Tristan was sleeping soundly inside his room when suddenly his eyes opened at the loud sound of the thundering. Adjusting his blur vision he looked at the light inside his room turned off.
Tristan had the habit of turning on the side lamp whenever he was about to sleep but now when the lamp was turned off he frowned.
Reaching his hand to the side table he picked up his phone and made a call at the reception when he found that due to heavy rainfall the electricity was cut and it would take them some time to bring the current back.
Heaving out a sigh he turned on the torch in his phone and climb down the bed when something clicked in his mind. His legs automatically ran towards the door and he stepped out reaching Ashley's suit.
He had been so involved with Ashley's life that he found she was afraid of darkness. Just the thought of her being alone inside her suite with no source of light made him alert and he reached for her as soon as possible.
He rang the doorbell twice waiting patiently just in case she might be sleeping. But even after ringing in two times, she didn't open the door and that alarmed him.
'What if she is-' he didn't want to think the worst because he had no clue how her mind reacted to her fears.
He called the manager and asked him to give him her suite's passcode. Being an influential man no one doubted him because they knew they were not in that position to question him.
Once the manager gave him the passcode he applied it to the door lock and opened the door only to find the room silent.
Stepping in the turned to focus the torch in his hand and looked around the room when his eyes went to the bedroom's door. It was slightly opened so he thought to look that way.
His heart was beating rapidly inside his chest because not even once Ashley had answered him back and that somehow made him worried about her.
Slowly walking towards the door he slightly opened it and peeked to find no one on the bed which shocked him and he pushed the door wide immediately.
"Ashley!!" his voice was soft yet a little anxious.
He moved the torch on the bed and then to the other side of the bed when he found her figure sitting down with her back facing him.
His leg walked automatically on its own and he reached to the other side of the bed only to find Ashley sitting on the floor with her head buried in her knees. His shoulders were trembling which clearly showed she was badly frightened by the things going around her.
Tristan knew she was afraid of darkness but he didn't know it was that bad which scared the hell out of her. His heart pained to see her in such a vulnerable state. She was so traumatized that she didn't notice him enter the room.
Falling to his knees he reached his hand placed it on her shoulder and found her trembling shoulder compose when he called her name," Ashley... it's me Tristan" his voice was soft which made her lift her head meeting his worried-filled eyes.
Tristan's body stiffed the moment his eyes met her red bloodshot one that made him freeze in one place.
"T-Tristan.. i-is that you..." her voice cracked as she reached her hand to hold his arm just to confirm she wasn't hallucinating.
Tristan nod his head and found her pouncing on his wrapping her arms around his neck as she buried her face in his shoulder. He could feel her body tremble in his embrace which made him feel helpless.
Why didn't he give more thought to her phobia and just took it casually? It screamed that it wasn't a thing which was to ignore when something would have happened to her if he had not rushed to her.
Holding her securely he brushed her back trying to calm her down," It's okay I am here" Tristan's soft soothing voice fanned near her ear and he found her relaxed in his arms.
He kept repeating it until she was completely relaxed and composed in his hold.
Ashley who had calmed down pulled herself back avoiding meeting his eyes as she was embarrassed by whatever happened here.
Tucking her strand behind her ear Tristan asked," Are you feeling better?" he just wanted to make sure if she was fine because it was still dark around with only his mobile torch as the source of light.
Nodding her head she answered him back," I am fine now.." when again the thunderstruck their cords and she flinched wrapping her arms around his neck, "Will this sound ever stop" she cursed holding him tightly.
Tristan who was amused with her quick reflex couldn't help but thanked the rain as it was now the source of his happiness. Her clinging to him like a koala made him happy.
"It's nature's call. I can't stop it" he said brushing her back and hearing her hmm.
Tristan found her cute which made his lips curl but suddenly her scared face flashed in his mind and his smile disappeared. His hold on her firmed as the scene kept repeating in his mind.
He wanted to ask her but stopped himself because it wasn't the right time to ask about it. He had plenty of time for that and right now her safety was his priority.
Sitting like that for a while Tristan started to feel discomfort with his legs as they had turned numb because of her sitting on them.
"Do you want us to sit here the whole night" Ashley jerked a little when she heard him and that's when the realization hit her?
She was so into her fear that she didn't notice herself clinging on to him like a koala and now it embarrassed her even more.
'Why does she have to be so weak-hearted person who could tackle her fears' she cured herself and slowly pulled back only to find Tristan grinning at her.
One day she was surely going to smack that beautiful face of his, she thought and climbed down his lap still holding his hand.
She didn't want to stay alone in the dark space and the sound of lightning was already adding fuel to her anxiety.
"Sorry.." he heard her say and he looked down at his hand which was still held by her.
She was too cute, he thought, and heard her say," How long they're planning to cut the power"
Ashley wanted to sleep but she couldn't because of the darkness. She had already dived into an awkward situation and now she didn't want to go deep.
She knew she was damn scared to be alone and will it make her look coward if she ask him to stay until the power was back.
'No..no what will he think of me. I have already embarrassed myself in front of him to let him see my vulnerable side and I don't intend to embarrass myself more' his mind began to think about how she would make him stay with her but she hesitated just to not sound clingy.
As her thoughts started to ponder she heard Tristan's voice," Do you want me to stay here with you"
Ashley snapped her head and saw him stare back at her.
'Did I say it loud for him to hear'
Tristan who had been observing Ashley the moment she pulled herself away from him found her fall silent. His eyes watched her expression trying to guess what was going inside her brain when he understood and offered her to let him stay with her.
Ashley who looked at Tristan with her shocked eyes, subconsciously nod her head agreeing to him without any hesitation.
Smiling at her foolish behavior, Tristan helped her stand and made her sit on the edge of the bed.
"I don't think my mobile torch would last long" pursing his lips Tristan showed her the one percent battery left.
Ashley didn't mind if they had any source of light inside the room unless Tristan was next to her.
Keeping his phone aside Tristan turned and help Ashley lay on the bed before he pulled the duvet tucked her into bed and was about to go towards the cushioned chair when he was stopped by his wrist," Where are you going?"
Turning his head he saw Ashley looking at him with innocent eyes and at that instant, his heart melted.
"I will use the chair to sleep," he said and saw turn silent for a while and found her hold on his wrist loosen.
Before he would take a step he saw her sit on the bed and making space on the other side of the bed," Sleep here" her words made him still.
It wasn't like the thought of sleeping with her never crossed his mind. He kept thinking about it every day when he found himself getting into a difficult situation.
But now, he felt like she was purposely putting him into a difficult situation by asking him to sleep next to her. He didn't know how long he was going to stay still with her being next to him...
'God.. help this poor soul' he prayed and looked at him with pleading eyes.