บท 19: Return To Sender!

As always, the butler was just out of Ashley's sight, but perched just behind the door, he saw and heard everything.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk…" He said as he stepped into view. "Where do you think you're going?" He was now blocking her path, his arms outstretched.

"It's not wise to anger the master. You should be grateful for how he cares for you. He saved you from the syndicate. And now here you are, sulking, acting as if he is the villain in this story. What if he was to change his mind and send you back there? Well?" The butler was giving this scare tactic his best effort. He thought that innocent girls like Ashley were easily scared. It's just a ploy to scare so she won't try to runaway. He likes her innocence for his young master.

And he was exactly right. Ashley, being naïve, believed it at once, seeing the stern look on the butler's face. The same stern look as his boss.

"It's because …it's just…," she stuttered, her frustration swelling inside of her. Finally, she snapped, her anger bursting out of her as she yelled at the top of her lungs.

"It's because he is always so extreme! You know, sometimes he's sweet and warm. But most of the time, he shouts at me with the ferocity of a tiger. Ugh!" Ashley gritted her teeth and clenched her fists as she exclaimed, "I don't know how to get along with him!"

"What does he think I am? A mannequin?" She continued, "He thinks I don't have a heart, that my feelings can't get hurt?" Ashley's chin trembled, and her voice cracked as she spoke, pacing back and forth in front of the butler, who was completely calm.

"Oh, my, bear with it. He's actually a very kind person. That's how he is he's often seem angry when he speak, even when he's not. Let it be. I'll talk to him. He will listen to me because I am the one who helped raise him." The butler boasted to Ashley, with an undeniable hint of sadness in his eyes.

She stopped pacing. She looked straight into the expressionless face of the butler, her eyebrow raised.

"Really? Is that how all people from Japan? The thing is, this is my first time outside the Philippines.

"Where I'm from, there are no foreigners ever traveled to our area of the Philippines. I haven't met many people from other countries. Therefore, I'm in these predicaments because I don't know how to deal with foreigners." You should know that since it seems your from Philippines too. She's hoping that the butler would feel sorry for her and let her go.

"Yes. I understand what you mean. Now, let's stop all this drama. This isn't a television series, after all. Go back there and be the leading lady. You are not the villain, he is and show him what you got. Hurry! You two should be leaving now. Be patient and try to understand him." Advise butler Ruffy.

"Remember," the butler continued, "enter here, and right out the other side," as he pointed to one ear and then the other.

Through all of this, Ashley didn't see Tanaga standing at her back, listening to their exchange.

Confident he'd gone unnoticed, he slowly retreated. He didn't want Ashley to think that he was eavesdropping to their conversation.

Tanaga was tiptoeing back to where Ashley had left him. Suddenly he stopped. Why am I acting this way? I'm the boss here! Why does it matter if she knows that I heard them? With that, he turned around and went back to where Ashley had been with the butler.

She was contemplating the advice the older man had given her. She decided to return and let bygones be bygones. She turned around to go and ask Tanaga if he still wanted to take her out with him.

Unbeknown to her that she wouldn't need to go far. When she turned around, there was Tanaga, his grim face glaring at her.

"Oh, God! Please, have mercy, the devil reincarnated!" Ashley exclaimed as she jumped back in fright.

Tanaga's temples trembled when he heard her say those words. "Devil? Why? Do you see horns on my forehead?" His teeth gnashed as he spoke, his brows knitted together in anger.

This time, however, instead of blowing up at Ashley, he held back, recalling her earlier evaluation of him. "Can we go now? I'm not sure what time it is. If we don't head to the stock market now, we might lose out on the best stock and prices. So, I don't want to wait. Let's go," Tanaga said to Ashley.

She thought about arguing, but she recalled the butler's advice. "Enter here, and right out the other side…" So instead of talking back, she replied with her head bowed, "Sir, I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

Tanaga walked away without waiting for her. He didn't wait because he's confident she'll follow. He is slowly beginning to grasp Ashley's personality by now.

As they waited for the car to arrive, Tanaga went inside while Ashley waited outside. She was feeling tense, wondering where they were going. Nervous, she stumbled and nearly fell facedown when she tried to go inside. A/N: [she's not usually a klutz but, being around Tanaga made her that way.]

Tanaga's quick reflexes once again saved Ashley from injury. He swiftly raised his palms to keep her from falling between his legs. Ashley's twin peaks ended up perfectly placed in his hands.

" Holy shit… I'm dead!" He muttered to himself, self-consciously as he looked at Ashley's shocked face. She seemed to be holding her breath as she waited for Tanaga to move his hands.

A moment passed, and his hands were still on Ashley's breasts. She flared as her sanity flew away.

*Pak! Pak!*

Two resounding slaps landed on Tanaga's face, leaving a stunned expression on his face...

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A/N:

I hope you don't take it that Ashley was stupid or a klutz, she's not. With the unfortunate event that happened in her life, she's trying her best not to run for her life and go back to the Philippines defeated. She's still nervous around him and doesn't know what to do.

She's a proud kid and doesn't want to burden her family with her misfortune. Also, keep in mind that Tanaga is her savior, and not once he took advantage of her. Yes, the way they meet was not a normal situation, but love could still grow under the circumstances they were in...