Caught Between the Ashford Brothers

Chapter 16

Iris

It was just like the other nights. Our hands all over each other, mouths locked together in intense passion, clothes slipping to the floor the minute we got into his apartment...

I felt my breath come out in a gasp as we tumbled onto his bed, finally, after moments of stumbling around the apartment, unable to let go of each other. He bent his head slightly till his mouth was directly above my ear and whispered, "Miss me?"

I could barely form words as he proceeded to nibble on my earlobe and suck it into his mouth. A moan left my mouth. "I need an answer." He stopped for a minute to say, his mouth now going to my neck.

God. I arched into him and managed to croak out. "Y-yes..."

"Then why did you leave so suddenly like that?"

I froze and popped open my eyes to see him hovering above me now, his eyes staring down at me. Wait...

No, not him; his twin brother, who also happens to be my boss. f**k. I tried to avert my gaze from his shirtless torso and eyes. "Why? You can look. Isn't this what you've always wanted?"

"What? No." That's a lie. I've definitely never wondered how my boss would look shirtless. Like, why would I even do that?!

I tried to hold him away when he leaned in more with a smirk. "You sure?"

Oh my God. I... I don't know.

He kept leaning closer, inching forward until our lips were just a breath away from touching each other... And that's when I felt the sharp sting on my arm.

Ouch!

****

I slapped my hand over my arm even before I opened my eyes. That has to have been a mosquito, right?

Fuck. I ran my hand over the spot as I tried to figure out just what the f**k that dream had meant. I was having wet dreams about my boss. Since when?!. Jaxon, I wasn't all that surprised about since it had happened before (I'm not proud of that, by the way), but Mr Julian Ashford?!!

Wait, why is there a star strip over my head or is that the sky?

"You're awake?" I whipped my head to the side to see a figure beside me who I immediately recognised as Serena, thanks to her signature perfume. Beyond her, there was the vast space of nothingness that made me start wondering if we were actually back at our apartment.

"f**k!" I muttered as I proceeded to sit up, my head spinning and pounding. I barely managed to push down the nauseous feeling that rose in my chest.

"Jeez, are you okay? Here." She handed me a bottle of water, which I collected, and I gulped down all of its contents in one go.

She chuckled just as I finished swallowing the last drop. "What?" I croaked out.

"Nothing. This just reminds me of our school years. You know... the late nights, getting drunk, lying out here in the park because you were too tired to take me all the way up to our apartment. I can't believe I'm the one bringing you back home now. You were always the responsible one."

I swallowed the bile that started rising in my throat. "So you're saying I'm not responsible anymore?"

She chuckled. "Of course you are. You will always be the responsible one."

Then there was silence as we both stared up at the stars, the park quiet around us. It was very close to our apartment building and was always open, hence the frequent nights we spent here whenever Serena got too drunk on all her weekend parties.

I looked around for my bag to check the time, probably as a way to delay our imminent conversation a bit longer. She handed it to me without saying anything and I took out my phone to check the time.

12:05 am.

"So..."

"So..." We both started after a while. She glanced at me and nodded for me to continue. I did. "...you're leaving tomorrow…"

She nodded. "Yes."

“And where did you say the academy was again?”

“Italy.” I kept silent, feeling my heart sink into my stomach. I’d known it was a different country but I hadn't known it was that far away. “Damn, that’s like thousands of miles away.”

She nodded in agreement. “I know, right.”

“Have you told them?” We both went silent for a second, the moon illuminating the grass bed under us. I didn’t need to elaborate on who the ‘them’ was. She knew I was talking about her parents. Her wealthy strict parents who had basically forced her to study business and management instead of pursuing her dream of dance because, according to them, dance doesn’t pay but coming back to take over the family business was more sensible. She had told me all about it during our sophomore year and then shut them out when they found out that she took the bartender job at District 8 during our senior year. Basically, they had tried to tell her what to do and she had been sick of it.

“Not yet.” I glanced at her with an understanding smile.

“Are you planning to?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know.” I knew she was crazy enough to not tell her parents at all but it is what it is. Right… “How long is the program for?”

“Two years. It’s a fully funded scholarship, thankfully, but after the programme, I might find major opportunities, so…” it’s likely she might not come back anytime soon. We fell silent again.

That sinking feeling hit me all over again. I didn't even know I had gotten so attached to her but it's not like I had any other friends. Since the day I moved to the city to start college and got paired up with her as roommates, she’s like the only person I've trusted enough to be close with and confide in and now she wasn’t going to be here any time I need her.

I managed a smile when she reached for my hand that was lying in between us to squeeze and I squeezed hers back.

“So when are you leaving?” I asked after another session of heavy silence. She turned her body towards me slightly. “1 pm. The program runs on a strict schedule so we are required to be there as soon as possible to start the program with my set. There are orientations, preps, and classes alignment. That’s why I'm leaving so soon and without proper notice."

I nodded, understanding the whole situation. I just… I'll really miss her.

"Well, you should start parking or have you done that?”

She shook her head. “I mean, I already started putting some things away in the hopes that I got in but I've not packed anything properly.”

“Okay then.” I tried to get up on my feet but immediately failed when a sharp sting went through my head. “f**k!” I sat back on the grass again and scowled at Serena, who chuckled. "Well, are you going to help me up?” I was feeling dizzy again but thankfully not nauseous. She proceeded to stand up, stretch out her hand for me to take and pulled me up into her arms abruptly.

I felt my whole body melt into the hug immediately, my eyes watering. “I’m going to miss you.” I finally said it out loud.

“Me too.” She replied, then proceeded to squeeze the life out of me.

****

I barely got any sleep before I had to get up to prepare for work the next day or should I say that same day? We got to the apartment by 12:45 am-ish, packed and reminisced aloud and in silence till it was around like 3 am. Then I had to go to bed. By 6, I was up again and saying my goodbyes to Serena because she'd be gone by the time I got back, and by a few minutes to 8, I got to work.

“Iris!” I jumped, startled obviously, when someone suddenly called out my name from one of the office rooms just as I got to my desk. “Huh?” I turned around to see Miss Hale by her office door. She signalled me over.

Oh s**t. What is it now? This can’t be about my blunder during the meeting yesterday, was it? Ugh, please, I was already tired of the whole thing.

“Ma…” I said politely when I got to her instead and she signalled for me to follow her into the office. I did just that and closed the door behind me.

Okay, now what? She settled behind her desk and proceeded to stare intently at me.

“Uh… what can I help you with, Ma?"

“Not me. Mr Ashford. He wants to see you in his office.”

“Huh?” It felt like I had just been dropped in ice water. "Mr Ashford? Like Julian Ashford?”

“Yes.”

“W-why?”

"That's what I want to ask you. Why would the executive director want to see a mere intern in his office so early in the morning? Did you cause trouble again?”

“No, Ma!" That sounded so high-pitched. “I didn’t. I promise.”

“Then I guess it’s your past actions catching up with you.” "I knew you wouldn’t last since the first day.” She said the last bit under her breath but clearly enough that I could make out what she said.

"Well, hurry along now, would you? You don’t want to keep him waiting.”

Oh God. My legs felt like jelly as I walked out of the office.