Bound by Obsession

Chapter 5: Liar

This is really uncomfortable. Her job is to clean the room after guests, not to be a pillow for their guests.

"Where's my wine?" asked Mateo who was lying on her lap.

While working at this nightclub, Ashley was very careful not to do anything unnecessary. She worked with the intention of earning the money she was assigned, and going home to rest. However, one day, exactly a month ago, she was forced to replace her colleague to deliver drinks to an exclusive suite filled with important guests. And it was there that she first met Mateo Walter who was surrounded by many women. He pestered her and forced her to sit next to him all the time. Asking her to accompany him for a drink.

She knew that people like Mateo were people she needed to avoid. He was a dangerous and scary man. So, she tried hard not to come across him all this time. But it seemed like her struggle ended today. This man was really sneaky for using her manager.

Exhaling quietly, before feeding him the grapes. How did she end up here?

"So, you still won't tell me your real name?"

"Sir, Sophia is my name. And can you get up? I have to get back to work." Ashley tried to lift Mateo's head but the man put his weight on it while chuckling.

"Then tell me where you live. I can take you home after this."

"Mr. Walter, you don't need to trouble yourself."

"The day after tomorrow, it's my birthday. Can you celebrate it with me? You see, I don't have a single friend to celebrate my best day with."

His words suddenly got laughter as a reaction from his friends.

"I'm sorry, Sir. But I'm afraid I can't."

"Come on, why?" Mateo moved to sit up and rested his head on Ashley's shoulder. "Aren't you interested in me?"

"I have to work now." With all her might, Ashley pushed Mateo's head away and stood up.

Just as she was about to turn around, Mateo stopped her making her close her eyes trying to hold back. She saw the man take out a few bills and tuck them into the waistband of Ashley's pants.

"Still sure you don't want to accompany me?"

The hand at her side clenched into a tight fist. She knew how influential and wealthy Mateo was. But that was not her way of earning money.

Ashley bowed slightly. "Thank you, Mr. Walter. Please excuse me."

She quickly grabbed the trolley and left the room, leaving Mateo to be laughed at by his friends.

"You got rejected again, Man."

Mateo just grinned.

After finishing work, Ashley took a walk while counting the tips she had gotten today. Then she stopped in front of her uncle's home, and remembered the money Mateo had given her. She reached into her pants pocket where she kept the money he gave her. Well, 1,000 dollars was no small sum. It was like a month's worth of tips that she had collected.

"Why would he give this much just for a three-minute chat?" she muttered.

Just as she was about to deposit her money, someone opened the door and said, "Well, well, well, look who just came home."

Ashley looked up to see her cousin Elena, the most annoying woman ever.

"You didn't come home for a few days and there was no news. Suddenly came back early in the morning. It's surprising that I saw you at this hour."

"It surprises me to see you home this early, too," Ashley retorted as this woman always came home early in the morning or noon at the latest after partying all night.

Elena snorted. A glance at something in Ashley's hand made her eyes light up.

"Look what you brought, Sis!" She grabbed it quickly making the unprepared Ashley shout her name. "Hey, calm down, Ash. I just borrowed it. I just happened to be waiting for you because I needed the money."

Elena walked in while counting the money and Ashley followed her with annoyance.

"You can't take it! I need it all to pay off the debt!"

Ashley was about to take it back but Elena quickly dodged while laughing. This annoying woman is very quick when it comes to money.

"Oh dear, that stupid debt? You know you can't pay it off in your lifetime no matter how hard you work 24 hours."

"But I have to do it! So, give it back!"

Elena stuck out her tongue. "If I don't want to, are you going to hit me?"

"Elena!"

"Oh s**t, what's going on? Don't you two know what time it is? Why make a scene when everyone is still asleep?"

Ashley looked quickly at Julie, her aunt who was yawning with an annoyed face.

"He stole my money!" Ashley shouted.

With a calm face, Elena replied, "I'm not."

"Seriously?! Give me my money back, Elena!" As Ashley tried to get her money back, Elena was overwhelmed with holding her money.

"Hey, what the hell are you doing! My hand hurts, damn it!"

"Gosh, can you stop yelling in people's homes?! You know it's too early to hear you guys fighting!"

The two of them stopped to pull out the money that was turning shabby. Then another person appeared, her uncle, Jack.

"Hey, go to your respective rooms now."

"But, what about my money? Elena took my money, even though it was for debt repayment."

Hearing that made Jack's sleepy eyes light up. "Elena," he called, making Elena cluck in annoyance.

She reluctantly gave all the money to her father before glaring at Ashley and returning to the room stomping her feet. Meanwhile, Jack counted the money greedily.

"Oh, did you get paid today? I thought it was last week. Look how much you have."

Ashley clenched her fists. Despite feeling embarrassed, she had to thank Mateo tomorrow. "Count correctly and please record it. I will also record it."

"Yes, yes, I understand. Just write down the rest of your debt yourself. I trust you, Ashley." Jack waved his hand unconcernedly. "Oh yeah, someone came looking for you last night."

"Who?"

"He didn't say his name. But he was wearing an expensive suit. Hey, is this money from him? Since when did you get close to a rich guy, huh?" Jack laughed as he walked to his room leaving a confused Ashley behind.

Mateo came here? That's impossible. He doesn't know where she lives. Is it her boss? But which one? She works in three different places.

Rather than worrying about it, Ashley quickly stepped into her room. There was tomorrow to ask each of them. Just a few steps away, she reached a small warehouse-like room with a thin mattress on the floor. Ever since her uncle brought her here, this was the only room that was empty. So, ever since high school, this small room had been her sanctuary.

She sighed and took a quick shower, then lay down feeling tired. She needed to get a few hours of sleep before work in the morning. It seemed like she was indeed very sleepy to the point of sleeping so soundly. Maybe it was because the mattress was soft and comfortable. Or maybe it was because the room heater was working quite well.

She woke up with the bright sunlight beating down on her. The sight of the tall glass window made her stunned for a moment. Since when did her room have such a large window? Moving to sit on the bed, her hand touched the soft mattress causing her to quickly look at the bed quickly. This was not her room. But she recognized this room, the room she had used these past two days.

Her face turned frantic and the tail of her eyes catching the movement made her turn her head towards the single sofa at the end of her bed. There, Hellios sat calmly but his expression was slightly cold. She subconsciously backed away in fear.

"You lied, Ash."