CHAPTER 9

Knock. Knock I heard at my door. Who is it. I asked. I knew i wasn't expecting any one today.

It the Postman 

Ok give me some sec. Am coming 

Mildred Guard? he asked 

Yes.

This is for you ma. He said given me the flowers. Thanks . I said smiling 

There is a letter on it and it said.

" Good luck in your new job" . At the back of the letter it said . Ashley shades.

I went directly to the kitchen open the trash bin and wanted to drop the flowers inside it, but a just came to my mind so I decided to leave it at the kitchen when am back from the office I will do want ever I want ever I want with it. So I just took my jacket and hand bag and went to the office.

Good morning. Mr Jack 

Mildred please, it's Jack. Tea, right?, weak?, black?. He asked 

I , uh.... I'm pretty sure. sure I am supposed to get this for you, but ..... Thank you Mr jack.

It's alright it your first day so I have to give you the first time treatment.

Ok thanks again . I said 

Bring those files from the reception office for me. Jack said 

Alright sir 

Today was one of my most stressful day in my life, I never know it would be this stressful, I am just tired I need to eat something and take my bath, I said to myself . Immediately I got home, I put on the light in the house and then I received a message from Grey. It was a message video of it honeymoon.

Barbados is amazing. It's all coral, and turtle, and booze and oh , you should be here. Why aren't you here?. Grey asked 

Yeah and tell that douche bag boyfriend of yours to take a day off for once, would you. Chas said laughing.

All right, bye Mildred. Grey said both laughing.

My cell phone immediately started ringing. It was my mum. 

Hello mum.

So, how's the new job?. She asked 

It's good. My boss has me weighing in on submission.

Well, that's exciting, great. Have you heard from Ashley?

Uh, yeah. He sent me flowers to wish me luck.

Sweetheart, are you ever going to tell me what happened between you? 

Fundamental difference, I guess . Plucking the flowers and throwing them in the trash bin. It wasn't going to last forever , mum.

Why did you say so.she ask 

Bye mum I have a lot to do at the office tomorrow.

Ok bye.she said 

Now . I had loss my appetite .I said 

You need to . My mum said 

I will just make a cup of coffee. I said 

Good night mum.

Good night dear.

Are those for me? . I ask Mr jack 

Nah. They can wait. He responded 

Ok sir. Am leaving.

You look nice. Going out tonight? . He asked 

 Oh . Uh... Well a friend of mine has a photography exhibition opening tonight, so... Am going. I said 

Good. How did you make out with those manuscript? . He asked 

Oh. Really great, actually . This one, um.....Boyce fox, it ..... I couldn't pull it down. It's so sharp and ..... And relevant . And.... I think he's really got something 

 You think? . Jack asked 

Yeah. 

All right . I will check it out . Jack said 

Great.

Have fun tonight, Mildred 

Thank you sir.

Thanks for today . Jack said 

 Good night, Mildred . A fellow colleague said .

Bye. I responded 

 Hey Lisa . I said 

Hey baby. 

Did Veronica tell you she's having a photography exhibition opening tonight. I asked 

Oh yeah. She did, but you know I can't come. So I sent my greeting and also a little something.

Ok that nice 

So where are you at now?. Lisa asked 

On my way to the exhibition opening . I said.

Ok. When you get there please take some videos for me.Don't forget to send the video. 

Yes ma. I will . I said laughing.

Would you like a glass of Chardonnay?. The winter asked 

Yeah. Thanks 

Oh, my God. I said 

Jesus..... Christ. I said going toward the picture of me on the wall, still very surprised.

Mildred! . You made it.

Veronica. There is like so much of my face in here . I said 

Well, if I had asked you would have been like.... I'm too shy. She said 

Yeah. I am now

But... you.... it's my best stuff. Veronica said.

It's so..... I said stammering 

Do you like them? She ask 

They are super.... Large. I said 

Hey. A lady came to Veronica 

Hold on. She said giving me a signing 

All the portraits. Have been sold to one man . She said whispering in to her ear.

You are kidding?. No way . She said 

 Well, somebody likes them. They just bought all six . She said.

All six? . I asked still surprised.

Dinner's on me tonight , okay. She said.

Come on, he is waiting. The lady said 

I will be right back. Veronica said 

I still left in shock , trying to look at all of the six pictures . Until I pumped on Ashley.

Mildred . He said 

It was you, wasn't it? . I said stepping backwards. You just went and bought all of these. I asked 

I don't like strangers gawking at you. Ashley said.

Why are you here? . I ask

For you. He said 

Oh ! . I said turning my back at him.

Hey . Can we talk somewhere.... Private?. He asked 

No.

Look, I'm not very good at this . I have never had to. I mean I have never wanted to try again. He said 

Ashely, I don't.... it's not a good idea.

Let's talk. Okay, just talk . Please . Have dinner with me.

Ok, fine. I will have dinner with you. Because I'm hungry. But we are only talking and that's all. Hold on . I went to tell Veronica about my new plans. 

Hey . She say

I'm going to take off. I said 

Already?. She asked 

Your photos are so stunning . I said huggy her.

Thank you. I said going to meet Ashley.

We decided to walk down to the restaurant because the distance wasn't far from galleria 

We walked under the street light without saying a word at each other until Ashley grabbed me into a dark Conner where no could see us and started kissing me so passionately.. which send a message down my spine . I wanted him to stop but I still felt the huge of kissing him the more, like a emotion moving around the facility.

Uh..mmmm.... Ashley, I can't . I can't do this Ashley . I said taken a deep breath.

Ok. I have a proposition. Just .... Come to dinner, we can talk . He said holding my hand to the restaurant.

What would you like some more time?. The winter asked 

No. Grilled salmon, Caesar salad and she we placed her order . Ashley said 

 I'm going to have the chicken piccata, roasted vegetables and primavera . I said 

Am two glasses of the crisp red wine . Ashley said 

Ok sir.

So..... Let's talk. I said 

I want you back. I like to renegotiate terms . Ashley said 

But I don't see how. The things you want, you said that's the way you are. I said 

But what happened last time it's not going to happen again. He said 

 How can you say that you have a fiance or what she is to you.

She ..... She just planning the trip, she's going to take with all the money she got from her divorced husband.

That's great .Where are you guys going ?. I asked 

I'm not longer into her. We ended things already. 

Ok. I said 

Men, we put on a heck of a performance for everyone, didn't we? Ashley asked 

 Yeah. We did . So what's the plan. Cause you are still getting off on the pain you inflicted on yourself. That's still in you . I said 

I'm working on it . Ashley said 

Working on what? I can't do this if you won't talk to me.

What do you want to know? . He asked 

Everything.

Fine . My birth mother died when I was five. She was an addict crack. You can fill in the blanks . Ashley said 

Why didn't you tell me that?. I said feeling sober 

I did . But in another terms

Ok. Well, um... Generally..... A key pay of good communication is that both parties be conscious. I'm ready sorry about your mother.

It's fine .Now. I brought you here to negotiate .He say

You are open to new term?. I asked 

Yes. He said noddy his head .No rules.

No rules, and my more secret . I said 

I can do that . He said 

 You don't heave any other options , or do you . I asked with curiosity 

No. Am choiceless at these moments .he said 

You want a . What do they call it ....? A vanilla relationship?. I said 

I mean we are only doing what you're comfortable with. He said 

But you need all those things.

I need you more. He said 

So can we dig into the food before it gets cold so that we can get home early. I said 

Ok. So shall we. He said 

When we was done he took me home in his car.

Miss Mildred. The driver said opening the door for me to come down.

Thanks, Taylor.

No strings attached . Ashely said giving me the box in his hands.

I smiled at him and stretched forward to kiss him. He held his arm on my face kissing me passionately toward the wall. I couldn't bear it so I kissed him the more which send a emotional message down to both of us . He kissed me more down to my neck and let his hot breath rest on my shoulder . And up back to my lips again 

This is spiky , I like it . I said 

I will call you tomorrow . He said smiling at opening the door of my house 

Okay. Good night. I said walking in

I stood at the window and watched his car leaves. Then I opened the box he gave me, which contain a brand new apple laptop, and the lastest apple phone . I opened I and I saw a message from Ashley 

" Dreamy of me"

So I replied him 

" Maybe. Thank you for tonight later baby.