The Billionaires' Ex

***

Staring back at the couple who were standing by the balcony of an apartment, was the beautiful sky. The midnight sky, where the stars shun bluntly at them without shame and they too, never taking their eyes off it.

It was the beginning of the new day that begun their one year anniversary and they decided to spend it together, as a couple that they were.

Ashton and Thea,

In a few weeks, they were to be wedded as one, forever.

Ashton swept her hair over to her other shoulder before placing a necklace on her. The diamond glittered in the night, twinkling along with the stars. He could feel her smile even in the night. He finally turned her to himself gently.

'You are the Moon and I am the sun, do you remember?' He explained to her and she chuckled.

'I remember,' He smiled along with her going further to hug her from behind to stare at the stars.

'I was upset that night,' she started again. 'My mom was in the hospital, I just lost my job, I was frustrated Ashton...and then I saw you again.' She smiled at her last words.

'Yes, maybe fate made us meet under that eclipse and now,' he paused and she curiously turned to him. 'We'll have to promise each other that no matter what, whatever circumstances, we shall surmount them. Whatever irks us, we'll talk about it. Whatever seems sceptical, we can talk about it as well.' She smiled together with him before turning to him and raising her necklace to interlock it with his as a promise, an incentive to always remember.

He smiled too, then turned her back to the face of the sky. Together they were willing to spend the night and not just that night, but other nights as long as it took them.

----

(A year later)

Thea gathered all the courage she had left after yesterday. Yesterday, was literally the worse day of working in this shitty restaurant. She found it hard to leave so suddenly because she fought so hard to get a job after her mother's breakdown. They used up almost all the cash they hard for medical bills. Taking that her mother's illness went overdrive right after that incident.

That incident that changed her life for good.

She sighed before entering the restaurant. All eyes turned to her immediately. She ignored them and walked further into the restaurant to begin the day.

Thea put on her apron and started off immediately, resisting every chance to glance at Cassandra, her co-worker, who wouldn't stop giving her a sly smile.

"Thea?" The manager called and the lady turned to stare at her manager. "Meet me in my office," he told her and she nodded.

When she walked passed Cassandra who was at the counter, she was sure she heard her say something like,

'That's right, you'll get what you deserve.'

"Sir?"

The middle aged man who was already seated on his chair sighed.

"I'm sure you already know why I called you Thea, so let's not beat around the bush." He stated and she nervously stood properly.

"Thea, I refuse to allow such a scene that happened here yesterday to have played without having something to say about it."

"Sir, i-"

"Let me finish young woman!" The man blurted out in anger. "Cassandra told me every thing that happened yesterday."

Oh no! Not again!

"I expected better from you of all people young lady. I've tried but every time you let my patience with you go to waste. I don't think I have any more so I need you to pack your things and never come back because you are fired!"

"What? What did Cassandra tell you? I'm telling you Mark-"

"It's Mr. Rowell to you now." He told her but she shook her head buying the formality immediately.

"She started it all. Cassandra accused me of something I wouldn't think of doing and then lied to you." Thea said to him.

"Well I don't care what really happened but she told me that she confronted you about dating her boyfriend and you stated yelling at her but you started the commotion first and that is all I know."

She almost scoffed at loud. For goodness sake that girl is a liar and a cheap bitch. Andrew wasn't even dating her.

"I thought you were at least matured enough to take your cat fight somewhere else but you decided to have it here, in front of my restaurant! You see me and my little empire as nothing?" He snapped.

"No, no, not at all Mr Rowell. You need to hear my side of the story. Cassandra is lying-"

"I heard enough to drive me mad already. Just leave Thea and don't come back." Mark said to her

"I need this Job Mr Rowell.....I beg of you. I haven't done anything wrong for you to send me away." Thea pleaded.

"You should have thought about that before hitting an innocent lady right in front of my shop Thea! I don't need to say this again. Leave my office, immediately!" Mark blurted out and the lady scurried out of the office in sobs.

She reached for her bag where she kept it before dashing out through the back door. What was she going to do now? Why her?

Thea combed her hair in frustration before calling a taxi and heading home.

~~

(London, 9:45am)

The young man buttoned up his sleeve getting ready for work as he was already late. He refused to take another look at the lady that laid on his bed. Every time he did, he remembered that they were nothing like he formally had.

"Ashton baby, you ready for work already? Why didn't you wake me up?" The lady softly said but he ignored her and took his jacket by the hand then walked out of the room.

Once again, she had managed to have her way with him just like she wanted. Her dream since when she was a kid was to be with Ashton and she saw herself achieving that the moment he asked her to be his fiance in front of everybody.

She was dumbstruck.

But after that sweet moment, he went back to being cold like before. But that didn't bother her. The moment she saw his argument with Thea, she knew it was her only chance to get what she wanted.

She sighed and got out of bed to take a shower.

The moment he saw her come down for breakfast, he stood to leave the dining room.

"Nice breakfast Maria, I'll take my leave now."

She saw him stand and immediately she called out to him.

"Em Ashton?" The man halted. She smiled and came down the flight of stairs.

"Would you like anything for special for dinner, sweetheart?"

"No, I'll eat out." He said

"Well, can we eat out together?" She inquired and he nodded.

"Sure, I'll pick you up by five." He said before walking away.

She smiled to herself and sat down to have her own breakfast. Maria lips formed a thin line instead. However, she decided that it was best not to show any emotion concerning the couple.

She took Ashton like a son and she understood him very well. She also knew for a fact their relationship strength was only but a thin line from the minute his mother forced him to propose to Claire in front of everybody.

Worst of all, she wondered how Thea was doing. The memory of their breakup seemed all too fresh in her head.

"Is there anything you need?" Claire shook her head instead, dismissing her with the wave of her hand.

~~