306 Cause It Is Time To Depar

Jackson was walking behind her and if no one knew just who they were, they would think that these two were two teenage kids being sent by their parents to get some ingredients.

"You are indeed right," he complimented.

There was once reason why they were here and Ashley seemed excited, for since the start, not once did Jackson cooked for her. And today he promised her that he will be cooking for her.

(Flashback)

"I see, she has indeed grown up a lot," Amber told him on the phone when he informed her of Ashley's potential and improvement.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself watching that baby chick to grow," she then added hearing the please in his tone. 

Jackson cleared his throat but didn't say anything.

"I feel bad to say this but it is time to pull you out there Jackson," Amber then said and he could hear that she really do feel bad for what she was saying.

"What is it?" he couldn't help but ask.

"Russel is going on her own, she and her mother have already reconciled and it is time to part ways. It just so happens that Natan will be going on to the next phase where it will open up on another country. I need your help here now," was her explanation.

The day Russel and Harvey first stayed in his house, Russel was already fixing her departure from Natan. The reason why both were spending more time together than usual. For after everything was settled here, Amber would be once again leaving already.

Though she didn't know where she would be heading next. Back to Celestial or check on the other companies in the other countries.

"I… understand," Jackson said on the phone.

Though Amber could here some reluctance coming from him and she knew that he must have developed a good impression for Ashley. After all, Jackson Philipps barely recognize anyone.

"Jackson..."

"Hmmm?"

"Thank you, for taking this seriously and helping her out with everything," was her answer.

"I..."

She waited for a few minutes.

"I will talk to her and make her go back home."

This stunned Amber, he would even try and persuade her?

He had been with Ashley for two weeks now and he could see just how much hard working she was and he could also see that she has potential.

She just couldn't see it in the past for she had been looking at two bright lights in front of her, not noticing the she herself has her own light.

"She has her family and that is lucky of her that they will surely support whatever it is that she wanted. She had already seen the world for herself, I'll try and persuade her that it is time for her to go home."

"I see, very well. I won't stop you," was her answer before they hang up.

"Say, why the sudden change? Why do you suddenly want to cook something?" Ashley asked after they returned to where Jackson lives and he started preparing.

She was watching him from behind with a smile on her face.

"Cause it is time to depart," was his answer.

Ashley's smile slowly disappeared as she looked at Jackson who didn't turn around and kept going.

"What do you mean by that?" she asked.

"Just as the meaning of it," finally her turned around placing the dishes he had cooked in front of her before sitting opposite her.

"No, you're lying," she started shaking her head.

"Ashley," he was serious and she could tell it was so.

"Why? I mean, you promised to watch me walk my own path," she started and at some point tears came falling down.

"The restaurant is about to enter the next phase, it is time for me to return."

"But you could still teach me while managing it right? I mean were in the same place after all."

Jackson shook his head, "We will be opening on another country, I will be going there to watch over it. I can no longer teach you at the same time. You have learned everything I need to teach you. Reading can keep going and training too. You really don't need me to be there to supervise you."

Ashley pursed her lips, he was right. He had given her so much already.

"And Ashley..."

She looked up at him as she wiped the tears.

"You should go home now."

Her eyes grew wide as she stood up, "Is this what it was about? Did Amber tell you to do that? Is this why she's pulling you away? You should know right? The feeling, the reason why I runaway."

Jackson at some point has already told her that he too runaway from home.

"We are different Ashley," he was still calm not minding her tone at all.

"No, you too runaway. You left your family, we are the same."

He sighed, just like what to expect from this stubborn one. Despite missing her family, her pride was still making her stay.

"We are different," he kept going.

"No-"

"You have a loving family, mine was people who wouldn't care if you die once you disobey them," he interrupted her.

This was something he didn't tell her. He only said he runaway but nothing else.

Ashley was rendered speechless.

"Follow your sister, she was just telling you to go home. No one was stopping you from doing what you want. Go home Ashley, then maybe when the day comes that you really finished culinary and became a big name in the culinary world. Then we will surely meet again."

A sob left her mouth.

"Why are you saying things as if it was goodbye? You told me you would watch me thread this path right? Can't I even visit you?"

"Have you noticed?" he asked.

"Every time you try something new or see something new, you would be asking me for my opinion. You are good enough in discerning such stuffs but you rely on me too much. You need to have your own foothold in this world," he then explained.

Ashley understood what he was saying, she just didn't expect for the time they spent together would be too short.

"Go home, they are waiting for you and I know for certain that your mind has cleared up a lot already. You knew that what you did was wrong and understood the reason why they were sheltering you."

He pulled her hand and made her sit down once again.

"Don't you think its high time that you finally accepted your mistake?"

"You are my teacher, I will meet you if I wanted to, you won't be able to stop me," she then said.

Jackson smiled defeatedly, "If you can find me that is."

"I will," was her declaration.

With this Jackson knew, she had decided to finally go home. 

He noticed it after all, from time to time she would stare at her phone which has her family as the wall paper. He knew she was still thinking on what to do and that she just needed a push form someone.

Not from her brother nor Amber, they were like the walls for her after all. That is why he chose to do it instead.

Ashley started eating and she knew just what kind of chef he really was, nothing from whatever she ate in the past could compare to this.

It was very delicious and the ingredients were complimenting one another none stop.

Until the time she was sent home by Jackson came and she knew that this was their time to say goodbye.

"Let me meet you again when your family are together," he then told her reminding her to go home.

"Two weeks ago, you were still this aloof guy, who would have thought you are someone who was sincere with his every words," she commented remembering how much he barely answers her.

Jackson just shook his head, this was who he was. He was aloof at those he just met. But Amber told him that he was a very talkative person when someone warms up with him.

"Then see you in the future," he finally said as he turned around.

"Jackson."

He turned around and was startled when Ashley was so close planting a soft kiss on his cheek.

"I'll be there before you know it," she grinned before running back in her home.

Jackson subconsciously touched his cheek before he slowly shook his head.

'Fine, let's see when you get there.'

Both of them knew, that something else developed between them but that is something they currently have no desire to face for they still have their own goals and Jackson was to help Amber get the justice she deserves.

She was the one who brought him to where he was today, it is just right for him to help her no matter what. At the same time this is something he promised to himself.