After three meetings and a work dinner, Ashley finally drove home. It is already past nine in the evening. The cool autumn breeze gently caresses Ashleys face. Letting out a long breath, she shook her legs and high-heeled feet before getting out of the car. But something is wrong. She can feel that someone is staring at her in the dark. The feeling is so familiar that Ashley immediately gets back into her car and locks the doors. Her hands were shaking and sweating, and her entire body was trembling. She dropped her phone twice before she was finally able to dial the security guards number.
"Hi, Im Ashley Fort... I live in apartment 902B... I think... Im being watched. There is someone in the garage and Im being stalked. Could you send someone to me?"
Ashleys voice is shaking after making that call. She calls her best friend Caroline and asks if she can come to stay for the night.
"Okay, they are all on their way. There is..."
A knock on her car window startled her, causing her to drop her phone once more.
"Miss Fort, are you alright?"
Thank God. It is a guard. Ashley covered her heart with her hands, took a few deep breaths to steady herself, and finally stepped out of her car.
"Thank you so much. Its probably nothing. Its just..."
"Its okay, miss. We are here. Let me send you to your room."
The tingling feeling is now gone. However, Ashley still cannot let her guard down. Its been so long since she has had the feeling of being watched by him again. The hairs on the back of her neck and arms all stood up. It could be an illusion. She kept telling herself that. Her legs moved as she followed the security guard up to the elevator and then to her apartment. As her keys fell to the floor, she waited patiently for the guard to pick them up and open the door for her.
No, something is wrong. Someone was here before. She can sense it.
"Okay, Miss. Have a good night."
"Thank you."
She reluctantly let the guard go. The guard waited until Ashley had entered her apartment and locked her door before he left. Ashley stands at her door, staring through the peephole for a long time.
The lamps mounted on the walls of the corridor are turned on. It is so quiet. Footsteps were heard in the distance. Someone is coming! Just the thought made her entire body break out in a cold sweat.
"Ash, its me," came the voice from outside her door. There were some knocks on the door.
Its Caroline. God. Ashley almost fell on her backside due to the sudden release. She opens the door for her to come in.
"You didnt just stand behind the door and watch the whole time, right?”
Caroline knows everything that has happened. She was at the bar that night to celebrate her promotion. She was there, along with Vincent, to help her.
"Are you alright?" Caroline asked with concern.
"Im fine now," Ashley let out a sigh and walked into the living room after taking off her coat. "I just had a long day."
Reaching her arm around Ashleys waist, she walked beside her and said, "You need to rest."
"Im fine now," Ashley protests.
"No, apparently youre not," Caroline said. She led Ashley to the sofa and pushed her down before heading to the kitchen.
"You should listen to your doctor. Youve been wound up since you got back," she said as she poured two glasses of wine and carried them back to the sofa.
"No. But I do plan to fly over and surprise Vincent tomorrow," Ashley said matter-of-factly. She is not very excited about it. This is just a formality.
"Oh, thats great! Im so happy for you!” Everything Ashley did would make her “so happy.”
"All right. I need to take a shower."
"OK. Oh, by the way, I have a date tomorrow. I might not be able to drive you to the station," Caroline said loudly as she turned on the TV.