Caught Between the Ashford Brothers

Chapter 20

Iris

I barely had time to process whatever the f**k had just happened to me within the last two hours before I had to step outside the restroom again. Like, I still couldn't believe the whole thing had happened, especially how close he had gotten while trying to help me with the seatbelt thing earlier.

God. I shook the memory of his chocolate brown eyes away and took a long deep breath before stepping out of the atelier.

I had to remember. The whole thing had just been him being nice. Nothing else. And this fluttery nonsense I was feeling in my stomach… that… that is because I'm in close proximity with my boss and feel really nervous about that. I mean, anyone would be nervous about that, right?

I flashed him an awkward smile when I got to his car, my eyes taking in his lean figure that was propped against the hood slightly and soft silk that was wrapped around his hand loosely. “I'm done.”

“Hmm.” He stretched out his hand before I could move around him to the passenger seat. “Huh?” I muttered, confused.

“Your hand.”

“Oh.” I placed it in his hand gently, my skin immediately tingling as his hand wrapped around them. He turned it over to inspect. Then, without a word, wrapped the silk cloth around my hand and tied it.

I… I had no words. Why was he being this nice to me?!

“Done.” He said with a blank face after he was done tying it up properly, “you should take care of it properly though as soon as you can. Like a bandage… or something.” And then he let go of my hand.

“Y-yes. T-thank you.” I only remembered to mutter after he moved away from me to the driver's door side and turned to say. “Let's go.”

We both got into the car and thankfully, I already got a hang of the seatbelt situation, which prevented another tense, awkward situation. I glanced back at the backseats to ensure the glove bag was safely sitting there — I'd given it to him before going to the restroom — and I relaxed back in my seat or tried to relax, as he started the journey back to the hotel.

****

We got there in record time, close to forty minutes after leaving the atelier and I didn't need to make a suggestion to Mr Ashford before he knew to take the right turn leading to the back exit of the hotel.

“Thank you, sir.” I said, properly this time, as I grabbed the bag from the backseat and got out.

He shook his head. “It's nothing.”

Uh… I had no idea what to say after that and just watched as he made a very tight U-turn to head back to the main entrance. I headed into the building once he was out of sight and I'd gained my bearings.

“Oh my God! Great.” Miss Hale exclaimed the minute she sighted me in the back room. She ran forward with the designer and grabbed the bag from my hand.

“Is it in good condition?” John, the designer asked even though he was already prying open the bag to inspect the gloves. He gave a nod of approval after a very tense moment of silence.

Oh, thank God.

“The keys.” I fished it out of my pocket and handed it to him. Then he walked away. Also Miss Hale, but at least she muttered, "Good job," before walking away.

I went straight to the locker rooms to stuff my things back into my bag as well as grab my laptop to continue my main task of monitoring social media engagement and that's when Miss Carter, the social media manager, popped out from nowhere, startling me.

“Where the f**k have you been?! I've been looking everywhere for you!”

Huh? Didn't she hear what happened?

“I-I had to grab…”

“Just come with me.” She gave me an exasperated look and proceeded to walk away, obviously expecting me to follow after her. I did. “What are the engagements looking like?”

****

Right around when Julian Ashford started the event with a short opening speech on why the collection had been themed ASHFORD 1978 REISSUED, I and a number of very new interns got the order from one of the higher-ups to go to the next venue, another hotel nearby, to help with the after-party preparations.

The real reason had been quite obvious even though no one really wanted to say it. We were still new, fresh blood and potential risks if allowed to deal with guests so we were being shipped off to the next venue where we would basically do nothing but run small errands and then be told to make ourselves invisible once guests arrive.

And that was exactly how it played out. The minute guests started arriving at the rooftop lounge where the after-party had been arranged to take place, we were immediately signalled to stay in the background, our main task to remain unseen now.

I dragged myself to a corner where I was pretty sure I could carry out that order while also simultaneously being on alert for any emergencies or errands and I leaned against the wall, my legs screaming for relief.

God, I was tired and spent, also just about ready to wrap the day off but that wasn't happening for another three hours and another two to commute back home from the office. I wondered if it even made sense to travel all the way back there when I'd still have to make the journey back within a few hours to resume work tomorrow morning.

Ugh.

I glanced up from the new social media posts the team had put up a few hours ago on my phone to scan the crowd. Damn, there were a lot of people I would have never expected to see up close in my life. Celebrities, oh my God, Victor Ashford, the co-founder of the brand, top designers and… him.

I jerked my eyes away when he turned his head around, as if he would ever see me in this dimly lit corner. I looked back up again after a few minutes to see him now talking to someone. A woman who was obviously enchanted by him, with how brightly she was smiling.

I looked away from her, startled when the earphone in my ear suddenly crackled. “Iris!” f**k, it was Miss Jessica Carter.

“Ma”, I said into my speaker in response.

“Come towards the minibar close to the restaurant now! I'm looking for my purse.”

What?!

I'd barely just rested my feet… even though it's been almost an hour. Jeez, that felt like minutes.

"Ma". I said when I got to her by the bar.

“I've checked everywhere. I can't find it.”

“Uhm… where do you remember taking it last?”

It took a moment before her eyes brightened. “Right, the shuttle bus. It might have slipped off in all the commotion.”

Oh f**k. I smiled tightly. “Do you want me to go check?”

Of course she wanted me to go check, which is why minutes later, I was in the elevator, throwing a little tantrum in my head, when someone’s hand popped in through the doors at the very last minute to stop it from closing.

Oh s**t. I became tense all over again when I looked up to see Julian Ashford walk in.