I walked towards my car and he followed me causally. I didn't want him anywhere near me but Dad practically pleaded and I can't say no to him. Being around David is making me nervous and uncomfortable at the same time. I'm restless around him and it is irritating me.

"Do you have a car?" He nodded "Then flow me in it. I'll drive slow."

"No I'll come with you. I don't trust you. You'll loose me intentionally and then make up some excuse."

"What? You're insane. I'm not a kid. I'll drive slowly and you can flow me. There is no need to ride together."

"Look, we can stand here and argue all you want but I'm riding with you. I'll take care of my car later."

I groaned and unlocked the car. As soon as he heard the click he jumped into the passenger seat. I got in the driver's seat and stared the car. I could feel him grinning but I didn't look at him.

"You don't have any siblings, do you?" He asked trying to cut the silence but I ignored. I liked the silence but he doesn't which meant he won't give up "I've a sister and she has the cutest pair of twins. They always-"

"I didn't ask you"

"I'm making conversation. The silence was too quiet."

"That is the whole point of it. I like quiet."

"I was just making conversation. Getting to know you better since we're going to be working together."

"I've read your file. I know everything I'm supposed to know. Anything other than that is useless information."

"No information is useless. Maybe it would help you connect to my work on a better level if you knew things about my personal life. It'll make us working together better."

I looked at him "Your personal life has no significance to me. I connect okay. I don't want to get more involved than I already have to. I request the same from you."

I knew he wanted to say something but he didn't and I'm thankful for that. I don't want to have this conversation with him or any conversation for that matter.

I pulled into my parent's mansion and heard David gasp. I understand the surprise. They've a pretty big house. My mom's Dad gave it to him after he died. My mother grew up in this house and so did I for most of my life.

"It is a mansion. A freaking fairy tale crap mansion. How rich are you?" David turned and asked me.

"It is my parent's, not mine."

"You don't live here?"

"No"

"Why? I would want to live here."

I didn't reply, just shook my head. He is relentless. He can't stop or have any sense of regard to a person's privacy.

"Where do you live then?" He asked again.

"It is none of your business."

He raised his hands in the air "Now you're being grumpy. I'll keep quiet."

We got out of the car and walked upto the door. I rang the bell and then opened it. David stood next to me and was gawking the house like a kid in a candy store.

I saw my mother walking towards me with her contagious smile and my dad following behind. My mom gave me a big hug before pulling away to examine me. She does this all the time.

"You must be the charming architect my husband was talking about. I heard you knew Ashley, it is great to meet one of her friends."

"David Vince, ma'am" he offered his hand but my mother hugged him instead.

"Oh no formalities. Call me Ava. I'm happy to meet you" David looked at my and grinned as of he won the lottery or something.

"Honey, you never told us about your friend here"

"Not my friend. Not anything. Just our new, maybe, hired architect."

"It is nice to be appreciated, Ava. You've a lovely home."

"Thank you. Come along"

As David went inside I ran back up to my room and changed into something comfortable. I live at my parents house sometimes so keeping some pair of clothes made sense. I changed into something comfortable.

I came down and saw David standing in the hallway holding one of my baby picture or some picture and smiling to himself.

I was rushing towards him to grab the frame when I twisted my ankle and grabbed the first thing for support, which turned out to be David. I caught his arm and pulled him towards me to get a balance. It was an involuntary action that turned into intimate moment when he snaked his other arm around my waist and pull me to stand up. I was so close to him that I can clearly see the hint of black in his intense grey eyes. He was looking at me with his perfect eyes that for a moment I felt I was swept away from reality.

I pulled away from his grasp and straightened myself. I saw the frame in his hand and snatched it right away. The thing I came to do.

"Are you okay?" He asked with genuine concern. It wasn't his fun 'I'm cool' attitude speaking but genuine concern for my well being.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Stop snooping" I snapped at him and started walking straight to my parents. This whole thing is weird.

I spend the entire dinner listening talk and joke and laugh while I play with my food. The problem wasn't that he was talking too much, the problem was his fun loving attitude that I was so jealous about. I didn't want to but I envy the life where things could be so light and causal.

I was the first one to put my plate away as I couldn't stand him talking anymore. Everyone else follow afterwards.

After desserts I got up to go to my room when my mom stopped me.

"Ash, why don't you escort David out?" She smirked. I don't understand this smirking.

"He's a big boy, Mom. He can figure it out. Doesn't need an escort to drop him off"

"It's a big house. I could wander off somewhere and not realize" he made a puppy dog face and my mom nodded, understanding.

"Ash, please play nice. Just show him out"

I scoffed "Fine. Come"

He said his goodbyes to my parents and started following me. This entire day has been anything but regular. I haven't been this exhausted and frustrated in a long time.

I kept walking quietly and for once he followed me without speaking anything. I was in no mood to be a part of any of his conversation.

"There's the door" I pointed at the door "The driver is outside, he'll drop you off. You can give him the directions."

"Why don't you drop me off? I mean I came in with you, I'm technically your responsibility."

"You're not a kid and definitely not my responsibility. Just go home, okay?"

I turned to leave but he shouted "You know you could drop me for old times sake."

It was the last straw. I was furious. "There was no 'times'. Just one time, by chance, you found me and like the intruding self you're, you started a conversation I was not interested in. You need to get a handle on your behavior. We're not buddies or for that matter, we're nothing."

He took a step towards me and stood closer than he was. Although my instincts in these situations are always to take a step back, something about him made me want to stand there and see what happens next.

"You were the person I used to look in that crowded park everytime I went there. I don't believe in destiny or any of those things people write poems about but today when I walked into your office today and saw your beautiful face, I felt happy. I'm happy to see you."

I couldn't breathe or move. I just stood there as if I would break down if I move an inch. He took another step and stood more closer than he was. He wasn't touching me but his stare made me feel more uncomfortable than the touch.

"I don't want to hurt you" every nerve in my body went numb. I don't know why or what but I almost wanted to believe him. "I'm going to break those walls."

He step back, smiled at me and left. I stood there, replaying in my head what happened in the last five minutes and why on earth does that effect me. Nothing has had an effect on me for as long as I can remember.

I lay awake in my bed tossing and turning. You can't fall asleep when your heart is in war with your mind. My heart kept reminding me of the feeling I felt today with David and mind kept fighting with it. It was so destressing.

Tired and exhausted I closed my eyes but my brain played a trick and reminded me of the memory I never wanted to remember.

I wore a red one leg spilt dress for today's function. I'm so happy that my husband had won the award for his contribution in social service and his contribution to the society. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. Being with a person who loves and respects me so much.

I walked down the stairs and saw him waiting for me. Even after all these years, my heart flutters at the sight of him. He's the man I've always dreamed about.

He heard me walking down and turned around. His eyes travelled from up to down examining me. He looked up but didn't had the shine in his eyes or the smile I like so much. He had a poker face for some reason. I ignored my suspicions and wrapped my arm around him as we joined the party.

I started walking by his side. As we entered every eye turned towards us. I smiled looking at everyone but his grip on my waist tighten. I was shocked to see this reaction. I've never seen him like this. The entire time his grip was so strong that I felt I would bruise later. He didn't let me go.

I saw Mr. Jonathan River coming towards us. Mr. River is a potential in the mayor's champion who's manager is my husband and a very good man indeed. He has a beautiful wife who's currently expecting. I smiled at him and he returned the gesture. He greeted us and we returned the greetings.

"Ashley, You look beautiful!" Mr. River said with a genuine smile. It wasn't a comment or hit on me, it was genuine praise and I appreciated that.

As soon as he left, my husband held my hand and dragged me inside. I didn't even have the time to register what was happening.

He pushed me and I hit the wall. He took a step forward and caged me. I wasn't sure what was happening or about to happen but all of a sudden I felt nervous. I've never seen him like this.

"Go home right now." He whispered into my ears but his cold voice send chills down my spine.

"Why?"

"I don't want you flirting around. You're my wife, not some cheap tramp." I didn't know what happened but I felt so dirty all of a sudden. I've always known he was possessive about me but he has never spoken to me like this.

I could feel the tears but I held my head high. I didn't do anything wrong to be accused like this. It wasn't fair.

"I didn't flirt. He just complimented me and I-"

"Did I stutter? No, I didn't. Go home and wait for me. We'll talk later."

He pushed me slightly and left. I couldn't understand what went wrong. I stood there with tears flowing down my face wondering what did I do to be treated like this tonight. I love my husband and I'm sure he had a good reason to behave like this today, maybe he had a bad day at office I wasn't aware of. I wiped the tears and made my way to home. The entire way I kept telling myself it wasn't a big deal, only if I could believe that.