Promotion

8. Business suit

Serena was putting her clothes in her suitcase when the home phone rang. She hesitated at first if she should answer or not, but she answered anyway thinking it might be urgent.

"Hello?"

Serena, it's me, Ash.

"Oh, hi Ash..." Serena cleared her throat.

Last night, she's waited for Ash to show up but she fell asleep at midnight. When she woke up this morning at six, he wasn't there, and his bedroom still looked the same. She presumed he spent the night outside, and honestly, she didn't know how to feel about that.

I have a favor to ask you. Is that okay?

"Sure, Ash."

Misty was walking confidently toward her office wearing a new short flowery tight dress when she noticed a girl sitting beside Raja. This latter was talking on the phone.

Misty stopped in her tracks, watching.

After she hung up, Raja talked to the girl and opened the door of Ash's office to her. The young girl bowed her head slightly and got inside. She was carrying a tote bag.

After the door closed, the redhead walked toward Ash's assistant. She said, "Good morning, Raja."

"Good morning, miss Williams."

"Is Ash here yet?"

"He is, but he's busy." Raja picked up her phone. "Do you want me to call anyway? Is it urgent?"

"It's fine, I can wait." Misty took a seat facing Raja's desk. "I'll wait."

"As you wish, miss Williams." Raja sat down, trying to hide her smile.

Misty crossed her legs and put her red-manicured hands on her knees. She sat straight. "Ash gets busy so early in the morning."

Raja chose not to play along. "Uhm."

"He works hard." Misty commented.

"He spent last night here." Raja couldn't help it. She was amused.

"Oh, really?" Misty was surprised. "Was it work?"

"Probably. With different time zones, Mr. Ketchum has to stay here at night to send emails or make important calls."

"And do you have to stay late as well?"

"Mr. Ketchum tells me to get home early."

"That's good."

Misty instantly stood up when the office door opened.

"Thank you for coming, Serena."

"It's fine, Ash. Call me if you need anything."

Ash froze for a moment when he noticed Misty standing outside.

"I'll leave." Serena smiled politely at Raja and Misty before she left. Misty noticed she didn't have her tote bag.

And Ash was wearing the clothes she saw him wear last night; the shirt and shorts.

"A minute." He whispered and closed the door again.

"What happened exactly last night, Raja?"

"Only Mr. Ketchum knows, miss Williams." Raja liked the teasing already.

Misty bit her lip and left.

"It's Ash."

"Come on in."

The door opened and Ash entered, this time, wearing a black suit and a marine blue dress shirt. "Hi."

Misty looked up. "Hi."

"You came to my office earlier." Ash put his hand in his pocket. "Did you need anything?"

"I just wanted to remind you of the business lunch today, that's all." Misty opened a folder. "You were with a client so I stopped Raja from calling you."

"She's not-..."

"Excuse me?" She looked up.

"Nothing." Ash shook his head.

"Raja also said you spent the night here. What's the new deal now?" Misty got up and walked to her archives. "Should I congratulate you?"

"Huh? What? For what? Why?" He panicked, his mind going right to the arranged marriage.

Misty put down the folder. She walked up to Ash. "Is everything alright? You look shaken."

"I'm fine." He stepped slightly to the back. He wasn't use to standing that close to Misty.

"I think you need to take a day off, Ash. You're too tired." Misty looked him up and down. "Plus, you don't look like you slept well."

"I'm fine-I'll be fine." Ash walked to the door. He turned around. "Thanks."

"It's nothing."

"Uh, you know, for last night..." Ash avoided looking at her. "Thanks for last night."

Misty smiled. She liked how this was going. "You're welcome, Ash. I'd be glad to help anytime."

He flashed a weak smile and opened the door. As soon as the door closed, May showed up from under the desk. She gasped loudly. "What the hell did I just hear?"

"What?"

"Thanks for last night?" May gasped again.

"Don't be dumb, May. Of course nothing happened." Misty stood against her desk. "Last night, I found him outside the store and we talked. He seemed down so..."

"Soo...?"

"So, I told him he can tell me whenever he needs help."

May joined Misty's side. "I think it's working. He's softening."

"He has a woman in his life, though." Misty tapped her nails against her desk. "A woman brought him his work clothes this morning. She probably lives with him."

"So? It doesn't matter. It's not like you like him. If you become close, he could tell President to promote you. You don't have to date him."

Misty bit her lip.

"Uhm."