Millionaire Girlfriend

Chapter 3: Chapter 3 - Rich friend

"See? You swear too," Clara pointed out with a teasing smile.

Ashley hesitated before reaching for a plate.

Most of the guests were busy sipping champagne and wine, barely paying any attention to the incredible buffet spread before them.

’ Rich people really do have it easy ’ Ashley thought.

Noticing her hesitation, Clara picked up a large plate.

"So, what do you want to try first?" she asked.

"I don’t know. I don’t recognize any of this food," Ashley admitted honestly.

’ Is that... a shrimp?’ she wondered as her eyes landed on a shrimp cocktail.

"Then we’ll try everything," Clara declared, helping herself to a small portion of every dish.

She did so without the slightest embarrassment, despite the surprised looks some of the guests gave her.

She also made sure to fill the plate to the brim.

"Come on. Let’s get out of here," she said before leading Ashley upstairs to the second floor, where a long hallway was lined with bedroom doors.

"Are you sure we’re allowed to be up here?" Ashley asked.

"Don’t worry. You’re talking to one of the owners of this place," Clara replied with a broad smile.

Right...

The birthday boy was her older brother.

But where were their parents?

"Actually, my brother is only here because he’s hiding from our father. Dad told him he’d cut off his credit cards if he threw another party after buying a hundred-thousand-dollar sports car."

"And guess what? This entire party was paid for with my money," she added calmly.

Ashley stopped walking for a moment as she processed everything she had just heard.

First, Clara’s brother didn’t even live in this mansion.

Second...

Clara had paid for this entire party herself.

’ If I’d paid for all this, I wouldn’t hesitate to pile my plate high either ’ Ashley thought.

She followed Clara down the long hallway, wondering what anyone could possibly do with so many bedrooms.

Her thoughts drifted to the tiny apartment she shared with her four roommates.

"We’re here," Clara said, opening the door to a spacious bedroom that was nearly as large as Ashley’s entire apartment.

"Wow... so this is your room?" Ashley asked, her eyes wandering over every piece of furniture in the luxurious bedroom.

"No. It’s one of our guest rooms," Clara replied.

"What? Disappointed? Were you hoping we’d go to my bedroom instead?" she added, teasing Ashley.

"No! Not at all," Ashley answered quickly.

"Relax. I’m kidding," Clara said with a laugh as she set the plate down on a nearby table.

"Now come on. Try this."

She held out a fork with a shrimp cocktail and gently brought it toward Ashley’s lips.

Ashley wanted to refuse being fed...

But why?

It was nice to have someone treat her like a princess for once.

"Mmm... this is so good," Ashley said as she chewed, her eyes lighting up.

" You like it?.. Then what about this one?" Clara asked, offering her another bite.

Ashley wasn’t sure why she kept opening her mouth without protesting.

Maybe it was because this was the first time in her life she had tasted food this delicious.

She might as well enjoy it.

"What’s this?" Ashley asked after sampling nearly a dozen different dishes while being spoiled like a princess by her new millionaire friend.

"Filet mignon. Do you like it?" Clara asked.

"I love it. It’s the best food I’ve ever eaten in my entire life," Ashley answered sincerely.

"Wait right here. I’ll go get you some more," Clara said before standing up, picking up the plate, and leaving the room.

Ashley stood up and took a moment to look around the room.

A large bed occupied the center of the bedroom. There was also a small table and an enormous wardrobe that stretched across nearly an entire wall.

Curious, Ashley opened the wardrobe.

Inside hung dresses in every color imaginable, each one more beautiful than the last.

She admired them quietly, realizing she would never be able to afford even one of them.

Clara returned sooner than expected, carrying nothing but an empty plate.

"Sorry, I couldn’t make it to the buffet. Carl seems to be looking for me everywhere," she said.

"I’ll go back later. I promise," she added with a smile.

"It’s okay. I already ate plenty anyway," Ashley replied.

"Wait... do you want to try on some of these clothes?" Clara asked.

"What? No. I was just looking," Ashley answered, embarrassed.

She hadn’t expected to get caught snooping through someone else’s wardrobe.

"What, these?" Clara said with a laugh.

"Shopping is the only thing my mom and I do together whenever she comes to visit, so I keep buying clothes I never even wear."

She searched through the wardrobe before pulling out a fitted blue dress and handing it to Ashley.

"Try this one first. It should fit you. We’re almost the same height."

Clara stood five foot nine, only an inch taller than Ashley, although her figure was noticeably curvier.

"No... I shouldn’t," Ashley refused.

She knew by now that Clara had feelings for her, and she didn’t want to take advantage of them when she already knew she wasn’t attracted to women.

Still...

She had decided she could allow herself to take advantage of Clara’s feelings just a little.

At the same time, she didn’t want to reject Clara too harshly after everything she had done for her.

And if she was being completely honest, the fact that Clara was incredibly wealthy also played a small role in her decision.

You didn’t become friends with someone from a family like hers every day.

As an orphan, Ashley couldn’t deny that having someone so influential in her life could make a real difference.

She wanted to protect their friendship as much as she could.

"Come on. They’re just collecting dust anyway. You’d actually be doing me a favor by helping me get some use out of them. I promise I won’t look," Clara insisted.

Finally giving in, Ashley accepted the dress.

Clara respectfully turned her back while Ashley changed.

"So... how do I look?" Ashley asked once she had put on the dress.

"Wow..."

"Turn around so I can get a better look," Clara asked.

Ashley slowly spun around.

"It looks like it was made just for you," Clara said with genuine admiration.

Ashley was happy to receive the compliment, but she couldn’t help thinking the dress was far too elegant for someone like her.

She would’ve preferred something simpler.

Something that didn’t draw so much attention.

After trying on nearly twenty different outfits that Clara picked out for her, Ashley glanced at the clock.

It was already past midnight.

"It’s getting late. I should head home," she said.

"Wait. I’ll take you home," Clara replied, getting up from her chair.

"I can just call an Uber. Besides, I don’t think you should be driving after drinking," Ashley said, pointing to the wine bottle and glass Clara had brought upstairs.

"Oh, I’m obviously not driving. I asked my chauffeur to stay so he could take you home afterward."

"Besides, I only had one glass."

"Between us..." Clara leaned in slightly and lowered her voice.

"I actually hate wine."

Ashley laughed.

The ride to Ashley’s apartment was quiet.

Neither of them spoke.

Still, Ashley couldn’t help noticing Clara stealing little glances at her every now and then.

"You know where I first saw you?" Clara finally asked, breaking the silence without taking her eyes off the road ahead.

Ashley turned to look at her.

"It was at the beginning of the school year. I didn’t know anyone, and it was my first time living so far away from my family."

"Then you came and sat next to me."

"You said hi, and a few minutes later you told me you loved my earrings."

Ashley frowned apologetically.

"I’m sorry... I don’t remember that," she admitted.

She greeted almost everyone who sat next to her.

She had made herself a promise to be friendly with everyone.

After all, without parents or family, she never knew when she might need someone’s help.

One day, the people she met could become the only ones she could rely on besides herself.

"It’s okay," Clara said with a gentle smile.

"Because right after that, the girl sitting behind us said, ’Oh my God, I wanted to say the exact same thing, but I didn’t want to sound rude. Where did you buy them?’"

"From that day on, she and several other people became my friends."

"I think that happened because of you, Ashley."

This time, Clara turned and looked directly into Ashley’s eyes.

"Thank you, Ashley."

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!