My contract love story

The journey to Town Q had been uneventful, the real challenge lay in finding Ashleigh’s exact location within its vast expanse. For hours, Mr. Turner and his team had tirelessly scoured the town, their efforts hampered by the knowledge that Ashleigh was likely hidden somewhere within the surrounding forest. The prospect of them aimlessly searching the entire town gnawed at Adrian.

He reached the outskirts of Town Q and pulled over, dialling Mr. Turner’s number in the car behind him. “Any progress?” he demanded, frustration lacing his voice. Mr. Turner’s report mirrored the lack of progress that had plagued them for hours.

Just as despair threatened to consume Adrian, his phone rang. His eyes narrowed as he saw Ashleigh’s name flash on the screen. “Work fast,” he barked to Mr. Turner, instructing him to trace the call, before answering.

“Hello,” he said, his voice cool and controlled. Yet, his carefully constructed facade crumbled upon hearing Ashleigh’s voice. It was a drunken giggle, an infuriatingly cheerful sound that sent a jolt of anger through him.

“Hiiiii,” she slurred, punctuated by another giggle. The evidence of her intoxication was undeniable, and it only fueled his annoyance. Not only had she defied him with this impromptu trip, but she’d gotten herself inebriated, completely disregarding her safety. He opened his mouth to speak, but a new voice cut him off.

“Party’s over,” a female voice declared firmly before the line went dead. Adrian tried to call back, but the phone was switched off. In the backseat, Mr. Turner’s phone buzzed, and he answered promptly.

“Sir, we’ve located Mrs. Cagliari. I’ll send the coordinates to the driver immediately.”

***********************

Fiona had finally managed to usher Ashleigh to a secluded corner in the lounge, collapsing onto a nearby chair with a sigh of relief. The drinks had taken their toll, a throbbing headache blooming behind Fiona’s eyes. Yet, she didn’t dare let go of Ashleigh’s hand, who, despite her exhaustion, remained hyperactive. This wasn’t how she’d envisioned loosening Ashleigh up. A stern vow formed in her mind after tonight, there wouldn’t be a single drop of alcohol near her friend.

Fiona’s gaze flickered to Ashleigh, concern etched on her face. Getting Ashleigh some water to sober her up was imperative. However, even the thought of leaving her side fearing a potential escape attempt left Fiona rooted to the spot.

A welcome sound of approaching footsteps drew her attention. Relief flooded her face as she saw Jerry and Reese approaching, Jerry’s brow creased with worry.

“Oh thank goodness you’re here!” she exclaimed.

“Please, could you get a bottle of water for Ashleigh?” Jerry, sensing the urgency, immediately flagged down a waiter.

Fiona watched with relief as the waiter delivered water, and she coaxed a few reluctant sips from Ashleigh. Once the water was gone, Ashleigh slumped back into Fiona’s arms, finally succumbing to sleep. Fiona exhaled a shaky breath, the tension draining from her shoulders.

“We waited for a while,” Jerry said softly, gesturing to the small bags in his and Reese’s hands. “But you two didn’t come back, so we gathered your things.”

Fiona offered a weak smile, her hand flying to her temple where a throbbing headache had begun to make its unwelcome presence known. Jerry’s concern was evident as he captured her hand in his.

“You should call it a night yourself,” he suggested gently. “You’ve had quite a few drinks too.”

Fiona shook her head, a flicker of defiance crossing her face. “I have to take Ashleigh back to her room and make sure she sleeps. I promised her earlier.”

Jerry wouldn’t back down. “I know you did, but you can’t in your current state. You’ll just wind up hurting yourselves. Let Reese take her back. I’ll find you some painkillers.” He nudged Reese forward, who stood awkwardly beside him.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

Fiona eyed Reese with a hesitant frown. Despite the evening’s unexpected camaraderie, Fiona remained wary, unable to fully shake her initial distrust.

“Fiona, it’s alright,” Jerry pleaded. “You saw how well they interacted earlier. And you know I wouldn’t suggest something like this if it wasn’t safe. Besides, I don’t have ‘those kind of friends.'”

Fiona glanced at Reese, who shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. With a resigned sigh, she finally conceded. “Alright, Reese. I’m trusting you on this. Please prove me wrong.”

Reese nodded solemnly. Slinging Fiona’s bag over his shoulder, he gently reached for Ashleigh, supporting her weight as they navigated the hallway towards the elevators. Fiona watched them disappear into the metal doors, a sliver of unease gnawing at her stomach.

Inside the elevator, Reese rummaged through Ashleigh’s bag for the keycard while she mumbled incoherently under her breath. Locating it, he took a firm hold of it and waited for the elevator to reach its destination. As the doors slid open on the third floor, he helped Ashleigh out, bracing himself for a short walk to her room. What seemed like a manageable task after their long night took a sharp turn as Ashleigh suddenly became restless, her struggles intensifying.

“Let me go! I want to go back!” she slurred, her face flushed with protest. She wrestled against Reese’s grip, but his hold remained firm.

“No, Ashleigh,” he soothed, his voice calm despite the rising tension.

“You need to rest. We’re almost there. Just a few more steps, and you can sleep it off.”

Ashleigh’s resistance grew more frantic. “I don’t want to! He knows, and I have to go back!”

Her words were a cryptic puzzle to Reese, who nonetheless focused on getting her to her room.

He hadn’t noticed the chilling shift in the air, the sudden drop in temperature that seemed to emanate from the figure lurking at the end of the hallway, a silent observer to the struggle. Ashleigh, sensing the shift in atmosphere, stopped fighting and went completely still.

“See, I told you he knows,” Ashleigh whispered, her voice slurred. Leaning her head against Reese’s shoulder, she drifted back into sleep.

Her words sent shivers down Reese’s spine. He glanced down at her face, confusion etched on his own. Lifting his head, he understood. A man, his face contorted in anger, stood at the other end of the hallway, a stark contrast to the terrified-looking individual and two burly figures flanking him. Adrian’s gaze was like a laser, cutting a path directly to Reese. Each step he took seemed to echo thunderously in the otherwise silent corridor.

“Is this the man Ashleigh was talking about?” Reese thought, his resolve solidifying.

Seeing her fear triggered a protective instinct. He tightened his grip on her, gently placing an arm around her waist. His eyes locked with Adrian’s.

“Good evening, sir,” Reese began, striving to maintain a friendly tone and ease the tension. “How can I help you tonight? Perhaps you’re lost and need directions?”

Adrian’s gaze flickered from the way Reese held Ashleigh to his face. He studied him with a cold intensity before speaking.

“I’m not lost,” he stated, his voice devoid of warmth.

“I’ve merely found something that attempted to go missing.” His eyes narrowed as they settled on Ashleigh.

“I haven’t seen anything missing,” Reese countered.

“And you don’t seem to be a guest here, Mr…?”

“Mr. Cagliari,” Adrian filled in the blank, his voice dripping with icy formality.

“And I’m not a guest. I’ve come to take her.”

A jolt of recognition shot through Reese. He knew of Mr. Cagliari, a highly respected figure in the industry, a man his family regularly did business with. But he couldn’t fathom a reputable businessman resorting to such strong-arm tactics, especially for a seemingly intoxicated woman. He vowed to protect Ashleigh from this despicable man and vowed to warn his father about any future dealings with him.

“Mr. Cagliari,” Reese began, his voice firm. “I believe there’s been a misunderstanding. This is my girlfriend. Perhaps you should look elsewhere.” He pulled Ashleigh closer, a defiant gesture.

Adrian couldn’t help but smirk at the feeble lie. “I think I’d recognize my own wife, wouldn’t you agree?” he countered, his smile sending a jolt of shock through Reese.

“Wife? Like I said, you’re confused,” Reese insisted, his voice cracking slightly.

Adrian’s face darkened. With a sharp snap of his fingers, Mr. Turner materialized at Reese’s side, a tablet held out silently. Numbly, Reese stared at the screen displaying a picture of Ashleigh and Adrian’s wedding ceremony. He glanced at the woman peacefully sleeping on his shoulder, then back at the picture. This explained her earlier hesitance.

“Considering your intentions might have been honorable, Reese Orwell,” Adrian stated coldly, “I’ll choose to overlook your transgression. However, your involvement ends now. Hand over my wife, or face the consequences.”

Shame washed over Reese. He stammered an apology as he gently released Ashleigh from his grasp. Swiftly, Adrian scooped her up in a princess carry, his entourage falling into step behind him. They disappeared down the hallway, leaving Reese standing motionless, the weight of his mistake pressing down on him.