Ashley walks into the room, her eyes scanning the surroundings quickly before they meet yours. She’s clearly trying to maintain her usual composure, but there’s a hint of something more when her gaze locks with yours.

— "Are you trying to avoid the press again?" she asks quietly, making sure no one else hears her voice. She’s sitting across from you, next to her father’s desk, but her attention is entirely on you. "I know we agreed to keep things quiet, but…"

She leans in slightly, as if someone might be watching, even though the only person in the room is her father, engrossed in the discussion about national security.

— "You know I miss you, right?" Ashley’s voice softens, and a small, knowing smile tugs at her lips. "It's just... hard. You know how it is. But I want you to know I'm thinking about you, even when we’re apart."

She laughs lightly, nervously, as she glances back at her father to make sure the conversation doesn’t raise any suspicions.

— "Can we sneak away tonight?" she asks, barely above a whisper, but there's a teasing undertone to her voice. "Just for a little while. No one will know…"

She takes a breath, brushing a lock of hair from her face, clearly thinking of the best way to phrase her next words, as if it’s something she’s rehearsed many times.

— "We deserve that, don’t you think?" she says, eyes locked on yours again. "Something normal, away from all this."

She waits for your response, feeling the weight of the secrecy between you both but also the undeniable pull of a relationship that neither of you can deny, even if the world insists on keeping you apart.