" Mommy wake up , I don't want to be late"

Ever since they left school,  Emma disturbed Ashley  for the whole  weekend, the excitement she had was beyond words, now there she was  at 5:30 waking Ashley up to start preparing her. Kids enjoy exaggerating things.

"Emma it's too early, school starts at 8:30, go continue with your sleep" Ashley groaned and  covered her  self with blankets and started dosing off to sleep again but she  did not hear foot steps leaving her room, she turned  around and  she realised that Emma was still there.

She rubbed her eyes and she sighed"Emma what is wrong now, okay come we sleep together at least I will not forget to wake you up" As if she had ever forgotten her.

She tapped at the space on her right side of the  bed and Emma's  small figure slid into  the blankets, she pulled her closer to cuddle with her and she switched off the lights.
Before she  knew  it her eyes were heavy and sleep  consumed her again.

*******
"Emma I don't know what you are doing, come on we are going to be late "

They  had taken their breakfast and Emma was taking a century to come out of her room. Ashley didn't want to be late. She had to take Emma at school and later she was to  continue to work .

She was  clad in a black long sleeved dress while Emma was clad in her short pants and a red shirt.
"EMMA ASHIMORE!!!! better come now or no school today" Ashley raised her volume as she threatened her a little and maybe her words made magic because immediately she  heard running  foot steps and Emma was right there in front of her. Without wasting time she led her outside their apartment allowing the cool morning breeze to make contact with their skins. They  hailed a cab to Emma's school.

All through out the journey Emma  asked Ashley  all sorts of questions some she  ignored ,others she  replied not even paying attention, there were too many of them that her  head was  even aching so answering each of them was not the best idea.

"Mommy are you even listening " Emma raised her little brows seriously

"Yes of course honey, um... I am listening "

God being on Ashley's side  the cab stopped as  Emma opened  her mouth to ask her more questions .The  voice of the cab driver intervened " Madam I think we are here"
Ashley  pulled out some notes " Thank you" "Emma come we go" she continued .

They  reached the school and Sabrina welcomed them with her all so friendly aura" Hey Ashley , Hey Emma" she sent a wave in Emma's direction.
She indicated them to follow her and they were standing in front of Emma's classroom.
She knocked and a  blonde head peeped through the door and a very pretty young lady showed up. " Hey Cassandra, meet Emma your new student and Ashley Emma's mother" Sabrina made the introductions.
Cassandra  just smiled exposing her incredibly white teeth.

"Emma be a good girl and behave to your best, don't give teachers hard time okay?"

"Mummy you know am not bad" She giggled and she gave Ashley  a hug,  she  planted a kiss on her forehead and she  watched as she  entered  her new class room. Her  eyes turned teary as she  looked at her with her  all proud mother smile . Deep inside she wished at least for once life could be  normal for them again.

"Ashley, I think its okay for you to go am sure Emma will be safe, after all she is not in a zoo" Sabrina sent her a  teasing smile in her direction.
Ashley smiled back and she said her  goodbye.

**********

"Ashley " Hayden's familiar cold voice echoed in the hall way. Apparently they had  met in the elevator and they  exchanged their greetings and after that they  went into total silence.  They were  all going to their  offices when Hayden all of a sudden decided to call her. Closing her eyes she  took a deep breathe to control her  nerves before she turned around with her work smile "Um..Yes Sir"

" When you are done with what you are doing, bring me my coffee when it is not so sweet okay? "

Before she  could even respond, he brushed passed her and he entered his office what the fuck!!! . Something about him today was off , he was sad and tired , he seemed to be troubled. Know your place Ashley, his personal life is non of your business.

Shrugging off the feeling , she entered her  office and she was  greeted with this beautiful view she had learnt to fall in love with in the previous couple of days.
She turned on her PC to see whether there are important mails for Hayden. Not seeing anything important, she decided to go for his coffee.

She  bumped into Emily on her way but she seemed to be off, her eyes were puffy with dark circles and were all red, narrowing her eyes, she took a close look at  her before she  finally decided to say something "Emily is everything everything good? "

"Well, uh I am some kinda of troubled but don't worry " She sent a weak smile in Ashley 's  way before she started walking but immediately at instinct , Ashley  held her arm so firm forcing Emily  to stop"

" Well I know we have not known each other for years , but I am here if you really need someone to talk to" Her response some  kind of surprised Ashley because she didn't  see it coming Emily  hugged her tightly laughing at first which turned into soft sobs and seconds later she  broke down,   which turned out into a full cry out session. Thank God today Ashley was clad in black because the mascara was not just seen at just a stare, it required maximum attention to be seen.

"It is okay to cry, release it all out, let it out" Ashley whispered as she rubbed soothing circles on her back.

After about three minutes, Emily composed her self and she slowly loosened her grip on Ashley

"Christ !! I am very sorry for making my self such a fool_"

"Shhhh " Ashley  cut her off She lifted  her hands stopping them in the midway " I think at times we really need that, now that you are okay , go continue with work and I also do mine"

"I will make it up to you Ashley" Emily  said before she turned around the corner.

Ashley  fetched Mr Matthews's coffee her  mind drifted off to Emma, she kept on wondering whether her first day at school was  awesome, whether she was  coping with the new environment pretty good come on Ashley you left her with people not animals.

It was  so abnormal and rare but when she  reported back to level seven , she  found Mr Matthews's office widely open which surprised her. Contemplating on what to do, she  decided to peep in and she first ask for permission.

"Sir may I come in please"

"Yes Ashley come in" His voice held anger, tiptoeing, Ashley carefully walked over to his desk and it was at that moment she noticed a lady , a female version of Mr Matthews sitting in her mighty in the chair at the left.

"Hayden are you not going to introduce me to this pretty lady" She said it in very a mocking way. The tension in the office was eating Ashley alive.

"Ashley" she  lifted her eyes off the ground giving Hayden her  full attention" Meet my Sister Heather Matthews " He looked at his sister with sharp clenched jaws. "Heather meet my secretary , Ashley Simpson " he continued.
Well that now explains the similarity she  noticed earlier.

"Um ...uh.nice to meet you Madam" Ashley replied in a shaky voice.

With a smirk on her lips she said  "Nice to meet you too Ashley, actually I love your hair"

"Heather stop it, Ashley I will call you later if I really need you" she took that as a clue to leave his office.

On the way to her  office , she  kept on wondering why Hayden looked so tense in the office , he looked really annoyed. Shrugging off the feeling she continued with work not letting her  mind to wonder over to the not allowed territories.

*******
"Emily how is you now" Ashley  asked her as she joined Emily at their  usual lunch table. Well food served at Matthews Associates and Auctioneers was  pretty nice and healthy so eating from out was out of bounds for Ashley  though others ate  from out.

"Honestly am not fine, but I can hang in , thank you very much Ashley" She  said sincerely looking at Ashley  proving her point.

"Its really not important " Ashley laughed nervously and gave Emily's fingers a little squeeze.

"I may not be the best but if you really need any one to talk to, please it will be my pleasure to listen" she continued as she sent a wink in Emily' direction.

She did not ask her what was wrong in the morning she was not about to force her to tell her whatever the matter was, she was to tell her when she was ready. They continued with their  lunch avoiding strong topics literally Emily  telling Ashley  her weird high school experience.

"Ouch , Emily am getting curious glances from people" Ashley was  laughing too hard , Emily had impossible high school memories.

All of a sudden Emily stopped the talking and she looked like she had seen a ghost,  her gaze remained glued on one spot "Emily what is really goin-" Ashley  asked as she  turned around.

What she  saw seriously surprised her, Mr Matthews was sitting in the cafeteria only that he was alone. Ashley  looked around to notice that it was  not only her  who was taken aback, all the employees in the cafeteria were giving each other questioning glances what a strange thing this is!

In all the staring , he seemed composed not being affected by the whole situation.

"Well um Emily do you know anything about Mr Matthews" Curiosity got the best of Ashley  and words slipped off her tongue before her brain  could digest them.
Narrowing her eyes, Emily leaned her hands on the table and she looked at Ashley "What do you want to know Ashley" immediately her eyes widened as if she had figured it out "Woh Woh Woh Ashley don't tell me you are fooled by his charming looks"
Her words took Ashley  off guard and she  choked the water she was drinking .

"Emily, who has told you that!! asking about him is one thing and picking interest in him is another" She  rolled her eyes at Emily's stubborn wild thoughts .
Unfortunately lunch break ended and they stood up to go their offices.
"Next time, make sure you answer my question." Ashley said as she turned around the corner to catch the elevator to level seven.

"See you around Ashley"

"You too Emily " she sent a her a closed mouth smile.

***********
The day was well spent and here was Ashley packing her  things to leave work. She was  also very happy, she  couldn't wait to reach Emma's school, she had a lot of narrating to do.
She  locked her door and she headed to Hayden's office, well he was his secretary and seeing him at the end of the day was  a must for him to make her  know whether she had  not missed any of his appointments.

As she was drawing  closer to his office, his cold  voice echoed in the hall way"Look Heather we  passed through this in the morning and I think I made my final decision, I don't want anybody for Alison, " curiosity got the best of her and she decided  not knock, instead she  remained glued on the door with her ears wide open eaves dropping Mr Matthews's  conversation on the phone " She is fine with me, trust me on this am doing all what it takes to be a nice dad , okay?" His voice broke at the end. Hayden has a kid!!!! .Ashley wondered.

Suddenly the door opened and she  stumbled backwards Christ!!what a shame!!. Hayden narrowed his eyes as he looked at her and before she  knew it he closed the gap between them. Her heart beat rapidly as she looked at the fierce dark eyes "Have you heard anything " he said with gritted teeth as he looked down on her.

"Um, well...um.okay sir.." She  couldn't find the right words to use and it took all his strength not to strangle her , Hayden  was clenching and unclenching his fists continuously as many emotions crossed across his face.

"Well I think I made it clear that minding your businesses is not an option here" He looked at Ashley  with a questioning gaze . She  just nodded in response with  fear that if she said  anything it might have ended up being stupid.
If looks could kill, she would be six feet under because Mr Matthews looked at her with furry , his eyes held many emotions.

"I am very sorry sir" With her head down and body shaking " I exceeded my limits and I am truly sorry" she  continued.
He just gave her a nod and without wasting time, she was out of his sight.
She released a very long breath what the hell had she brought her self into, a noisy Secretary?