Perfect Image
The odor of alcohol, the pain of injections, and the sound of the EKG machine. This welcomed her after she opened her eyes, first thing at dawn feeling the exhaustion of last night.
A nurse approached her and ask if she is feeling well, she nodded. Minutes later when the nurse gets the tray with alcohol, cotton balls, and injections, and sits beside her.
She felt terrified noticing the sharp injection that will later poke her skin. Ashlyn swallowed hard as she imagined the idea.
"Miss Ashlyn, you look disturbed. Don't worry this will sting like a bite of an ant. Painless right?" the nurse assured.
"An ant? Do you know how painful it bites?! And I don't think that's just a bit of an ant, more like a dog!" she complained in her thoughts.
Ashlyn smiled at her. The nurse gently reached her hand with the I.V drip and began sterilizing the area. She carefully removes the adhesive dressing, holding the cannula in place. Ashlyn closed her eyes but remained her arms and hands relaxed.
"All done miss Ashlyn." the nurse said.
She felt relief after. Both of them turned their gazes to the door as someone knocks. It slowly opened and her mother comes out of it.
"Ashlyn, let's go." Mrs. Dixon said as she continues her phone call.
Ashlyn nodded and grab her things. She was about to leave when the nurse gently grabs her wrist. Ashlyn looked at her in confusion.
"Miss Ashlyn, I know things might seem difficult now and it's frustrating right? But one day, everything will have answers. Every tear you shed will no longer be a pain." She said.
Ashlyn and her mom together with their two bodyguards are walking in an isolated hallway. Her mom is wearing a two-tone tiger-print crepe midi-dress and a face mask while Ashlyn is wearing a gray T-shirt and skinny jeans.
"Mom, where are we going?" Ashlyn asked.
"To clean up the mess you made." her mother coldly answered.
"M-my mess?"
Mrs. Dixon stopped and faced Ashlyn, straight to her eyes. Ashlyn started to feel frightened at her mother's glare.
"Are you seriously playing dumb with me Ashlyn? Is that your way of disrespecting your mother?" she sternly hissed.
Ashlyn looked away, as she is genuinely confused. She didn't want to prolong her conversation with her mother since she's well conscious that they'll never hear her, no matter how loud she screams her lungs out.
Little moments later and they enter the hospital director's office. Mrs. Dixon leads them as she takes off her mask and welcomes the man with white hair with her bright smile.
"A pleasant day to you Mr. Duncan." Mrs. Dixon greeted a man in his 50s. It was wearing glasses while reading thick paper reports.
"Oh, mayor Dixon. Is it about the deal?" the man said. Ashlyn's mother takes her sit on the couch.
"Come hear my daughter dear, have a sit. I don't want you to be fatigued, you just got discharged." Her mom sweetly said as she called Ashlyn's attention.
"She's your daughter? What a lovely lady." Mr. Duncan said.
Ashlyn looks down in discomfort and did what her mom told her to.
"Always be perfect in other's eyes. Have manners in your actions and never, ever talk back to elders. Always be polite and always present your brightest smile to everyone. Don't mind your emotions, be perfect!" Her life motto that her mom implements on her.
"Yes, sir Duncan. My first–uh my child. She's lovely isn't she?", Mrs. Dixon put her arms around Ashlyn's shoulder and slightly pinched her daughter. Ashlyn fakely smiled at the hospital director.
"Agree Mrs. Dixon."
Mrs.Dixon cleared her throat and sat decently facing the director's table. She smiled brightly and touched her bag.
"About the deal...", she opened her purse.
"Let's not tell anyone about my daughter's hospitalization. Kindly delete all her medical records since it's all not that serious." she said as she let out a check.
Ashlyn's eyes were widened as she heard her mother. She's confused about why will they delete her records.
"Hmm.. please enlighten me Mrs. Dixon." the man said.
"We all know that the election is in several months from now. She's always hospitalized in this hospital and that may destroy my image as a politician." Mrs. Dixon reasoned. Ashlyn looked down as she clenched her fist and gritted her teeth.
For Ashlyn, her mother is saying that she's a burden stain in her perfect image and this made her indignant.
"People might say that I'm a bad mother which is very untrue and there's a possibility that they'll assume that I'm a careless mother because I can't take good care of her." She said but Ashlyn sensed no guilt in her words which made her sadder.
"But madame, I don't think that's a major issue. In fact, your daughter looks healthy and is beautiful. People won't be able to point their fingers easily." Mr. Duncan replied.
"I don't want any tint of dirt to my image. Just do what I say." Mrs. Dixon ordered in full authority.
Somehow, the director felt terrified at the woman in front of him. He felt goosebumps as he heard her stern voice. He's well aware that he's more powerful than she is but she's really scary.
"Alright, Mrs. Dixon. Calm down and let's talk about this." Ashlyn's mother lit up her face and placed the check on Mr. Duncan's desk.
....
Ashlyn was peacefully walking in the building's entrance when someone suddenly grabs her. She was stunned by the sudden appearance of her sexy demon friend.
"Hi, girlfriend! How are you feeling?!" Heaven greeted in a high tone. Ashlyn smiled at her and this made her worried. Heaven sighed in disbelief.
"You know what Heaven, I'm getting used to this. Maybe this is my punishment." Ashlyn said in a bitter voice.
"Tch! Don't say that you stupid nice girl. I'm here even if you feel like the world is rejecting you, I'll always accept you silly.", Heaven smiled and squeezed her cheeks.
"You know what? Maybe I don't need a boyfriend since I got you." Ashlyn teased then grinned and made Heaven disgust.
"Oh gosh no! I'm certain that I'm straight! But..." Heaven smirked at her that made Ashlyn regret.
"I think we can work things out.." Heaven replied then playfully raised her brows.
"Hahaha- ah!" Ashlyn hissed as someone grabs her wrist.
"You slut! How dare you kissed my boyfriend!!" The girl shouted in her face and starts grabbing her hair.
Ashlyn supplicates to the girl as she is hurt by her actions. Heaven did her best to keep a space between them but it wasn't enough. She ended up being thrown in the crowd.
Ashlyn felt relief as someone stands for her. The reason why she falls in love every single day with him, the guy having an icy heart. He is her safe space.
"I had enough of dealing with girls today. Stop this right now." Volt said in full authority making the girl to back off. Volt turned to her and checked her condition.
"How did you get into a mess like that?" Volt asked with his blank face.
"I don't even know her yet she's saying that I kissed her boyfriend. I haven't even kissed anyone!" Ashlyn replied.
"Let's go to the clinic to have you checked."
~~~~~
Stamina, endurance, coordination, and flexibility are trained inside a training ground at the hidden areas of peaks. Everyone, ladies and gentlemen are doing their best to pass the drill.
A lady wearing white fitted sleeves and a pencil skirt approached the mentor of these trainees.
"Salute!" she said. The tall muscular man looks at her and mouthed "at ease."
"Updates." The man ordered.
"Sir, I've seen three new men sent by the other party. One was aiming an anesthesia bullet at the CEO's thigh, 45 meters away from him. The position is on a balcony of a dorm." she reported.
"Where is he now? How 'bout the other two guys?"
The lady gestured something from the back of the lodging house and there, a man with a black eye and swollen face went out having his mouth sealed and hands tied.
"That's him now sir, I managed to attack him without anyone witnessing. Right now, we are targeting the other two. It's gonna be a little hard for us since they are disguised as students." the lady replied.
The high ranked official walked to the tied guy and faced him directly. He touched his chin and aligned it parallel to his face.
"Whom are you working for?" The guy asked calmly.