Chapter 219 - Galleria Mall

It wasn't long before Tanaga and Ashley followed behind. Hanawa quickly stood up in case she was needed. While she stands still waiting for them to say anything, none came.

Tanaga just passed by and didn't even glance at her direction while Ashley just smiled at her. With that, she just took a deep breath, let out a sigh of relief, and returned to her work after the two left.

Tanaga and Ashley went to the Accounting department so he could introduce her to the Manager. 

Manager Hoshi along with the two accountants was busy working and was unaware that Tanaga and Ashley had arrived. 

They were busy preparing all the doc.u.ments that Tanaga had requested, and they have been running around like a chicken without head ever since they received the order.

"Ahem! Ahem!" Tanaga cleared his throat so the three could notice them. When Manager Hoshi heard this, he stopped what he was doing and looked who came. When he saw Tanaga and a girl behind him, Hoshi quickly stood up to greet them.

"CEO Jones, welcome!" Hoshi said as he bent down and extended his hand for a handshake.

Tanaga took Hoshi's hand then greeted him back. "Thank you! How's everything here at your side? I hope everything is fine and you have all the doc.u.ments ready by tomorrow? I need to get this over with, so I can spend Christmas with my family. You know that already."

"Don't worry, Sir, Jones. All the paperwork you need is in your office first thing in the morning." Hoshi boasted as he turned his attention to Ashley that Tanaga had not introduced.

Ashley made her way and introduced herself. "Hi! I'm Ashley Gusman, CEO Jones's assistant. Nice to meet you?" Ashley also held out her hand for a handshake, and then just stooped to acknowledge him.

"Nice to meet you as well, welcome to Houston! Are you from the Philippines?" Hoshi asked after greeting Ashley with a beautiful smile on his lips.

"Yes, I am from the Philippines. Thank you, for asking. Yes, Houston is a very nice city, just like I am back in the Philippines, the climate is not too cold, and there is no snow." Ashley said with a simple smile on her lips.

Tanaga was not happy with the way the two were conversing and quickly put his arm around Ashley's shoulder. Tanaga showed to Hoshi that Ashley is with him and is no longer available. 

He was marking his territory and doesn't care what his employees think. He quickly changed the subject, "alight! Make sure everything I need is in the office before I arrive in the morning. We're leaving now, I still need to take her shopping." He then kissed Ashley's hair in front of everyone before he spun her around and walked out the door.

Manager Hoshi's two employees' eyes widened in shock. They were unsure of what they had witnessed and curiosity got the better of them. They immediately asked Manager Hoshi about the couple as soon as they were out of sight.

The two employees quickly got up and approached Manager Hoshi. "Sir, is she the wife or a girlfriend? I've never heard of our boss being married. Is she just a girlfriend?" The junior accountant asked, to which he answered himself.

Manager Hoshi, on the other hand, just shook his head. He knew that their boss was jealous that's why he had shown affection to his woman right in front of all of them. Tanaga thought that he was interested in the way he had asked if she's from the Philippines. 

What Tanaga didn't know was that the only reason Manager Hoshi asked if Ashley was from the Philippines it's because his wife Celia, who is in the purchasing department, is also from the Philippines.

===

Once the couple was out of the sight of the employee from the Accounting department. Ashley pinched Tanaga his middle section. 

"You! What's wrong with you? There was no malice in that man's attitude towards me. The way you marked your territory, it's show you're a jealous person." Ashley whispered to Tanaga as she placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Ouch! That hurts! What do you mean no malice? From the way he was looking at you and why would he be interested if you're Filipina?" Tanaga whispered back to Ashley just in case anyone else could hear them.

Tiny and Sato are in the warehouse and was checking everything when Tanaga and Ashley came out. Upon seeing the couple arrive they quickly approached them and follow the two on their way to the car. 

They pass by some of the warehouse employees who are busy preparing the stores for the ship and Ashley got curious.  She stopped and wondered what products the crew of the vessels using. 

As Ashley approached, the two Spanish employees stopped for a moment and turned to face her.

"Do you need anything Miss.?" Ask one of the warehouse employees.

"Oh no! I'm just curious! Go ahead, continue what you were doing. Don't mind me." Ashley said as she picked up some of the items the warehouse employee was packing and began inspecting.

Because Ashley said she didn't need anything, the warehouse employee continued what he was doing and ignored her.  

Meanwhile, Tanaga, Tiny, and Sato just stood there while Ashley was curiously looking and checking everything. 

Not long after, she finally finished checking and turned her attention to the three men that were standing patiently waiting for her.  "Let's go! If you guys are ready." 

Tanaga waited until Ashley was right next to him and put his arms around her shoulder before giving her a peck on her cheek. "Satisfied your curiosity already? If not, we don't have to go yet."

Ashley didn't remove his hands on her shoulder, she no longer cares if anyone was watching. She looked at Tanaga and smiled as sweet as she could before giving him a light kiss on his lips.

===

Shortly after that, the four returned to the condo. Sato drives, while Tiny sits on the passenger side.

The couple just sat back as Ashley leaned over Tanaga's chest and looked tired as she closed her eyes instead of looking outside.

"Love, if you're tired ... Let's rest for today, we could always go shopping tomorrow." Tanaga whispered to her while he's caressing her shoulder.

"No way Jose! That's why I'm resting now while we are on the way there. Don't you dare bail out on me! I have to buy my family gifts or they might never let us enter the house when we go there." Exclaim Ashley as she closed her eyes.

"Hmmm, you're right! All right, let's go straight to the Galleria mall for shopping. Then, we could have dinner out tonight. What do you think? There's this famous restaurant that I'm sure you'll love." Tanaga said as he tightened his grip on his wife ...

"Hmmm, thank you!" She mumbles under his tight embrace.