Chapter 20

"Ms. Reyes…" Ashley mutters, trying to open the door as quietly as she can, while she peeks her head inside, now fully clothed. "I'm done."

"Shh!" Veronica scowls at Ashley as she gestures to her little sibling coddled up beside her. The assistant mumbles a soft "ahh" before she closes the door, shutting it silently. She tip-toes over to the bed, gently stroking Sammy's hair.

"I wasn't even that loud…" Ashley sulks, kneeling beside the bed.

"…Have you sobered up?"

"Yeah, I think. I brushed my teeth too."

"Good." Veronica says, the room then filling with silence. Ashley glances around awkwardly, her eyes then landing to the space on the bed beside Sammy.

"So, uhm," Ashley starts, making Veronica look at her. "Do I just…go in?"

"Huh?"

"The bed." She answers. "We're gonna share the bed, right?"

"Ah, yes, you are right..." Veronica mumbles before biting her lip as she looks away. She lifts the covers, inviting Ashley in. "Yeah, you can just… go under the covers beside Sammy."

"Okay…" Ashley says, voice small. She stands up and softly lies down the bed, trying not to wake Sammy. As she lays her head on the pillows, she pats her hand around the bed, trying to find for another pillow to hug.  

"That's my arm." Veronica deadpans when Ashley's hand lands on her.

"Oh shit, sorry…" She apologizes, immediately pulling back.

"It is alright…" Right after Veronica says that, her hand knocks on Ashley's accidentally, her vision being blurry because of the lack of light in the room. The assistant flinches, her eyes widening.

"Ah! Sorry."

"It's fine!"

"Tone your voice down!"

"But you're shouting too!"

"I am not—"

"Ronny?" Sammy mumbles with a groggy voice, waking up because of the couple's noise. Her eyes open slightly, staring up at their sister.

"Oh shit, she's up." Ashley says, her language making Veronica hiss at her.

"Ms. Johnson!"

"Sorry!"

"Bunny hero?" Sammy calls out, head turning at Ashley's voice. She blinks slowly, doe eyes now wide open.

"Ah, I'm sorry, Sammy. Did we wake you up?"

"No." They say, shaking their head. Their eyes then start to water, small lips wobbling, the sight making Ashley coo at the child. "But I had a bad dream again…"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Sammy." Veronica coos, the "Sammy effect" melting the thick walls around her emotions.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" Ashley asks, ears ready to listen.

"No, it's fine now. Bunny hero's here now!" Sammy says, their thin arms wrapping around Ashley's neck, nuzzling against her. "You'll protect me from the bad dreams, right?"

"Of course, Sammy." Veronica smiles softly at the sight, adoring Sammy's shining eyes and maybe they're not the only thing the CEO is smiling at.

"Do you want me to hold your hand until you fall asleep?"

"Who?" Sammy asks, tilting their hand to the side.

"Huh?"

"Me or bunny hero?" They ask, Veronica's eyes widening at the question, blood rushing to her cheeks. She couldn't be more thankful than now that the lights were off.

"Huh?!"

"Yeah, Ms. Reyes." Ashley giggles, using this chance to tease her boss. "Sammy or bunny hero?"

"S-stop with your nonsense! Are you still drunk? Of course, I'm holding Sammy's hand!"

"Ehh? Why won't you hold mine?" Ashley whines, making Sammy side with her.

"Yeah, Ronny Ronny. Why won't you hold bunny hero's hand?"

"F-fine," Veronica gulps, looking away. "I'll hold her hand too…"

"Yay!" Both Sammy and Ashley cheer, smiles and giggles filling the bedroom.

"Don't worry, Sammy. The bad dreams will go away now!"

"Yeah! Goodnight bunny hero. Goodnight Ronny."

"Good—" Ashely and Veronica talk at the same time, making them pause, scoffing at each other.

"I am supposed to say it." Veronica says, making Ashley roll her eyes.

"But Sammy likes me more. I'm supposed to say it."

"No, I am."

"I am."

"No—" Sammy snores softly, making Veronica stop. She smiles at her sibling, holding their hand as she kisses their head.

"Goodnight, Sammy."

"Cheater…" Ashley says childishly. Her pout fades when Veronica holds her hands, intertwining their fingers. The assistant's cheeks flush and her eyes widen, making her tense. She (somehow) relaxes a bit, squeezing her boss's hand.

Veronica rolls her eyes with a smile, squeezing back. She goes to sleep with a soft grin, remembering that it's been so long since she had a warm bed. She wasn't mad about it, peacefully resting with an equally warm heart.

…

The light peeks between the curtains, dimly brightening the dark room and waking Ashley up. Her eyes slowly open, blinking fast as she hums. She looks at her side, seeing that Sammy isn't there.

"Where's Sammy?" she mumbles, voice low and hoarse. Her eyes then land to Veronica, seeing the black strands softly draped on her face.

'Why'd she suddenly seem so upset last night?' She wonders, remembering when she was in the guest bedroom, naked and dripping wet. 'Why does she seem so upset all the time? Such good looks are a waste…'

She continues to think. Her hand finds its way toward her boss, brushing the hair away from her face as she gently tucks the strand behind Veronica's ear. 'She looks peaceful right now. So beautiful. Huh, this seems familiar.'

Ashley feels as if there was a magnet on Veronica's face, attracting her as she slowly lets herself get pulled in. The beating of her heart quickened as she gets closer and just before her lips brushed over Veronica's, the sound of the door opening makes her jump backwards, her eyes widening.

"Oh, bunny hero! You're up?" Sammy asks, voice cheerful and high but not annoying, a great sound to wake up to.

"Y-yeah." Ashley clears her throat as she slowly sits up. "Why're you up so early, Sammy?"

"I dunno, I just did." They say, shrugging their shoulders. "I played with Carrots and Celery since you guys weren't up yet."

"Carrots and Celery?"

"Oh, right, we didn't tell you. We have bunnies!"

'Why am I not surprised…' She thinks, before chuckling softly.

"Really? Was it fun?" She asks as she stands up, walking towards Sammy.

"Yeah! I fed them too."

"That sounds nice! Do you want me to make you some breakfast?"

"Oh, yeah! Can I help?"

"Sure!"

…

"Can you pass me the cheese, Sammy?" Ashley asks, reaching her hand out as she continues to scramble the eggs on the hot pan.

"Huh? Where is it?"

"There. Right behind you."

"Oh…" They mumble, silently getting it before putting it on Ashley's hands with a smile. "Here you go!"

"Thank you!" Ashley continues to cook, the smell of eggs filling the entire space. Veronica breaks the comfortable silence when she walks down the stairs, rubbing her eyes as she yawns.

"Are you cooking breakfast?"

"Yeah!" Ashley answers with a smile, turning to her boss. Veronica narrows her eyes, making a face of disgust, terrified, as her assistant scoffs.

"Hey! Don't look at me like that! I've improved, you know?"

"Right…" She says, voice laced with uncertainty. Ashley rolls her eyes, putting her hand son her hips.

"We're making scrambled eggs. It's pretty simple. We even put some cheese! Do you think we should put some ham? I think it'll taste pretty good—"

"What's that smell?' Sammy asks, nose scrunching adorably.

"Huh?" Ashley turns back to the pan, eyes widening when she sees the eggs turning black and charred. "OH SHIT IT'S BURNING!"

"MS. JOHNSON, DON'T CURSE!" Veronica yells, Ashley ignoring her as she puts the pan in the sink, filling it with water. The CEO sighs as she watches the scene before her. "Disappointed but not surprised."

"Help!" Veronica rolls her eyes as she walks to her assistant, grabbing the apron by the fridge and swiftly putting it on. She grabs a new pan and walks towards the stove.

"Move." Veronica grumbles, sighing.

"O-okay…"

…

"Here." Veronica says, putting three bowls of congee soup filled with chicken and rice, the sight looking like porridge and the homey smell filling the entire kitchen and dining room. "You are quite hungover, yes?"

"Yeah…"

"This might help." Veronica says, untying her apron as she sits on her seat, sighing. Sammy leans over the table, sniffing the soup.

"Woahh, it smells so nice!" Sammy exclaims, getting their spoon. They blow in the soup softly and Ashley watches them. The assistant looks at her own bowl, getting her own spoon and tastes it. After a few seconds, her eyes light up.

"Oh, wow. It tastes great, Ms. Reyes!"

"Of course." Veronica scoffs, crossing her arms over her chest. Ashley smiles as she tastes another spoonful, moaning in satisfaction afterwards.

"Ah! I know." She says as she suddenly stands up, startling Sammy and Veronica. "I'll make some coffee as a thank you!"

"That is unnecessary—"

"Right, where's the coffee brewer?" Ashley says, heading to the kitchen. Veronica sighs after eating a spoonful of her own soup.

"Fine, do whatever you want." The room fills with silence, but there was no tension. After a few moments, Ashley comes back with two warm mugs, placing one of them in front of Veronica and the other in front of her seat. The CEO stares at the coffee with narrowed eyes, reluctant to drink it.

"Taste it!" Ashley says with anticipating eyes. Veronica looks at Ashley with hesitance, then at the coffee.

'Fuck it.' She thinks before bringing it up to her lips, taking a small sip. After a few seconds, her eyes widen, the taste surprising her positively.

"Well? How does it taste, Ms. Reyes?" Ashley asks, leaning closer. Veronica silently takes another sip, longer this time before putting it down on the table again. Sammy watches them, still blowing on their soup.

"It… does not taste bad." It really doesn't. The coffee reminds her of heaven, even if she's never been there and believes she never will be there, but Veronica will be caught dead if she actually admits it doesn't taste like a rat's ass.

"Just say it tastes good!"

"No."

"Come on!"

"No!" Veronica says, taking another sip.

"You're still drinking it though!"

"…" She looks away, taking another sip. "Shut up."