Ashley considered going to Blackwood corp. to see Julian on her way home from the office.
A surprise visit, perhaps a little chat.
Head home together. Have dinner together. Shower together. Head to bed together and … she snapped out of her wild fantasy, as she passed the turning to his office.
Ashley barely went to Julian's office. Since the day of their confrontation at the board room, nothing had taken her there.
Hell no, she had no cause to be there.
She almost laughed out loud picturing how ridiculous it would have been, if she'd showed up there unannounced like a newly wedded bride, still intoxicated by love.
She imagined his confused but civil face, creased with concern as he asked her what the matter was and how ridiculous she would sound to him.
They approached the gate and her phone rang. It was a call from Brooke.
"Report?" Ashley asked.
"Julian didn't set Neville on fire," Brooke said.
"Can't remember you being this excited over a man," Ashley replied.
"You must love him."
Brooke opened her mouth, closed it, and tried again. "I… intend to."
"Intend is a power word," Ashley said. "Use it."
Brooke nodded, like Ashkey could see her. Her eyes were bright in the way of people who have finally allowed themselves a future.
"We are going to be having a date at Brie's tonight, you could swing by with Julian if you guys are feeling up to it."
Ashley looked at her phone again, wondering who the hell Brooke thought she was talking to or had love made her develop amnesia.
"You're funny, you know the circumstances of my marriage."
"I know, I know…" Brooke interrupted, "Surely things have changed between you two, I thought…"
" What do you mean by that? Did Neville tell you anything?" There was hope and anxiety in her voice.
" We do not talk about your relationship remember or you've forgotten so soon?"
The other woman sighed.
" Ashley for all its worth, I can tell you for free, he cares about you. When Neville spoke to him this morning all he cared about at first was not hurting you."
"Really?" Ashley was smiling now.
"Yeah, coupled with his little gestures and acts of kindness these past few days, I think he is in love with you.
"Ok, hold up, back up Brooke. Don't take this too far. I'm the one in the marriage, remember? Nothing is what it seems. You should know this better Brooke."
"If you insist. Ash, you can both still swing by for optics. That's what you call it right?"
"Yeah right, nothing screams contract marriage and divorce better than us sitting with two lawyers."
They both laughed their hearts out at the irony."
Alright, I'll go get ready for my date. Give my love to everyone and tell your Mum I would see her soon"
"Liar!" Ashley screamed into the phone as she ended the call.
As Ashley got to the foyer, she noticed Julian was home when she saw his driver making a call by the side of the house.
She was always home before he did. She wondered if he had any family over for dinner tonight.
Ashley let herself into the house and it rose to meet her. The whole space was lit the way expensive homes were. Not bright, but considered. Pools of warm light where someone intended you to stand, shadows where you were meant to breathe.
He was already seated for dinner , waiting for her.
The table had already been laid, picture perfect.The crystal swayed gently catching the city's evening light.
A low arrangement of white flowers that smelled expensive and not like anything from a garden. Two place settings, evenly spaced. A chair pulled out at just the right angle.
The servers passed by to set down the last knife, nodded, and faded into the background. Ashley hesitated at the threshold, then crossed it. "This feels… official."
"It's just dinner," Julian said, rising as she approached. The suit jacket was gone. The shirt sleeves remained buttoned.
"And my staff takes pride in doing dinner properly."
"Properly," she echoed. "That's one word for plates that weigh more than my laptop."
He almost smiled. He waited until she sat, then took his chair. The quiet between them belonged to people who hadn't decided what this was yet.
A second server poured water without asking, wine only after a murmur to each of them, names of grapes, places where sun does specific things.
Ashley nodded to the first glass and shook her head at the second. The server vanished on cue.
"Long day?" Julian asked, making it soft so it wasn't an interrogation, just a man asking his wife about her day.
"Productive," she said, without expantiating . "The rush order shipped. We're only minorly maimed." Was all she said.
"Congratulations." He let the word sit like an earned thing.
"And you?" she asked, because civility was a two way thing.
"Meetings," he said. It could have meant anything from a minor skirmish to a quiet coup. He didn't elaborate. She didn't press.
The first course arrived, lids lifted in a little choreography, steam climbed and made the crystal blush.
Something with lemon and a green she couldn't name. precise, restrained. She reached for her fork, he waited for her to take the first bite.
"Good?" he asked.
"Hmmm, so good," she said, and watched the corner of his mouth agree.
They ate. A string quartet, somewhere, made a polite soundtrack.
When they were done ,he followed her upstairs, making small talks.Till they got to the room they both shared. Her heart beating with anticipation.
"You good?" He asked casually.
She only smiled in response.
"Ashley, I would be honored if you'd come with me to the Blackwood's charity foundation event this month. I can't remember the exact date at the moment, but I would get back to you on that."
Before she could respond,he quickly added.
"We could go shopping together,just incase you need something."
"Alright."
"Goodnight Ashley, I'll be in the study, if you need me."
He disappeared, leaving her high and dry. She collapsed on her bed, frustrated, wanting and desiring what seemed so near but far out of her reach.