Half Hearted

Chapter Seventeen

| Ash |

Ash couldn't help the burning feeling he was getting in his throat when he heard them talk lowly of her job. The conversation played out in his head, and he found his rage growing ever stronger.

He took a quick look at Teresa and saw that she was adapting to the new world very quickly. He somehow found comfort in that thought.

Focusing back on the camera, Ash tested out his facial expression. Little did he know, Peter was watching his every move. His every stare.

And Peter was very satisfied.

It seemed that Teresa had more of an impact on Ash than Ash, himself, even realized. Even the girl was oblivious. Chuckling to himself, Peter thought of all the fun he'd have at 'accidentally' leaving the two alone together.

When each individual shoot was done, Ash covered himself up with a robe. The photographer came up to him and showed him the printed versions of the shots. "Which one do you like best?" He asked Peter and Ash.

Peter scratched his beard, "how about you choose one for yourself?" 

Ash raised an eyebrow, but was distracted by Teresa's laughs in the background. Grunting, he called her over. Teresa, shocked by the sudden yell at her name, quickly shuffled towards him. Ash pointed to the three pictures the photographer was holding. "Which one do you like most?" 

Teresa looked at the photographer, and then at Peter. "Do I have to choose?"

Peter shrugged, "you're his personal assistant. Anything he asks of you, you do."

Ash noticed Teresa gulp from the sudden spotlight. It took her a while to choose, scanning over the black and white papers until her finger hovered over one. "This one."

Ash grinned. It was the only picture not going below his waist. 

The photographer nodded and smiled, "this one it is. Now onto duo shots. Could I get the ladies to line up please? Ash, I'll need you to sit on that stool."

After styling Ash's hair differently, another half an hour of shoots went by, and Teresa found herself gawking at the photos coming up on the screen in front of her. It was a gallery full of a naked Ash, and random women. 

She paused when her eyes found itself on a particular one. For a second, her heart was racing, and then the second was gone. 

She stared at the tattoos on his arms, suddenly curious at what the stories were behind them.

After another yet excruciating hour of having to stare at Ash naked, Teresa sighed of relief when he finally came out of the dressing room fully clothed. "That's a wrap!" The photographer announced, and everyone around me clapped. I joined in too, exhausted and wanting to go home.

"So what did you think of your first day on the job?" Peter asked Teresa as she was cleaning up the makeup kits. She mustered up a smile.

"It was... interesting," she admitted. "But enjoyable."

Ash overheard her say this, and a part of him warmed up. Maybe this would be the way he would subtly make it up to her.

He shook the thoughts from his head and thanked the people as they left for the elevator. Peter came by to talk to him, "Randall and his guys are out there, just letting you know. Play your cards right, make sure they think you're in love with this girl, alright?"

Ash gave him a stern nod, and he looked at Teresa, focused on cleaning the chairs and stacking them up neatly to the side of the room. 

After a while, she noticed him staring at her. "What?"

"You'll need better clothes if you're going to be seen with me," he looked her outfit up and down. Tattered jeans, a plain white shirt, and black converse. There was simple. And there was simple.

"Were you really the one who told me to stand up for myself when people looked down on me?" She muttered, bewildered by the statement he was making.

Ash walked towards her, his pulse beating abnormally faster than usual. Then he stopped, and thought it better if she finished her job first.

So he waited. And after Maudie let her off the hook, she thanked them and proceeded to walk to the elevator with me.

"You waited?" She asked, filling in the elevator music with conversation.

"I had to," Ash told her, trying to keep his voice normal. "Paparazzi outside."

"Oh, right," Teresa suddenly remembered the other part of the deal - the one she had agreed to in the first place. "So how should we do this? Hold hands? Quick hug and a goodbye?"

Ash gave away another one of his devilish grins. "Just follow my lead."

| Teresa |

Follow his lead? What was this guy thinking? That I liked surprises?

Finding it hard to keep up with his long legs, I jogged after Ash and saw the cameras flashing outside. I was really going to give up and think that he was going to let me known to the world as the 'most pitiful celebrity', when he did something that made my heart skip a beat.

After holding the door for me, Ash grabbed my hand just as the bright flashes made its way to my eyes. Then, as if trying to actually hide my identity, he used his leather jacket to cover up my face, and then shielded me from the blinding lights.

I was in such close proximity to him I smelled his cologne. Old spice, I made a note to myself.

Riel stopped the car - now a black Audi instead of the white van - in front of us and, again, Ash held the door for me. He waited until I got in, and then took the seat beside me. Flashes were still going on around us as Riel pulled out of the building's sight.

"How was that?" He smiled, trying to see my expression.

I tried to hide the heat making its way from my cheeks. "Fine," I stated, averting my eyes from his gaze. I stared out the window instead.

From the reflection of the window, I saw him shaking his head and laughing quietly to himself.

It was the start of something new, and I found myself having newly founded many emotions.

One was thrill. 

I couldn't ignore the fact that Ash Stymest made me feel irrevocably exhilarated.