Pretty Liar: The Captain's Obsession

Chapter 5

Zara POV

"What?" "What?" Ashford and I blurted out in disbelief as I stared at the sophisticated gray-eyed woman beside Ash, who had just spoken my name as though we'd known each other for years.

Some of the hockey team moved past us, dripping in sweat and one of them particularly tapped on Ashford's shoulder before he left. My gaze drifted from her perfectly composed face to his equally confused expression. He looked ... genuinely caught off guard. "You know her?" He asked, looking at the woman.

However, she didn't answer him, instead, she kept her eyes fixed on me which made my skin prickle. Lena had practically shoved me toward the hockey arena after class, insisting this was where Ashford would be. "If you don't interview him," she'd warmed dramatically, "Professor Maddox will fail you without blinking." So here I was .. notebook in hand while mentally rehearsing interview questions and his i********: handle for a start. Instead, a complete stranger knew my name.

Ashford let out an irritated breath. "You hired her?" he asked sharply. Okay now, they were about to have a conversation like I didn't exist. The woman finally looked at him. "I did." His eyes fell on mine and I watched his jaw twitch with pure irritation. "Out of every journalism student on campus, you picked ... her?" "I did."

He scoffed. "Interesting choice." And just when I thought, this was finally over, he chuckled. "You know what? I'm done." He shoved both hands into the pocket of his hockey jacket before shaking his head. "I don't know what game you're playing this time, but I'm not interested. Good luck."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away, disappearing through the arena doors.

I stared after him. Seriously? Just like that? I hadn't even introduced myself, or gotten to explain the assignment and the part where I got to interview him. He simply left! And right now? I was annoyed. Professor Maddox was going to love hearing that his precious hockey captain walked away before I could even open my notebook.

I slowly turned back toward the woman, and lo, she stood exactly where she'd been, looking as though she'd orchestrated everything that happened in my life today. I folded my arms, sucking on my tooth. "Okay."

She arched one eyebrow, as if waiting for my words.

"Who are you? How did you know my name? And how do you know about the assignment?" I blurted out, the irritation obvious in my tone. However, the only thing I got - was a laugh. The unknown woman freaking laughed as though I was a joke. "I expected someone studying journalism to be ... more observant."

Excuse me?

"I heard about the assignment less than five minutes ago," I replied. "Unless you're secretly Professor Maddox, there's no logical reason you should know." "You aren't quite as intelligent as you believe yourself to be." I stared, a disbelieving gasp escaped my lips. "I'm sorry?" "There are conversations you hear." She stepped closer. "And conversations people like me arrange before it is done." I frowned. "What does that even mean?"

"It means," she said coolly, "that from this moment onward, you'll no longer need to chase Ashford around campus." Chase Ashford around campus? Before I could ask, she continued anyway. "My management team will email you every schedule."

Right now, somehow had to explain to me the f**k was happening and why a college project is being treated like a 'do or die' project- and who the cream coat lady was!

"Management team? This is nothing but a p-" "Pratices," She interrupted me, counting on her fingers like my voice didn't matter. "Games, sponsorship appearances, and so on. You'll receive every approved location and every approved time."

I let out a disbelieving laugh. "No, this has to be a joke." "It isn't." "You don't get to dictate my project." "I dictate every project involving Kane Ashford" She said with so much confidence that irritated me.

"No," I replied firmly. "Professor Maddox assigned me to cover Ashford. He didn't assign me to work for ... " I gestured vaguely toward her immaculate outfit. " .. whoever you are." She looked so amused. "I assure you .. " she glanced briefly toward the parking lot where a sleek black Rolls-Royce waited. " .. you do."

I stared at her for another second before shaking my head. "No. I don't have time for this." Today was already exhausting alone. My interview had been a disaster, my assignment was hanging by a thread and now some unbelievably rich stranger that was probably Kane's manager or sister, or aunt, whatever was speaking to me like she'd bought me. I turned to leave.

"Zara." Her voice halted me to a stop and I hated that it did, before I slowly looked back. She walked toward me gracefully before taking one of my hands and placing a thick glistening business card into my palm. "This will answer your first question."

Confused, I looked down, only for me to see a boldly written name: "ERICA SHAWN. Academy Award-winning Actress, producer, and Kane Global Entertainment."

For several long seconds ... my brain genuinely refused to function. Celeste Ashford. The same Celeste Ashford that Lena had fantasized about hours ago. Which meant ... My eyes slowly lifted back to hers. "You .. you're Ashford's mother?"

She smiled coldly, "It's refreshing to meet someone who didn't recognize me immediately." Her eyes whipped over my dress. "What else could I expect from someone of your ... standing?"

I raised my eyes in utmost disbelief and before I could think of a response, she leaned closer. "If anything goes wrong- if you choose to ignore my instructions." She paused. "Simone will pay for every loophole you create." Every muscle in my body froze. "What?" "And Simone," she whispered, "already knows the consequences."

My head snapped up, causing most of the books in my hand to fall, my heartbeat thundering in my ears "How ... how do you know Simone?" She stepped away, dusting invisible dust from her coat without answering me. "How do you know her?" I demanded louder. "We've been here less than a day!" Still nothing, instead, she brushed past me as though I were little more than an obstacle in her path.

"Wait!" I spun around. "How do you know Simone?" A chauffeur hurried to open the rear door of the waiting Rolls-Royce and she entered without looking back. "You are threatening me?"