Chapter 19

As Ashley and Lara were talking, their conversation turned confusing, the assistant's words getting more slurred by the minute. Their conversation got cut short when the door slammed open, Veronica with her sightly tousled hair and subtly heaving chest appearing in the middle. Her head turned side to side quickly, searching for something. She stopped moving once her eyes landed on the bar where Asley sat, eyes shining when she walked towards her.

"Ash-Ms.Johnson!"

"Oh! It's Ms. Reyes?" Ashley turned back at the call of her name, smiling as she waved at her boss. "Hiii…"

"Hey, Ashley's boss!" Lara waved at Veronica as well, the latter only nodding in response, making the bartender scoff.

"How much did she drink?"

Lara didn't answer, staring at her for a few seconds before turning her head to the side where a lot of bottles piled over. Veronica squinted her eyes and scrunched her nose when the smell of beer suddenly washed over her.

"What? Why did she drink so much?"

Once again, Lara stayed silent, smiling at her as she shrugged slightly. Veronica squinted her eyes at the bartender's lack of words, thoughts of who the mysterious woman is piling in her head. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes, deciding to sigh instead.

"Fine." She turned to Ashley, raising the assistant's arm so she can put it over her shoulder. "Ms. Johnson, let's go home."

"Oh, you don't call her Ashley?"

"No," Veronica answered, putting her hand around Ashley's waist as she turned to Lara in confusion. "Why would I?"

"You did though," Lara smirked, chin lifted as she raised Ashley's phone waving it around. "Over the phone."

"No, I didn't. Why would I do such a thing? Please be careful with your words." She blurted, turning her reddening face away as her words came out in a jumbled mess. Snatching Ashley's phone from Lara's hand with pursed lips, Veronica quickly stuffs it in her pocket. She then looks at her assistant with furrowed brows, then turns to the bartender. "Who is she to you?"

"Oh, to me? Didn't I tell you already? She's my friend, well, a close friend."

"Is that so?" Veronica questioned, eyes narrowing at Lara. She opened her mouth to say something but before she can utter a word, Lara's next question brought her to a surprise.

"What about you? What is she to you?"

"I—"

"Never mind." Lara interrupted just as Veronica was about to reply. The bartender leaned over the bar, staring into the CEO's eyes with her own cold ones. "She's just an employee to you, right? Your personal assistant."

"... Right." Was all Veronica could say, Lara's words rendering her silent.

Veronica was speechless because Lara /is/ right. She's just her personal assistant who assists her with work and other… things. However, that was it. They weren't friends, let alone lo—

She sighed before her rampant thoughts could continue. Veronica looked away before she pulled Ashley off of the seat, making the drunk woman lean into her. "Well, goodnight. Thank you for taking care of Ms. Johnson."

Lara only smiles in response, but Veronica already turned towards the exit with furrowed brows, unable to see the bartender. Once the CEO leaves, Lara's smile immediately falls, staring at the exit for a quick moment before cleaning the glasses that Ashley dumped on the side.

…

Veronica's car stops by the door of the mansion, the CEO struggling to pull the door open as Ashley's body weight lies on her side. After a few more tries, she finally opens it, sighing exasperatedly as she walks to the couch, lying Ashley down. She walks to the kitchen to drink some water, seeing Ashley sitting up when she came back into the living room.

"Laraaa, why are we in Ms. Reyes's house?" Ashley asked, unable to decipher who the woman walking towards her is as her vision is still blurry. Veronica rolls her eyes as she walks around the couch, trying to lift Ashley up again.

"It's your boss, Ms. Johnson."

"Ms. Reyes?" Ashley asked with a gasp. "It's you?"

"Yes, now let us go to my room and clean you—"

"Ah, Sammy!" Ashley suddenly yelled, her body moving along as Veronica stumbled and almost made the assistant fall. She caught her again, sighing in relief. The assistant was oblivious to her near-death experience and turned to her boss with wide eyes. "We have to sleep with Sammy."

"Ms. Johnson, you are wasted and you reek of alcohol. I'm not letting you get close to Sammy like this."

"I'm not wast—" She gags before replying with a sheepish smile. "Wasted…"

"Yes, you are," Veronica says, finally arriving at the bedroom. She sits Ashley up on the side of the bed, hands finding their way to the assistant's smelly clothes. "Now, let me clean you up at least."

"Mmm, fine. But! Let's sleep with Sammy after."

"Fine." Veronica sighs as her hands move to take Ashley's clothes off. While she does so, her thoughts wander around.

'This would be so much better if the maids and chef were here, but I sent them away so I can spend time with Sammy alone. Sigh, they're not coming home until I get better and that's tomorrow. I have to take care of this drunkard by then. Speaking of, drinking seems to be her solution to everything. Is she stupid? She always has to make me worry like this— '

"Ms. Reyes~" Ashley calls her boss, then pouts when Veronica doesn't react, the CEO still lost in her thoughts. She pouts and tries again. "Ms. Reyes…"

"Huh?" Veronica snaps out of her head, looking up at Ashley as her hands stop moving. The latter looks down looks at her boss then smirks. She leans toward the woman with a teasing smile.

"You like touchin' me there, don'cha?"

"Excuse you—"

"Your hand's on my boobs." Ashley deadpans as Veronica furrows her brows and narrows her eyes, unbelieving.

"Nonsense-Oh shit," Veronica mutters as she looks at her hands, her big palms hugging the figure of Ashley's breasts. Her eyes widen as she pulls her hands back, yelling in surprise. "Ah! Ms. Johnson, I am so sorry. I was…thinking. I got distracted. I sincerely apologize…"

"Hmm? It's fine, my boobs feel gooodd, don't they?" Ashley teased as she pushed her chest towards Veronica. She then raised her arms, then jumps and cheered. "I have anime tiddies!"

"J-just shut up and take your clothes off," Veronica said as she grabbed Ashley's collar.

"Hmm?"

"Wait!" Veronica said, her eyes wide as she realized what she said. "That's not what I meant to say—"

"Oh? You want smexy times~" Ashley teased, giggling. She put her arms around Veronica's neck and whispered next to her ear, her voice breathy and hoarse from drinking alcohol. "You could have just said that, you know?"

"Th-that's … no! Just shut up and get in the shower. You reek of alcohol. Sammy doesn't want to smell this."

"Yeah, yeah, I heard 'ya."

"Is she sobering up?" Veronica mumbles before sighing. She stands up and goes down to get them both some water, trying to cool her face down.

…

"Ms. Reyes…" Ashley called as her head peeked out of the bathroom door. Veronica hummed in response, coming back from the kitchen. "I got no clothes~"

"A-ah, right…" Veronica stuttered as she looked away. She headed for the closet at the corner of the bedroom as Ashley stepped out of the door. "Wait. I will get you some nightwear."

"Okay…"

"Here you go—"

"Ah, thanks~," Ashley said, about to grab the clothes from Veronica's hands. Veronica looked at her and realized her entire body was bare and wet, water pooling around the assistant's feet as she just stepped out of the bathroom. Her eyes widened as her grip on the clothes loosened, making them fall.

"W-wait, you're dripping wet. You don't even have a towel around you, you're completely naked!" Veronica yelled with reddening cheeks, turning around to give Ashley some privacy. She picked the clothes up, back still turned.

"I know that, dummy. I said I got no clothes!"

"Stay in the bathroom, at least!"

"Eh? It's nothing you haven't seen before!"

"Yes, but still—"

"Ah!"

"What now?"

"Director Clarra said something like that too!"

"…" Veronica stayed silent, flinching as her eyes grew dark. Her shoulders stiffened as her movements halted, her grip on the clothes tightening.

"You got mad when she came in and we were still half-naked, you know?! She said, 'It's not something I haven't seen before.' " Ashley said, imitating Clarra's voice. "Hey, hey! What'd she mean by that? Did you guys—"

"It is none of your business."

"Huh?" Ashley cocked her head to the side, fuzzy mind confused. Veronica ignored her, facing her, but her head turned to the side.

"Just wear that." She said, voice cold as she shoved the clothes towards Ashley. The latter grabbed it, still confused as she watched her boss walk away.

"There is a towel inside the bottom drawer in the bathroom under the sink. Use it. Brush your teeth. I left the water here. I will just wait for you in the bedroom." Veronica informed before walking out, not facing Ashley once.

"Ah. Thanks?..." Ashley says as she stares at the closed door, all alone in the room.