180 You Will Trust Us?

"How did it go?" Jake asked when Amber entered the office.

"It went just as I have planned," she replied with a smile.

"How about on your side?" she then asked as she sat down.

"She had indeed pass her designs but just as the past, still the same. Lacking with something. Though she told me that we can just throw it out if we don't need them," Jake shrugged.

Hayley had been ignoring Amber for the past week and even Alissa was being treated with cold shoulders.

"Let her be, she still thinks she's right because that is what Mark had been planting on her mind. If a mistake were to happen on this event, I will make sure that she would regret it for the rest of her life," Amber's eyes turned sharp as she said this.

"This is the only way she would be able to understand how life really works, right?" Jake added.

Amber nodded.

"Just tell her, that we would still use her design but you will be collaborating. Allow her to work during the creation of the clothes."

Jake acknowledged before the two of them dove on their own works.

*****

"You will trust us? In a fight with much stronger gangs?" Michael asked when Ashton visited them.

"Well, I can tell that you guys are much used in this kinds of battles. I don't want to make anymore risks, so I will be asking for your help since we are collaborating," Ashton replied.

His voice was neither respectful nor disrespectful. He was speaking as a leader but at the same time as a partner.

"Very well, since this is the first time you approached us for a battle, I don't think I should turn it down. I want to see just how strong you guys are as well," Michael replied with nonchalance.

They shook hands and Ashton excused himself.

"You really are serious in working with them," one man asked Michael after Ashton left.

"It is not that bad, it has been a while since we met but they haven't asked any help. Plus I think he only asked for us because his other companions are on other countries," Michael replied looking like he was having fun.

"You seemed to be looking forward to it," one commented.

"Why won't I be? It has been a while since we were active, people are forgetting are faces. With this we can just go as we pleased."

The others could only nod in agreement. It has been a boring time for them for a while now.

*****

Just as Ashton stepped out of the hotel he met Madison.

"You really are evil," Madison suddenly said.

Ashton looked at her without any emotion.

He was ignoring her, why would she suddenly say that he was evil.

Madison, on the other hand, was actually having nightmares about the kidnapping since the year-end gala.

Ashton didn't reply and just turned to leave.

He had long get past of any emotions regarding Madison.

Whether it was love or guilt.

"Do you know how much nightmares I had been having all these time? After seeing you looking so gentle towards that woman?" Madison kept going as she followed him.

But Ashton was not looking back.

"Why are you so cruel to me? Why? Why are you so happy after what you had done while I am miserable?" she stopped him by the arm and ask.

"We don't know each other, why must you choose me?"

Tears were flowing down from her eyes.

She didn't understand why she was being hurt, looking at him acting gentle towards others.

"ANSWER ME!!"

When Ashton looked down at her, his eyes void of emotion. Strong pain shot through her head.

She could only let go of Ashton and held unto her head tightly.

It was so painful but she caught glimpse of a smiling Ashton while looking at her.

'What… was… that?'

Her last thought before she lost consciousness.

Ashton who was also stunned by what happened took out his phone and made a call to the nearest hospital.

But he didn't crouch to help her or check on her, she was lying on the road while he was standing on the side.

Soon some of her guards came forward, seeing them Ashton turned to leave.

Pictures of the event became the highlight of the news that night.

"This people, they only knew how to criticize Ash, didn't they see that it was that woman who clang unto him? He was already kind when he called for help," Amber who saw it was complaining in front of her computer.

After saying this she gave Ashton a call.

"Let me guess, you saw the news?" he asked upon answering.

"My intuition tells me that this event will keep going, she grabbed her head before collapsing," Amber commented as her hands moved across her keyboard.

Hearing the tapping on the other side, "Are you taking them down?"

"As much as I can, I guess? As long as I can stop it from spreading online, the one on the TV will soon die down," her reply was nonchalant for this was a piece of cake for her.

"Why still bother?" he asked.

"Why wouldn't I bother if it is about you? They are trying to tarnish your reputation that was just starting to look good."

Ashton chuckled, she really is a busy body.

"Anyway, as I was saying. Madison haven't truly met you nor interacted with you until the wedding right?"

"I know, because we started interacting, her memories might start returning to her as it keeps going," Ashton continued what she wanted to say.

"Another problem will arise after that," Amber replied.

"Will it really be a problem?" Ashton asked.

A smile appeared on Amber's face.

"Not really, what can she do? What can her father do?" she replied.

Ashton looked proud even without her being in front of him.

Her influence may be a secret but was already big while his was already great within the underworld.

"Anyway, she might end up clinging on you even more if she did get a glimpse of the past with this interaction of yours."

"It doesn't matter, she can remember whatever she wants," Ashton replied seriously.

Amber smiled as she deleted the last post regarding the incident early this day.

"How about on your side? You seem to be much better now," he commented, hearing the difference in her voice from back then.

"Yup, accepted reality and tries to move forward. Nothing more could be done. I'll just leave it for now for surely this will help one way or another," she honestly said.

"That's good," he commented.

"I know for sure, if you are here you would surely pat me in the head."

Ashton didn't comment but Amber knew that he really would do so.

"Be careful," she started.

"I know, if this continues, surely Glenn would put all his focus on me again," Ashton understood very well what she was talking about.

"I now you'll be fine, but still..." Amber added.

"It's better to be prepared and to be careful. I know what you mean, don't worry, both our preparations are not yet ready. We both need more time," he answered back.

"Do you think Glenn really love Madison?" she suddenly asked.

"Whether he do or not, there's nothing we can do about it. It's just too bad for Madison that she became a pawn for such a person."

*****

"What happened? Weren't you there to guard her?" Glenn asked in anger as he stood beside Madison's bed

"We were sir, we didn't know what happened as well. She was just speaking with Ashton Wright, then suddenly she collapsed while holding her head," one answered in fear.

"Holding her head?" Glenn asked.

"Yes, sir."

Glenn fell silent, if he didn't understand what this means, then he wouldn't have lasted this long.

He thought back and realized the same thing as what Ashton and Amber have realized.

Madison hasn't truly interacted with Ashton in the past after what had happened.

The first was during the wedding then at the gala.

After the gala, he noticed how disturbed Madison was but whenever he asked she would always say that it was regarding work or that it was nothing.

"Glenn…"

He heard her call.

He signaled the guards to leave before looking back at Madison, his eyes filled with worry.

"How do you feel? Should I call the doctor?" he asked.

"I am fine, I'm sorry for making you worry," Madison weakly smiled as she replied.

"What happened, do you remember? Did he do something to you?" he continued asking.

"I don't know as well. I just want to confront him when suddenly my head started aching."

"After that?" Glenn asked even more.

"Nothing more, everything suddenly turned blank," she answered.

She didn't want to tell him that she suddenly had a glimpse of Ashton's smiling face while looking at her, for this is something that still baffled her.