Chapter 19

Ashley.

I took a sip of my lemon iced tea as we waited for Alex to arrive. He said we should meet and discuss about how the photoshoot. Last night event skimmed through my mind. It was the first time I saw Neil's anger and I must say it's a bad side to see. I don't know he has a protective side to him. He stepped up for me and put both Alex and his talkative fiancee in their place.

After the incident no words were spoken between us again. I would be lying if I say our non speaking terms isn't bothering me. I know he has the right to be angry but isn't really necessary for us not to be in speaking terms.

My thought came to an abrupt halt when Alex walk in the restaurant with Melinda clinging on to him like a leech. "Sorry for keeping you waiting" he commenced taking his seat facing me while Melinda squatted beside him, still clinging on to him. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at the distaste look she threw at me.

I wanted to say screw your eye ball but I decided against it. And besides, I will only look like someone who is always looking for trouble. So I choose to offer her a smile instead. I checked my phone for any calls from Neil but found none. A frown immediately masked through my face. What should I expect? I find myself getting angry at that. He can keep ignoring me for all I care.

"What would you like to order?" the server approached us handing us the menu. Melinda grabbed one while I declined. "I'm okay" I ushered.

"I would like tossed salad, chicken drummies, coleslaw and cranberry. Honey, what would you order?" she asked seductively.

"Anything is fine"

"You always leave me with the decision. We would order the same" she passed the menu back to the guy.

"So..." I began eager to get things done and get the hell out of the place. For some reason, I felt uncomfortable alone. "How do you want your photoshoot to be? Indoor or outdoor?" I added again.

"I prefer outdoor. I heard that's the trend this days" Melinda answered. She know how to open her mouth. My question were not directed to her.

"Yes it is but we have to choose a good place for that. From a good background to a good weather. We-"

"That should not be a problem as far as the shoot will come out perfect then we have no problem. Isn't that so honey" Alex let out a smile.

"Yes it is. Do whatever you want to do" It seem like they don't understand how thing work.

"Um.. Miss. Melinda and Mr. Alex it's not just to take the shoot there are some things we have to consider. I will look out for some decent  environment and let you know"

"How long will it take for you to look for a decent environment?" Melinda ushered again.

"It depends on how I work. I'll send you the pictures when I do so then you can pick which one suit you better" I thought she'll have any objection yet she nodded her head in answer.

"Okay we'll leave it in your hands. However, we would still need your help on something" Alex said

"I know you're good in baking can you assist Melinda. Its part of our family tradition, every bride has to make a delicacies for her inlaws"

I didn't know when an annoying chuckle escaped my mouth. I must be hearing things. "I'm sorry Mr. Alex I can't do you any favors again. So if you'll excuse me, I have some work to take care of "

"Listen Ashley-" I didn't even glance in their direction again. I walked out of the restaurant. They must be taking me for granted.

What?

Assist her in baking a cupcake for her inlaws?

Am I her maid?

I stared at the surrounding before me for a reason, I felt like checking the places. Neil might not give me the chance to roam around. The reason I even get to go out alone is because of our small fight. I don't know if we're even fighting. He just choose to get angry unnecessarily.

I walked around, taking pictures in some places. As I walk some more, I stopped in front of a lake. To say the surrounding is beautiful will be an understatement. It completely piqued my interest. I sat on the not so large bench letting the breeze cascade through my body. Unknowingly, I found my eyes closing on their own accord. Everything turn still only the sound of the water and that of my beating heart.

I stayed in that position for almost ten minutes before the ringing from my phone interrupt me. I knew he would call. A smile was plastered on my face as I reached for the phone but the smile died down when I saw Kristine's name flashes across the screen.

"Where are you Ashley" was the first word that resonate to my ear.

"Getting a tour of the environment"

"Are you done talking with Alex?" she asked again. Kristine with her interrogative self.

"Yes and to answer to your curiosity, everything went well"

Her sigh resonate through the phone. "I'm glad. So when are you coming back. The house is boring without you"

"Why would it be boring when Neil is there" I uttered him name intentionally. For some reason, I wanted to know how he's doing. It's so weird of me to worry about him.

"He's there talking on the phone for the past ten minutes. I don't know if he's doing it intentionally but he's been quite since morning" She explained.

"Suit him well" I muttered which reached her ear.

"Are you still angry at him?" She asked all of a sudden.

"Point of correction I'm not angry at him. He just choose to ignore me and I don't care if he talks to me or not" I said yet, deep down it worries me that he's angry and ignoring me. I wasn't going to let her know how his silence affects me.

"Whateve you guys have against each other, I hope you sort it out. I don't see why he's getting angry at this little thing"

What Kristine said might be right but if I'm to overlook the situation, I was the one at fault. He was only trying to help me. Yet, did the opposite of it.

**

It was around 7pm when I got back to the inn. The surrounding was quite as I imagined it to be. On my way to our suite, I met with cole and he wave at me. "Goodnight Miss. Ashley" he said.

The moment I set my foot in the living room, I was met with a pacing Neil. My heart did a flip for a milliseconds. When he turned around, I saw a glint of anger on his face. "Why are you coming back now?" he ushered in a not so calm voice.

"Last time I checked I don't use to tell you about my whereabout" My intention was to sit and sort things out. However, I found myself doing the opposite again just like last night.

"You're my responsibility so I have the right to know about your whereabouts or any other thing" he snapped.

"Oh is that so? Since when?" I inquired.

"Since the day I was assigned to be your bodyguard"

A smile made it way to my lips. "That's good then"

I turned to walk away when my body was forced to a halt. "I'm not yet done talking" came his raised voice.

I snapped my eyes shut and opened them again. "What more do you want to say. I thought you're angry at me?" His expression change for a nanoseconds before masking it with a serious expression.

"I'm not angry at you" He uttered. He was crouched to my level as he stare down my hands.

"Yes you are. You make it so obvious. You didn't tag along when I was going out. You didn't even spare me a glance in the morning. You were avoiding me"He lifted his face and our eye met. "I don't want you to be uncomfortable that was why I did that. I know I wasn't supposed to meddle in your matters but I cannot stand by and watch him insult you. He doesn't have the right to"

"It wasn't your fault. You were just trying to help and I..." I trailed off staring back down at him with some unknown emotions surging inside me. "I know you did it for me. To protect me" We stared into each other eyes. The beating of my heart increase twice it normal beating. I felt something sting in my heart. A feeling I couldn't decipher.

"I was worried and at the same time angry at you for not giving me your attention. I couldn't take off the feeling out of my head" I whispered slowly.

"I went through the same too. I couldn't concentrate the whole day and seeing you walking in with the same attitude, it made me angry" I don't know what came over me but I found myself staring at his lips.

What will it be like to get kissed by his lips.

"Ashley, I-" Neil began again inching closer. I could feel my heart escalating in it's drum by our close proximity. Our breath were fanning each other's face. "Do you also feel what I'm feeling?" He whispered huskily. His minty breath faning my face.

"I-"

My words were halted in my throat when I felt a warm lips on mine. Fireworks was the only word to describe the beating of my heart. The kiss was slow and steady. Neil cupped my cheeks deepening the kiss and I parted my lips giving him more access. Nothing matters at the moment, only our hearts beating in rhythm. The kiss lasted for five minutes. Neil was the first to break the kiss resting his forehead on me. "This is what I'm referring to" he muttered.

"Neil, I-" he shush me by placing his finger on my lips. "No don't say anything. I know what's on your mind. But I cannot hold it anymore"

I won't say I understood what he was saying but one thing is for sure, the feeling at the pit of my stomach is undeniably new to me. "Fuck it" My body was being lifted off the ground and his lips covered my mouth for the second time.

**

My eyes snapped open to the ceiling followed by a yawn escaping my lips. I turned to my side finding Kristine awake too. "Morning Miss. Late comer. I waited for you yesterday"

"When I came back you were sleeping" She nodded her head in answer. "I was very exhausted. You know I assisted Cole with some work" my brows furrow in question. "What's between you and this cole?"

She was looking at anywhere else but me. "There's nothing. Were you able to talk with Neil" And it was now my turn to pretend. Last night event skimmed through my mind. I don't know where we'll be standing now after the kiss. But I must say it was as new feeling to me. .

A curiosity expression graced through Kristine's face. "Don't tell me..."

"It's nothing like that. We only kissed" Her eyes almost popped out of it's socket. "You kissed!"

I was quick in covering her mouth "Can you keep your voice down"

"How did it happen? I mean who made the move first?" She boambard shifting more closer.

"We both made the move" I ushered out.

"Wow! I don't know you have a hidden feelings towards each other"

"It's just a kiss nothing more. Isn't it a normal thing to kiss?"

"It might look normal to you but you only kiss someone you like"

A chuckle escape my lips. "Stop saying rubbish. Our hormones just decided to take over us" I voiced out.

"Keep deceiving yourself. Just admit it already. You like the guy" She answered making her way to the bathroom. I stare at her retreating figure.

I should stop deceiving myself?

I like Neil?