Chapter 40 40.
Chapter 40 40.
Chapter 40: Ashley's POV
Time passed much faster than I ever expected.
One minute Marcus and I were locked in a heated debate about children being financial investments, and the next, the brilliant afternoon sun had already started shifting lower in the sky, painting the horizon in bruised shades of gold and violet.
Neither of us noticed the time slipping away.
Or maybe we did, and we simply didn't care enough to point it out.
Either way, my original plan to sleep and rest never actually happened. Not because I had suddenly found a burst of energy, but because Marcus somehow—by some absolute miracle—kept the conversation going.
Which was honestly shocking.
If someone had told me months ago that Marcus Bryson was capable of holding a multi-hour conversation without mentioning contracts, profit margins, or upcoming board meetings, I would have laughed directly in their face.
Yet here we were.
Talking. Arguing. Teasing. Occasionally even agreeing.
It was deeply, profoundly disturbing.
Then, the peaceful little bubble we had accidentally built was abruptly shattered by a chorus of loud, chaotic voices approaching from the beach.
My friends. Of course.
I could literally hear Troy before I could even see him. Some things in life were just completely inevitable.
"THE PATIENT IS STILL ALIVE! WE HAVE SECURED THE PERIMETER!"
I groaned dramatically, burying my face in my hands. "Well. There goes my peace and quiet."
Marcus looked strangely, quietly amused by my misery. "Your friends are exceptionally loud."
"They're exhausting."
"They seem to care about you."
That shut me up for a second.
Because... he wasn't wrong. They were exhausting. They were ridiculous, chaotic, and loud enough to wake the dead—but they were also the exact people who would drop everything in a heartbeat if I ever needed them.
A few moments later, the group burst onto the deck, carrying beach bags, half-empty drinks, and enough residual energy to power the entire island of Amanpulo.
Mia immediately rushed over, pressing the back of her hand against my forehead to check my temperature. Nadine practically cornered me, demanding a minute-by-minute update on my vertigo.
And Troy? Troy just stood there, his eyes darting back and forth between Marcus and me with a look of extreme, squinty suspicion.
Again.
Honestly, I was getting so tired of that look.
"Nothing happened, Troy," I announced before he could even open his mouth to start cross-examining us.
He raised his hands in mock innocence. "I didn't say a word."
"You were thinking it."
"That's completely fair."
The remaining days in Amanpulo flew by in a blur after that night. Too fast, actually.
There were long, lazy beach walks. Late-night conversations out on the deck while the stars blanketed the sky. Way too many photos taken by Mia. Way too much teasing from Troy.
And somehow—without me even realizing it—more and more time was spent with Marcus.
Not that I would ever admit that out loud. To anyone. Ever.
Then, before I was ready for it, our vacation was officially over.
Suitcases were zipped closed. Flights were scheduled. Reality, with all its messy complications, was waiting for us back home.
As I stood near the edge of the villa one last time, looking out at the endless turquoise ocean, I couldn't help the soft smile that tugged at my lips.
Because despite everything—the dizzy spells, the non-stop chaos, the relentless pregnancy symptoms, and the highly annoying company... I had genuinely enjoyed this trip.
More than I ever expected to.
More than I ever wanted to admit.
And as I turned back to watch Marcus slide his sunglasses on, his profile looking as sharp and unreadable as ever, a thought hit me. A thought that sent a sudden, terrifying shiver down my spine.
Some of my absolute favorite memories from this entire paradise involved a certain grumpy billionaire—the man who was fast becoming completely impossible to ignore.
Oh good God! This is bad.
As we headed toward the private hangar, everyone was already chattering excitedly about returning someday.
Well. Everyone except Marcus, of course. Shocking.
Our luggage had already been loaded onto the private jet while the resort staff assisted everyone with the boarding preparations. From a distance, the island looked breathtaking. It felt like a paradise that existed in a completely different universe from the corporate chaos waiting for us back in the office.
"I don't want to leave," Nadine complained dramatically, "I genuinely might cry."
Mia rolled her eyes. "You said that yesterday."
"And I still mean it today!"
Troy nodded in solemn agreement, adjusting his designer sunglasses. "I belong in luxury, Mia. The universe made a mistake giving me a regular bank account."
"You belong in debt," Mia corrected without missing a beat.
While they bickered, I found myself staring back at the horizon one last time. It felt strange. A few days ago, I had arrived here completely exhausted from work, overwhelmed by endless meetings. Now? I felt lighter.
Not because my problems had magically disappeared. They were still there, waiting for me at the office. But somehow, they didn't feel quite as heavy anymore. Maybe it was just the vacation.
My eyes drifted toward Marcus. He was speaking to Steve near the nose of the jet, looking every bit the serious, imposing billionaire I had met weeks ago.
As if sensing the exact moment my gaze landed on him, Marcus looked up. Across the short distance of the tarmac, our eyes met.
He held my gaze for a heartbeat before walking over. "Ready?"
Simple. One single word. Yet somehow, my stupid, traitorous heart did a violent flip as if he had just delivered an entire romantic speech.
I adjusted my sunglasses immediately, desperate to hide my face. "Obviously."
Marcus nodded once. Then, without another word, he held his hand out to me, offering to help me up the steep aircraft stairs.
I stared at his open palm. Then up at his face. Then back down at his hand.
Honestly? The man was becoming suspiciously, terrifyingly considerate. Before I could overthink it and make things weird, I placed my hand in his. It was supposed to be just for a second. Just long enough to safely climb the steps. Nothing more.
Unfortunately—Troy possessed the eyesight of a hawk when it came to gossip.
"Oh my God," Troy gasped, his voice carrying across the entire tarmac.
I immediately ripped my hand out of Marcus's grip, my cheeks burning. "No. Shut up."
"OH MY GOD!"
"Troy, I swear to—it was basic human decency!" I hissed, wishing a sinkhole would open up right under the private plane.
Hearing the commotion, Steve looked over. It took him exactly two seconds to process the situation before a massive, knowing grin broke across his face.
Marcus, meanwhile, remained completely unbothered. He simply walked past all of us and entered the air-conditioned cabin as if he hadn't just handed my friends a month's worth of premium teasing material.
And somehow—as I followed the chaotic group inside the aircraft, listening to Troy already composing a group chat broadcast—I found myself smiling.