Zelina

The moment I look into Ashton's eyes, I am reminded of the night when I heard him talking over the phone. He thought I was in the shower, but I was right behind him, listening to him talk about how my father's accident didn't go as planned. I still wonder who he was talking to that night, and it makes my blood boil to think that there is someone else out too who is plotting against my dad.

"Oh, my dear, Zelina is back," Ashton says. He is wearing a navy blue Armani suit with a white button-down shirt underneath. He has his blonde hair pulled back, making his brown eyes look darker. When he takes in my body, his lips quirk up into a disgusting smile like they always do.

I curl my hands into fists and look at him. "What the fuck are you doing here, Ashton?"

"Feisty, aren't we today?" He smirks and then slowly makes his way towards me. "But you know I like this version of you better in the bed."

My jaw clenches tightly at his remark, but I try not to lose my mind. "Fucking answer my question, Ashton? Why the hell are you here?"

He stands in front of me now and cocks his head, looking amused for no reason. "Let me take you back to the time when your mother told me that I was always welcomed in this house." Oh, right! How can I forget? My mother is the fucking reason why I have to deal with Ashton Grey's bullshit in the first place.

"Zelina, if you ask me to be honest, I must say I am really hurt." He shakes his head with a pained expression on his face, and I am not sure if it's real or fake. "You made the decision to discontinue your grants with my company without letting me know about it. You started ignoring my calls, and above all, you just forgot your way to my place. That's something serious." He looks me into the eyes and I see his face harden. "So I thought maybe I should come here to check on you and ask what the hell is this all about?"

"Yeah, that's great. Listen, Ashton, Miller Enterprises doesn't want to work with your company anymore." I cross my arms over my chest and tell him the truth. I knew I had to face him one day, but I didn't know it would be this early and that too in my fucking house. Yes, I am usually very picky when it comes to the guests that I want to have at my house.

"And why is it so?" He raises a questioning eyebrow at me. The twitch of his jaw indicates that he is just trying to act cool.

"I don't fucking owe you any kind of explanation. Now, I hope you got your answer, so please get your ass out of my house." I reply sternly.

"Hmm...What made you have this change of attitude towards me?" He takes a step closer, trying to intimidate me this time, but I don't move. I stand there straight and show that I am not afraid of him. The Zelina standing in front of him isn't the same that he met before.

"Don't you understand? Just fucking leave, Ashton." I spit on his face.

"Tell me the reason why and I'll leave." He shrugs, scanning my face.

"Fine, you wanna know it then hear out. I got fucking tired of your filthy old dick. Happy?" I let out a frustrated breath. I know Ashton Grey better than anyone else and I shouldn't be messing with him right now, but I can't help because that's how I am and probably he is aware of it, too.

He looks at me for a minute, making me wonder if he really heard what I said. But then he let out a hoarse chuckle and I realize he did hear it. "That's the lamest lie that I could have ever expected from you."

I frown. "Why would I lie? It might be too much for your fucking ego to accept, but that's the truth. Fucking with you isn't any longer enjoyable, Ashton. I hate to break that to you, but you asked for it yourself."

"Oh, really?" He says as he puts his arms around my waist and pulls me closer to him in a swift motion. I feel a chill run down my spine when he leans and whispers in my ear. "I know I still make you feel the ache between your thighs."

That's bullshit!" Before he can aim to do anything else, I jerk his hands off my body and step back. "Don't you fucking dare touch me." I feel the anger rise through my body. I won't let him win this time.

Ashton stumbles back and then smirks, looking into my eyes. "Merrick Addington, it is. How interesting?"

I suddenly feel my throat go dry, even though I know he would have known about our deal. "I've heard that he is a tough nut to crack. It would be fun watching you lurk him with your charms and leave him behind with a tarnished image." He gives me a dirty grin and continues. "Seems like he isn't the gentleman that he always tries to pretend...huh?"

I feel a bit defensive as I respond. "Merrick is nothing like you or the other businessmen that I've met."

"That's the first I've heard from you." He looks at me with a surprised expression. "Don't tell me you have fallen in love with him." He laughs and I hear the sarcasm in his tone. "Because that would be such a shame for Zelina Miller."

"You know me well, Ashton. I don't do that shit."

"Right, you just fuck and leave." He nods and then I see the change in his demeanor. "I don't care who you go behind when I am not around. But when you get a call from me, you have to show up at my place, Zelina. That's what your mother and I had a deal for."

I shake my head and say. "Yeah, that was when my mother looked out for the company. Sorry to let you know she no longer runs it. Now I am the fucking boss and I break whatever hell the agreement you and my mother had." I look at him as I continue. "Ashton, get this thing clear through your head. From now neither am I going to fuck with you nor am I going to work with your fucking company."

Ashton doesn't say anything. He simply closes his eyes and I see a faint smile on his lips. He shakes his head and when he opens his eyes again; I see the real Ashton Grey in them. The look in his eyes is enough to make my body shudder with fear, and it takes me back in time when I was acquainted with his inhumanity. "Do you think this is so damn easy? That you can cut ties with me just like that?"

I try not to falter my confidence as he growls, looking into my eyes. "Zelina, you don't get to decide for me here. I am fucking Ashton Grey - the baddest player in this business, and you know what? I never let go of what's mine."

His warning almost makes me shiver, but I try to hold it back. "It is certainly not the end for us, Zelina, and not for your Merrick." No, this is bad. Merrick can't get involved in this shit. This has to be between me and Ashton. And when he says the next line, I can feel the regret of messing with the wrong guy. "You know my ways, so you better buckle up. It's just the beginning."

With that, he walks past me, leaving me behind completely shocked.

Merrick

The cool breeze coming from the window hits my skin and I relax in my chair. I've been in my library for the past two hours, going through some important files and also checking the details that I missed out on during the meeting we had in the afternoon. And the first thing that comes to my mind thinking about it is Zelina. It's still hard for me to process that she could behave like that in a room full of people, but again, she is Zelina Miller. You can never expect what's going to come next from her. Maybe next time I should be more careful being around her, even if we are in the public.

There is a knock on the door, and I look up to see Anna standing there. "Can I come in?

I nod with a smile. "Sure, you don't need to ask."

She gets in and goes through the shelves before grabbing a book from one. She plops on the couch next to my desk as I look back at my laptop. "I am sorry for how I behaved yesterday." She says with an apologetic look on her face as I look at her again.

I shake my head and offer her a small smile. "It wasn't entirely your fault. I didn't considerably react any better." I sigh and tell her truthfully. "I should apologize to you first. I shouldn't have screamed at you like that, Anna, I am sorry."

She nods, then she slowly says. "Mom told me about what happened between you and Monica. To be honest, I never liked her. She was always so mean to everyone."

I sigh and look ahead of me. "I wish I knew that before."

"I don't wanna sound like mom but you can do better, Merrick."

I chuckle and then ask her, trying to change the discussion. "Thanks, how's school?"

"Sucking the life out of me. I hate it." She says, rolling her eyes dramatically.

"I am pretty sure everyone of your age would have the same answer," I say. "Schools aren't as bad as kids make it look like. You just have to find that one thing that piques your interest, and that's it...you'd love it then."

"I hope I'd find it soon." She sighs, making me laugh.

I take in her face and then something clicks to me. "So what do you say about a gaming night?"

Anna's eyes grow wide as she stares at me. "Oh, my god! Are you serious?"

"Yes." I nod.

"You mean just like the older times?" She asks excitedly, jumping out of the couch.

"Just like the older times." I smile, and before I realize she throws her arms around my neck and hugs me. I pat her back, having a warm feeling take over my chest. I missed spending time with her. Claire and Anna had been the most important women in my life before Monica came in. With her arrival, she made me drift away from them - from my family. I was always so consumed with trying to make her happy that I forgot about everyone else. I never realized that they didn't like Monica for a reason. She never belonged in this house, I guess. But now I feel relieved when I see the smile on Anna's face. I feel like I am back home. Things are getting pretty normal, just like they were before.

"It's been so long. Get the console ready. I'll be there in a minute." I say to her when she pulls back. She nods and then I see her rushing out of the room.

"You are going to lose, anyway." I hear her scream outside and I shake my head, laughing.

Closing my laptop, I reach to check my phone. I frown when I realize that my screensaver is still a picture of Monica and me. I clench my jaw, looking at how happy we were in it. It was the time when Monica was taking her selfie and I photo-bombed it by kissing her cheek. She is laughing, looking at the camera. The picture just stirs something inside my chest, and I don't know how long I stare at it.

Then suddenly a notification pops up, pulling me out of the haze I was in. I click on it to discover a text from an unknown number.

Heard a lot about you, Addington. Wish to meet you real soon. - Ashton Grey

A/N:

What do you guys think about Ashton?