...The Next Morning...
-Martin Manor(Bedroom)-
Ashley sighed, rolling over looking to the spot next to her. She saw Richard sitting up on his side of the bed, reading the newspaper. Richard put down his newspaper and leaned down to give her a kiss. "Good morning, my love." Richard said, with a small smile.
"Morning." Ashley said softly. "I thought you'd be at the office by now."
"I'm going in later, I wanted to spend a little time with you this morning." Richard said, moving his newspaper to the side table.
"I see." Ashley nodded, she looked over to the side table and picked her phone up she had a text message from Renee asking her how she was doing. Ashley texted her back quickly then put it down on the table once again.
"Who was that?" Richard questioned.
"Renee, she just wanted to see how I was doing." Ashley said.
"and what did you tell her?" Richard raised a brow.
"That I was fine, that you and I worked things out and we are good now." Ashley said softly. "We are aren't we?"
"Good.." Richard nodded. "Yes, we are perfect." Richard smiled, and leaned down and kissed her.
-Martin Manor(Living Room)-
Ashley walked down the stairs, and over to the mirror at the bottom of the steps fixing her hair and checking out to make sure her elbow-sleeve light pink with scoop neck maxi dress looked alright, she saw Richard was on the phone so she didn't interrupt him, she waited until he was off the phone to walk over and give him a kiss, before fixing his tie.
"You look beautiful darling." Richard smiled, running a hand through her hair pulling her closer to him to give her a kiss.
"Thank you.." Ashley smiled.
"I'm only going to be at the office for a short while today, so I want you to come with me." Richard said, turning around to make sure everything was in his briefcase before shutting it and turning back around.
"I see.." Ashley nodded, she really didn't want to go sit at his office for who knows how long. The last time he brought her to the office because he wasn't going to be there for very long she was stuck there for over 4 hours.
-Martin Industries(Richard's Office)-
Richard and Ashley walked into the office, Ashley didn't like that Zahra was at the front desk. Richard walked over to his desk looking the message slips he had on his desk, before turning around to face Ashley. "What's wrong darling?" Richard questioned.
"I thought you said you were going to fire her?" Ashley sighed.
"I will, now." Richard said, sitting on the edge of his desk motioning for Ashley to come over to him, Ashley walked over to him, and Richard took her into his arms placing her in front of him. Picking up his phone and dialing out to the desk telling her to come in.
Zahra walked in the door shutting it behind her. "You wanted to see me?" she questioned.
"Yes, I need you to clean out your desk... your no longer needed at Martin Industries.." Richard stated.
"Excuse me?" Zahra looked shocked.
"You're Fire.." Richard sighed. "Get your things and leave, security will see you out." Richard said, pointing at the two security guards that were now standing behind her.
"This is unbelievable... was this your idea Ashley?" Zahra spat "Are you worried he's going to come to me again when you can do your job as a wife?..."
Ashley's eyes widened and she looked up to Richard. "Get her out of here now.." Richard yelled, the two guards removing Zahra from the office.
Ashley shook her head moving out of his arms. Ashley walked over behind the desk looking out the window. Richard walked behind her, putting his arms around her nuzzling her neck. "She was just angry.. don't listen to her." Richard kissed her cheek. "You will never have to worry about her, you are the only woman in the entire world I will ever want."
Ashley sighed and nodded.
"I love you." Richard turned her around to face him.
"I love you too." Ashley said softly.
Richard sighed when he turned around and saw Seth being held by security, "What do you think you are doing?" Richard snarled.
"I came to get my thing." Seth sighed.
Richard grabbed his wallet out and grabbed a card handing it to Ashley "Darling, why don't you go to the bistro downstairs and grab something to eat for us.." Richard said, leaning down giving Ashley a kiss.
"Alright." Ashley said softly, Richard taking her hand leading her towards the door making sure she wasn't anywhere near Seth.
Once Ashley was gone Richard shut the door, before walking back over to his desk grabbing something out of his briefcase. Richard walked back over to Seth handing him two pieces of paper. "You left that for my wife?"
"You found it?" Seth sighed.
"No, not originally... she must of missed the trash can because I found it torn down the middle on the ground next to the trash." Richard shook his head. "What part of Stay The Hell Away from my way didn't you understand?"
"Ashley is my friend.. I'm not going to let her think you are her only choice in life." Seth spat. "She deserves better then you."
"You're her friend?... that's laughable... she's nothing to you, do you hear me?.. that's my wife, that's who she is, she's not your friend she's nothing to you." Richard hissed. "Who the hell are you to tell my wife, that I'm dangerous to her, or our child?... you think you need to protect her from me, oh and that part about you being scared what I'll do to her when I get angry, you are scared I'm going to cause her to lose the baby.. I'm only going to warn you one more time.. Stay Away From My Wife... I guess I have to add my child into that now, since you think it's your place to protect my child from me."
"You don't give a damn about that baby... Ashley needs someone to protect her, and now this child needs someone to protect it also." Seth spat. "You could care less what happens to Ashley's baby."
Richard snarled walking closer to him. "Listen here... you should just forget about my wife.. and my child.. Ashley's mine, that child is mine ... and you are in a very dangerous spot.. trying to come between me and what's mine."
"That's your problem.. you look at Ashley and this baby as a possession.. Ashley's a human being not a piece of property." Seth hissed.
"Get him out of my sight.. before I do something I'll regret." Richard huffed.
-Elevator-
Ashley went to get on the elevator downstairs, when she saw Seth get off. She bit her lip and shook her head as she tried to walk past him but he stopped her. "Ashley." Seth sighed.
"I can't." Ashley shook her head, not looking at him.
Seth turned her to force her to face him. "He's going to hurt you.. he's going to hurt this baby." Seth sighed.
"Stop.. just stop please." Ashley cried, shaking her head "You are going to make things worse if you keep coming after me."
"I can't leave you alone Ashley.. I care too much." Seth sighed. "I'll protect you, I'll protect this baby... I'll make sure Richard can never hurt you again."
Ashley pushed him away from her, when she spotted one of the security guards looking over at him and her. "Stop.. just stay away from me." Ashley spat, brushing past him and entering the elevator.
-Martin Industries(Richard's Office)-
Ashley walked into Richard's office, carrying her and Richard's food. She smiled at Richard who was on the phone as she put down the food on top of his desk. Richard hung up his phone, before standing up walking around the desk and he didn't look happy at all. "What's wrong honey?" Ashley bit her lip.
Ashley winced as Richard reached around grabbing her by the back of her neck, pulling her closer to him. "Why were you talking to Seth?" Richard hissed, squeezing slightly.
Ashley bit her lip, and looked up at him "He stopped me on my way up." Ashley whimpered.
"Why would you give him the time of day?" Richard snarled, squeezing the back of her neck even tighter as he backed her up on his desk. "He means nothing to you I thought." Richard spat, leaning down in her face.
"He doesn't.. he doesn't." Ashley cried out. "I told him to leave me alone.. I told him to just stay away." Ashley whimpered, brining her hand up to his chest. "I swear honey.."
Richard sighed, and let go of the back of her neck. "I'm sorry, my love." Richard brought his hand to caress her cheek before leaning in and kissing her lips. "Let's eat, and then I have to make a few calls.. then we can leave and I'll take you shopping how about that?"
"Sounds perfect." Ashley said, leaning in to kiss him, she should of known the guard would of called him the second she got on the elevator. At least he believed her and let it go easily.