Chapter 88

"My child! How are you?  Are you in Japan already?" Father Jessie happily asked while Mother Fely and Ashley's brothers were listening to their conversation.  The loneliness that Ashley felt only a while ago disappeared when she heard her father's voice.  

It was very apparent on her face the joy that she felt.  'This is the reason why  I went to another country to give my family a good life.  Meeting Tanaga was only a good incident that happened in my life, and I should not take our relationship seriously... whatever that might be?' She thought to herself while listening to her father, rumbling on the other line.

"Ashley!!! Tell your boss, thank you very much for everything!  You sure got lucky that you met a very kind boss, so do your best there and work very hard!" Mother Fely said with a shaky voice.

"At least we will not worry that you will be mistreated there.  Also, he promised that he would bring you back here in the Philippines at least once a month.  Hahaha!" Mother Fely shouted so that Ashley could hear her above the noise her sons were making besides her.

"Mom! How are you?  Am I on speakerphone?  Hahaha! My brothers, are you all there?" Ashley was shouting excitedly, not realizing how loud she was and how her voice was echoing in the lobby of the condominium.

"Yes!!!!" Her brothers all shouted at the same time and made very cheery voices at the other end of the line

"My brothers! I missed all of you too!  It's only been a few days, but I feel like I've been away for much longer." Ashley complained while her loud voice echoed throughout the lobby.

Because of this, the front desk manager who has been raising his eyebrows since a while ago was irritated. He couldn't contain himself anymore and approached Ashley, who was facing the other way and tapped her shoulders.

"Excuse me! Excuse me! Do you mind?  Please, refrain from speaking loudly. This is not a public market... And you are screaming and yelling loud enough to wake up the dead."  The front desk manager said rudely, his eyebrows still raised

Good thing Ashley was able to cover the speaker of the phone, and her family quickly did not hear what the front desk manager had said.

"I apologize if I'm a nuisance and speaking loud.  I'm not going to make any excuses... However, if you'll excuse me, I need to finish my call first, and I will attend to you after."  Ashley then turned her back and continued speaking with her family as she went out of the door of the building.

Ashley was busy talking with her family. Therefore she did not notice where she was walking.  She just kept on walking, "So what happened after you played poker?" Ashley asked her brother Arman who was telling her about their poker game.

The security guard heard Ashley's voice while she approached the door.  He then quickly opened it while he bowed as Ashley passed by, she only nodded and continued with what she's doing.

The front desk manager was shocked with what Ashley said.  He was livid, so she followed her. He wanted to reprimand her, but he changed his mind and decided to talk to the guard instead of telling him not to let Ashley back in.

However, he was surprised, and his eyes widened when he saw that the security guard open the door for Ashley and bowed for her while waiting for her to pass before standing up straight.

He quickly went to the security guard to lecture him.  "Are you alright? What in the world is wrong with you?  Why are you bowing to that person? If you want to keep working here, listen to me...  When she comes back, you better not let her inside, or I will make sure you get fired. Do you hear me?!" He then turned back without even waiting for the security guard to explain.

The security guard just scratched his head and shook it while smiling to himself.  In his mind…' He must be stupid or what? Doesn't he know the person he is arguing with is important?  Let's see who will be jobless tomorrow. Hahaha!'

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Meanwhile, Ashley's bodyguard returned and went back straight to where he had left her.  But what greeted him was a clean and empty place.  Not even Ashley's shadow was present… He got nervous and worried.  "Where did ma'am Ashley gone off to?" He mumbles to himself while walking at the long corridor leading to the garden. 

"Ma'am! Ma'am Ashley! Are you here?" The bodyguard shouted while opening each of the doors he passed.  When no one answered him until he reached the garden… his face began to sour.

He quickly went to the front desk to ask the employee there.  He was still afar when the Japanese employee saw him. He promptly stood up and plastered a big smile on his face.  "Good day, Sir! Is there something I could help you with?" He was highly respected because the employee knew that he was one of Tanaga's bodyguard.

It was apparent on the bodyguard's face that he is worried if something has happened to Ashley.  "Did you see a young lady that was there by the lobby a while ago?" 

"Yes, sir!  I did saw a loudmouth young lady earlier speaking to someone on the phone.  However, you don't have to worry about her any longer, for I had made sure to get rid of her."  The Japanese man proudly said.

His eyebrows rose, and the bodyguard's eyes flickered at what he heard.  "You!!! Idiot! Do you have a death wish? Ahhh!" The bodyguard left to go to the security guard to find out what happened and to ask where is Ashley.

'I'm so stupid.  Since I left her with the security guard, I should have gone straight to him and asked him.  My God! I hope that nothing bad happens to Ma'am Ashley or else, the boss will kill me,' The bodyguard said to himself while walking very fast as if the grim reaper was chasing him.