Chapter 5 A Queasy Feeling

Annika didn't know how to respond. She almost stuttered when she opened her mouth to speak. Ashton cranked his head at her waiting for a response. Annika just stood there staring at the beauty before her. He was definitely more pretty than he was that day at the office. Annika knew what was going to happen if she kept staring at him. She knew what he was. He was a playboy, and being attached to one was the last thing she wanted. She had come here only because she was invited.

It would have been better if she had stayed home and watched TV all curled up on her couch, and with a bowl of popcorn in her hands. That was too late now. The invitation was compulsory, so she had to be here.

"Good evening, sir," she finally spoke.

Ashton laughed and faced the floor as she spoke. She was official and it amazed him. She was being too formal, but Ashton was hoping it was just an early phase. He had been with too many women to know this. She would eventually give in to him. Nobody could resist his temptation for long. Annika felt embarrassed by his laughter. She quickly looked around to make sure that nobody was facing them. She doubted that she would draw the attention of anybody here. They were all members of the high class, and way above her league. The only reason Ashton noticed her was because he had invited her here.

"I'm glad you could make it," he said.

"It's not like I had a choice," Annika reminded him.

Ashton chuckled this time. She was straightforward and somewhat feisty which drew his attention. Maybe she was interesting after all.

"Here," he said, handing her a glass of champagne.

Annika took it reluctantly. She could feel her hand trembling, and she feared that she would spill the champagne.

"Thank you, sir," she said.

Ashton chuckled.

"Please, call me Ashton," he said.

Annika shook her head vigorously at that. Ashton raised an eyebrow at her.

"Sorry, sir. I can't do that," she said.

"And why is that?" He questioned.

"I mean you are my boss," she pointed out. "I can't just call you by your name. It sounds disrespectful."

Ashton chuckled and placed one of his hands in his pocket while he whirled the glass of champagne in his other hand. She was trying to be difficult with him. Ashton wasn't a fan of that. It seems it will be harder than he thought. But he didn't mind. His eyes went to her black dress as he took a quick scan of her. Her curves were busting out of the dress, standing out like the sun after a rainy day. Ashton gulped hard for he was drowning in lust.

"Well, it isn't disrespectful if I am the one requesting you to," Ashton tried to convince her.

Annika was quiet. She was stuck now. Whatever Ashton was doing, it was working. But she couldn't let that happen for long. If she didn't tell him to stop, he would keep on coming. But at the same time, she didn't want to risk losing her job. All she had to do was play safe.

"I'll try, but it's not a promise," she said.

Ashton smiled at her.

"Understood," Ashton said.

A figure walked towards them from Ashton. Annika tried to see who that was but couldn't because Ashton was blocking her view. The figure arrived beside Ashton and wrapped a hand around him. Ashton turned quickly to see who that was. It was his mother, Mabel. Annika saw a striking resemblance between her and Ashton. She quickly concluded she was his mother. Mabel gazed at Annika. She gave her a long hard stare which made Annika nervous. She realized that she still had the glass of champagne in her hand and immediately took a sip. It stung her throat slightly.

"Hope you're enjoying the party?" Mabel asked.

Ashton looked at Annika with a smile and nodded at his mother.

"Yes, mom," he said. "I am."

Mabel smiled and her eyes went to Annika again. When their eyes met, Annika immediately shifted them to the crowd behind her.

"And who is this?" She asked.

Annika could sense a hint of irritation in her voice.

"Oh. Mother, this is Annika Pleton, my new secretary," he introduced. "Annika, meet my mother, Mrs. Mabel Maverick."

Mabel's eyes immediately lit up when she heard that. The irritation in her aura seemed to have disappeared instantly. Mabel quickly left Ashton and went to her. She took her hand and shook it gently. Annika was surprised by this.

"So you are the one who replaced Irene?" She said with a smile.

Annika flashed her a smile.

"Yes ma'am," she replied.

Mabel laughed at that.

"That's lovely," she said. "I'm glad to have you aboard."

"Me too," Annika said, still shaking her hand.

Mabel moved closer to her like she was about to whisper something to her. Annika bent over as Mable brought her lips to her ear.

"I know my son can be in such pain, so I apologize in advance," she said.

Ashton who was watching them rolled his eyes and took another sip from his champagne like he had heard what Mabel told her. Annika chuckled at Mabel's words and received a gentle pat on the back from her.

"Okay now. Have fun," she said, leaving both of them.

"I will," Annika said after her.

Ashton moved closer to her as he swirled the glass in his hand.

"How is the party?" He asked.

Annika shrugged her shoulders.

"I just got here," she replied.

"Right," Ashton said coldly.

He looked up at the door and someone walked in. It was Lilith. Ashton smiled as he gazed at her. Lilith was looking around as she stood by the door. Her eyes finally met Ashton and they smiled at each other.

"Excuse me," Ashton said and walked off.

Annika heaved a sigh of relief as Ashton left her. She was beginning to feel pressure with him still standing with her. She took a sip from her champagne and turned around to find out whom Ashton left her for. She scoffed as she saw that it was Lilith. Annika walked further into the room and looked around. Everybody in the party was having a conversation with each other. It seemed like she was the only one alone. That didn't mean anything to her. She only wondered why she had been invited by Ashton. It wasn't like she was going to give a speech at the party.

Deep in the crowd, she could spot Mikael laughing with a fellow man who was dressed extravagantly as him. Annika knew this kind of party wasn't for her. She couldn't wait to get back home and cuddle herself to slap on her bed. Moving to California was to start a new life, but it wasn't going as she had expected. She didn't know that starting afresh would be so difficult. She sighed and drained the glass. As she swallowed the champagne, she looked at her empty glass in surprise. She needed more to calm her nerves. A server seemed to be passing with a tray of champagne. Annika swiftly exchanged the empty glass with a new one, and immediately took a sip. Tonight was going to be long.

Ashton smiled as he pulled Lilith into a hug. She kissed him on the cheek in response. Lilith wore a crimson gown that graced the floor. The dress seemed to have a cut from her knee downwards. Her purse matched the color of her dress and her gleaming stones on it too. Her blonde hair was wrapped up into a bun and her blue eyes shone under the chandeliers. She was gorgeous.

"Took you long enough," Ashton said.

"Sorry, I'm late. I couldn't figure out what to wear," she said.

Ashton took a sip from his glass and smirked at her.

"What do you think?" She asked before doing a 360 in front of him.

Ashton took a step back and a lustful smile appeared on his lips.

"Is it too much?" She asked.

"Perfect!" Ashton replied.

Lilith smiled and kissed him on the cheek. She took the glass of champagne from his hand and drained it before handing it back to him.

"What the hell, Lilith?" He almost exclaimed.

Lilith shrugged her shoulders, showing little sign of remorse.

"What?" She asked. "It didn't look like you were still drinking it."

Ashton was about to speak but then held back his tongue. He sighed and placed the empty glass on the tray of one of the passing servers.

"Come on, let's go somewhere private," she said, holding his hand.

Before Ashton could say anything, she pulled him with force as she headed towards the stairs.

Annika was on her third glass now, and she was beginning to feel drowsy. She had too much to drink, and she blamed it all on boredom. Her eyes went around and she caught hold of Lilith and Ashton. She could see them holding hands as they sneaked their way through the crowd, and heading up the stairs. She rolled her eyes and took another sip from the glass. Whatever they were going up there to do, it wasn't her concern. At least that was what she tried to believe. Annika looked at the champagne and sighed. She had to stop and get herself back home. But she wasn't sure of leaving without telling Ashton. And Ashton seemed like he was going to be busy for the next thirty minutes. Thinking about what he would be doing there with Lilith made her shiver in disgust.