Chapter 18

Ashley.

"It's Mr. Nelson" the voice called out.

"Mr. Nelson you can come in" answered Neil moving away from me. The door was pushed open and came in Mr. Nelson with a tray of delicacies followed by some guy.

"Miss. Ashley, I hope you're having a good time?" Mr. Nelson inquired.

I forced out a smile. "Yes sir. I do"

The other guy pushed in the tray to the center of the room. "We've prepared some dishes for you. Tell me if there's anything you need. And sorry for not introducing this young lad"

He patted his back. "I'm Cole. It's nice having you here. We'll make sure to serve you with the best service" he ended with a bow. Mr. Nelson patted him once again.

"What's the commotion all..." Kristine trailed off her legs coming to a halt. Her eyes travelled to Mr. Nelson back to Cole. "What a beautiful scene" she added again making her way towards the tray.

"If you'll excuse us. Enjoy feel free to let us know what you think about the food" I could swore I saw him wink.

"Thank you Sir" Neil replied back shaking his hands once again. Kristine didn't let them walk out, she began attacking the food.

"Easy there. No one is taking your food away" I remarked taking my seat. I inspect the food. Fried shrimp, chicken wings and baked potato. My mouth watered at the chicken wings sitting prettily in front of me. I was about to reach for it when my hand was being snatched away. "Wait first" Neil interrupted.

"For what?" I raised my brows in question.

"You didn't wash your hands" I almost roll my eyes at hi remark. I thought he's going to talk about something else.

"My hands are clean" I reached for the chicken once again but he pulled them.

"Can you allow me already. My stomach is hungry" punching his hand holding my wrist, he immediately let go. I leaked my bottom lip before attacking the chicken. Kristine has already eaten half of the Fried Shrimp. Neil only reached for the baked potatoes. And for drinks I went for the pink lemonade.

"Urgh... I'm damn fool" I uttered rested back on the couch rubbing my stomach with my palms. It's been long since I eat so full like I did at the moment. I must say they have the best services. We cleared out the plates. Neil only ate a little. I wonder how he cope with the little food. I hardly see him eat plenty food.

"Same here. I feel like my stomach will explode any time soon" Kristine remarked. Neil was consciously calm. Why won't he when he only stare us down while we were the once stuffing food inside our stomach.

"Now what are we to do next. Have you contacted Alex yet?" I asked.

"Yeah I sent him an email earlier. We should be getting his reply by now" she pulled out her phone from her jeans pocket.

"Where are you guys meeting?" Neil whispered to my ear getting me startled. "Why are you whispering to my ear. It's not like someone else is here" I snapped. His lips were suddenly formed into a thin line. I know he wasn't expecting me to snap at him yet I did.

"Ashley, he replied back" Kristine annouched.

"What did he say?"

"That they would be arriving later tonight" She read out.

"Here?"

"Yeah. Maybe their room will be across us" I didn't know when a hiss left my mouth. Both Neil and Kristine gave me a weird look.

"What? You haven't seen my hiss before?" I snapped.

A smile graced through their faces. I could swore I saw Kristine wink at me. And now they're having a thought about the whole thing. "Okay. Okay, I know what you guys are thinking. You both know that's not the case. I'm just hissing at the fact that we arrived before the bride and the groom" I explained voicing out my thoughts. I don't want them to get the wrong impression of the whole thing. But maybe I'm indeed giving them the bad impression.

"I know. It's just that whenever Alex's topic has been brought up, you hyperventilate but I know you so well to misunderstand you"

I'm glad they all understood where my words are directed to.

**

The remaining afternoon went by with us getting a tour of the inn. Cole gave us the tour and we get to meet some of the staffs including Mr. Nelson's wife who is the one in charge of the food. I made sure I thanked her for the delicious meal. The beautiful woman promised to serve us food better than before.

And we also came to know that Cole Is Mr. Nelson's son. But there wasn't some resemblance with his son. Yet, when we met up with his mom, I saw the resemblance. We were also taken to the small pond just around one of the Suites's corner. The surrounding was consciously calm, good for a peace of mind. I made a mental note to visit the pond again and watch the fishs swimming around.

"Thank you so much Cole for giving us a tour. I must say it's comprises of wonderful and beautiful scene"

Cole is a man of few words, all through our tour, he calmly explain and show us around. But one thing I'm sure of, he smiles a lot. During our tour, I caught a glimpse of Kristine exchanging words with him. And not to talk of her constant blush which is unlike her.

"It's my pleasure Miss Ashley and Miss Kristine" he politely bowed.

"Call me Kristine please" Kristine chirped in letting out yet another smile.

Thankfully, Neil wasn't not together with us. He wanted to tag along but Insisted on going alone. He can't expect to be following me every little time. At least I will get time to roam around freely. It's not like I'll be attacked it I go out alone for one day.

"Allow me to walk you to your room" Cole voice revamped to my ear.

"Sure"

We were one step ahead when I heard my name being called. "Ashley" the familiar voice said. I don't have to be told who that person is.

Turning around, I came face to face with Alex with a lady by his side. I assumed she's his fiancee as her hands were glued to his arms. "Fancy seeing you" he added again.

I forced out a smile. "Indeed. Fancy seeing you here too" I ushered back.

"You must be her?" The lady suddenly blurted out.

Her?

"I'm Melinda. My husband told me a lot about you" she ushered making her way towards me. Cole noticed the conversation going on and excused himself. While Kristine was by the side watching us conversing.

"Sorry to say but I don't grab what you mean?"

"You're his ex-girlfriend so it's okay for you to pretend. However, I'm glad you two broke up because I get to met a loving and caring husband which you lost the change to. Right Alex" I felt like a bucket on water was being splashed on my face at her statement.

I swallow in my pride and decided to play nice. "And I'm glad that you met a kindhearted person like Alex.  He's the most sweet guy I've ever met" I said with a smile. "I wish you a good stay here. So, if you'll excuse me" I was about to turn and walk away when her next statement made me come to an abrupt stop.

"I can see that you're jealous of the fact that he's the most sweet guy you've ever met and you lost the chance to make him yours" her words went straight to my ear.

"Excuse me what did you just say?"

"You heard me right? If not of jealousy then what?" I don't know what took over me, I found myself slapping her across the face.

"How dare you!" I yelled my heart burning from anger.

"You bitch!" she leaped forward and that when we got into a fight. "Something must be wrong with your head. Me jealous!" She pulled in my hair and I pulled back. I heard Kristine's voice stopping me but I was far angry than to let go.

"Let go of her Ashley" Alex exclaimed.

"No she should let go!"

"Ashley please stop it you're creating a scene"

It was as if their words were only adding fuel to me. "I'm warning you for the last time, if you not I won't have any choice but to call the police" my hands came to an abrupt stop. Did I hear him wrong?

Melinda used the opportunity to snatch her hair away. "You bitch!"

"Did I just hear you say you'll call the police?" I asked disbelieving.

"Yes you heard me right. Why are you harrasing my wife? Just because we have a thing In the past shouldn't mean you'll have the audacity to harrass my wife"

He confession came to a shock to me. He didn't consider the fact that it was his fiancee who started the fight, he just choose to take her side and because he thinks I'm jealous of her.

My foot moved on their own accord ignoring the hate look Melinda is giving me. I stood in front of him. "You think you're the most handsome and kindhearted man is it? You think that you can compare me with your so called fiancee who doesn't know how to respect people. You know why I decided to back out of the relationship?"

"Ashley can you please let it go. There not worth your explanation. Neil talk to her please"

"Listen Ashley-"

"Don't interrupt Neil. It has nothing to do with you so it's better you stay out of it" I raised my hands halting him before focusing back on Alex.

"Do you know why? Because you're the most selfish and hypocrite person I've ever met. You took my love for granted and now you have the authority to say I'm harrasing your fiancee? Let me make myself clear to you, I don't care about you or your so called wife. I'm here to work and if you push me to the edge I won't hesitate to back out of it"

For a moment, I saw his eyes widened surprised at my words. Yet, I was too far pissed to have a pity for him.  "I will advice you to go to the hospital for a checkup because I think you're sick in the head or somewhere" Before I could make out what was happening, I saw Neil lunge at him grabbing him by the corner.

"Look here Mr. Alex or whoever you call yourself, I won't sit around and watch you insult Miss. Ashley. If I'm not mistaken, your fiancee was the one who started the fight. I would advice you to apologize to her before things get messy" I've never seen Neil get angry before like he did at the moment. His fist were clenching as he maintain himself from throwing his fist at Alex. Because if he did then things might go too far.

"Why will I apologize when I've done nothing wrong. And who are you to tell me what to do?"

"Who I am is not your concern. What I only want is for you to apologize to her right away"

Alex broke into a fit of laughter. "Are you her boyfriend?" his question not only caught me off guard but to Kristine and Neil himself.

Neil fist grew tighter and I saw him raise his hand but before he could unleash it onto Alex face, I was quick to stop him. "Just let him be, he's not worth it"

"Just let me teach him a good lesson that he'll never try to insult any woman again" Neil raises his hands once again yet, I yank him away.

"Just leave. You know nothing about it so just leave. I will sort it out myself" I don't know what made me blurt it out. Neil's surprised face was dimmed visible.

"Is that it? You think you can handle it alone right? Then go ahead and do so. I'm outta here. Besides it's none of my business. I'm sorry for interfering in your matters" He ushered and then left. At that moment, I know I pushed him to the edge.