The Rise of Ashton

Chapter Five

The Mission

Ashton’s head spun.  

He had spent the last few hours stumbling from one absurdity to another. 

A lot of weird things had happened within just one day, but this? This was something else entirely.  

His father. Sitting here. Speaking as if this was somehow normal.  

“Dad?" He asked, looking around the fancy house. 

His father smiled. Not a warm smile, not even a cruel one, just a knowing curve of his lips, like he had expected Ashton to ask that.  

Somehow, he looked very satisfied at Ashton's shock. 

“What's going on?" Ashton asked, “Why am I here, dad?" 

“Because, Ashton,” his father said, leaning back in his chair with a smirk, “it’s time you knew the truth.”  

The truth?  

Ashton felt his stomach drop. He was already overwhelmed with shocking truths for one day. 

“What truth?”

His father motioned toward the empty seat across from him. “Sit.”  

Ashton didn’t move. “This is all so strange. What's Mr Coleman doing here? What are you doing here?”  

With a soft chuckle, his father swirled the dark amber liquid in his glass, watching the way it swirled before speaking again. “You’ve graduated now. It’s time for you to know the truth of who you really are.” 

“Yes, dad. I've just graduated. But what does that have to do with this?" 

His father smiled, "It's time for you to take over the family business.”  

Silence.  

The words seemed odd to his ears. Family business? What did that mean? 

“What?” His voice came out hoarse.  

His father’s expression remained calm. “You didn’t think we’d let you waste away in some ordinary job, did you?” He gestured toward Mr. Coleman. “You were never meant for that life.”  

Ashton was stunned. Was his father also pranking him? This had to be some joke. 

*Family business? What are you talking about, dad? I've been struggling to get a job and I just realized today that someone has been sabotaging me…” 

His father held a hand up, "You don't need any of that anymore. You're the heir to the family business.” 

Then his father gestured at Mr Coleman. He was standing beside him, with his hand folded in front. 

His father continued, his voice smooth and bold. “Mr. Coleman isn’t just your neighbor. He’s been our family’s butler for decades.”  

“Butler? We have a butler?" Ashton’s breath hitched. “What?”  

“He lived near you to protect you,” his father said simply. “To keep an eye on you. To make sure nothing happened before you were ready.”  

Ashton shook his head. “This is insane I can't believe any of this.”  

“Is it?” His father raised an eyebrow and then got on his feet. “We’ve waited long enough. Now that you’ve finished college, I have decided to retire. Everything, the entire family business, will now belong to you.”  

Ashton opened his mouth, then closed it again.  

He wasn’t sure what to say. What could he say?  

None of this made sense.  

For twenty-two years, he had struggled. Worked part-time jobs. Worried about rent. Lived an ordinary life. And now, out of nowhere, he was supposed to believe that his parents were what? Secret Business owners that lived in big houses?  

It was too much.  

Too much to process.  

Before he could even begin to untangle his thoughts, his phone buzzed.  

The beep jolted him back to reality.  

Frowning, he pulled it out of his pocket. The name flashing across the screen was familiar.  

Liam.  

His best friend. He already had an idea of what the call was about and he wasn't looking forward to it. 

Ashton hesitated before answering. “Hey, Liam.”  

“Ashton!” Liam’s voice was loud, excited. “Where the hell are you, man? We’re all getting ready to book the club. Graduation party, remember?”  

Right. The party. Ashton had not forgotten, but he wasn't planning to attend and so he didn't give it any thought.  

For weeks, his friends had been talking about this, one last celebration before everyone went off to start their jobs, to chase their futures.  

Except Ashton had no future. No job lined up. Nothing. He was the only one that had graduated and didn't have his life all fixed up like the rest of them. 

The thought made his face flush. .  

“Uh,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I don’t know if I'll be free tonight.”  

“You’re not bailing on us,” Liam interrupted. “Come on, man. You deserve to enjoy yourself.”  

Ashton hesitated. “I just have a lot I have to take care of right now." 

“No, I'll see you tonight. Even if it means dragging you out here. We must celebrate one last time." Liam chuckled and with that hung up before he could respond. 

Ashton sighed and his thoughts went wild. What would he tell the rest he was doing with his life? When they spoke of their fancy jobs, what would he say? He had nothing going. 

Then he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder. His father.  

Ashton glanced up, finding his father watching him with an amused expression.  

“Go,” his father said, his voice was rich. “You should celebrate.”  

Ashton frowned. “I don’t even have a job yet.”  

His father laughed, shaking his head. “You don’t need one.”  

There was something assuring about the way he said it. 

Before Ashton could question him, his father reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a small, golden card.  

He placed it on the table and slid it forward.  

“A graduation gift,” his father said.  

Ashton picked up the card cautiously. It was heavier than he expected and felt cold against his fingers.  

“What is this?” Ashton asked.  

His father’s lips curled into that same knowing smile. “Your spending card.”  

Ashton narrowed his eyes. “How much is on it?”  

His father leaned back with a smirk. “Enough.”  

That wasn’t an answer.  

Ashton exhaled sharply. “How much?”  

His father chuckled again, clearly entertained. “Let’s just say, you won’t be able to spend it all.”  

Ashton was stunned. 

His father smiled smugly. “In fact, let’s make this more interesting. Your first mission,” he said, his voice smooth as silk.

“Spend a million dollars tonight.”  

Silence.  

Ashton blinked. “What?”  

“You heard me,” his father said. “One million. Before sunrise.”