He Looked Ethereal.

The afternoon rays streamed into the hallway through large windows.

The tip of her heels clicked against the marble floor as Ashley followed Steve. Her gaze wandered, taking in the surroundings and the fresh air that seemed to fill the space.

They were at a photo studio but it looked like as if she had enetered a palace.

There was staff moving around, once in a while approaching and greeting them.

All of them gave her charming smiles. She wondered if they were being genuine or just professional.

The huge wooden doors opened, revealing a hall adorned with elegant backdrops.

And instantly, her eyes locked with Michael's. How funny that, out of everything, her gaze went straight to him?

Up in front, he stood in the tuxedo that went too well with her dress. What startled her was that he was standing there, his leg crossed at the ankles and looking utterly ethereal.

Ethereal... was it even a adjective she should be using for him?

He looked so dignified and intimidating all at once.

"Oh my goodness, our bride is here!"

It pulled her attention away from the reaction her body was having at the mere sight of Michael. What the heck was wrong with her?

Why was she behaving like a star-struck teenager?

Goodness Ashley! Get a grip!

Ashley put her right hand over the left wrist and caressed it slowly.

Again, her eyes drifted to Michael but this time his eyes were fixed on her wrist. He noticed her small action.

Thankfully, her view of Michael was interrupted by a man rushing toward her—presumably the owner of that excited voice.

He stopped a few inches away from her and crossed his arms. "Uhmm, now I understand why this clever man kept you hidden all this time." He smirked.

He circled her once and excitedly grabbed her hand. "I am Ruby. And you are Ashley, I know. If you are up for bitching about this man, contact me anytime." He slid his contact information in her fingers.

Surprised, Ashley managed to nod. This man had his hair dyed in bright yellow color which very weirdly complimented his dusky skin tone.

His ears were pierced, nose was pierced and even both the eyebrows were pierced. This... she had never met anyone with these many piercings.

And he was pulling it off!

"Anyways, come and sit there. You are so pretty that I am worried my camera won't be able to capture it perfectly." Ruby grinned and guided her to Michael. "I gotta set it up."

"Now you guys can do your lovey-dovey talks but just don't start making kids here." Ruby grinned and ran away just as Michael threw him a glare.

Ashley froze, as she processed what she heard. Ashley avoided meeting his eyes because it suddenly got awkward between.

"Michael!" Just then, Ruby called him out in such a feminine voice that Ashley choked on her breath.

She noticed from her peripheral vision what kind of reaction Michael had but he seemed used to it.

*Cough* *Cough*

Ruby ran back to her, "Oh my gosh! My pretty bride, you okay?! Someone please bring water for my lady!" Ruby caressed her back and suddenly all of it was funny to her.

Ruby being the photographer of the day was acceptable. But how in the world he got the audacity to call Michael like that, in front of everyone, and still not get fired right away?

Michael sent a glare at Ruby who ignored it.

Ashley gave Michael a small smile as she took a sip from the bottle the girl handed her, then returned it. "Thank you, I am fine now."

Ruby had a twinkle in his eyes as he went behind the camera after setting both in a pose. Ashley sat elegantly on a single couch, with her left hand being in Michael's hand.

"Wait a second! The ring has to be there." Ruby pointed out suddenly.

Ashley had not worn the ring at all. It had remained just as it was in the box since day before yesterday.

Michael did not give much of a reaction. His gaze casually went to her ring finger before he signalled Steve. Within few minutes, Steve was before them with the ring.

It was the same one.

Ashley twitched her lips. It was in her hand bag that she had forgotten in the car. She quickly wore the ring and settled into the pose Ruby had already instructed.

"Gosh! You guys look so amazing together!"

"Yea, just stay like that!"

"Michael, look at her with emotions! You idiot, show your love for her through your eyes!"

"My dear Ashley, tilt your neck slightly towards that stoic man. Yup, pretty!"

Everything was going smoothly, and Ashley could tell how seriously Ruby took his work—maybe a bit too seriously.

He had been giving them nonstop instructions for the past hour, and Ashley had just about had enough.

In that time, they had posed in countless ways before several different backdrops.

What surprised Ashley was how Michael hadn't objected to anything. He simply followed every direction without a word.

Obviously, they were doing it in the first place under his direction. Why else would he have this much patience?

"Okay now, it's time for my favourite genre of photos." Ruby smiled mischievously and took a dramatic pause before announcing. "Time for the kissing photos!" He cheered.

Ashley widened her eyes and immediately looked at Michael. She hissed, "There is no way I am doing that." Her voice was just loud enough for him to hear.

She was so carried away by what Ruby said that she failed to notice how her hand held his arm and the way she stood on her toes to whisper in his ears.

To others, it appeared as if she was being extremely shy.

"Don't be shy, my pretty Ashley! We are all experienced here."

Ashley did not care about who was experienced. She was not!

And she did not even want to be, not in this way.

"See I agreed for everything but this can not happen. I absolutely disagree!" she whispered fiercely, still unaware of how close she was getting to Michael.