A Love Trap

Ashley nodded in agreement. "Yes, you're probably right."

The girls hung out until it was time to get off work. Ashley meanwhile didn't seem to want to leave.

Ellie looked at her, seemingly puzzled. "Why hasn't he come to pick you up?"

'Isn't he normally punctual? He's always here at five o'clock sharp. It doesn't matter if there's a rainstorm or a hurricane—he has never been late. Not even a minute late.

Even if he needed to work overtime, he would have asked somebody to come and pick her up.

What's going on?

Did he forget?'

Ashley turned, wanting nothing more than to leave. She really wasn't in the mood to talk about it.

This didn't go unnoticed by Ellie's sharp eyes. She squinted then raised her voice, "Ashley, stop!"

'Ahhh, ' Ashley thought to herself. 'Why do we need to talk about it now? I'm not ready to talk about it just yet.'

She slowly swiveled and put on a fake smile. "What is it, Ellie? Nina and Cheryl have already left. Let's get our things and leave too."

Ellie ignored what she said and asked her instead, "What's happening? Isn't Andrew coming to pick you up? Did you two have a fight?"

Ashley pressed her lips together and said, "Why would we fight?"

"Then what's the matter?" Ellie wouldn't let it go.

"Just forget about it," said Ashley, her face turning ugly.

Ellie approached her so she could hug her. Then in a soft voice, she asked, "What happened? You used to tell me everything. We never keep anything from each other. Why won't you tell me now?"

She was almost sure that they did have a fight. But they didn't look like the type of couple who would fight.

As Ashley let herself be enveloped in Ellie's arms, she felt her sadness surge inside her. She murmured, "Ellie, let's go home first. We can talk there, okay?"

Let's go home first.

sleep over tonight,"

glumly as she put her

said Ellie, stroking Ashley's hair.

listened to her and gave her whatever she wanted.

was a true

best friends

and had already taken him off her mind. Ashley was

door of the cake shop and left together arm

supermarket and cook our dinner at home. What do you think?"

want," Ellie replied.

best, Ellie," she said as she leaned on Ellie's shoulder.

You're my

they were walking on the street, a red Ferrari that was hard to miss suddenly pulled up in front of them.

Ashley could react, Francis suddenly got out of the car. He looked sexy and attractive

was so focused on Ellie that he couldn't even see that she was with someone else.

ignored whoever was

smile and said, "Ellie, I've come to pick

her throat. "I'm going to sleep over

was in disbelief.

a step forward so that she was in between them. She eyed Francis

soon as he heard it. He turned his head only to see Ashley. "Oh, Ashley. I didn't

to pick Ellie up," he said

and said, "Didn't I

hand while Francis was a playboy at heart. He had been with more women than one could count with one's

up hurt if she

had to protect

been together. They had already slept together once.

she would give Francis a really

Ellie and looked at Ashley

kind of strategy

She focused on Francis and how to deal with him. She was so angry that she wanted to