T W E N T Y

WHO TO CHOOSE?

That was the question plaguing my mind ever since Ashton hung up the phone. He told me that he needed to get dressed, so in other words meaning that I had less time than I thought I did to make such an important decision. I had asked Luke, but the me that asked him awhile ago felt like a completely different person when the whole thing with Ashton firing Meredith had thrown me completely off guard.

I was at home now, taking a look through all of the dresses that I knew would compliment my tall frame while staying within the parameters of professionalism. Thankfully, I knew by my instincts that Luke and Ashton were going to wear black tuxedos anyway because that's just how guys dressed up, and I had plenty of dresses to go with what they would wear.

I just had no idea why I needed Dana, Eric, and Elijah to help me pick — which basically meant raiding my fridge and telling me what they decided made me good-looking. I guess that was all a part of having friends and while it felt incredibly invasive, it also felt good.

"Wear a see-through dress," Dana suggested before popping open yet another bottle of the wine Bretton had left. "Luke wouldn't be able to resist you and you'll soon have those strong hands all over you."

Eric — the supposedly sane one in the group — actually nodded in agreement with her too and I had to physically stop myself from melting into a puddle on the floor.

"When did I even mention Luke," I asked, throwing my hands up in desperation. "I asked you guys to help me decide on a dress, not on a date."

"But Ashton is with Emilie Standifer," Eric argued. "She was on the September Issue of Vogue. The September Issue, Fiona. No offense, but you can't compete with that, even if you are a better person than she is."

Eric bringing up that fact caused Elijah to argue with him and for Dana to hop in the middle of everything, so I used the opportunity to look into the mirror and finally have some peace — that lacked in quietness — in my life.

As much as I hated to believe it, Eric was right. If I could barely compete with her before I heard about the September Issue, then there was no way I could do it now. But Ashton's words to Meredith and that look he shot me back at the office were ringing loudly and clearly in my head, leaving me with no choice but to entertain the possibility that maybe Ashton and I could've been a good thing.

Besides, it was just this event, something completely platonic. Not even the thought of that could quell the butterflies that were begging in the pit of my stomach, but I wouldn't even be releasing them anytime soon if I went with him instead of Luke.

I knew what I had to do.

—

LUKE EYED ME WARILY AS WE STOOD IN THE KITCHEN AT ASHTON'S HOUSE.

"You wanted to take me to the event with you?" he asked after a minute of silence had passed between us.

"I still do," I said softly, hoping that Ashton wasn't waiting somewhere around the corner eavesdropping.

Luke looked completely confused which was not the reaction I had expected from him. I thought he would've been happier, but the straight line of his lips said everything. "Fiona, I can't go. I like you, I really do, but I can't let you throw away your chance to be with Ashton. I can't do that to you."

I frowned, my hand reaching out for his. "He doesn't like me — at least not like you think. He has Emilie Standifer after all. Besides, I don't like him the way I like you. I mean, sure, he's attractive and all that but —"

Luke just chuckled, cutting me off mid-sentence. "Don't worry about explaining it, because it's not easy. I already knew you liked him since the moment I met you. It's always been about him, whether you liked me or not. I was the backup plan, like it or not. I definitely don't like it, but there's nothing I can do about it, right?"

"You can come with me," I reasoned, "you can go as my date. I like you, Luke. And I want you, I really do."

"Then why did it take you so long to tell me about this event," he said and not asked, simply placing a hand on my shoulder. "You've had plenty of opportunities to and yet you never did."

I was stunned, mainly because I knew all along and yet I didn't. I had been waiting on Ashton to make a grand gesture of sorts. I had been the one to make it with Luke when I had kissed him, but now I had to look back and wonder. Did I only do that because Ashton would never do that to me? Or did that moment actually come from my genuine feelings. I did like Luke, through and through, but it was always Ashton. Ever since the beginning.

—

"YOU'RE NOT TAKING EMILIE?"

It was around seven on the evening of the big product reveal event, and while I originally planned on Luke to take me, Ashton had cornered me with his call when I was at the cafe to ask me as his date. He was definitely trying to convince me, if the bag of chips in his hand were any indication. Little did he know, he didn't need to.

"Well, she said she had some problems at the hotel, so she wanted to meet me there," he shrugged. "Besides, you're right here, so why should I not ask you instead?"

This was something that I had wanted to have happen for a while now, but it didn't feel right since I would be ditching Luke and that I would pretty much be a fill-in for Emilie. Things were going back to the way they were between us, which was what mattered, but if Luke knew he didn't have a date anymore, then he probably wouldn't go and would be missing out on the big party. He seemed to be really into me and it sucked that as much as it felt like I reciprocated, it was never one hundred percent on my end.

After talking to Luke, I had found Ashton in his massive bedroom which I had never seen before. Just being here almost felt intimate and I could hear Elijah's voice urging me to do sexual things to him had he known I would be here. Of course, he had just said the word Emilie and I felt myself deflate like a pricked balloon.

He handed me the bag of chips — sour cream and onion just like that one time days ago — and turned for the door. "Just let me know if you really want to go or not."

As I took the chips in my hand, my eyes widened at the sight on a note written in a messy scrawl that was taped to the bag. Shutting the door, I stared down at it, but his penmanship was just as messy as he claimed it to be when he asked me to write that thank you note. I caught it between my fingertips, lifting it up and freeing it from the tape so I could get a closer look at it.

What do you say to this dance, little minx?

I was overcome with a fit of laughter at the sight of it. Maybe things were back to normal between Ashton and I, for good. Maybe this good thing hadn't been ruined, after all. Maybe it just wasn't what I'd been hoping for.

—

IT HAD ALREADY BEEN QUITE A NIGHT AND IT BARELY EVEN BEGAN.

Ashton's penthouse was on the thirty-fifth floor and the elevator ride on the way down took eons. To avoid boring myself to death, I began to fiddle with my necklace that Luke had bought me that one time we went to the mall together. I was still amazed by how much he'd do for me as a friend and I couldn't help but wonder if I ever had a chance with him because hypothetically, I would've jumped on it at the first mention. Even if I did, I probably didn't deserve a guy like him anyway. He was always so gentle and was never mean, which were admirable characteristics for someone who was attractive in this day and age where most attractive people were the reason why 'don't judge a book by its cover' is such a popular phrase.

Ashton told me that he would be waiting for me by the limo while I did my hair, but I had no idea what to expect when I got down there. I was usually a bit of a spazz, and that was the last thing I needed to be, but I had only been in the convertible so riding in a limo would definitely make me go a bit stir-crazy with excitement.

My dress for the occasion — which I had brought from my house to Ashton's in a garment bag to avoid getting it dirty or damaged on the way over — was a dark purple with a flowery fringe at the neck. The sleeves hung gently around my elbows and the bottom of the dress pooled near my ankles. The sash ribbon in the middle was held by a tiny flower pin and I wore purple heels to match. Many people getting on and off of the elevator congratulated my choice and I had to agree, I looked pretty good in purple. I wondered if Ashton would think so too.

The doors finally slid apart in the main lobby and I stepped out, heading for the main exit. Then I finally saw it, making me pause.

He had already told me about the limo, but by instinct, I was completely surprised. Especially since Ashton was leaning against said limo. I found that I had to catch my breath at the sight of him.

He was wearing a sleek black tuxedo like I had expected all along, with his hair slicked back from his face. He didn't shave like I had expected him to, which balance out his elegance tonight with a bit of ruggedness. Currently, he was talking on the phone with someone, and I was curious as to who it was, but I didn't try to inch closer.

Then he glanced up and our eyes met, causing any breath I had previously caught to leave me in a single instant. He looked so handsome tonight and yet he was looking at me. It was strange, even if we were the only people here, even if he meant to take me out to the event tonight.

"Emilie," he said into the phone, his gaze darkening imperceptibly with emotion, "I'll call you back. Or I'll come and find you when I get there." At that, he hung up on her without even a goodbye, discarding the phone into his pocket. "Fiona, you look amazing."

His words caused me to falter a bit, but in order to save face, I decided to twirl in my new dress for him. "Isn't it gorgeous?"

"Yes," he said in a voice that was deliciously husky and I could feel my skin crawl in delight. "You are gorgeous. Come along with me, so we can get our seats at the head table."

I had honestly been expecting a bit more, but he just stood up from off of the limo and walked around to the door, letting himself in but leaving it opened for me to crawl inside. But everything was good, everything was back to normal again.

—

THERE'S JUST THIS THING ABOUT A BALLROOM THAT TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY.

You never know exactly what it is, just that the sight of everything around you has left you gasping because there's just too much beauty for you to take in all at once. I hadn't been in many ballrooms before besides the one where I met Ashton, but they were something I felt like I could get used to. Tables and decorations were all set up just the way we had done it days earlier, but now there were people to add to the magic of it with their lively conversations and the service tables were now decked with various foods and drinks. The grand stage where Ashton was supposed to give his big presentation was set up, with a microphone standing up and a projector screen behind it. Since no one at my level of clearance knew about what this product was for privacy reasons, I was curious as to what in the world this big party was going to be about. Rumor had it that this was an unveiling ceremony of a new product which was exciting.

Of course, all of my excitement dissipated at once as soon as I saw Emilie Standifer. She and her ex-husband were talking with their heads bowed at a table across the room. It was quite a sight to see, that she had brought him along as a proxy date even though the whole world knew they weren't together. It was, sadly enough, just like Ashton and I. He had brought me along as a friend, but with new perspective on it, I realized that I was also here to divert attention from the possibility that Ashton and Emilie were together.

Ashton must've seen her too and knew exactly what I was thinking because he said, "don't worry about her. I have a gift I want to give you after my speech." A gift? I could feel my face heat up but thankfully, Ashton was no longer looking my way when the blood rushed up to my cheeks.

At that, he lead me over to my seat before he got up to go and talk to people who I didn't know. The only people sitting down was a beautiful couple that I swore I remembered from some magazine last year but I wasn't sure. The man was just as striking as his partner, him with dark hair and crystal blue eyes, and her with glossy blonde hair and green eyes.

"Hi," the girl said, extending her hand out to me across the table, "I'm Elisa Way, nice to meet you."

"And I'm Dice," he said with a grin, "her husband."

"Oh," I said, still trying to jog my memory for their names but coming up short. "It's so nice to meet you guys. I'm here with Mr. Baldwin."

"Nice," Elisa grinned. "Are you like with-with him? Like as his girlfriend, because I can totally see it."

"No," I said almost too quickly. When I recovered, I finally added, "I'm just his personal assistant."

The two of them suddenly craned their necks to look out past me. "I don't know, you better talk to him because he's talking to Helena Prescott right now and I can tell by the look in her eyes that she definitely wants a slice of that cake."

"Ugh," her husband said, "Elisa, I'm right here."

I turned around and sure enough, Ashton was a few yards away talking it up with a beautiful woman who was tall with caramel skin and black hair. They were laughing about something he said and I couldn't help but feel somewhat jealous of them. She looked like she fit in with this classy lifestyle and everything, while the last time I was at an event like this, I accidentally left a lipstick stain on my boss' drink and got sucked into dancing with him.

He suddenly looked at me, causing the woman named Helena to follow his gaze to me as well. I instantly blushed and ducked my head away, pretending I was looking elsewhere. Out out the corner of my eye, I could see him chuckle and point at me which made me feel even more embarrassed. If he was making fun of me with that woman, I would catch a cab home.

Turning back to see him again, he definitely didn't look like he had any mean intentions.

—

THE SPEECH WENT GREAT.

Ashton spoke eloquently about the new software that the company came up with, one that would apparently change the face of email. It sounded pretty optimistic in my opinion, but what did I know about technology? To be frank, not much.

People were dancing and having a good time now that the speech was over. He was speaking to Emilie now who was giving him a puzzled look. I could only guess that he was leaving her for Helena because she was much foxier and probably a better person. Besides, I had no idea where Ms. Prescott was, so she was probably waiting for Ashton in the back room or something, waiting for a sloppy make-out session or whatever Ashton did with girls at parties like these.

I had no idea why I was so jealous but I just was, I couldn't help it.

Emilie sighed and walked away, making her way over to the refreshment table and I was surprised as anyone when instead of following her or looking for Helena, Ashton made his way to me.

"I have to ask you something," he said, "can we go out to the balcony?"

I nodded before following him out to one of the outdoor terraces on this level. Because it was late at night, the temperature was a bit chilly outside and I shuddered when he closed the glass door behind us since the ballroom provided us with some much-needed heat.

"Hey," he said as if finally noticing me for the first time this night or if he was really happy to see me. "Look, I brought you here because what I said on the phone just didn't settle it. I'm sorry —"

"Look, Ashton," I smiled. "There's no need to —"

"No," he cut in. "I'm sorry for treating you the way I have because, Fiona, I shouldn't have been so horrible to you about the Meredith situation."

"So you broke up with Emilie?" I asked.

"Yes," he said, his hands lightly gripping mine. "So how about we start over. My name is Ashton Baldwin, but you can just call me Ashton."

I felt a familiar tug at the bottom of the heart after hearing him tell me those words for the third time already. It was funny almost, starting over but keeping to the good things that came from what you had before, almost paradoxical.

But that didn't mean I would contradict what I was feeling in my heart and in my mind. No, some things were worth sticking to.

"Hi then, I'm Fiona."