08 Finding Tessa

"Whoa! That's a surprise," Jake declared. It was always him pleasuring her. She never took the gear stick into her possession.

"An eye for an eye," Ashley said with a grin while pulling out his erect member. The beauty marveled at the size and mentally patted herself on the back. Jake was a future rotten guy, but presently, he was a Chad.

Ashley wet her right hand and grabbed his monstrosity, sliding up and down slowly for minutes. Then she started jerking him off faster.

Jake closed his eyes and leaned back. She sped things up real soon. What was the hurry?

"Hey, slow down there, cowgirl!" Jake pleaded, breathless. However, Ashley's hand went up and down like a plunger, making him climb the orgasm hill faster. And then it happened.

Jake exploded. Ashley dodged at the right moment, and his load splattered into the back of the driver's seat. 

Jake let out a long moan and shivered, with his hips tensed. "Mother of freaking God!" he exclaimed. "Full marks, Ash!"

Ashley wasn't paying attention. Regardless of the sexual action she was in the middle of, her mind was on the horrific vision of Tessa's death.

After Jake and Ashley were sorted again, the man eyed her curiously. "There's something different about you today."

Ashley shrugged. "I'm an enigma." 

"Come with me to Grayson Enterprises today after lunch," her fiance said lovingly, playing with her hair. "I'll show you around my company, show you around to the team. They'd like to offer worship to their future Queen."

The beauty pecked him on the cheek. "Some other day… After we are married…"

"I feel your mind is somewhere else," Jake observed.

Ashley slapped the collar of his blazer playfully. "You're right. You've always been able to read my mind. Anyway, I regret to inform you, dear lover, that I must delay lunch. I completely forgot I have to meet someone today."

Jake raised an eyebrow. "Who is it? Are you cheating on me with Mr. Someone?"

The beauty giggled and shook her head. "It's just a friend. Can you please drop me off at Hotel Marigold?"

Jake looked disappointed. "Marigold? Why? We have a reservation at Le Bernardin! Tell me who you are meeting!" 

Ashley crossed her arms and pouted. "Since when are you so intrusive? What happened to your devotion to the Queen?" 

Her boyfriend eyed her suspiciously. "But-"

"It'll just take half an hour," Ashley pleaded, making duck lips. "You can wait for me, right? It won't be the perfect final date if I have other things on my mind."

"Fine! Fine!" Jake replied, throwing up his hands in defeat. "I'll take my business calls at the restaurant till you arrive. But don't be long…"

The man lowered the limo's partition and instructed the chauffeur to take a different route.

Ashley got down in front of the Marigold Hotel. However, it was only after Jake made out with her for five minutes. It was his condition for letting her escape. He also kept her designer panties, calling them 'My trophy won in battle'. 

Ashley rolled her eyes at his adolescence and let him have the underwear.

***

The Marigold was a 19th-century mansion turned hotel, sporting eighty-nine rooms and seven suites with sumptuous Georgian-era furnishings, gilded mirrors, and chandeliers. It had two hectares of landscaped gardens, two clay tennis courts, a Sisley spa, and a grand pool. The hotel had different points of entry. The Graysons and the Palmers were gracious patrons of the Marigold.

Ashley stood before the hotel, pursing her lips. What would Tessa Grayson react if she dropped in so suddenly? True, the girl was a best friend already, but Ashley couldn't recall how Tessa was a year back. She needed some research before barging into her busy schedule.

Ashley immediately googled the young Grayson. The eighteen-year-old was already a mini-celebrity, featured on the magazine Teen Billionaires.

Ashley rushed to the reception, wondering what the hell the girl was doing in the Marigold Hotel. The receptionist, Bella, recognized Ashley since the Palmer family frequently booked suits for business purposes. "Miss Palmer… What a pleasure… How can I be of service?"

"Is Tessa Grayson staying in one of your rooms?"

Bella raised an eyebrow and checked her desktop. "Umm, yes, ma'am. Her photoshoot for TEEN VOGUE is scheduled for today."

"I see… Give me a second." Ashley immediately called up the head office of TEEN VOGUE.

"Ah, Miss Palmer!" Carmen, the Chief Editor of TEEN VOGUE, blared over the phone with raw enthusiasm. "To what do I owe the pleasure?!"

"I need some information," came the direct reply.

"Of course. Before that, if I may mention… We approached you so many times during your teenage years to feature in our magazine, TEEN VOGUE. Perhaps we can have a deal for 'Vogue', our premier magazine for adults? You are rich, beautiful, and fashionable, a perfect celebrity for our readers!"

Ashley sighed. "Carmen… I am flattered. I will let you know if I am interested. Can you help with my issue right now?"

"Oh, pardon me. Please go ahead. How can I help?"

"Do you have a photoshoot with Tessa Grayson today?"

"Umm… Let me check… Yeah, we do have an appointment with Miss Grayson for TEEN VOGUE. But it's not today; it's next week."

"Alright. Thanks."

Ashley disconnected the call and bit her lip anxiously. If TEEN VOGUE didn't schedule a photoshoot today, then who did? Was it Tessa's killer?