8 I can't loose you

"How long will it take them to take down the news" Tristen's eyes as he glances through the rear mirror, ask Karl.

"The news is already taken down, boss," Karl said, showing him the portals published about Ashley's breakup on his command.

"Good, I don't want anyone bad-mouthing Ashley," he said and looked back at the tab in his hand.

Tristan was so into Ashley that he feared to show his liking towards her. He wasn't that courageous when it came to expressing his heart. He had been secretly eyeing the man Ashley loved and planned to expose how scum he was to cheat on a girl who fought with her father for him.

Looking out the window, he recalled the first day he saw her. She was the most beautiful woman who caught his attention. She was surrounded by the limelight, making her the most amazing lady on the runway.

He was reminiscing about it. A smile formed on his lips, and he removed his phone from his pocket, looking at the wallpaper on his screen lock.

'I can't lose you now, Ashley,' he thought and kept staring at her picture.

*****

Vanessa studio

Ashley walked ahead with Miley trailing behind her as she discussed the arrangement made for her.

Vanessa Studio belongs to her long-time friend Alice Stewart, who helped her rise to stardom by clicking her stunning photos and had also been with her through all the hardships she faced after entering the industry.

"Hello, darling. I wasn't expecting you to be on time" Alice walked towards Ashley and hugged her, and then turned towards her manager Miley," Hi Mil, I hope your boss didn't give you a hard time for waking her up early," clicking her tongue she looked at Ashley who rolled her eyes on her remark.

"You know I am not an early bird Alice yet for you, I have to push myself to wake up so early" Ashley knew Alice liked taking photos in broad daylight, giving more nature and aesthetic look to her everlasting beauty. So without making any fuss, she easily agreed and reached on time.

"Yeah. I know"

The trio walked inside the dressing room and waited for Ashley to get changed. When she changed, the hairstylist came in and started making her hair.

"I couldn't believe Jane would do such a thing with you. She and Greg. Eww. I want to puke on the" Alice, who knew whatever happened with Ashley, cursed them both.

She knew Ashley's loyalty throughout her relationship with Greg, yet that bastard cheated on her. She was out of town when she found the news of her breakup circulating on every news channel.

She wanted to slam the media for making a false assumption and publishing anything about her friend.

"I should've seen it coming" Ashley heaved a sigh and signaled the hairstylist to leave after she was done.

Alice, who knew Ashley from their childhood, knew she wasn't a person who liked to yell about her emotions, but deep inside, she knew she was affected badly. Greg was the only man she loved from her heart and invested too much in keeping their relationship steady.

But in the end, she couldn't hold on to a relationship based on lies.

Alice pulled her by her hand and made her look at her," forget that scumbag. We have much fish inside the lake to attack," Alice winked, making Ashley chuckle.

"I bet you have already ridden them" Ashley knew Alice was cock teaser who liked flirting with men until she got bored.

"I wish I could have everyone but my dear friend. I can spare you at least a few hot guys," Ashley broke into laughter, listening to her friend's shameless words.

"Perv," Ashley remarked before heading for the photo shoot.

*****

Melanin Internationals

Tristen entered his cabin, where all the arrangement for his first so-ever interview was made. He had never liked to be in the spotlight as he preferred a private life.

"Good morning Mr. Knight" the interviewer reached his hand for a handshake which Tristen gave back in return.

"Good morning, Mr. Wards," Tristen said, reading the id's name and shaking hands with him.

Mr. Wards was a well-known interviewer from a renowned publishing company who had interviewed many influential people, but Tristan Knight was at the top of the list he finally reached.

Karl, who had already gone through the questions that were supposed to be asked, warned the interviewer so he wouldn't step out of his line.

Tristen had given a lot of thought before agreeing to an interview that would be circulating like fire all over the news channel.

As the interview began, Wards felt a sudden drop in the atmosphere around them when he lifted his eyes and saw Tristen staring at him with his fierce gaze.

Even if no words were said, the man understood the meaning behind his deadly glare, and that was enough for him to know that he had to minimize the time of the interview...

"So Mr. Knights...."

*****

Mr. Wards walked out of the cabin wiping his sweat, and rushed out from there as soon as possible.

Karl saw the man enter the cabin and watched his boss walk towards his seat.

"You seem to scare him too much; Boss" Karl knew how professional Tristen turned when he wasn't with his family.

"You need to keep them on their toes, Karl, so that they wouldn't cross their limit," Tristen said and passed him the tabloid," I want the publishing channel to get down his name" Karl nodded his head and read whatever was written inside.

"It will be done soon," saying. He walked out, making a call to the director of the publishing channel.

"No one is ever supposed to point a finger on the women Tristen knights adore," he said with his clear cold eyes as he looked at the rubbish inside the portal that that Ward guy was planning to publish about Ashley.

***

Ashley had already drained half of her energy by the time the photo shoot was over.

"You need to pay attention to your model's needs Alice. You literally couldn't stop licking me," Ashley complained.

"That's because you are the only face that is making this poor photographer get recognized" Alice winked and took the chair next to Ashley.

"By the way, what are you doing this evening? I was thinking of having a girl's night out," Alice proposed.

"I don't think I will be available in the evening. Dad has asked me to clear my schedule for the entire evening," Ashley said and realized something.

"Just a second, I need to make a call" saying she stood up and walked away from there.

Alice left alone, found Miley standing a few steps away from them, and waved her hand, asking her to come and join her.

"So.. my dear Miley, do you know where your boss is going today evening," she asked because Alice knew only Miley knew every small detail about Ashley.

Pulling up her specs, Miley pulled out her tab. She searched about the schedule, "Miss Alice, ma'am, is supposed to be going out for dinner this evening" Miley then lattlatered what Richard had said and immediately told Alice.

Alice creased her brow thinking about whom Ashley was supposed to be having dinner with and that too arranged by her father.

'Why do I feel something is fishy' she thought, not realizing that Ashley had returned.

"How could dad do this to me" her angry voice beamed, breaking Alice's thoughts, and she looked at the angry bull flaring her nose while she looked at her cellphone...

"W-what happened now?" Alice asked and saw Ashley turn her fierce eyes, boring holes into her soul...

"Dad just set me up for a date!!!!" She clutched the phone in her hand and was ready to break it.

"WHAT!! How and when...and why did you tell me about it, your best friend" Alice felt left out when Ashley kept such a big thing away from her.

Rolling back her eyes on her friend's dramatic reaction Ashley slumped back on her chair," As if I already knew about it."

"W-what.. wait for a second, you are going on a date, and you aren't aware of it.." she asked and saw her close her eyes in frustration.

"I feel like dad was waiting for me to end my relationship with Greg so he would set me up for a matchmaking tour. Like seriously, how can he go on without asking me once" Ashley was trying to mend her relationship with her father and had hoped he would give her the time to get her life on track.

But she didn't know her father would throw a bomb on her head in the name of a blind date.