Promotion

19. Not-so-business dinner

"Misty!"

"Hi mom!"

"Oh, dear!" Cassie Williams hugged her youngest daughter again. They were standing at the main door of the villa. "Look at you! You're radiant! Have you been going to the spa like I suggested?"

Misty giggled. "I don't have time for spa, mom."

"Of course you should have time for spa!" Mrs. Williams pulled her daughter inside and slammed the door shut. "I was th-"

"Mom! Ash is still outside!" Misty gasped and opened the door. Ash was standing very close to the door, his hands in his pockets.

"Right, your boyfriend came with you." Mrs. Williams watched as Misty opened the door wide for Ash.

"Well, I told you about Ash before, right?" Misty held Ash's hand. "We've been dating for a few months now. We're working together as well."

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Williams. I'm Ash Ketchum." Ash extended his hand.

"Right, right." Cassie shook his hand quickly and pulled hers away. She looked at Misty. "You must be tired! I'll call your father. Go to the living room and rest."

"Okay..." Misty watched her mother rush to her father's study. She glanced at Ash. "I'm sorry. Her mind must be.... somewhere."

"It's fine." Ash smiled after he held Misty's hand.

"I've never heard of Pallet town. Is it an abandoned military base?"

"No..." Ash blinked. Cassie was pouring wine for her husband when he asked him that. "It always existed."

"There are military bases that have been transformed into towns." Misty's father argued. "It's the reason why no one hears about them."

Misty sighed. She closed her eyes for a second and then continued eating her lunch.

"Pallet town has been growing out recently, so..."

"Has it?" Edward Williams looked surprised. "And what's so special about it? Is there any business in it?"

"Not much." Ash shook his head.

"And what does your father do in this town?"

"Dad, I told you Ash's father passed away when he was young." Misty spoke in a low voice.

"Oh." Edward sat straight. "I am very sorry, Ash."

"It's fine." Ash shrugged. "It's like he was ever there. I don't remember him."

"Is that true?" Cassie put her hand over her mouth. "Don't you remember your father? How'd you live like that?"

"Uh, would you like some wine?" Misty grabbed the bottle and filled Ash's glass.

"What business kept him there when he was still alive?" Edward began his business haunt again. "Is it a place where one can invest or not?"

Misty licked her lips. "Can we change the subject? It's not comfortable for Ash to talk about his dad."

"Well, I'm talking business over here! There is no place for feelings." Mr. Williams leaned back on his chair. "Your boyfriend is a business guy, isn't he?"

"I am." Ash answered instead.

"Of course. You and I would get each other." Edward pointed at himself and then at Ash. "Have you thought about investing in your inheritance? What did your father leave you? Domains?"

"It must be so hard to live without a father. The girls missed Edward every day when he went on business trips." Cassie looked at Ash with sorry looks.

Misty threw her napkin on the table. She pushed her chair to the back and walked out of the dining room.

"Misty!" Cassie got up. She followed after her daughter. "Misty? Are you alright?"

"She used to do that when she was little." Edward shrugged. "It was her way to get attention. I guess she didn't change."

Ash wasn't sure. Was this guy calling his daughter an attention whore? "I should go check on Misty."

"Sure, go." He pointed in the direction of the stairs. "She must be dating you for this."

"Alright..." Ash got up slowly. "Excuse me."

"How old are you, again?" Edward narrowed his eyes. "She told me but I forgot."

"I'm thirty-five."

"You need to eat less burgers, just saying." Edward chuckled. He gestured to the stairs. "Her bedroom is the first on the left."

Ash flashed a polite smile and went to check on Misty upstairs.

"We're so sorry about what we said. We didn't mean to upset you!" Cassie hugged Misty again. They were at the door as Misty and Ash were getting ready to leave.

"You should apologize to Ash, not to me." Misty turned her head slightly toward Ash who was standing against his car, looking down.

"Tell him we said sorry." Cassie smiled. Edward nodded.

"Right..." Misty sighed. She hugged her father. "I'll call when I get to Goldenrod."

"Alright, dear. Bye!"

"Bye." Misty sighed heavily and started walked toward the car. Ash looked up when she walked past him and opened the car door.

He bowed his head slightly to Mr. and Mrs. Williams and got inside his car.

"Let's drive out of this city and fast." Misty groaned as she buckled her seat belt.

Ash smiled. He waved at Misty's parents and took off.

"I'm not upset."

Misty looked at Ash. "What?"

"Really, I'm not." He shrugged. "I wouldn't bother."

Misty looked down at her hands. "My father was being pushy."

"And to answer his questions." Ash wasn't looking at Misty. "My father left a policeman's miserable pension and a property on Southern Pallet that belongs to my paternal uncle now for reasons we ignore."

Misty gasped. "He stole your inheritance?"

"That's my answer." Ash stopped at a red light. "You can tell your father."

"He'll like it."

Ash and Misty looked at each other. They chuckled.

"For sure."