1 Chapter one

"do you give as much energy to your dreams as you do to your fear?".....Unknown

ASHELEY'S P.O.V

It was a lazy afternoon, I was on my way to the library as usual before making a stop at the convenience store to grab a bag of chips. i had bought the chips and was about to walk away when I was called back by the saleswoman.

"we are doing a giveaway to our top customers and you've been a regular here so this for you" she said as she brought out a book. "Its a diary, you can record your everyday activities down".

"I don't really find it necessary to have a diary, I don't think I'll ever use it, I'm an aspiring writer and a librarian so I don't think I have any time to spare",I said not wanting to take the diary. I've never owed one and saw it as a waste of time, so I know it won't be of any use to me, not wanting to waste any time cause I was already late for work, I took the book and headed back to the library.I Sat down at the front desk right after the door. This how my life has been for five years now after my divorce, which happened when i was twenty nine, which means I'm thirty four years now. As I Sat down at the counter, I gazed at the diary in my hand,not really knowing what to do with it. I was so bored to the core, I felt pushed to try and write something on it for fun.

  " Dear diary ,

Every life has a measure of sorrow and sometimes, that is what awakens us.I've never really had a diary before so...I'm trying it for the first time. My name's Ashley Bernice Christian, I'm currently thirty four, born on April 24 1988. I'll be thirty five in just few months coming. I'm an aspiring writer, I've always wanted my words to reach many people but luck isn't on my side. My work aren't really popular yet but I know it will one day. My ex husband and I divorced when I was twenty nine, and we were married for three years. Everything was going perfectly fine until he got a very good paying job,he became extremely busy and just like that,the relationship faded. I got a divorce when I discovered he had something doing with a female staff. Two years later I was diagnosed with leukemia. I've been going to chemotherapy since then. The library has been my comfort zone for some time now. I was...

"Excuse me" I heard a voice call out to me. I dropped my pen and looked up from my book. The young man dressed in a white shirt and a black trousers which looked extremely expensive with a cap and a nose mask stood in front of me. He seemed lost as he starred at me for a long time. "Hello" I said which brought him back to reality. "how may I help you" I asked. " Can I get a book recommendation?" he asked while stammering. " What type of book do you want?... Romance, fantasy, fantasy romance, dark romance, bedroom fantasy, action, sci_fi, adventures or...." I asked listing out some types of book I can remember.

"Can I get the dark romance?"

"sure....Then I recommend a cruel arrangement, we will reign, my dark Romeo, throne of the fallen"

"Can I get a cruel arrangement?"

"it's at the second shelf by your left ,the last row" I said pointing at the shelf.

"Thanks" he said as he headed towards the place. Some seconds later, he got back with the book in his hand.

"are you renting or buying?"

"uhhm.... renting" he replied.

" your name please" I asked

"Ace Hunters" he replied

"Age?" I asked him but he seemed surprised at what I didn't know. "Age please" I repeated

"twenty four" he replied

"occupation?"

"Singer" he said in a low tone so as not to heard by people

"date of return?"

"Two days later" he answered still staring at me. I wrapped the book and handed it to him.

"Can...I... know your name?" he asked with a gentle voice

"Ashley" I answered and I turned back to my book. He stood for a while before leaving. After work that day, I was getting ready to close when it started raining. I had forgotten to bring my umbrella with me. I came out and stood at the shade of the building while waiting for a taxi, when a black bugatti Chiron stopped in front of the building. A young man came down from the car.

"Excuse me...I'm the young man from earlier today" he said as I made a confused face. "the cap and nose mask guy" he Said as I recognised him.

"Oh okay...what Can I do for you?" i asked

"I think I forgot my key here earlier on..."

" I didn't see anything"

"do you mind double checking?"

"Okay" I said as I opened the library and we went in. We searched near the shelves but didn't find anything.

"found it " he said as he raised the key up for me to see.

"thank goodness...Then shall we go now?" I asked.

"sure.." He responded.we got out of the library and Iocked it up once more.

"aren't you going?" he said from inside his car

"I'm waiting for a taxi"I replied

"do you mind me dropping you off...to show my gratitude?"

"it's okay.... I'm fine...I'll just wait for the taxi"

"don't make me feel bad ...please " he pleaded

"fine" I finally gave in. I entered the car and we drove off.

We got to my house , he alighted from the car and opened my seat door for me.It's been ages since someone did that for me.

"Thanks for the ride "I thanked him as I came down from the car.

"Your welcome..."

"I'll get going then"I turned to leave but was stopped by him.

"Can I get your number please?"

"my number?"I asked

"In case a new book comes in or I need some recommendations then I'll put you through" . I hesitated for a while before giving him my number. I got into my house, and laid down on the sofa and slept off.

ACE P.O.V

"Hello" I said to the woman at the counter. I had put on a cap and a nose mask so as not to be recognised by the public. Being one of the top singers of NYC, I had to be discreet about most things that I do and say.As the woman at the counter looked up, my heart skipped a beat. I felt lost in her eyes,I never knew anyone could be so beautiful like this. From her hair to her eyes, nose and lips which were pink, I was mesmerized. I haven't had this feeling before, not even with any of the girls I've once dated and never knew that one day I would. " Excuse me" she said snapping me out of my fantasy world.

"Can I ..get ...a book recommendation?" I said while stuttering. I felt embarrassed at that cause I wasn't a stammerer.she listed out some book options to choose from and I wasn't even sure of which one to pick anymore so I casually pick one. She directed me to where I'd get the book and when I got there, the book was there. She must have worked there for a long time for her to know where the books were kept.

"are you renting or buying?" she asked and I replied renting.

"your name?" she asked and I responded. I was shocked she didn't recognise me or get excited or perhaps does she not know me? or pretending not to? all this went through my mind at the time.She asked about my age and I answered, then my occupation and I did. Yet no excitement or signs to show she knew who I was , and that made me more curious an out her. She looked like someone in her late twenties but that I wasn't sure about, all I knew was that she was older than me.

"date of return?" she asked and I replied "Two days later".She wrapped the book, gave it to me

"may I know your name?" I asked

"Ashley "she replied and she turned back to continue what she was writing which looked like a diary.I stayed for a while to check her reaction but she wasn't reacting in any manner then i left. I didn't want to leave at first cause I could stay all day looking at her."Ashley" that name kept ringing a bell in my head,a beautiful name for an Angel indeed.After leaving the library, my mind would recall the name "Ashley". Does she already have an impact on me or is it just her name that does?. If on my I can find a means to see her again cause I know within me that I can't wait till the two day I would bring back the book.I paced to and fro at home while thinking of an excuse to go back but none came.

It started raining heavily that evening, all I could think of was if the Angel I had met earlier on had an umbrella with her or not. I was driving along that area and noticed the lights were on and saw her turn off the light, locked the door and stood, waiting for a taxi or for the rain to drop. I had no choice than to lie that I had forgotten my key and had come to search for it.

"I didn't See anything "she said

"do you mind double checking?" I asked

"Okay " she replied as she opened the door and we walked in. we went to the shelves I had gone to before but didn't see anything. I brought out a spare key I had with me and pretended I saw.

"thank goodness" she Saudi as she looked happy for the fact that I had seen my key. we came out and she locked the door once again. She stood as she stood before.

"aren't you going?"I asked

"I'm waiting for a taxi" she replied

"do you mind me dropping you off?....to show my gratitude?"I asked

"it's fine...I'm Okay" she replied. I went blank as I didn't know how to get her to agree for me to give her a ride.

"don't make me feel bad....please" I pleaded.

"fine" she finally gave in and I drove off. The ride was so quiet so I turned the radio on to lighten the mood a little.Was she feeling the tension I felt? I asked myself or was it just me?. None of us spoke up until she reached her house.

I came down and opened the door for her and she came down.

"Thanks for the ride" she thanked me

"welcome" she turned to go inside. I didn't know what came over me that I dared to ask for her number but luckily I found an excuse.

"my number?" she asked

"in case a new book comes in or I need any recommendations then I'll put you through" I lied and luckily she gave me her number. She entered into her house and I drove off happily cause at least I got her number