â**Chapter 13**â
Ace
I thought she already forgave me. She even cuddled me the whole night, but why is she ignoring me now? And how dumb of me to ask why is she ignoring me.
Ever since we went back to villa to change and go back to the company, she's been quiet and didn't even think of drinking the coffee bought for her. And now, she's out. I haven't heard a single word from her ever since I woke up with her sitting on her chair and doing something else on the phone.
"Where's Madison? Have you seen her?" I asked one of her juniorsâthe one she's helping at the Finance Departmentâ that just happened to walk in our office.
"She's having a small breakfast with her friends at the Cafeteria, Mr Ashford." He said, making me curse under my breath.
"Okay, you can go now." I dismissed him with a bored face, taking my phone, I immediately called her.
She's not answering.
"Why is she eating there?" I mumbled to myself as I took my blazer and made my way to the elevator.
It's not like I don't want to be there, but there's a lot of people there, I'm not a people person. That's why I don't like going there.
When the elevator's door opened, my eyes immediately met those hazel eyes I've been wanting to see.
"Madiâ"
She didn't let me finish and just walked out of the elevator to our office, followed by me.
"I thought you already forgive me? Why are you ignoring me then?" I walk next to her and trap her between my arms and the table.
"I'm not." she glared at me before looking away.
"You are, Tell me. You're not like this last night, what happened?"
"Because I was having a panic attack that time and I have no time to argue with you because I need you, but that was last night. Now, I remember everything, you left me at the party without saying anything, you didn't even call me, you'll come to me very late, and the worst part is I have no choice but to go with Luke coming here thinking that maybe something bad happened to you, and you might need me. That's what happened." she snapped while looking straight into my eyes, making me sigh in defeat. "Do you even remember if I said that it was okay? No, I didn't, because it's not. You told me that it'll never happen again... Ace, is it that hard for you to give me a call?" her voice somehow calmed, but she's still glaring at me. "I don't care what your reason is because whatever it is, I won't stop you from leaving. But please let me know... Do you even know how worried I am?"
She's worried because of me?
"Last night, do you even know how thankful I was when you came? Not only because I need you, not only because you remembered me but because you're okay, you're fine, and that's all what matters."
She gripped my arms before resting her head on my chest, not letting me see her face.
"What should I do for you to forgive me? I'll do anything." I whispered while caressing her hair, but she held my hand to stop me.
"Anything?" she looked up at me still with her frown.
"Anything, Darling." I caress her cheeks before pulling her closer.
"Okay then, wait here." she removes my hand from her and immediately went out leaving my confused
****
"What's that?" I asked curiously as she put a flower bouquet on her table and walked to my table with a pink paper bag in her hands.
"It's for you."
"That flower? Who's that from?" I walked to her table and took the card in it. Jefferd. "Why did you accept it? Didn't I tell them not to give you gifts?"
"Yahh, He just thanked me for helping him, btw, it's not about me Ace, come back here." she looked at me with warning making me sigh and walk back beside her. "Good then, you said you'll do anything, right?"
"I did."
"Then wear this." She smiled at me widely while taking out a pair of pink unicorn headbands and a pink princess wand.
"Sweetheart, We have a meeting later. I canâ"
"So you're not going to wear it?" Her smile dropped as she crossed her arms on her chest. I just stare at her with an 'are you serious' look making her roll her eyes at me. "Okay then, don't, I won't force you, just don't force me too to talk to you." She threw the thing back in the bag and dumped it on her table before going out of the room.
What the actual fuck? She really won't talk to me?
Fuck.
****
As I went inside the room, everyone's eyes on me, shocked as I expected. Who wouldn't? Even me, I'm shocked that I did it.
Shutting my eyes, I made my way next to her who's biting her lip to stop herself from laughing. I leaned to her ears and whispered, "Is my apology accepted?"
She just chuckled to me before planting a soft kiss on my cheek, out of their sight, and whispered, "You look cute my little princess."
"You'll talk to me now?"
She just nodded her head before looking around, some of them were still shocked and some were trying not to laugh.
"Can I take it off now?"
"Later, after the meeting." her hand went to the back of my head caressing my hair before looking back at the screen. "Continue."
The man in front continued speaking, eyes still on me making me embarrassed. All of them were looking at me, a 6 foot 2 man wearing a unicorn headband. This must be the most embarrassing thing I've done in my life, just for her.
Feeling her hand on my back, I glance at her who's smiling cutely at me. It's so fucking cute.
"Thank you." She mouthed making me smile, my hands went to her thighs under the table as she looked at me confused.
Her skin was so soft under my touch, It helped me that she's just wearing a skirt right now. I look back in front, ignoring her flushed face, my hands caressing her soft thighs while we wait for the meeting to end.
After an hour it finally came to an end, and it's just the two of us in the room.
"Can I take this off now?"
She smiled at me before grabbing the headband and wears it. She does look cute with it.
"I'm hungry, let's go now." her arms cling into mine as we both walk back to our office.
As we enter the room, she immediately runs to the couch and throws herself with a giggle.
"What do you want to eat?" I asked as I sat on my chair and opened my desktop. I waited for her answer, but she just took off her heels and covered herself with the blanket.
"I want to sleep, just order whatever you like." She mumbled while snuggling her face on the cushion.
Chuckling at her cuteness, I just let her take a nap as I ordered our breakfast and inform the lobby that I have an order to arrive, for them to send it here.
She really didn't sleep well last night, she may have calmed down, but she's not falling asleep. Not until I caress her hair and pull her to my chest, so she won't hear anything except my heartbeat
While I was doing my work, I suddenly heard her phone ringing, it must be hers because my ringtone is different. I took her phone from the table and sat beside her.
'Unknown Number'
As I answered the call, my jaw clenched as I heard his voice. "Hello? Madison?"
"Why are you calling her?"
Hearing Luke's chuckle, he stated "Just wanna know if she's alright. Is she?"
"Why wouldn't she? I'm here. Besides, like what you said, she's not yours to take care of. Don't even think that you'll have a chance to get back to her. That'll be stupid."
"Who said it's stupid? I will if I can."
I was about to talk back when someone suddenly snatches the phone from me making me look at her who's still half asleep.
"Not a chance Luke, wake up." with her raspy voice, she cut the call and lay back, her hands falling on my lap as she threw her phone. "You don't need to deal with him, you're just wasting your time." she held my arms before opening her eyes.
"Why is he still calling you? What part of you being married he couldn't understand?"
"I don't know, he's your brother." she chuckled as she crinkled her nose hiding a laugh. "Should I tattoo your name on my forehead, so he'll see it." She brought her hands to her forehead and smiled. "Property of Mr. Ashford."
"That will help, but your skin is too precious to have a tattoo just because of some dumb guy."
"But I do want to get a tattoo. Do you think it'll suit me?"
"What kind of tattoo?"
"A minimalist, on my wrist." she said while showing me her wrist. "Or maybe a UV tattoo one, what do you think?"
"Just a minimalist one, UV tattoo is cancerous." I held her wrist before pulling her up, so she'll sit next to me. "The food is the way, get up."
"What did you buy?"
"Bagel, the one we had at Westin." I said, making her gasp.
"Who the hell would buy a $1000 breakfast, Ace? Is this some kind of bribe?" her lips make a small pout as she gets up and wears her heels.
"Me. And yes."
She just chuckles at me before taking her laptop from her table and sitting back to me. She removes everything from the table and puts her laptop down to show me the screen.
"Look at this, do you know what this is?"
I stare at the picture only for my eyebrows to meet at each other as I read the title of the file; Fordham University School of Law.
"I'm thinking of sending them my papers, so I can start with them for this coming Semester, it'll start in September, and they're open for enrollment until August." She scolded the file and showed me the descriptions. "Still, even if I enroll, I still need to pass the exam, so they will accept my requirements."
"You need something?"
"Uhmm- I'm just thinking if I should tell Dada, I already know that you're okay with it, but Dadaâ What if he doesn't agree?"
"Don't worry about him, I'll talk to him. When are you going to take the exam?"
She seems to think of it before answering, "They said, it'll take 1 week to know if you're accepted or not, so maybe 2 weeks before it endsâ Or 3â I don't know, I still haven't studied yet." she lay back on the couch before burying her face on the cushion.
I took the laptop from her and looked at the outline of the exam. My head started spinning as I saw how shitload it is. It's ten pages full of the lesson outline, and they need to study it all? Now I know why she suddenly breaks down.
"How are you going to study if you're working?"
She looked up at me before smirking. "I can do it, remember? I am Madison Grey. Means I can do everything." I know she's just saying that to make herself feel at ease.
"Skating, you're bad at skating remember?"
She rolled her eyes at me before chuckling. "I do know it now, you taught me, remember?" she said mockingly.
"Yes you do, also, you are Madison Ashford now." I put her laptop down before looking back at her. "Maybe you should stop working now and just focus on thatâ"
"No, no, no, that's not possible, no, you need a secretary and Lisa won't be here until August, noâ"
"Let me finish first." I stopped her, making her look at me confused. "What if you fix my schedule for the week every Saturday and Sunday so that on weekdays, you'll have time to study. And I'll work at home."
"Is that even possible?"
"Nothing is impossible to me, sweetheart."
She smiled at me all challenged before saying, "Make it rain with heart confetti than... Using autumn leaves."
She's really testing me?
I just stare at her not wanting to laugh at her pettiness when someone knocks on the door followed by a voice. "Mr Ashford, your order just arrived."
"Don't think highly of yourself Mister, you might regret it." she whispered while booping my nose before running to the door to take our breakfast.
Madison
We're now having our breakfast when my phone suddenly pinged because of a notification. I put my fork down before looking at it.
"Who is it?" he asked as he drank his coffee.
I look at the phone longer to tease him before turning it off and continue eating.
"Who is it?" He repeatedly sounded pissed this time.
"No one." I just laughed at him, making him pissed even more.
"Madison Grey-Ashford, Who is it?" shit. Does he really need to use my full name to scare me? It's working.
"Chill, It's the guy from the new recruitment team in the Finance Department, one of the juniors that I'm helping. He's a friend"
"What did he say?" he just looks at me with his cold eyes making me chuckle.
"Just a lunch tomorrow, he said he wants to thank me forâ"
"What did you respond to?"
I know where this is going. "It's just lunch, am I not allowed to have lunch with my friends?"
"Your only friend whom I allow you to have lunch with is Hazel."
"But I already said yes, It would be awkward if I take it back."
"No, I don't even know who that is." He argued while ignoring me and just continued eating.
"You said I can do whatever I want." I playfully glared at him because I knew this would work. He was about to argue again, but I grinned at him teasingly, making him scowl at me.
"Let's see if you'll be able to attend that 'lunch'" he smirked at me before looking back at the food.
I just shake my head before smiling to myself. He's cute when he's jealous.
****
"I already expected it." Hazel laughed on the other line, "Even if I was him, and I am your husband, I won't let you go too."
"Because you two are mean." I looked around the room before smiling at his picture that was on my laptop. He's out, there's a quick meeting with the Senior Director.
"Because you're too fucking pretty bitch, Be thankful that I'm straight." she said jokingly, making me chuckle.
"How would you know if you're already falling for someone?" I didn't mean to ask that, it just came out.
The other line went silent but after a second, she gasped dramatically, "Don't tell me you're already falling for him? Really? OMG!!!"
"You bitch, I'm not, I'm just asking you."
"Don't try to hide it from me Madi, I know you if you're going to lie to someone make sure it's not me." She's right. "So, tell me the truth, did she manage to catch your heart?"
"I don't know."
"Tsk, In denial. I'll send you something, read it then tell me if I was right, more likely if my research was right."
"I know you're my savior, Isn't it too weird toâ"
"Trust me, this will help you."
"I don't think so, how will it help me to know if I was already faâ" I immediately stopped talking when he suddenly came, I didn't even hear the door opening, he's really going to give me a heart attack one day. "I need to hang up now Haz, Bye."
As I hung up the phone, he went beside me with a confused frown on his face.
"Hazel?"
"Yeah. I just asked her something." a second later my phone pinged for notification from Hazel. His eyes glower as he looked at me. "It's Hazel." Grinning at him, I look at the message before laughing at the title.
How to know if Madison Bitch is falling in love with Ace Robot?
This girl is really crazy.
I was still looking at my screen when I noticed Ace looking at my laptop with a smirk on his face, shit. Immediately closing my laptop, I mentally facepalm myself before smiling at him awkwardly.
"It's unfair, you have a picture of me while I don't have you, don't you think so?" with his teasing tone, he holds my hands before pulling me into his lap making me widen my eyes.
"H-hazel just askedâ me ifâ"
The smug look on his face turned into a satisfied one as he attached his lips with mine. The moment he first kissed me, I already knew that touch is his love language.
Wrapping his arms on my waist, he pulled me even closer that my chest was already pressed against his. As he started to move his mouth, my hands went to cup his jaw and move along with him. Just like rhythm, our mouths move in sync as well as our breathing.
I really love the smell of his mint breath, and his hair that's now in my grip.
This man is perfect, fucking perfect.
Smirking at my thoughts, he licked my lips in between the kiss asking for permission which I immediately gave him, making him smile.
"Too fast, sweetheart." With that, his tongue went in my mouth tasting every part of it, making me let out a soft moan. As I opened my eyes, he's already staring at me while his tongue is still thrusting in my mouth.
It's so hot. So fucking hot.
My hands fell on his shoulder as he slowly pulled away, still looking in my eyes.
"You're just giving me more reason to regret not planning our honeymoon." He whispered as he started kissing my neck, letting out a soft chuckle. I held his hands before planting a soft kiss on his temple.
"See, you're already losing our bet." I whispered, making him chuckle.
"I don't mind losing it."