My Billionaire Roommate

Frying Rules

Leaving the apartment, Bree tucked the key card protectively into her pocket. Deciding to pick up her car to transfer it to the garage located in the basement of the building, she picked up the duffel that held the extremely important things from her childhood and her spare clothes.

As she slung the strap of the duffel over her shoulder and turned to look around the garage only to stop her movements once again. All around her were cars she had seen on the market for hundreds of thousands of dollars. They all ranged from sporty to luxury and appeared as if they just were washed and waxed with how pristine they looked.

Eyeing her own car, she zeroed in on the rust spots around the wheel well and the partially taped sideview mirror and frowned.

Maybe she should keep it back at the University parking lot.

Swallowing her anxiety, she trekked her way to the elevator and after getting on, she used the car key and the doors instantly closed. The trip was short though as it only went up to the lobby and opened to reveal a beautiful woman that looked to be around her age. She was staring her phone, not caring to look up as she got on and pushed a key card into the slot for the doors to close once again.

Her hair was blond and curled to perfection with large ringlets. Her eyes were a deep hazel and narrow, giving her a sexy, yet intimidating look. Her model like figure was hugged by a short black dress that ended a few inches above her knees. The woman was taller as well, but Bree couldn't tell if it was from the cherry red pumps she wore or not.

Her manicured fingers stopped typing on her phone as if just then noticing that there was someone else nearby, "I'm not into girls so stop staring."

"W-what?" Bree stuttered and even went as far to look around as to make sure it was her the woman was talking to, "I'm not into girls."

"Then stop drooling over me." The woman snapped.

Flinching, Bree looked to the other side of the elevator, her body feeling like ice as anxiety washed over her. The back of eyes had the painful tingling feeling as her eyes watered with embarrassment. This was the second person she had been caught openly staring at now. She was not normally the type to do that.

What was wrong with her?

The soft chime of the elevator informed the occupants they had reached one of their floors had Bree looking at the doors as they slid open smoothly, but when they both took a step forward, the woman now glared at her, "What kind of business do you have here?"

"Melissa," Ashton's voice cut through as he stepped into the narrow view from within the elevator, "You're early..." He looked at his wristwatch for a flash before looking back up and locking his green orbs with Bree's, "Are you settling in okay, Bree?"

A tingle of apprehension went down her spine as she saw Melissa return her angry gaze her way, so she decided to finally go through the door and nod to him, "Just fine, thanks."

"Ash!" Melissa's screech echoed into the foyer, "You're having some..." Her eyes roamed over Bree's form as if she was some kind of dirty bug, "... girl stay with you?" She made a gesture with her fingertips resting over her heart, "Yet when I offered to move in, you said no."

Ashton let out a short huff and crossed his arms, his biceps twitching with the movement, "She is going to do some work for me. That's all."

Looking at the stairs for a second, Bree wondered if this was worth the drama, "I can leave..."

"No!" Ashton's response was loud and quick as he unfolded his arms and took several steps forward to nearly pull her with her duffle bag as he tugged it from her shoulders, "You are perfectly fine staying here." He glanced Melissa's way who looked to be fuming, "Our reservations were not for another two hours, but we'll get going after I help her take this up to her room."

He left no room for discussion as he turned away and started up the stairs, taking two steps at a time., leaving Bree to follow in an disbelieving way. He only glanced once behind him to make sure she was following, but once he spotted her, he continued on.

Following him into her new room, Bree watched as he placed the bag at the end of the bed, "I don't want to cause you problems with your girlfriend, Ashton."

"She is not my girlfriend." He corrected with a soft laugh, "She might think she is though."

"Oh," Pulling her bottom lip between her teeth, she worried the skin.

He looked around the room before resting his gaze on her once again, his expression concerned, "Don't let Melissa bother you. She is only daughter of a family friend."

"Only?" She echoed only to wish to retract it as soon as it came out of her mouth.

"Yes," He chuckled, "Only." He took a couple of steps forward, his face relaxed more now as he pulled out his cell phone, "Let me give you my number so if there is any problem, you can contact me."

"I already have it." She blurted quickly, but when he gave her a confused look, she continued, "I got it off the flyer you gave to me..."

"Ah, right." He nodded, jutting the phone her direction anyway, "May I have your number then so I know who is calling or texting me?"

"U-uh, right." She held out her palms and he set his phone in the makeshift cradle, 

His expression amused at how delicately she held the piece of technology, "You're not going to hurt it."

She glanced down at the high tech looking phone within her grasp and shook her head, "I have a natural talent of breaking the unbreakable."

"Even if you did, I can replace it." He snorted through his nose.

Licking her bottom lip slightly, she quickly typed in her digits in before offering his phone back, "I don't want to be the reason you have to replace it."

When she looked up, she noticed he was looking over her features and it made her want to recoil from him, but at the same time, she felt something bloom within her stomach. It was an unfamiliar feeling, yet not completely unwelcome.

He lifted a hand and as he went to take back his property, his fingers, like the downy feathers of a goose, slid across her palm making goosebumps raise across her arms up to her neck. As soon as he had the phone within his long fingers, she lowered her hands quickly to hold them behind her back, her fingers twisting nervously.

What was that feeling?

"I better get out of here before Melissa finds more to b***h about.” He let out with a huff as he walked by her, “There is food in the refrigerator if you’re hungry, so feel free to fix something up.”

“Thank you.” She replied softly, “Have a good time.”

“Doubt it,” He called out from the hall before he descended the stairs.

The corners of her lips twitched upward with his last comment before she let out a sigh and turned to start unpacking her duffle. With as little as she had with her, she was able to unload it within about 20 minutes.

As she placed the last photo frame on her night stand, she let her fingers linger on the glass as she looked at the young boy within the picture, “I should call him in the morning...”

The clenching of her stomach gave her enough influence to venture down the kitchen where, once again, she became amazed. All the cabinets were black with white countertops and the appliances were black stainless steel with silver stainless accents. The floor was a glossy white marble with black mats in front of the sink, the island and before the refrigerator. A small knife block, a potted vine plant, and a tablet like screen were the only things decorating the counters.

Taking a few steps towards the fridge, she opened it and gazed at the contents. With much debate, she pulled out a pack of chicken and some vegetables then went into search pots and pans. After several minutes, she had everything out and started prepping while making mental notes as to where everything was located so she would have an easier time fixing dinner for Ashton per request.

While the crisp crackle of the food cooking filled the room, it was still too quiet for her tastes, so she pulled out her phone and put on some music. The sound flowed into the room and she instantly felt herself relaxing as she swayed gently to the music, her movements not necessarily matching the tempo of the music. Her own voice joined the singer in the song, though it was more of a murmur, and she soon forgot where she was at finally.

That was until the elevator’s soft hum pulled her orbs to the doors as they opened, showing the owner of the penthouse.

What surprised her next was her own words, “You’re home early.”

Ashton had been looking at his phone, but it was forgotten with her statement, “Uh, yeah.” He lifted his phone, “Melissa’s sister called her with an emergency and I decided I could come home and get caught up on some work.”

She looked into the wok she had been frying everything up in and then gestured to it, “Are you still hungry?”

“You sure you have enough there?” He walked up to the counter, placing his phone on it.

“Yeah, there should,” She took the wooden spoon she had been using to give it a few stirs, “Do you like stir fry?”

He gave a pleased hum as he took a dramatic inhale through his nose, “I do.”

Turning down the heat, she looked towards the cabinets, “I’ll get the plates or bowls...”

“I got it.” He was around the counter and opening the cabinet doors within a couple of steps, “Bowl or plate?”

“Bowl, please.” She poured the food contents into a wide white serving bowl before grabbing her phone to turn off the music.

Setting the table with him was oddly smooth, as if they had been doing it for years, and she had to admire how polite he was. The glass table, once they decorated it with dishes, silverware, and the food, actually looked quite homey in her eyes though she had no real comparison.

He pulled out a seat and motioned to it for her, “Come sit.”

And just like that, her shyness came back tenfold, “Ah, I got it,” She walked over to the chair and put her hand on the back of it, between his two that were on either side of the back, “Thanks.”

He lifted his hands off the chair, the smile on his face faltering for a split second before he went to his own seat, “Maybe it is a good thing we can sit like this. We can get to know each other since we’ll be living with each other… Maybe set up some ground rules.”