Chapter 80 Discomfort.
I stood behind my bedroom door longer than I needed to that morning.
My hand hovered over the doorknob, fingers flexing as if I needed to convince my own body to cooperate. I hadn’t slept much. Every time I closed my eyes, my mind replayed the image of Ashley standing in the living room under the harsh ceiling light—her clothes stained red, her lips marked with something I didn’t want to name.
She said it was paint, but why do I find it hard to believe that?
I exhaled slowly and pressed my forehead against the door.
Get a grip, Josh!
I can't let fear dictate my actions. I was an adult. A rational person. Whatever I have seen last night, there had to be a logical explanation. Jumping to conclusions wouldn’t help anyone—least of all me.
“She hasn’t hurt anyone,” I muttered to myself. “She hasn’t done anything wrong.”
I straightened, rolling my shoulders back. I wasn’t going to be scared of Ashley. She's just a girl and I shouldn't overthinking thinks. That won't be fair to her.
Ashely seems like a sweet girl, infact she is a sweet girl. There's no need for me to panic. She says it's paint, so it's paint!
I took in a deep breath and opened the door.
The first thing I heard was movement, soft and rhythmic. The faint sound of controlled breathing. I followed it down the hallway, my steps slowing as I reached the living room.
And then I saw her. Ashley was exercising.
She wore a fitted tank top and spandex shorts, her hair pulled back messily, a light sheen of sweat on her skin. Her movements were fluid, almost effortless, like her body knew exactly what to do without instruction.
For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
My lungs locked up as my brain struggled to process the sight in front of me. She was… beautiful. Distractingly so. It wasn’t just her body—though that alone was enough to throw me off—it was the confidence in the way she moved.
When she noticed me, she paused mid-stretch and looked up. Those blue eyes met mine, and just like that, my composure cracked.
Something twisted sharply in my chest, sending heat rushing up my neck. I had to look away for a second, grounding myself in the familiar walls of my own house.
“Good morning, sir,” she said brightly, smiling as if nothing in the world was wrong.
Her voice was normal and cheerful. It was times like this that assured me that maybe Ashely wasn't a complete psychopath.
“Morning,” I managed, clearing my throat as I adjusted my jacket. “I’m heading to work. I won’t be back until evening.”
She nodded easily. “Okay! Have a good day sir.”
There it was again, that warmth and friendliness. There was no way she was faking it.
I paused by the door, glancing back at her. With that personality, who wouldn’t like her? She was kind, polite and enthusiastic. Anyone meeting her for the first time would probably feel lucky to have her around.
That thought unsettled me more than it should have. "See you later,” I said and walked out of the house.
The door closed behind me with a soft click. Only then did I let out the breath I’d been holding.
Work passed in a blur.
I went through my usual routine of meetings, emails, phone calls, but my mind kept drifting back to Ashley. To her smile, her eyes. The way she’d moved that morning like she had endless energy. Like she didn’t get tired.
After work, I met up with my friends at a bar. We had agreed to do a small get together today that we had time. Because if we keep delaying our friendly get together, work will completely consume us and we won't have enough time anymore.
Adrian, Drake, and Maya were already there when I arrived, drinks in hand and laughter spilling freely between them.
When I got to their table, Adrian announced with a wide grin. "Josh the workaholic finally joins us. We were starting to think you ditched us to work.”
I rolled my eyes and took a seat. "I won't pass my chance to see my favorite people." Adrian started to grin until I said. "I meant Maya and Drake." Adrian pouted and Maya snickered at him.
"You're such a traitor man. I was there to keep you company when these ones were busy with their careers."
"No one asked you to, and serves you right for trying to steal my best friend." Maya said sticking her tongue out at Adrian. I was glad to see that things hasn't changed between them. They never got along in high school.
"Fuck you!" Adrian snapped and we laughed.
"So Josh, how has it been?" Drake asked warmly. He hasn't changed at all. Just that his hair which used to be quite long in college now was a buzz cut, and he now wears glasses.
"Things has been going great with work and all." I replied with a shrug.
"It's always work for you Josh. Do you even feed well?" Maya asked looking at me with concerned green eyes. She was really beautiful now. Even more beautiful than the magazines made her out to be, and I was proud of her.
We were closer in high school and college and I'm glad that she made a name for herself.
Adrian answered for me. "I doubt he even eats. It was a struggle that he agreed to my decision to hire a housemaid. This guy works like a horse."
Maya glared at me. "Really Josh? You know health comes first before anything else. I know you like to work but you have to take care of yourself too"
"Yes ma'am!" I saluted like we use to do in high school and she rolled her eyes. She has always been bossy.
She rolled her eyes. "Whatever. I just hope the housemaid is now taking good care of you."
Again, Adrian answered for me. "Of course I have no doubt that Ashely is taking very good care of Adrian in more ways than one." Adrian wriggled his brows at me and I tried not to punch him in the eye.
Ashley almost burnt down my apartment, she can't cook or clean. She's strange and she scares the fuck out of me!
I wanted to scream all of that in Adrian's face but I held my tongue.
"Ashely... tries." Was all I could manage.
"You can't tell us she just tries man. Don't tell me you haven't tapped that yet."
Maya rolled her eyes immediately. Grimacing in Adrian's direction. “You’re disgusting.”
“What?” Adrian laughed. “I’m just stating facts. If I were you, I would have...”
Drake slapped his head. "We don't want to know what you would have done if you were Josh." Drake then looked at me, "but seriously Josh, what do you mean by she tries? Don't you like her services?"
“Its not that,” I answered not knowing how to tell them. I would sound strange if I tell them that my housemaid knows nothing about being a housemaid and might be an imposter.
"So whats the problem?" Maya asked.
I sighed and leaned back on my chair. “She’s… strange.”
That got their attention. "How so?" Maya asked.
I told them everything I could without sounding completely insane. "She doesn't like food. I mean who doesn't like food, and it can't be my cooking because I am a great cook. You guys knows that. Secondly, she's supposed to be fifty but she looks so young, and then there's the fact that she can do nothing despite saying she has experience. Isn't all of that strange?"
Drake frowned. “Maybe it's strange, or maybe you’re overreacting.”
“That’s what I said,” Adrian chimed in. “I mean, even though shes strange, she's hot as fuck. Accept it and move on.”
Maya shot him a glare sharp enough to cut glass. “You’re unbelievable.”
“I don't know guys, but something about her doesn't sit right with me,” I said quietly.
"It's probably because you haven't lived with anyone for a long time." Maya assured and I realized she was kind of right.
"As long as she hasn't done anything remotely dangerous to you, you just have to keep watching her and see." Drake adviced and I decided that they were right. I should really let this rest.
But the idea of confronting her to clear off the tension and my fears was tempting, but I don't want anything that would scare her.
It was better to leave things as they were.