Bound by Obsession

Chapter 2: What's Wrong with Him?

Standing up abruptly, Ashley quickly grabbed her bag and hurried away.

"Where do you want to go?"

"Go home." Oh great, her voice was getting more and more trembling.

"Go back to your seat while I speak nicely."

Without stopping, Ashley just closed her eyes tightly and shook her head briefly.

"Ash," Hellios called but she ignored him, causing him to let out a short sigh. "Ashley Spencer!"

Ashley gasped in surprise but continued walking. And Hellios hurriedly stood and took a long stride to reach her hand. Then he frowned at the sight of the wrist. It was the same as before when he held it outside the hotel. Why were this woman's wrists so thin? Has she been eating well all this time?

"What else is there?" she asked, her voice anxious.

Hellios blinked his eyes briefly before looking at Ashley's troubled face. "Stay here. They will come tomorrow morning."

"What?" This man didn't know who was the right person to joke with.

"They're coming tomorrow morning, so stay here."

Ashley automatically shook her head. She tried to pull her hand away but Hellios' grip was quite strong. "I-I can't."

"Why?"

"I have to work tomorrow morning." Ashley wet her lips. She glanced at the elevator that was only three steps away. "He-Hellios, I promise I'll come see them tomorrow after work. Just... let me go."

Afterward, Ashley gasped at the sudden darkening of Hellios' face. She quickly averted her face. Wasn't this what he wanted? He had always hated her presence. So, why did he even look like he was angry?

"Stay here," he ordered.

"I don’t want to, please. Hel-" Ashley winced as she felt the grip on her wrist getting more painful. However, after that the grip loosened as quickly as possible.

"Your answer, Ash," Hellios' voice sounded soft, causing her to look up.

She firmly replied, "I can't."

Hellios looked like he was trying to be patient. Just then, his cell phone vibrated. He reached into his suit pocket with other hand and picked up the call without taking his gaze off Ashley. "...Bring it here. Mmhm."

As Hellios put his phone back, Ashley said quickly, "Why should I stay if they're not coming? I won't break my promise. I will visit them-"

"Take a day off work tomorrow."

"What?!" Ashley exclaimed with a frown on forehead.

"They will come tomorrow morning."

"But my job-"

"I said take a f*****g day off."

Take a day off? How can she afford to do that when she needs the money? Why was this man lightly ordering her around like that? Ah right, she almost forgot, this man had never felt miserable. He can still sleep in a comfortable place and eat well.

Circumventing how vastly different their lives were made her very jealous. She snorted coldly. "Sure if it's you."

"Sorry?"

"Tomorrow after work I will meet them. Please, let me go now."

"What if you don't come? Do you want to disappoint my parents?"

"No," she replied quickly.

"You don't think they're busy people? They can't possibly keep up with your leisure time."

"But-"

The elevator suddenly opened and Ashley instinctively turned her head to see a man in uniform holding a doggy bag.

"Mr. Montero, your food."

Hellios did not bother to look at the waitress. He was only focused on Ashley. "Promise to stay."

"My job-"

Hellios closed his eyes in frustration, hearing the same excuse again. "I'll contact the employer you work for."

"My phone is almost out of battery."

"I'll buy the charger. Anything else?" he asked, clearly getting impatient.

Ashley bit her lip. Is it okay to stay here?

"Uh, sir ...."

Ashley looked again at the third person here. She forgot about the person who had just arrived.

"I'm still waiting, Ash."

That is, he will not care about this strange man until she gets an answer that satisfies him.

"A-All right."

"Good. What brand is your phone?"

Ashley mentioned her phone type and Hellios typed quickly on the phone.

"My hand."

Hellios let it go and turned to the building attendant while pulling out a few bills from his wallet. The clerk thanked him for the tip before leaving. And she stared at the closed elevator doors, a sad expression on her face.

"Come." Hellios took her hand again, but this time he treated it more gently.

At the dining room, Hellios told her to sit down and opened a large box of pizza, telling her to eat. But after a while, Ashley did not take her food at all. "What else this time?"

Sitting across from each other and facing each other like this made her a little uncomfortable. How could she eat without being awkward and scared? "I-I ...."

Hellios took a slice of pizza and placed it on Ashley's plate. "Eat or I'll feed you."

Without waiting anymore, Ashley took a big bite into her mouth. If she could finish this late dinner session quickly, she would not have to be in the same room with him for much longer. However, she choked as a result of her actions.

Hellios quickly got her a glass of water, walked to her side and rubbed her back, "Eat slowly. No one will want to take your pizza."

The act completely shocked Ashley, to the point that she shuddered. What the hell was this kind of special attention? Did he want something from her...? After drinking, Ashley looked up at Hellios, who met her gaze.

"Do you really want me to bribe you?"

Throwing away her face, Ashley went back to eating, but this time more slowly. Meanwhile, Hellios who saw that she had regained her composure started to sit beside her. Once she finished one slice of pizza, she thought this awkward eating session was over. However, he put down another slice.

"Eat a lot."

Well, she's not the kind of person who refuses food. Moreover, she was hungry. With that, the next slice of pizza was gone, then another slice was added to her plate and the next slice. Until she didn't realize she had almost eaten half of the delicious large pizza.

Realizing her stomach wanted to explode, she finally pushed the plate away.

"I stuffed."

"Is that so?"

Before she could nod, a large, rough finger brushed the corner of her lips. She gasped in surprise and turned her head, seeing Hellios bringing his sauced finger to his mouth. Instinctively she wiped her mouth and drank.

What's wrong with this guy?

The elevator chimed softly and Hellios quickly got up. A few lapses later he returned with a new charger. "Use this first. Come, I'll take you to your room."

"A-Ah, alright. Thanks, by the way."

Ashley followed him until reached a room on that floor. The room was spacious but cold. Wait, is this his room? She unconsciously glanced at Hellios warily.

"If you don't like it, you can use my room upstairs."

Suddenly she shook her head. "I will use this room, thank you."

"Good. See you in the morning. And," Hellios stared at her long enough for her to be awkward, "sweet dreams, Ash."

Hellios then closed the door to the room leaving Ashley stunned.