CHAPTER 5
1103 Words
Ashley's POV
Working with Dante for the rest of the day after I rejected his offer was hard, and not just
because I was avoiding him.
Okay, so mostly because I was avoiding him and was doing a terrible job at it.
He kept glancing at me like he knew I was hiding something and he was determined to get to
the bottom of it. In short, I wasn't comfortable at all.
He had adamantly and consistently said things that were happening in my family were none
of his concern as long as I didn't have to be away from work.
It had been years, but it didn't matter. I wasn't comfortable talking about my family with my
boss anyway.
Being able to finally leave to office was a relief.
“Mummy,” Christina screams as she rushes towards me and wraps her hands around my
legs.
I scoop her up. I spin her around, and she giggles, so I keep spinning her till I'm out of
breath. “There’s my girl,” I whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Were you good for
Granny today?”
“The best!” She grinned proudly. “We made cookies. And I helped with the sprinkles.”
I gasp playfully and pepper her face with kisses. “My little chef.”
Like always the tension I had carried the entire day rolled off my back.
The scent of chamomile fills the air and I can tell Granny is probably mixing one of her teas
again.
“I did most of the work,” Granny says from the kitchen, pouring boiling water over dried
flowers. “But sure, let’s give her all the credit.”
Christina giggled, snuggling closer into my arms. “She says I’m better at testing.”
“I bet.” I set her down and gave Granny a pointed look. “And just how many cookies did
Christina test?”
Granny shrugged, her silver hair pinned in a loose bun that somehow still made her look
elegant. “I lost count after a while, she kept sneakily grabbing pieces.
“It was sweet, Granny,” Christina says, and she flutters her eyes to my grandma, who just
sighs.
Honestly, she knows how to get away with just about anything.
I laugh softly and gently put Christina back on her own feet.
Christina’s voice piques up again, softer this time as she toys with the hem of her dress.
“Mummy, will you ever be home like this during the day? Like other mums?”
The question settled in the air, lingering far longer than I wanted it to. She didn't seem upset.
Just curious, hopeful, and maybe a little hurt.
I opened my mouth, but no words came.
Granny didn’t miss a beat. “Well, sweetheart, some mums work in offices, and some mums
work from home. And some mums,” she gave me a pointed glance, “work far too much.”
“Granny,” I warned, but there was no sting to it.
“But Christina, she does it for us,” she adds.
Facing me she says, “What? I’m just saying. A certain someone might want to consider
spending a little more time actually living and less time answering emails for that uptight
boss of hers.”
Christina giggles. “Granny says you’re always glued to your screens.”
I sigh, though a smile tugs at my lips. “I see she’s been talking about me behind my back.”
“Oh, only lovingly,” Granny said, her voice dripping with mock innocence. Then, more softly,
“You know I’m proud of you, baby. But maybe it wouldn’t hurt to find something that lets you
breathe a little.”
She takes a sip from her tea.
“I know,” I murmured, running my fingers through Christina’s curls. “I’ll think about it.”
Granny hummed, but the gleam in her eye told me she wasn’t convinced. “Good. Just
remember, sometimes the bravest thing you can do is choose yourself. And if you won't,”
she shot Christina a wink, “choose more cookies.”
Christina cheered, and for the moment, the weight of the conversation lifted.
When I finally settled in for the night Christina’s words refused to leave my mind. I spent half
the night tossing and turning because the question refused to leave my mind.
I slept thinking of it. When I woke up it was the first thing on my mind.
It had me wondering if I could really slow down and take a job that doesn't eat up so much of
my time. I had enough money saved, plus it was something I wanted to do eventually.
After all, there was no time like the present.
Which was the only plausible explanation for why I walked into Mr. Cole's office and said, “I'd
do it.”
He breaks into a grin like he was half expecting me to declare that since last night.
“Great, I'd have my lawyer draw up a contract. Plus, you should probably start getting ready
for dinner with my family tonight.”
Shit, I had forgotten about the dinner.
But it didn't matter.
“On one condition though,” I added, before he could get too comfortable with my agreement.
Dante raises his head to watch me and leans forward on his desk, his lips twisting up
slightly. “And what is that condition?”
I square my shoulders and bring my eyes to meet his gaze. “I'd like to resign after the fake
relationship ends.”
The office went quiet; the silence that fills the air is nerve-wracking. I am almost tempted to
shove my words back into my throat.
For a moment, I thought I saw a flash of something that felt like disappointment color his
face before he schooled his expression.
“So that is your condition?” His voice is dangerously calm.
I nod my head suddenly unsure if this was what I wanted to do. I loved working here, was I
really ready to leave?
“Well then, Ms. Smith.” He says smoothly. “You can use that time to find and start training
your replacement.”
He lowers his head back and proceeds to work on whatever it was that he was doing,
effectively dismissing me.
I leave his office and close the door behind me softly. When I settle back in my seat it occurs
to me that he didn’t call me by my first name.
Did he actually agree? What the f**k just happened?
- Writer
