CRIMSON LIES || ONGOING

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ sᴇᴠᴇɴ

The Return

V A L E R I E

The elevator doors opened to the penthouse, and I stepped inside, the weight of the evening lingering in my tired steps. The subtle scent of flowers clung to my clothes. As I arrived at the top floor where the apartment is, I stepped out of the elevator, approached the door, and as I closed it behind me, Ashton emerged from the living room, concern etched across his face.

"Val, where have you been? I've been trying to contact you a few times but you weren't answering" Ashton said, his eyes searching mine for an explanation.

I sighed, trying to gather my thoughts and forced a smile. "I went to buy flowers and visited my sister's grave. Lost track of time, and traffic was a nightmare."

Ashton's worry softened into understanding, but his gaze held a lingering doubt. "Traffic, huh? Are you okay?"

I nodded, a knot forming in my stomach as I recalled the real reason for my tardiness. "Yeah, just one of those days. I'll go start on dinner."

But before I could turn away, Ashton gently took my hand. "I was worried, Val. Next time, just let me know."

I met his eyes, and felt his gentle touch triggered a fresh surge of guilt. "I will, promise."

Heading to the kitchen, I began to prep, trying to shake off that feeling from earlier that still echoed in my mind. Ashton, however, followed me.

"You don't have to cook. I already prepared something for us."

Surprise flickered in my eyes. "You did?"

He nodded, his worry now replaced with a gentle smile. "I figured you might be tired, so I took care of it. Let's enjoy the evening together."

Ashton gently ushered me to the dining room and sat down. The smell of the delicious meal flooded my nostrils, a comforting aroma that seemed to wash away my unease.

"Thank you, love," I replied. Sitting down, I exhaled, trying to put the day behind me. Ashton served me a plate of the savory dish. After which, he poured a glass of water.

"How was work today?" I asked.

"Busy," Ashton replied, taking a bite of the dish. "Remember that I got a call earlier this morning, right?"

"Yeah?"

"Apparently, Seth, was the one who appointed a last-minute meeting with me and he said that he is intrested in working with Crowné," he explained.

"Seth? As in the Seth Kallistar?" I inquired.

"The one and only," he replied with a nod.

"That's big news," I murmured.

"It is. Seems he's in the process of branching out his business and wants to expand his horizons. Which is why he offered a collaboration," Ashton replied.

"That's great," I said, my tone of voice a mixture of hope and skepticism. "So, have you considered it?"

"Already have," Ashton replied. "The collaboration will definitely bring more visibility to Crowné's label."

"That's true... but what are your hesitations?"

Ashton paused, his fork hovering over his plate as he contemplated his response. "It's not that simple. Seth has a reputation, and while the collaboration could open doors, it also comes with its own set of challenges. I'm not sure about the kind of compromises we might have to make."