Chapter 25

Ashley

The morning rays of sunlight illuminate through the window spreading through the whole room. I woke up early, take my bathe and began getting ready. I decided to accept Mrs. Grace offer. Besides it won't be that bad to earn a little. I will get to buy few things for myself. I decided to not tell Neil about it. He'll try to stop and I'm not going to let that happen.

I spare the bed a glance where he was splattered sleeping soundly. The left side of my lips curved up when he wakes up he's going to freak out.

He stir a bit turning to his other side. I made sure not to make any sound while closing the door behind me. I thought I was early but my heart almost did a flip when I saw Mr. Micheal walking out of the kitchen. Surprise evident of his face. I know he must be wondering why I woke up early.

"What a pleasant surprise" Was the first word that came out of his mouth.

A giggle erupt from my mouth. "I know right. I woke up in a good side today so I decided to jog around the surrounding" His brows creased in curiosity.

"Jogging?" He accessed me from head to toe. I was dressed in the baggy shirt and jeans he gave.   Totally out of my style. That Is one of the reasons I want to get the job.

I let a smile appear on my lips.  "Yeah jogging? I heard that early morning jogging strengthens your bones more. So if you'll excuse me" I took a step towards the entrance when I forgot to tell him the most important thing. "Um... Sir,  can you do me a favor?" I commenced forming my lips in a thin line.

"Sure"

"Can you not tell my husband about my whereabouts?"

"Why?" he asked in a slow voice.

"I want to perfect my body. So I want it to be as surprise" His mouth was left open at my statement. So I took his silence as an answer. Offering out one last smile, I made a run for the door.

The monent I set my foot outside, the early morning breeze cascade around me sending the coldness down my spine. I robbed my hands together to gather warmness. Another strong reason to get the job. I would get to buy a cardigan for myself.

"You made the right decision for accepting this job offer" I muttered to myself letting out a proud smile. I thought there won't be many people around. However, few people where passing by each with the direction they're headed to. With excitement soaring inside me, I made my way to Mr. Grace restaurant which is few blocks away from Mr. Michael's house.

I know it's wasn't my first time working as an independent woman yet, I feel like this case is different. I feel like I got the freedom to do whatever I want without my father questioning me or my mom nagging me about her blind date talks and much to say Neil is not aware yet so I will enjoy my freedom. For the first time in a while, I felt happy. For some reason, was relief at the turn off event.

I was barely halfway through when I remembered I was supposed to check up on Kristine. If I turned back to the clinic now, she might waste my time and Neil will come and he won't let me go. She'll have to wait.

The restaurant was unexpectedly quite as I advanced to the door. What surprises me is that door that was locked. Did I come too early? I thought Mrs. Grace said she opens as early as seven because of those branching for breakfast. Was I too fast?

"Excuse me Miss" I heard the familiar voice of Mrs. Grace.

I knew it!

I didn't come too early.

Turning around, I offered out one of my signature smile. "Oh! It's you. Um...  What was your name before?" She stares in thinking

"Good Morning Mrs.Grace. It seem you've forgotten my name. It's Ava"  I cheerfully spelled out.

"Right. Ava. But what are you doing here in this early morning?" She asked again. The little excitement remaining in me began subsiding. Is it that she's playing pretence or she has amnesia. First it was my name and now she's asking me what I'm doing in her restaurant.

Clearing out my voice, I trekked towards where she was standing with a confused expression on her face. "Um.. Mrs. Grace, if I'm not mistaken yesterday you offered me a job position. So, after much thinking, I decided to accept it not because I'm desperately in need of money but because its better than sitting at home without doing anything" I ended constructing my lips in a tight grip.

She blinked for a nanosecond before bursting in a smile followed by clapping of hands. "What a funny woman you are. I know you'll accept the job offer. Besides, my offer is not that bad" She answered with a wink.

"I think you misunderstand me here. I'm not here because of the money. Let's see..." I trailed off thinking of an appropriate word to use. It's not a bad thing to brag a bit is it?

"Let's say I'm here to kill time"

"To kill time?" She repeated her eyes not believing my words. Yet, I laugh it off. "Yeah to kill time"

"That's killing two birds with one stone. Killing time and on the other hand getting paid. What an intelligent woman" only if she knew. The corner of my mouth twitch up in a smirk.

"By the way where that husband of yours. I see he was sticking to you throughout yesterday"

"Um... He's still asleep when I left him. He was extremely exhausted last night from all the work" The woman instantly covered her mouth.

Shit! She misunderstood the situation now.

"It's not what you think. Let's just say I'm here without his knowledge. So, can you keep me working here a secret?" I hope the woman would not blurt anything out later on.

"That would not be a problem even though I would love to know the truth but I will leave that as couples privacy"

"I'm glad you understand. So now what should I start with?" I remarked changing the topic.

**

I heaved out a sigh for the hundredth time. I didn't know the work will be harder than I thought. For the past thirty minutes, I've been going up and down. Taking orders, serving food and packing the plates. We agreed on serving food only but the woman is making me do all the work. All because I said I want to kill time. I wonder where her employees are.

Yesterday, a young guy was the one who took our order while a young girl brought our food. However, I find their absence suspicious. Perhaps is she doing it on purpose. And when I went over to talk to her she'll only smile and tell me 'You're working hard keep it up'. I see nothing good in suffering. I've never done this kind of work. Thinking of it made my thought wander off back home. Daisy is surely trying. This is not an easy job.

"A customer is here. Hurry up" She ushered. But sure, I brought it upon myself. I lazily made my way out of the kitchen.

"Welcome...." My words trailed off followed by the notepad falling from my hands. I thought I am the clever one. Little did I know my intelligence is nothing compare to Neil's.

A look of surprise was plastered on his face as he access me from head to toe. "What would you like young man?" I managed to say playing pretense. However, my body was being tugged out of the restaurant to a quite corner.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he proceeded. By the look on his face, he's trying his best not to get angry.

"What else if not working" I retored back folding my hands across my chest. Neil glanced around for any prying eyes before he took a step forward almost towering above my figure. I'm tall but obviously Neil's tall frame shouldn't be compare to mine.

"What if there are somewhere watching us. We have to be careful" He muttered.

"I know. Because my life is still In danger and the person behind the attack might come for me whereas I know nothing about the reason why he wants me dead. I know all of it. But I cannot sit down at home doing nothing. You know me already, I'm an independent woman" I explained moving back from his tall frame. Yet, he leaped forward again. This time around, his hands were resting on my shoulder.

"I know. You're a no-nonsense hard working independent woman but this case is different. You got lucky nothing happened to you during that attack but you don't know what's coming next. Kristine almost lost her life, the least you could to is to protect yourself. I can not always be there for you"

My brows creased in question. "What do you mean?"

"As soon as everything is settled from here. You'll go back home and my mission will be complete" I don't know if what he said is true but I felt my body turns weak at his statement. Does that mean everything we've been through will all be nothing.

"Oh is that so? Is that why you don't want us to have any sort of relationship?" I blurted out before I could have a control of my mouth.

"Listen Ashley, it's not the right time to talk about this. What I want from you now is to leave this place. I'm not hudred percent sure this village is safe. I got a text from your Dad. He said I should expend his call in one week time. We should hope it'll be good news"

"All that is not my concern, what I want from you now is to let me be. I'm doing this job and there's nothing you can do to stop me"

"Listen A-"

I raised my hands halting him. "Don't. I've already made my decision don't even try to persuade me because it won't work" With that I turned around and walk away but my foot came to an abrupt stop coming face to face with a slightly confused Mrs. Grace. My heart did a flip. I hope she didn't hear our conversation.

"I'm sorry for eavesdropping. I was checking the window when I heard some noices.

"Listen to me A-" Neil's voice trailed off beside me.

"Are you two fighting?" She asked again.

"No"

"Yes"

She looked up to me back to him. "My husband here wants me to leave this job and go home with him so I was telling him not to waste his time because there's nothing he can do to change my mind to leave this exciting job"

"Is that so?" Her eyes traveled to him once again. "Young man, I know you love your wife so much and cannot bear to see her out of your sight but since that's what she wanted let her be. Besides, she's doing it to kill time. I'll make sure she's safe and sound" And now she came to my aid. What a good brain you have.

"I understand Mrs Grace. It's just that I don't want her to be a hassle to you. She-"

"What? A hassle? Can you hear him? He surely doesn't want to see me working only seating in the house like a typical housewife" I fake a tears.

"Young man. I thought you love your wife by the way you've been overprotective towards her but don't you think that is too much. Let her do whatever she wants to. I understand she's your responsibility but let her be a free bird for a while"

A sharp breath made it way out of his lip and I tried to hold in my laughter at his changed expression. He opened his mouth to say something but no words were able to make themselves out.

"I will take your silence as an agreement. So now if you'll excuse us. We have a busy day ahead" Without waiting for what had to say, she dragged me away. Turning around, I stick out my tongue.

Suit you well.