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Chapter 1
Ashley
Graduation comes with its woes, one of which is indecision on how to proceed and what to do next. Some are lucky enough to choose a path that works out right away. Many of us will go through several attempts and failures before finding the right path.
After getting a degree from the University of Michigan, I told myself that it’s now time to see what life has to offer. Growing up in the state of Michigan, I have become too accustomed to the scenery; this cannot be where I will start life once more. The city of New York had been a childhood dream and it’s time I lived that dream.
In the city of New York, I am lucky that Justin has a comfortable apartment in the heart of the city. Justin is an old friend and abuddy of mine since we were six and luckily for both of us, we didn’t grow apart despite having different journeys in life. He was more than happy to put up with me until I get my own place and even helped me by dropping my resume for a position at his workplace.
That didn’t seem like a bad idea to me. IM CORP is one of the top five tech companies in the US and getting a position at the headquarters wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
I once interned as a creative director for a small tech start-up company back in college, so I knew the basics and my work with them had given the company a solid name. At least, while I was there, they strived. I had several other achievements packed in my resume, so I was pretty confident that I could get a job somewhere. No company would want to lose out on a fresh mind like me, Ashley Lane.
Justin happens to be what I’ll refer to as a loyal employee. All of his gadgets are products of IM. He always managed to fill my ears with talks of his boss and has futilely tried countless times to make me read a book that was published about him.
Even without reading the book, I could tell the story of Ian Maxwell from beginning to the end. That’s how much Justin adores the man. Ian Maxwell controls the corporation and all of its resources; his story is that of a self-made man who at age 22 started a small tech company that ended up becoming the tech giant it is now. While his success is impressive, he does not seem worthy of the worship that Justin gives him.
After several days of furtively trying to go around New York myself, I insisted on this particular day for Justin to take me around the city so as to experience the sights and sounds of the city. Several hours after touring the city, we both decided to get something to eat at a restaurant. Halfway through our meal, I excused myself to use the restroom.
In my hurry, I bumped into a person’s chest. I rubbed my forehead, while trying to steady my body from falling flat.
“Hey! What the hell? Are you blind? Did you really not see me coming?”
I was thrown aback by this outburst. Blind? Really? All I did was bump into someone and he was throwing such a fit of rage? I glanced up at the person only to come in contact with the most arguably handsome man, but very well the rudest to ever exist too.
“You again!”
I screamed, pointing a finger at the suit cladded form of the man, who was clutching onto his tablet as wrath laced through me. I remembered him hitting me with his car door while opening it yesterday, only to rain insults on me for a mistake he had made.
“Do you not have actively working eyes or do you like walking around with them closed?”
I could remember his words clearly and his sultry voice as he had pinned me down with a look so intimidating, I wanted the ground to swallow me up.
His green eyes contorted in a frown of confusion at first before recognition sat firmly in it. His brows furrowed deeply.
“I see you still haven’t gotten a good pair of eyes. Would you do the whole world a favor and see an ophthalmologist instead of bumping into every damn thing?”
My eyes flared with fury. “You are the rudest, most immature and stupid man I’d ever seen.”
“Immature? Stupid?” With scorching eyes, he stepped towards me, trying to intimidate me with his glare.
“How dare you?” he huffed.
“I see you’re not complaining about being called rude, looks like you accept that.” I ran a hand through the front of my dress. “A word of advice, you should get your brain checked instead of going around and blaming everyone for things that are clearly your fault.”
I stomped out of his presence, forgetting my whole plan of visiting the bathroom. Looks like this green eyed, handsome devil was some kind of bad luck attached to me. I can’t believe I’d see him again considering how big New York was.
“You’re back so quick,” Justin said to me as I approached the table. When he noticed the frown permanently etched on my features, he raised his brows. “Something tells me some unlucky soul just got their ears filled withenticingwords.”
I picked up my bag. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Aye aye, Captain,” I heard Justin’s laughing voice following behind me as I hurried towards the car.
I wanted to be out of there; that was the only way my anger could subside. Not a word came out of my tightly clenched lips all through the drive back home and by the time I finally made it home, my jaws were aching with how hard I’d been gritting my teeth. I threw my bag across the kitchen island as I walked into the kitchen to get a cup of water for myself.
“This is worse than yesterday,” Justin said, his Hazel eyes darting across my face with a curiosity that couldn’t be missed. “Who bumped into you again, Ashley?”
I dropped the cup on the kitchen island, my tensed shoulders relaxing a bit.
