"M.. Mr. Carlton!" I chocked out, staring up at him, in horror.
He was frozen on the spot, from when I had pushed away from him. His arms still outstretched since from when he was holding me. He looked startled, unsure of what to do next, before he put his arms down.
I looked down at his shirt. It was wrinkled from where I had been clutching it and wet from all my tears. I gasped, my hand going to my mouth. What have I done? I can't believe I was bowling my eyes out in my bosses arms. My eyes went up to his eyes in panic.
"I..I'm so sorry -" I couldn't complete the sentence before I chocked up again. I made it to run towards the bathroom, desperately needing to get some control over myself, but as I tried to pass by him, he grabbed my elbow, dragging me towards his office. I tried protesting, but he wasn't hearing it.
Once we were inside, he closed the door, pushing me down to sit on the sofa. He then left me there to get me a glass of water. I took it with both my hands, fearing it might fall with how shaky my hands were.
After several sips, I put it down, wiping at my tears to fix myself up as best I could. A tissue box was placed in front of me. I couldn't look at him. I just thanked him and grabbed some tissues wiping my face.
We sat there quietly for about fifteen minutes while he waited for me to calm down enough to talk. After some time, I heard him clear his throat, making me stiffen.
"So, you want to tell me what's going on?" He asked in his deep voice.
I instantly shook my head, keeping my head down.
"Ashley, come on." He coaxed gently, making me look up into his eyes.
He was sitting on the sofa, at the very edge, giving me enough space, but he was still near enough for me to be comforted by his presence, and it confused me as to why I felt safe and comforted around him. I had lost all my trust in men after David.
He was facing me, his eyes looking into mine, gently prodding me for answers. I bit my lip, not knowing what to do. I had never confided in anyone about my problems. I had never really trusted anyone to share my burden with them. Except for one, and look where that got me. And in Mr Carlton's case, he was my boss. I couldn't possibly share my personal problems with him.
"Ashley," he probed again. "Please talk to me. I have known you for a whole year now and I have never seen you like this before. You have always been strong, keeping your personal problems to yourself. So if you were to break down like this, I'm sure it's something big, and I can't ignore it, Ashley. You looked so scared when you got that message. Did something happen to someone." I shook my head silently. I kept chewing my lips and wringing my hands nervously, thinking of David and how to get Liam and I out of this situation.
I kept thinking of wild ideas like running away with him. Changing our names and looks. But that would just make David more angry, and if he catches us, I don't know what he would do.
"Ashley!" He said, grabbing my hands in his stopping my fidgeting. I looked up at him in surprise. "Tell me what's making you this scared. I can help, you know that." He got interrupted by another ting on my phone that made me jump in my seat, my eyes widening. "For God's sakes, Ashley, who is messaging you? Is someone threatening you over the phone?"
His question made my eyes widen further before I looked at my phone that was lying on the seat, in wonder. I guess you could say those messages were threatening. He was proposing that we go back to live in the prison he had created for us.
Mr. Carlton touched my face, turning it back to look at him. His voice had gotten very serious as he questioned me, I guess he had come to the conclusion that I was getting threatening messages. "Who is it? Is it someone you know?" My silence made him give out a frustrated sigh. He looked away, running a hand through his hair.
"Ashley, please talk to me. Or do you have someone whom you do trust that I could call for you? You're not talking to me, and I'm getting really nervous with the thoughts that are running around in my head.
The area you live in is pretty run down. What if someone shady was living there. I mean, I'm not saying only good people live in nice neighborhoods, but still, what if you had caught the attention of a rapist or murderer-"
I grabbed his hand that was flying around while explaining his wild imagination. My lips lifted in a nervous smile hearing his ramblings. He was currently staring at me, looking stunned at the interruption. He looked down as I was still holding on to his hand. I quickly released it, feeling embarrassed.
"No, no rapist nor murderer is messaging me." At least I hope he hadn't advanced his criminal records to that level.
"Then who Ashley?" He asked, his eyes pleading with mine. I couldn't really understand his concern for me as I was just someone who worked for him, but I was touched by his concern.
"It's ok, Mr. Carlton, I will handle this on my own." I told him. But I couldn't help the breath that hitched as another notification came on my phone.
"Clearly, you can't, Miss Sanders." He told me, his voice turning cold. I winced. He was talking to me like I was one of his prosecutors.
"You wouldn't be this scared about something you can handle on your own. So stop thinking of me as your boss for one second if that's the reason you're not talking to me, and just tell me who the hell is messaging you!"
He spoke harshly to me, his annoyance clear on his face, but I wasn't scared of his harsh tone as the care and worry in his eyes shone brighter.
I chewed on my lip, debating with myself. I have never spoken to anyone about my problems. How do I even start. Another ting interrupted us, and with a sigh, I reached for my phone with a trembling hand.
I unlocked my phone, but before I could see the screen, Mr Carlton covered it with his hand. I looked up at him questioningly.
"May I?" He asked gently, pulling at my phone, indicating that he wanted to see the messages. My eyes widened in surprise, but I let it go as it's the easiest way to explain it to him. Just show it.
He took my phone scrolling through the messages, his brows furrowing as he went through them, "What the hell." He mumbled under his breath.
"He is my ex-husband." I explained in case he hadn't already guessed it. "H..he isn't a good man, Mr Carlton." I said, my voice coming out barely a whisper.
His face shot up from my phone, looking at me, his frown deepening. "Did he hurt you?" He asked, his voice coming out stern. I nodded, making him curse under his breath. "Did he hurt your son?" He asked after some time, making me look up at him, my eyes showing him the fear and pain.
His jaw clenched, and his nostrils flared as he tried holding in his anger. "Neither you nor your son is going anywhere near that man." He declared quietly.
"But how Mr Carlton? He will take my son away from me if we don't go." I said.
"How? You have been taking care of your son by yourself for years now, and he himself is old enough to vouch for you that you're a great mom, isn't he?" He asked, clearly confused as to why it's not so simple.
"He is." I told him, nodding. "But David is capable of getting whatever he wants. None of that will matter." I spoke, my voice coming out dull in defeat.
"Why? Who is this guy?"
"David Wilson." My tongue felt bitter just saying his name.
"Who?" He asked. "The one running for mayor?"
"Yea...." I said reluctantly, and silence followed.
"Ok.." he said after some time."I'm starting to get the picture now. He is a rich and powerful man with a strong family background, while you are a.."
"Orphan. Yeah..." I finished the painful sentence for him.
"Well, shit." He breathed out. "And you have no proof of the abuse?"
"No. He was always careful not to hurt me enough for me to end up in the hospital. And we weren't allowed to go anywhere without his permission, so going anywhere to get help or proof was impossible."
"You had no friends even, who could testify?" He asked.
I shook my head no, and heard him sigh.
"Ok, we'll think of something. Don't worry," he said, patting my hand, getting up.
"In three days?" I questioned skeptically.
"Yeah." He said, turning to look at me, "Don't worry about it, Ashley, when I said he can't take you'll, then he can't take you'll. Trust me, ok."
I didn't answer. I don't trust anyone, but if he was willing to help me, I knew I should accept. He was my best chance of getting out of this situation...
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Fingers crossed 🤞. Hope it gets published this time. Third times the charm right.
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