"Ashley Bennet, can you do a pose for us please?"

Camera flashes from the press blinded me the second I got out of the photoshoot studio. I stopped walking and took off my shades before flashing a smile.

"Ashley Bennet, did you enjoy Paris fashion week?"

"Ashley, how was your dinner with Craig Harrison?"

"Ashley Bennet, Is it true that you have a child?"

The press kept asking questions while my body guards led me to the van.

"Hurry." Stella, my manager whispered as she pulled me faster towards the van. When we arrived, Abby, my makeup artist started fixing my hair as the van drove away.

I sighed when the press were out of sight. It's been a hectic day filled with shoots and the press were just everywhere. I closed my eyes in my seat. I just can't find rest these days.

"The rumor is spreading like wildfire, should I clear it up?" Stella asked with her clipboard in hand.

I kept silent.

"I'll clear it up so that they could stop bothering you." Stella pulled out her phone.

"No don't." I stopped her. "It's okay, let them live off the rumor." I smiled and turned to the window, raindrops were pouring.

Stella sighed and nodded. "She's going to need a retouch." Stella ordered when Abby finished fixing my hair.

I yawned as they worked on me. "Where are we headed?"

"To the Diamond hotel." Stella answered. "You have a dinner party to attend to."

"I see."

I was about to close my eyes when my phone buzzed.

"Someone's calling?" Abby asked.

I nodded and answered.

[Where are you now? Are you in the country?] Aicko's voice sounded the second I answered the call.

"Yeah, I landed last night." I yawned. "I'm still jet lagged."

[Good, clear your schedule for this weekend.] She said firmly as if no wasn't an option.

"Not sure...I might have a shoot." I thought.

I heard her sigh through the phone. [I'll talk to Stella, we get along, I'll get your sched clear for the weekend so make yourself free.]

"Uh...Who's birthday is it on the weekend?" I tried to recall my friends birthdays.

[Birthday?! It's the class reunion silly!]

My brows scrunched. "C-class reunion?"

[Yeah, the whole class is required to come, we all haven't seen each other in years and guess what!]

I guessed. "You're the party planner?"

[Correct!] She laughed. [So you should attend, you can't put my efforts to waste.]

"I don't know." I shrugged.

[Is it about him?]

I kept quiet.

[Well don't worry about that coz I'm sure that he won't come, he's declined all of the parties that I've invited him to so don't worry.]

I took a deep sigh. "Fine."

I heard her squeal from the other line. [I'll talk to Stella.]

I was about to end the call when she spoke again.

[Wait! I forgot to mention, I have a business meeting out of the country, my flight's at 7 this evening, I can't take care of Hana, Are you in the area?]

My eyes widened. "Why are you just telling me this now?"

[Sorry, it slipped my mind a while ago.]

I sighed. "Stella, what time's the party?"

"Party's at 7." She checked her clipboard.

I nodded and looked at the time on my phone. It's just 5 in the afternoon.

I brought the phone back to my ear. "I'll get her in 30."

I convinced Stella to let the driver take a turn. "It'll just be quick I promise, please."

Stella rubbed the sides of her her. "Ok, ok."

When the van parked outside Aicko's mansion, I immediately hopped off and walked towards the front door where Aicko stood waiting for me. She was talking to someone on the phone while she had her suitcase beside her, looks like she's ready for the airport.

"Hana!" I called when I saw the little girl beside Aicko, she wore a cute yellow dress and a matching yellow ribbon on tp of her pigtails. She had her backpack straped around her shoulders and a stuffed monkey in her hands.

"Mommy Peggy!" She smiled.

"Hi Baby." I kneeled down and hugged her.

Aicko was busy on the phone and I had a party to attend to. Aicko smiled at Hana and signaled me to go, She still had a flight to catch. I mouthed the words bye and I went back to the van with Hana.

"Hi Hana." Abby laughed. Hana at beside me while Abby started fixing me up again.

"Baby, are you hungry?" I asked.

She shook her head.

"How old are you now Hana?" Stella asked.

"I'm four." She made a number four on her fingers.

"Aww you're so cute." I squished her cheeks.

She giggled.

After Abby styled my hair and finished my makeup, they all helped me get into my white cocktail dress and heels.

"You're so pretty Mommy Peggy." Hana commented.

I laughed and kissed her forehead.

When we arrived at the hotel, there were a lot of press waiting at the hotel entrance. When the van stopped in front of the main entrance.

I held Hana's hand and together we came down the van, I posed for the cameras before walking inside with Stella and Abby tailed behind me. The hotel was so grand, every interior spelled perfection.

I heard the whispers of the people inside the hotel.

"It's Ashely Bennet!"

"She's so gorgeous."

"Is that her daughter?"

I ignored it and headed to the doors of the auditorium where the party will be held.

I stopped when we got to the front door. I turned to Hana and bent down.

"Baby, you'll have to go with Abby ok?"

She nodded. I smiled and squeezed her cheek before entering the venue with Stella by my side. I posed for the cameras that greeted me.

"Ashley Bennet! Stunning as ever." A photographer said.

I gave him a smile and moved along. I met up with some other models.

"Ashley, you're here!" My model friends called me.

"Hi!" I smiled when I got to them.

We started clinking our champagne glasses while we talked.

"About Paris fashion week-"

We continued talking.

"Hi girls!" A sweet voice called.

We all turned to the owner of the voice.

The girl turned to me and smiled. "Ashley? It's so good to see you." She formed out a huge smile.

I laughed sarcastically in my brain and flashed as smile. "Hi Gia."

"Gia Merrit, and Ashley Bennet, can you both please smile for the camera?" A photographer approached us.

"Sure." Gia took a step closer to me.

I didn't act bothered by this and just smiled at the camera.

After a while, we all took our seats at the tables. I sat down with my fellow models while waiters served us food.

The emcee suddenly went to the middle to announce. "I hope all of you are now enjoying, I'd like to announce that the owner of this hotel would be joining us shortly."

I sipped on my glass of water. I couldn't eat much now, I'm on a diet since I have a fashion show coming up.

"Do you guys know the owner of the hotel?" One of the models asked.

"Nope." Me and some others shook our head.

"Well I do." April said. "He's really handsome you know." She giggled.

"Who is it?" Jenny asked impatiently.

Clea chuckled. "They say his name is Carlisle, Blake Carlisle."

My eyes widened and I suddenly choked on my drink. That was the name, the name I've been trying to avoid all these years.

My heart started racing. He's here? The man I've been avoiding all these years.

"He's here?" I looked at the girls.

"Yes, I heard, he just came back from abroad."

"Do you have a picture of him?" Another model asked.

"Here." April showed the rest of the girls a picture in her phone making them all squeal.

I started to feel my forehead sweating. So he owns a hotel now. I should've known that this was his hotel. Why is he back so suddenly?

"God he's handsome." Lisa fanned herself.

"Isn't he dating anyone?"

I gripped my fists. Why on earth is he here?! No. Why on earth am I here? The last thing I want is to see his face. I felt the anger boil up inside me. How dare he show himself to me, after all he's done to me. After all the lies. I gripped my fists tighter. I tried my best to forgive him but there;s no way it happened because when he left for England 8 years ago, I got the news that he was dating Gia.

But non of that matters to me anymore. He doesn't matter to me anymore. But somehow I desperately don't want to see him.

"Ashley, are you ok?" Jenny asked me looking at me with concern.

I nodded. "Yes, I'll just find my manager." I stood up and started searching for Stella. I want to get out of here before he comes. I won't take any chances in seeing him.

I continued looking for Stella but she somehow found me first.

"Ashley." She called. "All the models will be meeting with the owner of the hotel, don't forget to shake his hand."

"What the hell?!" I said in shock. "I don't want to."

"What are you talking about?" Stella looked confused. "What's wrong with meeting the hotel's CEO?"

"Everything." I gripped my hands in frustration.

Stella frowned. "I don't know what's gotten into you but stop it." She scolded.

"Shit!" I turned away from her. There's no way I'm meeting with that jerk.

I headed to the door angrily keeping a fast pace, I opened the door aggressively but I immediately stepped back when I hit someone hard on the chest. I frowned and irritatedly looked up. My eyes suddenly widened when I realized who I bumped into.

He was wearing a black button-down dress shirt with the 3 of the buttons open and a pair of black slacks. Everyone in the room was eyeing him, probably attracted to his attractive physical appearance. I could smell his familiar scent which brought back many memories

Our eyes met but he immediately looked away.

I was speechless. I wanted to run away but I was frozen on the spot. His looks changed. He was so much taller now, his features matured. But the hate I had for him was what remained.

"Move." He coldly said.

I looked at him intently before coming back to my senses. I immediately walked hurriedly past him and outside the venue.

I heard the doors shut behind me.

Shit!

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