Chapter 5 Dramatic Beauty Paegent

Well, I can't say that I expected a beauty pageant when I went to work today. The women were clad in work clothes two sizes too small and had on makeup that made them look like they missed the bus for a strip club. While their attempts at seduction was done in a professional manner, it was still easy to guess what they were doing.

Mr. Ashton is in need of a wife and I have to make sure that it's me.

It was supposed to be funny, the fact that all these girls were dressing up for him when he proposed to me on Saturday, yet it wasn't. It felt like I wasn't important enough. Why else wouldn't he announce that he had found the person that he wanted to marry? Was I just on the list of girls that he thought could be potential wives?

The thought irked me, but I didn't know why. It wasn't in my place to feel jealous when we weren't that close. My thoughts were interrupted when the sound of heels clicking against the floor became more prominent. I quickly forced a small smile and turned to the person who had approached me, my smile dropping when I realised the look of disapproval that was etched on her pretty face.

"Dalia, can I help you with anything?" I asked, irritation clear in my voice.

She looked surprised-almost annoyed, but she hid it with a smile that was faker than the one I was sporting at the event.

"You're Ashton's secretary, right?"

Wow, she just called him Ashton. I pursed my lips into a grim line and nodded. "Yeah, so what?"

She rolled her eyes and took my hand, placing a folded piece of paper on it. "Give this to him, don't tell him that it's from me."

She left before I could decline and I stared at the paper with a small look of disdain. I didn't want to give this paper to him, but I knew I had to. Not because I was nice enough to help a desperate girl in need, but because it wasn't in my place to hinder any progress that Ashton's wife-hunting was making.

I put the paper in my purse and trudged towards my new office, ignoring the jealous stares of my co-workers as I did.

^^

The layout of the top floor was simple. The CEO's office, A.K.A Ashton's office, the secretary's office, A.K.A my office, across his, a conference room next to his office, two huge bathrooms, and the offices of Ashton's close colleagues.

I had been in my office all day, watching a few girls enter his office with messy buns and skirts short enough to qualify as belts. The only things I had done since I got here was look through different documents and go through proposals like it wasn't Ashton's job.

This was why real life was so boring. Where were all those steamy scenes between the CEO and his secretary in the steamy books I read?

My door was pushed open and Ashton walked in, his signature smirk present like Saturday's rejection never happened. I had to respect a man who wasn't petty enough to make my work life miserable because of personal issues.

"Do you need anything sir?" I asked, a small smile on my face.

He raised a brow at me as he closed the door of my office. "Really? I didn't know that you could be so professional, I'm impressed."

My cheeks felt flushed but I scoffed. I had to remember that I was angry at him for not announcing that he had a girl he wanted to marry. I finally remembered Dalia, and pulled out the letter that had been in my pocket all day. If I wanted to determine if Ashton had feelings for me, this would be the right time.

"Here," I said and pushed the note towards him. "A woman said that I should give this to you."

He collected the note with a small smile and opened it. I noticed the way he frowned as he read the contents, but besides that, he gave nothing away. Why was this man so hard to read?

"Are you trying to make me upset?" he asked, tossing the letter aside. Ouch, I hoped that Dalia could feel that from wherever she was.

"If it's working, then yes." He laughed and moved towards me, his arm was wrapped around my waist in mere seconds.

"Did I do something to make you upset, Sweetheart?"

I scoffed, my gaze shifting towards his shoes. "You asked me to marry you on Saturday, then you don't tell anyone that you've found someone to marry. I don't even want to consider your proposal anymore."

"Marry me,"

I rolled my eyes and gave him a stern look. "It feels like you're not listening to a word that I'm saying."

He scoffed, his face leaning closer to mine. "Is there any way I can make it up to you?"

I could feel my heart beating in my chest. Was he about to kiss me?

My door flew open and I pushed myself sideways to see who did that. I could feel myself getting angry the moment I locked eyes with Zeke. What was he doing here?

"We need to talk." He said.

I could feel Ashton's grip on my waist tighten, and I gave him a look that made him let go. I glanced at him one last time, before following Zeke out of my office. We walked in silence and after a while, we stopped in a corner with no offices nearby.

He turned to me, a condescending look on his face as he took in my appearance.

"Why did you call me here?" I asked blankly, my voice wavering due to my anger.

"If you're doing all this to make me jealous, then just stop. It makes you seem like a whore."

I gave him a confused look. "W-what are you talking about-?"

"Don't play dumb," he sighed, running a hand through his hair, "Are you sleeping with Ashton?"

I bit my lip to stop myself from lashing out. I caught him with Joanne and the first time he talks to me since then, is to accuse me of being a whore?!

"I'm not sleeping with Ashton," I said calmly, both of my fists clenched at my sides. "I can't believe that you would accuse me of something like that!"

He grabbed my wrist, his grip tightening when I tried to pull away. "Maybe it's not to make me jealous-are you doing it for money? He would never choose you to marry him!" He spat and I slapped him hard.

The only disadvantage of hiding my status, I got looked down on people a lot.

"That's a hell of an accusation coming from someone who was screwing my best friend while we were dating!"

He glared at me, his eyes wide with rage. "Fucking bitch!" He yelled and raised his hand to hit me. I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for the impact, but it never came.

When I opened my eyes again, Ashton was next to me, one arm around my waist, and his other hand holding Zeke's wrist.

"If you want to lose your job, then try this again."