Chapter 15

\~ALLISON\~

Ash stared at me, a look of disbelief on his face. He seemed to be reveling in my pleading, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.

I quickly covered my mouth with my hands, stepping back slightly to assess the situation.

I couldn't believe I had just begged him for more. How did I end up in this room? What if someone walked in, especially Justin or Cara? I had been acting recklessly, succumbing to his manipulations without considering the consequences.

Feeling a wave of embarrassment and self-disgust wash over me, I raised my head to shoot Ash a confused and frustrated glare.

This was all his fault. He had a way of getting into my head and making me do things I never thought I was capable of.

When Ash tried to touch me again, I flinched and took a step back, creating distance between us.

“Are you serious, cupcake? Just moments ago, you were begging for it, and now you act like you don't want me to touch you. I must say, I'm disappointed,” Ash said, his tone laced with frustration.

His words stung, and I couldn't bring myself to respond as he nonchalantly walked to his wardrobe and pulled out a shirt.

I was too shocked to reply, my gaze fixed on him. "If you have nothing to say, perhaps it's best if you leave," he uttered, without a glance in my direction. Ignoring me, he reached into his wardrobe and pulled out a black vest shirt, slipping it on effortlessly.

I felt my cheeks burn with shame and humiliation. How had I let myself become so out of control? As I moved towards the door, clenching my fists in frustration, I couldn't hold back the words that slipped past my lips in a moment of anger.

“You arrogant bastard,” I muttered, seething with anger.

Ash turned to look at me, his arms now folded across his chest. his cool, piercing gaze stemming from his striking green eyes held an almost hypnotic allure.

Despite the chill that seemed to seep through his gaze, there was an undeniable charisma to his handsome features.

"That's rich, coming from you, cupcake. You're the one who walked into a half-naked guy's room uninvited," he mocked, a reminder of my vulnerability in this moment.

I bit my lip, struggling to find a retort to his mocking words. If only he would stop staring at me with those icy eyes that seemed to see right through me.

As his gaze continued to bore into mine, sending shivers down my spine, I mustered the courage to speak again.

"You must be enjoying this, reveling in the power you have over me. How low can you stoop?" I shot back, hoping to remind him that he was no better than the arrogant jerk he portrayed himself to be.

Ash raised an eyebrow and let out a brief chuckle before stepping closer, trapping me with his arm and leaning in close. His lips brushed against my ear as he spoke.

"You know what I want. Don't come here pretending to be innocent and playing games with me," he said, his slender finger toying with the strap of my nightwear.

Pulling away, he walked over to his bed and sat down, reclining with his arm behind his head as he looked back at me.

"If you're not leaving, you might as well join me in bed. There's plenty of room, cupcake," he teased with a mischievous grin.

I quickly unlocked the door and stormed out, walking as quickly as I could to my room.

♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎

Feeling too weak to get out of bed, I couldn't ignore my mom's persistent texts urging me to visit. It wouldn't hurt to pay her a quick visit, I thought to myself.

I had heard that my dad had finally moved out, and although he still called sometimes, I chose to ignore him. I wasn't ready for any emotional rollercoaster that he might bring into my life.

Reluctantly, I managed to pull myself out of bed and stood in front of the mirror. My finger gently caressed my lips as memories flooded in from last night with Ash.

Shaking my head uncontrollably, I stared at my reflection. My fair skin glowed in the morning light, and my doll-like brown eyes blinked sleepily as I ran a hand through my tousled brown golden hair.

Yawning, I stretched my limbs and admired my body in the mirror, knowing that I had to start my day at Danny's.

I walked into the bathroom and was out within 30 minutes, heading towards my wardrobe. My eyes moved back and forth as I chose a simple white blouse that complemented my fair skin and a pair of denim jeans that hugged my petite frame perfectly.

Slipping on some comfortable ballet flats, I added a touch of elegance to my outfit. With a quick flick of my makeup brush to accentuate my doll-like eyes, I was ready to take on the day with confidence and style.

As I headed out, I couldn't help but pray that I didn't run into Ash, who always seemed to ruin my day. It puzzled me that despite his rudeness and selfishness, I couldn't bring myself to hate him.

The morning began like any other, with an annoying customer yelling in my face as crumbs from his breakfast spilled on me.

"I think you should finish chewing your food, sir. My mom always said it's rude to talk with your mouth full," I retorted, trying to maintain my composure.

The other customers around him chuckled at my remark, clearly amused by his lack of manners. But his reaction was unexpected as he grabbed my wrist tightly, causing me to flinch in pain.

"You think you can mock me just because you're pretty, you whore," he sneered, his face red with anger as he stood up from his seat, towering over me.

His appearance only made him seem more ridiculous - his sunburnt skin, unkempt beard, and ill-fitting shirt exposing his pot belly.

I tried to pull away from his grip, but he only tightened it, causing a few customers to step in and call for help.

"Someone get the manager or the cops before he hurts this poor girl," a concerned customer called out, looking around for assistance.

Vivian and Caroline rushed over, their faces filled with worry as they tried to figure out how to handle the situation.

"Gabby, go get Klein," Vivian instructed, her tone urgent as she tried to diffuse the escalating tension.

Gabby swiftly dialed the manager line, informing Klein of the situation, while Vivian tried to calm the angered customer.

The man, now red in the face, released his grip on my wrist but continued to yell obscenities at me.

"What is going on here?" Klein arrived, dispersing the crowd and asking the man to step out. At first, the man refused, insisting on receiving an apology from me.

"Why should I be the first to apologize? He grabbed me without my permission, just look at how red my wrists are! He definitely won't be able to afford my medical bills," I retorted, frustrated.

The man countered, "Is this how your workers speak to customers? The customer service here is terrible, yet people still come here. This brat ruined my breakfast!"

"And you ruined my morning," I muttered under my breath.

Klein shot me a look before addressing the angry customer, "Sir, you grabbed her wrist and left a mark. She would apologize if she had offended you, but calling her names is uncalled for. I believe she deserves an apology first."

Surprisingly, the man gave in and apologized, though it made me cringe with annoyance. I reluctantly apologized for making him uncomfortable while eating, but I couldn't help but wish he had some basic table manners.

Klein escorted the man out of the premises, giving me a small fleeting smile, stunned, I froze.

Vivian and Caroline walked over, and as reality sank in, I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. "Are you okay? That was too scary," Vivian said with relief evident in her expression.

Caroline, who was usually quiet, said nothing. I noticed some scars on her neck and wrists, which she tried to hide with a scarf.

"I love your scarf, Caroline. Where did you get it?" I asked, hoping to get her attention as she seemed lost in her thoughts.

Startled by my question, Caroline adjusted her scarf to cover up the marks on her skin.

"Yeah, Caroline, I never knew you liked scarves, since you hardly wear anything besides Danny's t-shirts," Vivian joked.

I managed a small smile and tried to steer the conversation in a different direction. "Remember that club we went to last time? Did Gabby and Vivian escort you back home because you were so wasted?" I asked, trying to gather information without raising any suspicion.

"Oh, I was so mad when I found out you all left without Gabby and me," Vivian chimed in, shifting the focus of the conversation away from Caroline. I was thankful for her presence, knowing that Caroline wasn't likely to give me a direct answer.

Before I could speak further, Vivian seized Caroline's wrist, her eyes widening in shock as she tried to stifle a scream.

"Why do you have so many scars and bruises, Caroline?" Vivian's tone was filled with concern and confusion.

I placed a calming hand on Vivian's shoulder, silently urging her to take Caroline aside for a private conversation. Turning towards the customers who had shown support, I offered them complimentary drinks from Gabby, expressing my gratitude.

Upon refocusing on Vivian and Caroline, I noted the intensity of their discussion and Caroline's growing irritation.

At that moment, Klein returned to the restaurant, his gaze briefly lingering on Caroline before meeting mine, our eyes connecting in a silent exchange.

The sight of Caroline's bruises evoked memories of a similar injury I had sustained the previous summer at camp. What had occurred on the night I departed from the club? How did Caroline's bruises mirror the one I had from my experience?

“Did he hurt her?” I questioned.

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