Chapter 5 _

Unfortunately for her, a different waiter was approaching with a tray containing an order for the table behind them. Suddenly, he missed his footing and the wine on the tray fell out. luckily for Ashley, Cameron spotted it on time and he instantly pulled her closer to himself to avoid the wine from staining her clothes.

The sound was loud enough to attract the attention of some of the people dining in the restaurant including Andrew. He took notice of the familiar lady who turned out to be his wife.

His eyes swept around the table with three men. Instantly, his eyes blazed hot in anger and rage. And for the same reasons, Ashley raised her head up and it was locked on his.

She panicked slightly as he stood up from his seat and began approaching her.

Meanwhile...

Cameron was still busy giving the waiter an earful, and failed to understand what exactly was about to come.

"Next time be careful!" He snapped freezing the restaurant with his loud and authoritative tone. He dismissed the waiter immediately and turned back to Ashley.

"Are you alright--

"Ashley! What the hell do you think you're doing here.." Andrew barked pulling her to stand back on her feet. "With them?" He continued.

On the other hand, Ashley was confused and scared as hell. She didn't want her boss to know that this scoundrel was her husband. And how dare he ask her that when in fact he came here with a lady?

"Let me go!"

"Let her go!"

Andrew staggered back a little when Ashley was forcefully taken away from him. He looked up at the tall man wondering who he was.

"And who do you think you are to interfere? This has nothing to do with you!"

Cameron sighed, of all day for this drama to happen, it just had to happen when he was finalizing a business deal. But first who the hell was this man?

"Who is he Ashley?"

Ashley gulped down hard at the question that was thrown her way. What was she supposed to say in a time like this? She saw Andrew was about to speak which made her blurt out her answer. "He's my Ex boyfriend"

Cameron's eyes fell back on Andrew who looked shocked about Ashley's denial. His jaw clenched and just when he was about to retort, a team of six security men hijacked Andrew.

"Sir, you seem to be causing a scene here. And unfortunately, you have to leave"

Andrew stared back at Ashley still not able to comprehend anything that was going on. He was pulled out of the restaurant like a thief and pushed out of the door.

"How dare she?! I'm gonna make her pay dearly by the time she gets home!" He yelled at no one in particular, a few minutes later, his fling was pushed out too and he caught her before she fell to the ground.

"Damn you Andrew! I got humiliated because of you!"

Back inside the restaurant, Ashley's heart was beating faster than normal. Her boss took a stand for her and that was something almost no boss would do.

"Are you alright?"

She could only manage to nod at his question with a tight smile. Heaven alone knew what Andrew would do to her once she finally gets home.

"I'm deeply sorry this happened. Please let's continue" she said while taking her seat.

****

After what happened at the restaurant earlier today, Ashley has been thinking so much about what she'll face at home. She had instructed her son's nanny to wait behind until she gets back home.

She feared that Andrew might take his frustration and anger out on Keith. Her son shouldn't suffer because of the mistake that she made in the past.

"Aren't you packing up yet?"

She raised her head from her blank computer screen to the one who made the statement. It was her colleague, Brittany.

Brittany adjusted her glasses when she noticed something was off with Ashley.

"Are you good?"

Ashley nodded with a sigh. She took a glance at her boss's office and saw him rising up from his seat. He came out of his office and spared her a glance before walking away.

"Yeah, I'm done anyway" she murmured rising to her feet. She picked up her purse and left the office with Brittany following behind her.

They got out of the building and expected of Brittany, her boyfriend's car was already waiting for her arrival. She made Ashley goodbye and hopped into the car.

This gesture was the last thing her husband could do for her. Most of her female colleagues gets picked up by their boyfriends or husbands.

She had to wait for a cab and this might take a while. Luckily for her, a sleek black car rolled up in front of her. Ashley took a step back. The backseat glass rolled down and she spotted her boss in there.

"Get in" he said which sounded more like an order.

At first, Ashley kindly turned down his offer but since he persisted to drop her off, she obliged and got in.

The car was cozy and warm and it also smelt like him. His unique scent. She jerked a little realizing that she was thinking about her boss in that manner.

The car was oddly silent and no one seemed to say anything to break the silence. The ride was smooth but it felt uncomfortable for Ashley especially since his eyes were staring at her from time to time.

"Have you always had long hair?"

The question threw Ashley off guard. She unconsciously touched her hair wondering what brought about the sudden question. Was he interested in her?

Cameron saw the confusion and hesitance in her amber eyes and he looked away. "Nevermind"

The car finally pulled over at the one storey building. She turned back to Cameron with a small smile. "Thanks for the ride boss"

Cameron gave a stiff nod and watched her step out. He didn't allow his driver to move until he saw that she stepped into the building.

He caught sight of the black car in the garage and was puzzled for a second. If she owns a car why doesn't she come in it?

At a distance and from one of the windows, Andrew stood there fuming in anger as he watched the car moving away into the night. He moved away from the window and walked to the bed where he had placed his belt.

As soon as Ashley stepped into the living room, she noticed everywhere was silent. Even Keith wasn't in sight.

"Keith. I'm home!"

"Mummy!!"

Startled, she turned around only for the small figure to bump into her. He chuckled lightly raising his arms for her to pick him up.

She did pick him up giving him multiple kisses on his cheeks.

She spotted Michelle heading her way with her purse ready to leave and at the same time Andrew was coming down from the stairs. When he noticed Michelle's presence, he walked into the kitchen pretending to search for something in the fridge.

"Thanks for staying"

"Sure ma'am. Bye Keith"

Once Andrew heard the door was closed, he closed the fridge and pulled out the belt he buckled around his waist. Ashley gulped down hard and placed Keith down on his feet.

"Keith dear, can you go up to your room? I need to speak to daddy alone"

Keith stared at his dad and the object he was holding and back to his mother. His face fell and he shook his head refusing to let go of her.

"No mummy, he's going to hit you"

"No baby. It's just a-

"Let him stay!"

Ashley looked up to Andrew who was approaching her slowly. He suddenly grabbed Keith by his arm and placed him harshly on the couch to make him sit.

"If you get up, I'll hit your mum even more!"

At this point, Ashley was already at the verge of tears. Not because she was about to be beaten, but because her son will be forced to watch her get beaten by his own father.

Andrew returned to Ashley's side folding the belt into two equal parts.

"I see you've finally grown wings Ashley, dining with other men and getting dropped off by a man?"

"I don't see anything wrong in what I did. After all, you do it everytime and I learnt from you"

Andrew's jaw ticked in anger, he raised the belt and made his first painful hit on Ashley.

"Mummy"