when she asked. She looked puzzled.

"H-Ha?" She placed the folder I needed to check and approve on my desk.

"Are you okay? Is something bothering you? You look anxious." I shook my head and smiled at her.

"N-no... I m-mean. Yeah! I'm okay. Don't worry about me." I faked a laugh.

"Do you want anything? Maybe water, juice, or coffee? I c-"

"Ah... No, thanks. I'll just come down and have a snack later. Thank you." I smiled at her. She nodded.

I tightly closed my eyes and grabbed a handful of hair on the top of my head. I tighten the grip. If someone sees me like this, they will think I'm going crazy.

"Gosh, what's wrong with me..." I turned my swivel chair to face the bookshelf in my office.

"It's been what? Two nights? Two-sleepless nights! Damn!!! It's making me nuts!!!

Ever since that thing happened... That kiss! That kiss has caused me sleepless nights. And it keeps on bugging me!!! I hate it! I can't even focus on my work. What if I bumped into him? How will I handle it?! That would be awkward! Urrgghhh!!!" I keep on murmuring.

I shut my eyes tightly... Memories keep on flashing in my mind.

The moment when his lips touched mine because of the group of men who bumped us, he asked if I was okay... Then he dragged me out of the bar until we reached the parking lot. He was still holding my wrist tightly like he was afraid that he would lose me. Then we barely noticed we were already in front of his car.

He held my chin using his fingers, and our gaze met. His eyes stared directly at me, and then he turned his gaze to my lips. A few seconds later he kissed me!

"I'm sorry about that," He said apologetically. After he ended it, he apologized?! Like... Seriously?! I scoffed and shook my head.

"I-It's fine. Don't worry." I stuttered and made an awkward smile. But then our gaze met again. I looked at his lips, and it tempted me. He bit his lower lip unconsciously, and it made me eager to kiss him... And so I did!

I kissed him! I initiated the kiss! His eyes widened, as he stiffened. I realized what had happened and was about to pull away, but he grabbed me closer to him. He held my waist to support me. I was so startled that my eyes widened as he moved his lips on mine. He bit at them, causing me to gasp, and he separated my lips with his tongue. To my surprise, I suddenly pushed him.

I immediately ran to my car and drove as fast as I could. In my stupidity, I left my bag at the VIP lounge. It was a good thing I had my keys in my pocket.

When I arrived at the office earlier, Abby immediately asked me why I suddenly disappeared. I just reasoned out that there was an emergency, so I couldn't say goodbye, and she gave me my bag.

"You are an idiot, Ashtrella!!!" I said stiffly while grabbing onto my hair and stomping on the ground, like a baby throwing a tantrum.

"What are you doing?!" I was startled when I heard that voice. I slowly lowered my hand that was tweaking my hair and closed my eyes tightly. I still didn't want to face that person. I don't want to see him.

"Hey! Where are you?" He spoke again, and the amusement was evident in his voice. I took a deep breath.

"Okay! Take a deep breath Ashley," I muttered to myself. I bent my head down to hide my face, pretending I was not there.

I jumped in shock when suddenly something hit my table, so my eyes widened, and I gasped. His gaze met mine. There is a ghost of a smile on his lips... He looked at me with amusement in his face that seemed to hold back his laughter. I cocked my head only to notice that there was someone else besides him. Abby had a surprised look on her face, maybe with how I looked when confronted by Mr. Moon.

I slowly slipped into my seat and wished that the ground could eat me.

"What the hell are you doing?" His brows knitted while looking at me. I faked a laugh... "He-he" I turned around again and adjusted myself... I felt very awkward and embarrassed, so I arranged my seat. I sighed heavily.

"Pretend nothing happened... You can do this, Ashtrella." I took a deep breath and faced them again. Abby cleared her throat. Mr. Moon's hands were inside his pocket, and his eyes were looking at me intently. I smiled at them as if I did nothing earlier.

"Good morning, boss. What brings you here?" I asked. He shook his head in disbelief. I saw Abby chuckle, and we both looked at her. Abby cleared her throat when she saw Mr. Moon's serious face.

"Uhm... Miss Ashley, I came to remind you that we have a meeting with the team regarding our incoming project for autumn--" Abby didn't finish what she wanted to say when Mr. Moon raised his hand to silence her.

"Reschedule that meeting for Thursday afternoon. Ms. Rodriguez and I are going somewhere." My jaw dropped with what I heard.

"S-sir--"

"You heard me, Ashley. We're going somewhere." He looked at my assistant "... and Abby, Ashley, and I will be gone for 3 days. So if she has other urgent appointments, you should attend to them. If it's not important, reschedule it for some other time."

My forehead creased. "Where are we going, sir?" I asked.

"Just go to my office at lunchtime, and we'll talk about that during our lunch." He said seriously.

I even pointed at myself because I couldn't believe what he said. We're having lunch, and we're going somewhere?. He raised an eyebrow, waiting for my answer.

"O-okay, Sir." And he left my office. Abby's jaw dropped when Mr. Moon left us, she narrowed her eyes at me, looking at me suspiciously.

"Something is going on between you two." It was not a question but a statement. I was taken aback.

"N-no? N-no!" I groaned. "There's nothing between us," I said. "M-maybe it's about work." She nodded her head.

"If you say so..." She said like she was not buying anything that I've said. "So we're not having lunch with Joshua... I should go now." She said cheekily.

I shook my head and looked at her as she headed towards the door connecting to her office.

I walked back and forth in my office, thinking about the lunch meeting that Mr. Moon had arranged. After he left my office, I couldn't concentrate on work. I reviewed the proposals which I needed to approve. But in the back of my mind, I was thinking of our lunch meeting. What was this lunch meeting all about? It was making me nuts. I groaned in frustration.

But the last time that I saw him in my office... I thought he didn't seem to care about what happened at the bar. I took a deep breath and pretended that nothing happened. It seems that the kiss is not a big deal to him. Well for me, it is!!! "It was just a kiss, Ashley, so don't bother." I encourage myself.

For a man like him who was used to being chased by women, he probably had many girlfriends and women flirting with him, so that kiss was not a big deal to him... But for me, I felt a bit disappointed ... He was my first kiss! And yet, there seemed to be nothing in him. I sighed. I sat in my chair and looked at my cellphone in amazement when it lit up, and I saw a message that came from him.