245 Jackson at the FD Studio 2 (1/2)

Jackson observed Sabrina's face for a few seconds before speaking: ”I see you have bodyguards.”

”Yes. Max thought that I am too carefree considering my identity. Now that he is about to take over the company, he is facing different issues and he fears that I might be implicated.”, Sabrina lied with a straight face. She is used to pretending with Jackson in public, so it came naturally.

Jackson nodded in understanding. Her story makes sense.

”They stopped me from coming to see you. Did they stop him as well?” Jackson gestured with his chin behind Sabrina.

In slow motion, Sabrina turned in the direction Jackson pointed.

'Oh, shit!', she cursed internally when she saw Ashton looking at her with an unreadable expression.

She wondered, how long is Ashton standing there? It does not matter if it's three minutes or three seconds, it can't be a pleasant sight to see her so close to Jackson. She took a step away from Jackson while thinking how to respond to the bodyguard question without alarming Jackson: ”Ashton is an employee.”

Jackson narrowed his eyes at Ashton while speaking to Sabrina. ”So, he can get close to you, while I can't?”

Sabrina gritted her teeth. ”Don't say such ambiguous things. If you have something to say, say it. Otherwise, please leave. I am busy and I don't have time for casual chit-chat.”

”I understand…” Jackson threw a glare at Ashton before walking out of the studio.

When Jackson was out of sight, Sabrina realized that she is holding the flowers.

”Nicole, please get rid of these…”, Sabrina placed the bouquet of roses between two lamps which are on the shelf for display and walked toward Ashton.

”Ashton…”, she called while reaching to hold his hand. She can see that his hands are balled into fists.

Ashton moved to avoid her touch and inhaled a choppy breath. ”Rina, I am sorry. I need some time to think things through…” In three swift steps, he made a half-circle around Sabrina and headed toward the exit.

With every step he took, Sabrina felt her world collapsing. ”Ashton!”

Ashton paused his steps.

”Please. I need to cool off. If we talk now, it will not end well.”, he said without looking at her.

Sabrina watched Ashton walk out of the studio and her legs refused to move. The sharp pain in her chest was paralyzing and even her lungs were unable to process enough air and the whole place was spinning, but this time, Ashton was not by her side to be her anchor. She dragged herself to her office and plopped on her chair. Now what?

Outside…

Ashton's head is buzzing as he walks down the street in a daze.

He came out of Delphine's office and peeked into Sabrina's only to find it empty. He was not sure if it's appropriate to sit there by himself or not, so he went to the main area of the studio to wait for her. And Sabrina might be there.

He reached just in time to hear Sabrina reject Jackson's offer for lunch. Ashton wondered, why is Jackson there? Didn't Sabrina say that Jackson does not come to her work?

In the next moment, Jackson's eyes landed on him and he saw Jackson smile smugly as he approached Sabrina and kissed her cheek.

Ashton didn't expect that the sight of Jackson being close to Sabrina will impact him so much. It was like a thousand needles piercing his heart, at the same time. And then Sabrina called him an employee. Well, she didn't lie, he accepted a job in her design studio, but somehow… he thought that he is more than that.

'How stupid of me…', Ashton thought. He knew that Sabrina is with Jackson and the smart thing was to stay away from her because it can't end well.

So, what if she is having issues in a relationship? Sabrina and Jackson are together for such a long time, that there is a high chance they will make up. And where does that leave him? Did he really think that he will have a happy ending with Sabrina? Ashton shook his head at his foolish thoughts. He got carried away and made a mistake by coming close to Sabrina. Too close. She is now part of him, and just the thought of separating from her is agonizing. He really messed up this time.

”Hey!”, a loud call pulled Ashton out of his thoughts.

He turned toward the voice and saw that a few steps away from him, in an alley, Jackson is leaning against the wall and holding onto a lit cigarette.

Jackson's eyes moved over Ashton, assessing him silently before he spoke: ”You are Hunter's buddy. Ashton. Right?”

Ashton nodded. ”Is there a reason you stopped me?”

Jackson took a drag of the cigarette and exhaled lazily. ”I saw you at the party that my in-laws organized. And I see you here now.”

Ashton's lips twitched when Jackson called Sabrina's parents in-laws. He told himself to stay cool. ”So?”

Jackson narrowed his eyes. ”I see how you are looking at Rina. She is out of your league, and she is taken.”

Ashton's brows furrowed. ”Anything else? I have things to do.”

Jackson exhaled smoke. ”Know your place and you will have a peaceful life.”