Chapter 14

"Get in." Veronica said as she opened the door to her apartment, putting her keys in her pocket. Rolling her eyes, Ashley stepped inside.

"How caring."

"Shut up." She said. "Just go." Veronica took her coat off, placing her bag somewhere on the couch before looking at Ashley.

"Yes, Ms. Reyes!" Ashley smiled as she looked back, putting her belongings on the couch. She laid on the couch, propping her chin on the armrest as she sighed. Veronica called out for her after a few minutes, making her raise her head.

"You want a drink?"

"Hmm, maybe water, I think."

"All right." Veronica responded as she walked to her kitchen. In the meantime, Ashley took the opportunity to close her tired eyes, humming a random tune as she did so. After a moment, her boss came back, placing the glass of water against her cheek, making her jump.

"What, oh. Thank you, Ms. Reyes!" Ashley said, looking up at Veronica with a smile as she sat up. The other just nodded back, sitting beside her as she placed a warm mug on the coffee table. "Ms. Reyes, is that coffee?"

"Hmm?" Veronica hummed back, seeing her gesture to the mug. "Ah, yes."

"This late?"

"I have some files to review."

"You didn't do them a while ago?" Ashley asked, tilting her head as she did so.

"Who's fault do you think that is?" Veronica snapped as she turned her head to the side, looking at Ashley with a raised brow and a smirk. The latter looked a way, pouting as she grumbled.

"You agreed to it anyway, though."

"Shut up."

"Hehe, just don't overwork." Ashley said, finally moving from her seat to stand up. She fished her phone out of her bag, looking at Veronica. The latter only hummed back as she opened her laptop.

"Mhm…" Ashley smiled at her response before going to the bathroom.

…

"Ah, should I cook alone today?" Ashley muttered, voice groggy and full of morning breath. Yawning, she scratched her cheek. "Hmm, nah. Ah, Ms. Reyes?"

"Mmm?" Veronica only groaned in response, hiding her face deeper into the sheets. Ashley lazily giggled at her response, prying the blanket off of her, making the other whine louder at the loss of warmth from the blanket.

"It's morning." She said. "We have to cook breakfast,"

"Mmm, breakfast?" Veronica said after yawning, finally sitting up. Ashley nodded back, stretching her arms as she stood from the bed. She walked to the curtains, pulling them open.

"Yes. What do you want to eat?"

"Hmm, I don't know." She yawned. "I'm tired."

"What time did you sleep last night?"

"Huh? I don't know." She shrugged, then looked at the clock. "Maybe 5 AM?"

"What?!" Ashley shouted, looking at Veronica with wide eyes. The volume made the latter cover her ears, groaning.

"Ah, so loud. It's so early in the morning. Tone it down, for fuck's sake."

"Ms. Reyes, go back to sleep!"

"Ah, it's fine. You woke me up already." Veronica said, stepping off the bed to look at her reflection in the mirror. She scratched her puffy cheek, yawning as she did so.

"We can postpone meeting with Sammy to tomo—" Before Ashley can finish her sentence, Veronica cuts her off with a shout.

"NO!" Veronica yelled, turning back to look at Ashley. After realizing she shouted, she looked away as she muttered. "I mean, no. Ah, sorry. Let's just go make breakfast."

Veronica's eyes went soft, yet looking at her, Ashley realized it had a tinge of guilt. It was sad to look at and for some reason, it looked like the face she made when she was in the boutique for the preview.

"A-ah, right." She responded after a few seconds of silence, going out of the room and down to the kitchen with Veronica.

…

After making breakfast, they ate with silence, tense air surrounding them. They ignored it as they were getting ready for the day after eating and washing. They get in the car eventually, tense air still between them as they drove to Sammy.

'She seems pretty tired though.' Ashley thought as she looked at Veronica through the rear-view mirror. The latter was sighing a lot, eyes tired and face a little pale.

"Ms. Johnson, can you pass by that one coffee shop before we go to Sammy?" Veronica said, cutting Ashley's thoughts off.

"Yes, Ms. Reyes!"

When they get to the coffee shop, Ashley waits for her in the parking lot since it had no drive-through. When Veronica comes back, she had in her hand a big cup of coffee, the smell of mocha filling the car.

"Whoah, Ms. Reyes! Isn't that a bit much?"

"What do you mean?" She said as she took a sip from the cup. "This isn't enough."

"I-what, alright then."

"We should get Sammy that carrot cake again. Also, she wanted a bunny onesie so there's that too…" Veronica trails off, eyes narrowed as she hunched over thinking of what else to get Sammy. At the sight Ashley sees from the mirror, she smiles, finding Veronica's thoughtful face adorable.

…

"Whoah, what the hell." Ashley says when they reach the front gate of the mansion. The gates slowly open, letting the car in. "This place is enormous." She said as she stopped the car. Veronica hummed before answering.

"Not really. Let's go." Veronica said before pushing the car door open. Ashley smile din response, getting out of the car.

"Yes, Ms. Reyes!"

"Bunny hero!" Sammy's high voice cheers once they see Ashley. They run toward the later short arms reaching out for her.

"Sammy!" Ashley yells back, welcoming the child with open arms. As they continue to hug, Veronica whines, kneeling beside the two.

"Ouch, Sammy." She said. "You don't miss me anymore?" Veronica asks, lips pouting as she looked at her sibling with wide eyes.

"Ronnie, I-I do!" Sammy said as tears started welling in her eyes, her bottom lip trembling. Ashley gasps and hugs the child tighter.

"You're making Sammy cry, you know?"

"Oh, no, no! I'm just kidding, Sammy." She said, voice hasty as she pried her sibling away from Ashley's arms and into hers. "I know you miss me. I miss you too!"

"Y-you do?" Sammy said, looking up at Veronica with wide and glassy eyes through their lashes.

"Of course! Did I ever lie to you before, Sammy?'

"I, I guess not." Sammy said with a small voice as they finally hug Veronica back. At their words, the latter pats her sibling's head.

"That's my bunny! We have carrot cake, should we eat it inside?"

"Yes, please!" Sammy cheered as the tears in her eyes faded away, previous pout replaced with a big smile, their tooth gap proudly shown.

"We also bought you that onesie you wanted." Ashley said as she raised a bunny onesie, the faux fur white and the hood decorated with bunny ears. Sammy gasped at the sight, making grabby hands to the clothing. Ashley, being the softie she is, gave it to the child with a bright smile.

"Really?! I'll wear that before we eat the cake!" Sammy said, turning to run towards their room, making Veronica call out to her.

"Sammy, be careful!"

"Sorry!" They replied, deciding to walk instead. Veronica smiled at the sight, but Ashley cut her off when she called for her. (Walks)

"Ms. Reyes?" She said, eyes focused on her boss as her eyes looked full of concern. Veronica raised her brow in response, making Ashley step forward to look closer. "You seem a little pale. Are you okay?"

"Yes, of course. I'm perfectly fine."

"Are you sure?" She asked, raising her hand to reach for Veronica's forehead. "You're sweating quite a bi��"

"Stop." Veronica said, slapping Ashley's hand away, her nails grazing against her assistant's skin. Once she thought about what she'd done, her eyes widened in realization. "S-sorry. I'm sorry. I-I'm fine."

"A-ah, okay…"

"I, I'll get the cake ready."

"Right…" Ashley said, looking away. Before she can walk away to check on Sammy, she heard a thud.

She turned around to see Veronica on the floor; the cake smashed as it spilled out of its box. At the sight, Ashley widens her eyes, running to Veronica.

"Ms. Reyes!"