Me, Myself, and You

Chapter 11

Ashley

Once I reached the highway I went even faster. I didn't bother checking how fast I was going, all I knew was that I was going really fast. 

My windows were down causing my hair to fly everywhere. I screamed along with the music and let all my worries disappear. 

Nobody was on the road which caused me to go even faster. 

Blue, white, and red lights flashed behind and sirens went off. 

"Shit." I muttered to myself and pulled over. I looked at in the side mirror and saw the cop walking towards me. I looked straight forward and my hands clenched onto the steering wheel. 

"Ma'am do you know how fast you were going?" he said looking into my window. 

"No sir." 

"I'm gonna need to see an id and driving license." 

Crap, I forgot about that. When you're focused on steaming off the anger you're not really paying attention to your id and license. 

"Sorry sir, I forgot at home." 

He sighed, "Please step out of the car." 

I let my door open and I could tell the officer was amazed. Of course.  

"Wait...are you Ashley Clarkson?" the officer looked at me. 

"Umm. Yes." I said widening my eyes to how he knew my name. 

He laughed and patted my shoulder, "I work for your dad, or worked. I'm sorry for your lost." 

WHAT?! My dad even had cops working for him. 

"Uh thanks. I'm taking over the business." I said looking and sounding smug. 

"OF course you are. You're dad would always brag about you." 

"Oh, so am I free to go or?" I asked slowly trying to back in my car. 

"Don't even worry about it." he said puffing out air. 

"Have a nice night um" I asked pointing to him. 

"Oh, Nicholas." 

I waved and sped off. I guess I didn't learn my lesson. 

*the next day  

12:32. 

OK Ashley breathe. 

What am I even going to talk about? 

Hey guys, I'm Ashley. My dad is dead so I'm gonna run this shit business. I don't even know what I'm doing. 

I hit my head waiting for an answer to show up. 

"Don't know what you're gonna say." I heard a male voice say from my bedroom door 

I screamed and turned around to see Brian leaning against it. 

"Fuck you." 

He laughed and walked closer to me. 

"Before you go in, just warning you...there are all guys. Ranging to the age of your age to mine." 

"Oh." way to go Brian. What a nice pep talk. 

"You'll be fine." he said giving me a reassuring smile. Before he walked out he turned back, "you might want to change."

I looked down and saw I was only in a tank and underwear. I covered up and ran into my closet. 

What to wear?

Badass?

Business?

BADASS BUSINESS?

YES!

I dug and dug until I pulled out the perfect outfit. 

A loose white shirt where you could clearly see my black bra, tight pair of navy blue work pants, a pair of sunglasses, and black high heels would do the trick.

Right? 

Whatever. 

12:58. 

Breathe. In.Out. 

I took of my sunglasses and stared at myself in the mirror. 

You got this.

You will be that scary bitch. 

I laughed at myself and put my shades back on. I am retired I know. 

I peeked  my head out and heard many voices downstairs. I texted Brian if I should come down yet.

No response. Great. I looked at my watch. 1:02. 

I grabbed a pen and notebook and walked downstairs quietly. I looked around and saw that nobody was there. I guess they were all in the room. 

I was about to walk downstairs but I ran to fridge and grabbed my coffee.

Close call Ashley. 

Here we go. Here we go. Here we go. 

The room was filled with noise and right once I stepped my foot it was dead silent. The only noise was the sound my shoes. 

I put my stuff down at the empty space and scanned the room. 

SOMEHOW. ALMOST EVERYBODY WAS SMOKING HOT! Of course there was 4 guys who were not appealing at all to look at. There was one more chair and guess who was sitting in it! 

MASON LANE.  

My breathing got heavier and I started to get light headed. His smirk. That fucking smirk. I cleared my throat and had a sip of my coffee. 

"Hello everyone." I said giving them a nod. Should I walk around?

I heard grunts, hellos, and whistles. 

"Let's get one thing straight", I started to walk around, "I am a woman, not a girl. I am not vulnerable and don't fuck with me. Just because I have a vagina does NOT mean I'm weak." 

What?! Did I actually just say that? 

"The business is MY hands now and if you have a problem with you can leave. Now." I stopped and waited for someone to move. They all sat and stayed still. Good boys. 

Ew, that was gross Ashley.

"Before you do anything that will affect this business, I want you to tell me and I'll approve. I don't give a fuck of what you guys did before. There's a new sheriff in town which means whatever my father did before is in the past." 

I sat down in my chair. 

Ok. What now. 

"Any questions?" everybody hands shot up. FUCK ME! "We will go around."

"What makes you think that you'll be able to do this?" I heard an asshole say. Sorry did I say asshole, I meant Mason. 

Right after I made a speech about not treating me like shit what does he do? 

I slammed my notebook on the table and everybody had a mini heart attack. I threw off my shades at the wall causing them to break. My poor Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses. 

"Get the fuck out." I said staring him down. 

He doesn't move. I stare at him and he stares at me. 

"Gladly" he gets up and walks out. "Fuck this" he mutters. 

I walk back to my seat and once again, breathe. 

Everybody is staring at me. I give them a disgusted look. 

"LEAVE!" I screamed. I swear I never seen men run so fast. The only person who doesn't leave is Brian. 

"That was amazing!" Brian said while giving me a round of applause. 

I give him the middle finger, "Clean this up".  I pointed to all the waters and papers and my broken sunglasses. 

I hate this shit.