The Love Of Money - S01 E208

Story 4 weeks ago

The Love Of Money - S01 E208

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 208

When it rains, it pours.

Ashlee stood in the middle of Erin's office looking... well, there wasn't a better word than disheveled. It was strange. Ashlee had always looked so put together. Her makeup was always understated and natural-looking, giving her a healthy, youthful glow. She always wore the best clothes.

Tonight, she was wearing a simple pair of sweatpants, a pink T- shirt with one of the My Little Ponies on it, and her hair pulled back in a simple ponytail. She was nervously washing her hands as she clutched them to her chest. Her emerald eyes were dark, suggesting a lack of sleep as they darted about the room.

"Oh my god!" she said, bringing her hands to her mouth as she stared at me in horror. "You look horrible!"

"Thanks, I guess," I said, looking her up and down. "You don't look your best either."

"I didn't know this would happen?" Her voice cracked with emotion.

"What?"

"This shouldn't have happened... I didn't mean..." She trailed off, unable to finish whatever she was saying, as she stared at me in shock. I knew I didn't look bad enough to get that kind of reaction; this was more than about a few bruises on my face.

Erin and I exchanged glances, and knew she was thinking the same thing.

"What are you talking about?" asked as I approached her. "Why did you disappear after got kidnapped. Ashlee? Do you know who did this to me?"

"No!" She said, dropping her hands to her sides and emphatically shaking her head. "It's not my fault! None of this is my fault!"

"Then who's fault is it!?" I was having difficulty not raising my voice as I closed the distance between us and towered almost a foot over her.

"Marcus," Erin cautioned.

"Who did this, Ashlee!?"

Ashlee looked on the verge of crying. "I'm so sorry, Marcus! I didn't know I'd like you!"

She started to bow her head, but I grabbed her chin and forced her to look up at me. I'd already been pissed at Ashlee for abandoning everyone the moment I disappeared. It reeked of guilt. This, though... this was almost worse. Now, she was in my house rambling, and I didn't know what it meant. "No," I growled. "You're going to tell me what the hell happened."

By this time, her face was completely twisted as she began openly crying in front of me, seemingly unaware that I was manhandling her. "I did everything he wanted! Why won't he retum any of my calls?"

"Ashlee!" I shouted, "Who?"

"Marcus," Erin said, "Chandler's trying to reach you."

Distracted by the news that Ashlee was in Erin's office, I'd momentarily forgotten that I had asked Chandler to take Hiro to my study, where they were waiting for me. "Fuck. Okay." I said, pulling out my phone as I let go of Ashlee and turned my back on her. I called Chandler as I headed toward the door, he answered on the first ring.

"Marcus?"

"Hey, Chandler," I said.

"Marcus," he said, his voice dropping in volume, 'where are you? It's been twenty minutes. The usually jolly man sounded more annoyed than I'd ever heard.

"Sorry, Chandler. Something came up. It's going to take me longer than I thought. Can you keep Hiro busy for another ten to fifteen minutes?"

"Marcus, this is Hiro Tanaka we're talking about. He's not a man who's used to waiting on others."