Ashley Kimberly- HE is the Woman

chapter 9 : The act

Ashley went to bed with a heavy heart. She never had to lie to Abbie before.

I don't know why I am feeling this way but I am definitely sure I don't want to lie to her again. I need to stay away from Richard otherwise I might end up lying again.

Ashley woke up in the middle of the night to someone patting her head. Squinting her eyes to see the person, Ashley realised it was uncle James.

"I heard from Ann whatever happened. Don't you dare to put your life at line to save someone else..yet I am proud of you son. You acted like a man".

Ashley could see tears in Uncle's eyes.

"Uncle I need you to help me. I want you to do me a favour".

"Anything for you son".

       

Ashley decided to avoid interacting with Richard.

If I avoid him I'd be fine again.

Ashley noticed, Richard coming towards her cabin, through her transparent glassed cabin. She crept out of her cabin. She hid in the ladies washroom.

Richard had a hard time the entire day looking for Ashley. He called Ashley numerous times and left her multiple texts. Finally he called Ann to check if she was at home.

"No she left for work this morning", replied Ann when Richard called her to ask whereabouts of Ashley.

Richard got out of his cabin determined to find where Ashley is hiding. From a distance he saw Ashley in her cabin,working diligently. Suddenly his eyes met Ashley's. Ashley slowly sinked under her desk. Richard ran to her cabin to find her crawling out of her cabin. Ashley looked up to find Richard standing in front of her.

"What do you think you are doing Ashley?".

"Wow you are fast",said Ashley under her breath before replying to Richard, " Uh...thinking about ideas for the newspaper".
Ashley got up on her feet.

" Want a cup of coffee?", offered Richard.

"Nah..I will pass. So busy right now".

"Right",said Richard sarcastically,"then, want to have dinner together tonight?".

"Nah..I will pass. Will be so busy tonight".

Ashley smiled awkwardly at Richard. Richard was unable to understand why Ashley was being distant but staying away from Ashley wasn't in his control. Adamant to find out what's wrong with Ashley, Richard started to use every excuse he could to see her and talk to her.

As Richard passed by Ashley's cabin, she started to act very busy. Little did Ashley realise her overacting caught everyone's attention. Everyone in the office started to gossip about how strange Ashley started to act specially around Richard who has been closest to her here.

"Maria? Are you taking these papers to Ashley?".

"Yes Richard".

"Oh..boss was asking for you. How about you go and see him first. I will take these to Ashley".

"Okay".

Richard knocked at Ashley's cabin.

"Maria! What took you so lo..."

Ashley looked up to find Richard with the papers, instantly she looked down to her laptop.

"Yo".

"Umm yo".

"Well here are the papers you asked for".

Ashley ,still looking at her laptop, said, " oh thanks keep it on the desk".

Richard kept down the papers and turned to leave. But he changed his mind and turned back to ask Ashley,"Why won't you look at me?At least look at me while talking to me".

"Uh..umm..I heard women should look down while a man is talking!",said Ashley as an excuse. She couldn't believe she made such an absurd excuse.

Furious at Ashley's choice of words , Richard walked to her and lifted her chin with his long fingers. Their faces so close.Richard can smell Ashley's  fragrance, cherry he guessed. Ashley,without realising ,held in her breath. Richard, overwhelmed by Ashley's  beauty and her face that turned red, kept on gazing at her, suddenly recalled why he walked to her.

"You are not any woman to me. You are special. And I need you to look at me and at every single person out there confidently while talking. You don't have to keep your eyes down because you are a woman. You have to talk while looking into their eyes because you ARE a woman. A woman should not let others dominate them just because of their gender!. You are no less than a man!.You are at the highest position of the office and you didn't have to be man to be in this position!".

Flustered by Richard's words Ashley went completely blank. Suddenly Ashley remembered her plan to act distant from Richard.

"Thanks..but can you let go of my chin?..I just think we shouldn't be close and stay away and.."

Hurt by Ashley's reply, Richard let go of her instantly.

"No, I understand you don't have to explain. See you around".

Ashley sat in her cabin with her heart still beating like a drum. Richard's words didn't leave her head. Richard has so much respect for women even when he wasn't treated kindly by the woman he loved dearly.

Ashley opened the card she received from a famous NGO which nominated her  for the Best female Journalist of State by seeing her work in past two months. Ashley decided to participate.

Richard started to avoid Ashley as well. He talked to all his female colleagues apart from Ashley, whenever he was free. He acted as if he didn't see Ashley. Richard sent all the files through Maria.Ashley unable to understand her own heart,was bothered by Richard's behavior.

This is what I wanted. No communication with Richard then why my heart is restless?.

Ashley couldn't stop herself from talking to Richard. She wanted to confront him to know why he was avoiding her.

"I need to talk to you", said Ashley.

"Is it about work?",Richard asked without looking at her as he sipped his coffee in his cabin.

"No. It's about..."

"If not about work then I don't want to hear it. After all you wanted me to stay away".

"Richard..",Ashley didn't finish her sentence , she took few moments before quietly leaving . Richard, regretting his own actions, decided to give Ashley and himself some time to deal with their own feelings.

  

   Uncle invited Richard to the competition Ashley took part in. After giving it a lot of thought Richard decided to go and cheer for Ashley.

As Ann and Abbie helped her get dressed for the competition,Ashley wondered about the  things she learned and felt after becoming a woman.

I might not know completely about women's feelings but I will definitely compete tonight as a woman. Tonight I want to have the heart of Ashley- the woman.