Chapter 3 Her Knight In Shining Armor?

• **Third person**
• Her mother was the first to speak up.
• “What are you doing here?” Her sharp tone and icy look sent shivers down Ashley's spine.
• Even though she looked like a different person, she still felt so small and so scared in front of them.
• What if they attempt to kill her again now, and they actually succeed?
• Breathe, Ash. They don't even know that you're the one.
• “Sorry, I lost my way. I was looking for the restroom,” answered Ashley, trying to keep her voice steady.
• “And who are you?” Her mother's eyes narrowed, and her gaze turned even icier.
• Just then, Adam stepped in. “Uh, Mrs. Harrison, she's my new secretary.”
• “Is that so?” Kate Harrison asked, her gaze turning to Adam.
• “Yes, ma'am.”
• Kate's eyes shifted back to Ash, and she stared at her for a few seconds before she continued, “What's your name?”
• “It's, uh, it's…” Ashley stuttered, her mind searching for suitable female names that she could adopt.
• “You don't remember your name?” Kate snapped, her voice tingling with impatience.
• “Mot-her,” Adam murmured, his voice trembling slightly. “I… I think your tone is scaring her.”
• Her knight in shining armor, huh? One would think that Adam was such a perfect gentleman.
• Mrs. Harrison simply rolled her eyes, waving off Adam's remark. “What's your name, young lady?” She reiterated with a stern voice.
• “It's Valerie, ma'am. Valerie Thorne.”
• Mrs. Harrison's eyes darted from Ashley's head to her toe. "Well, I don't like her,” she announced, and then headed back to the inner office.
• Adam chuckled nervously as he followed Ashley's parents behind. “She's really competent,” he explained, trying to defend Ashley.
• And then, just before he shut the door to the inner office behind him, he turned to give Ashley a wink, signaling to her that they'd talk later.
• ****************************************
• The harsh fluorescent lights of the bar did little to pierce the fog of betrayal clinging to Ashley.
• She winced as she downed yet another glass of vodka and then wiped her mouth with the back of her palm.
• “Two more shots, please,” she yelled to the bartender, her strained voice almost drowning in the loud music.
• Each pulsating beat of the music hammered against her chest.
• Her parents… Were they not supposed to love her unconditionally and protect her?
• Why will they try to kill her?
• Tears spilled from her eyes, and she immediately wiped them away. She shouldn't be crying at a bar.
• “Here you go.” The bartender pushed two shots at her.
• She giggled drunkenly and gulped down another shot of whiskey. The burning liquid was a fleeting distraction from the emotional inferno raging within.
• Suddenly, a shadow fell across the bar counter. Glancing up through tear-blurred and dizzy eyes, she saw a man.
• He was tall, with broad shoulders and a dark suit that seemed to mold itself to his imposing physique.
• His face, obscured by the dim lighting, held an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine.
• "Mind if I join you?" He rumbled, his voice low, yet it held a sharp edge.
• Ashley scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. "Sure, why not?” Her eyes met his, and a spark ignited within her.
• Maybe it was the whiskey, maybe it was the sheer absurdity of the situation, but she found herself wanting to ruffle his hair with her fingers.
• The man took the seat beside her; his blue eyes seemed to pierce through her skin. "And what is a pretty lady doing all alone here?”
• Her cheeks immediately flushed with heat, and she swallowed the lump in her throat.
• She should probably leave. Intimacy, even the hostile kind, was the last thing she craved.
• Pushing herself off the stool, she slammed a crumpled bill on the counter when she felt a hand on her wrist.
• "Have one drink with me."
• **************************************
• The sound of running water woke Ashley up.
• She blinked and opened her eyes slowly.
• Placing a hand on her aching head, her eyes roamed around, and then she realized that this wasn't her bedroom.
• She immediately sat up, and her gaze caught the clothes scattered on the floor.
• Oh God!
• Ashley gasped in horror; those were her clothes, and… and a man's…
• What the heck?
• She decided to lay down to mentally assess the situation when she felt the soreness between her legs.
• It felt so sore… So tender…
• The last thing she remembered was…
• Ugh, she knew staying back for that “drink” was a bad idea.
• Wrapping her arms around her chest, she recalled the way he was positioned above her, thrusting in and out of her…
• And then she subconsciously bit her lower lip, rolled her eyes, and let out a soft moan. It had felt so good…
• The way he smacked her…
• And the way he…
• Snap of this, Ash! This wasn't the time to be thinking about how good he was.
• You had a one-night stand with a stranger, just after you found out that your parents were involved in your death.
• Yes, she was supposed to still be angry and hurt, and so she immediately wrinkled her forehead.
• She'll make all of them pay.
• It was best for her to leave before the man came out, so she could get him out of her mind.
• Then she glanced at the clock and her eyes widened. Jumping out of bed, she slipped into her clothes.
• But just as Ashley was about to step out of the room, Lucas’s phone beeped. She'd decided to ignore it, but curiosity got the best of her.
• Taking a peek at his phone on the nightstand, the caller ID read, "My Woman."
• A wave of nausea hit her harder than the tequila hangover.
• My woman? Seriously?
• With a mix of curiosity and spite, she answered. "Hello?"
• A sweet, suffocatingly cheerful voice replied, "Lucas, darling, where are you?"
• Ashley's brain short-circuited. Darling?
• This guy had a wife? Adam and Karen's betrayal flashed before her eyes, igniting a fury she didn't know she possessed.
• "Ma'am," she started. "I'm so sorry. Your husband is, uh, indisposed. He's cheating on you."
• And then she took a deep breath, trying to brush off the guilt of what she'd just said. It's better she knows that her husband is a scum.
• Then the bathroom door burst open. Lucas appeared with a towel wrapped around his waist. “What the hell are you doing with my phone?”
• “Uh…” Her eyes flickered through his well-muscled legs, his broad chest, and his big arms.
• She swallowed.
• This was the man she'd had sex with? No wonder he was so…
• “Did you take my call?” He cocked an eyebrow, interrupting her thoughts.
• “Lucas dear… Is that you?” The voice on the other end of the speaker phone called out.
• Their eyes met briefly, and Ashley, realizing the full extent of her screw-up, bolted.
• “Oops!” She murmured and then dropped Lucas's phone on the nightstand before making a dash for the door.
• “Hey!” Lucas yelled. “Come back here!!”