A Love Trap

Ellie stopped in her tracks when she heard Ashley comment that her bed smelled like the musk of a man. She paused and looked at Ashley who was looking at her inquisitively. She threw her towel at Ashley and said playfully, "Ashley, stop making fun of me.

What man smell? I think you're just missing Andrew, aren't you?"

Ashley dodged the towel that was thrown at her and moved farther. "Not at all," she said coldly.

The two bantered for a while before getting ready to sleep. As they lay on the bed, Ashley still couldn't shake off the feeling that there was some hint of a familiar scent. She just couldn't figure out what it was.

She turned to look at Ellie and asked seriously, "Has anyone else slept on this bed? I mean, except for you. I can still smell it."

"No, really. Maybe it's because you've been sleeping next to Andrew for so long that you've gotten used to his smell. So whenever you go sleep, you tend to think of it, don't you?" Ellie suggested.

"I don't think that's possible and please don't mention him anymore," Ashley said, pursing her lips.

"Oh, right. What's going with you two? Did you two have a fight? Or are you having some kind of war? I never thought that these types of things would happen to you two."

"We're just human. Why wouldn't it happen to us?" Ashley responded.

Ellie rubbed her back to comfort her and said, "All right. Then can you tell me what happened between you two now?"

Ashley moved her head to lean on Ellie's shoulder and said, sniffing her nose, "Andrew had an affair."

Ellie looked at her, astonished. "Had an affair? Did I hear that correctly?"

"Yes, you heard that correctly. He has another woman. I saw the evidence. He had lipstick marks all over his clothes. And he wouldn't let me get close to him or touch him. He ended up throwing the clothes away. You tell me. If he wasn't guilty, why would he behave like that? Men are trash. No exceptions!"

She didn't think Andrew was that

well and he adored her so much. She found it difficult to believe that despite that, Andrew

really cheating on

quick to respond, "Not possible. I saw it myself. There were definitely lipstick marks and he also smelled like another woman's

to each other? And you haven't even

do? He already has another woman. Maybe they love each other and they're just waiting for

you nuts?"

head in puzzlement. 'What did Ellie mean? Why is she

very late that night? And did he

Ashley nodded.

entertain some people. You know how highly regarded he is in the city. A lot of women go after him. Someone must have just bumped into him, which probably explains the lipstick

and smelled the perfume, my brain went blank. I couldn't think anymore. When I saw that he had trashed the clothes, that's when I knew for sure. How could I ask him?

if he admitted it? What could I do then? Do I

Andrew?" asked

hesitated. Even when she was kidnapped, the man had told her stories about how cruel and

that he would never do any of those

with her own eyes and it didn't help that Andrew was also acting

him? Should

Ellie watching her attentively, waiting for her answer. Ashley nodded slightly and said, "Yes, I trust

unconditionally whatever comes their way. Even if it's just a misunderstanding or some obstacle or difficulty, you

just ask him. This cold war you two are having isn't good

so?" Ashley asked, seemingly