The Billionaire's Secret

11

one night stand

Ashley's P.O.V

I wake up and look around. Thoughts about what happened last night come to mind. I can't believe Jake had to see me like that. I put my head in my hands and sigh. I hear a knock and look over to see Jake standing at the door.

"Hey." He says walking closer and sitting on the bed.

"Hi." I say not wanting to look at him.

"Are you okay?"

"Why do you care?" It was rare for people to care about me when they barely knew me.

"What?"

"Why do you care if I'm okay or not?"

"Because it's my job to care."

"No one else does." I say bringing my knees to me and wrapping my arms around them.

"Ashley, is there something you're not telling me?"

"No."

"Why did you try to do that to yourself yesterday?"

"I'm tired of life."

"So am I but do you see me with a gun pointed to my head?"

"Why would you be tired of life? You're life's perfect."

"It's not. It may seem like it is but it's not. Listen, I don't ever want to hear anything about suicide or see anything ever like that again okay?" I close my eyes to keep the tears from coming out. "Ashley!"

"Yes." I say not opening my eyes.

"Okay?"

"Yea sure." He plucks my forehead as I look up at him and he smiles.

"No more sadness. Come on." He grabs my hand. "What you need is a great breakfast."

"What I need is my best friend." I mumble. He takes out a box of cereal and milk and places it on the counter. "This is the great breakfast I need?"

"Yep. Short and simple." He says as I notice what he's wearing.

"Don't you have work today?"

"Fuck. That's what I forgot." He runs upstairs as I smile shaking my head. I fix some cereal and turn on the TV downstairs. "Well I gotta go to work."

"How could you forget about your own company?"

"There are other things I'm focused on right now." He winks at me as I try to ignore the gushiness I felt. Is that a word? It probably isn't but that wink made me feel gushy.

"Whatever, have a good day."

"Thanks. You have a great one." He says while walking out of the door. I flip through the channels to finally find something satisfying.

"Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? SpongeBob SquarePants!" I sing along to one of my forever favorite shows and smile. I miss being a child. Everything was so easy and simple.