Chapter 3: Chapter three
The car took a detour to the hotel or a rather questionable hotel, the sign “inn” hooked up above the hotel door, with its neon lights buzzing. Ashley poked her head outside the car window(ooh, this place looks like the worst-reviewed hotel vlogs trending on YouTube). Decha turned around to face them, "My apologies, but this is all that could be managed since every other place is closed" Zeph spoke abruptly, "It's alright Mr. Kesam, we'll manage just fine, won't we Ashley?" "Hmm? Yes, Mr. Kesam, we'll do just fine, it'll be Breezy" Mr. Kesam smiled and said, "Oh come on! Call me Decha". Zeph groaned and interrupted "Ahem! Mr. Kesam if that is all we will be on our way". His expressions hardened, he retorted, "Dinner will be served in your rooms shortly, see you both in the morning, Good night."
Zeph shut the door quickly and leaped across the road to open the doors of the place,
Ashley said goodbye to Decha and followed Zeph quick, while he was struggling with the keys, she said a little loudly, what the hell is wrong with you? He was being nice can't you reciprocate? just once? She kept eyeing him furiously with hands on her hips expecting a reply. " I don't know what you're talking about Ashley" Zeph replied nonchalantly.
(This pompous ass only cares about himself and his business). He opened the door, and put his luggage down to a side, Ashley followed suit.
She turned on her flashlight looking for a light switch while Zeph texted on his phone.
She found the main switch and turned the breaker on, the whole place illuminated, there was a small living room, connected to a kitchen, above the kitchen island was a small chandelier to the right were two rooms and to her dismay, only one bathroom. She headed to the room, put her bag down, and plopped on the bed, the sheets were plush, to her right was a window seat that gave a view of a small park outside. There was a small closet and a tiny dresser hooked up on the wall. She took a deep breath and took in her surroundings (ah! Alright let's get this over with, and I will be home in no time). She took some PJs out and decided to head for a shower. Zeph was still in the lounge attending phone calls, (hah! Always barking orders) she sighed and entered the tiny bathroom. Warm water cascaded down her brunette locks instantly soothing the jet lag.
There was a knock on the main door, "Ashley will you get that? I am busy"
"I can't Zeph I am in the shower" there was a long pause, she groaned and turned off the shower (this devil's reincarnation will never let me breathe in peace) "Okay, I'll get it" she quickly wrapped a towel around her and went towards the main door. [This naive girl can never get anything done, I wish I could go back in time and punch myself when I hired her. Holy mother, woah!!]
There was a loud shriek to wake up the entire neighborhood, Zeph stood in the middle of the living room dumbfounded and Ashley bolted for the bathroom door, hitting her head on the wall in the process and quickly shutting the door behind her.
[Oh my God what did I just see] putting the dinner on the kitchen island, shaking his head he softly knocked on the bathroom door, "You okay in there rookie? You took quite a hit you may need some ice on that, c'mon out let me have a look at it, you might have a concussion" Ashley sat on the bathroom floor nursing her wound, "I am fine I'll be out in a sec" "Let me in I have the ice pack" she hesitated for a moment but gave in, "Come inside, she was sitting on the floor with her hand on her forehead" "Wow, that hit really bad" She scoffed, "Tell me about it" taking the ice pack from his hand. He resisted, “Let me do it for you" she was too tired to deny help. She winced as he pressed the ice pack to her forehead. “Easy there tiger, I have texted a guy to get you some meds for this wound, you'll be okay in no time"
He smiled ear to ear looking at her. (Wow he has a heart too, I thought he just had a hollow tin chest)"How do you feel now, can you get up? "
"I guess I am okay now" she tried to get up and instinctively reached for support, as his cue he put his arm around her waist and helped her to get up. "Ouch" her foot slipped from the wet floor, he steadied her, rolled his eyes "ah c'mon rookie" and lifted her in his arms almost casually, she wrapped her arms in his neck,(what is happening why is being so nice to me, oh control yourself Ashley don’t stare at those muscles) he carried her to her bedroom and put her down on the bed.
He went out instantly "Get dressed, I'll warm the food" not even waiting for her to reply. (There he is the arctic fox is back) She got dressed and went into the living room, they ate in silence not even looking at each other, ( I wonder what it is that he is brooding about, maybe he regrets that he helped me, a peasant in his eyes) [I hope she is okay, I invaded her personal space so casually I hope she forgives me, no Zeph don't look into those eyes you don't even wanna know what would that entail]
"I am done, see you in the morning rookie, Good night"
"Night" her mouth was stuffed with delicious pad Thai (I am too much in the food coma to be thinking about him, or maybe I have a concussion, whatever I should get some sleep) she put the plates in the sink and went to her room and fell into a dreamless and uncomfortable sleep.