2025-02-07 15:54:50The 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.”
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The Rise of Ashton Chapter Eight
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The Rise of Ashton Chapter Nine
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The Rise of Ashton Chapter Ten
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Chapter Seventy one
The Reunion The elevator hummed softly as it descended, the low mechanical whirr barely masking the hammering in Ashton's chest. He kept his posture relaxed, his fingers resting lightly against his hip where his newly acquired gun was tucked beneath his jacket.The blonde in the sun hat maintained her gaze, an almost lazy amusement in her expression as she took him in.Ashton knew what she was. But he had to play along, the lobby was filled with eyes and he didn't want to endanger anyone. "Nice day for a stroll, don’t you think?" she mused, tilting her head slightly as she drew closed to him. Ashton remained silent. He didn’t like playing with ladies. He was well trained to respect women. The two men flanking the women shifted subtly, positioning themselves to box him in.He noticed when they slowly surrounded him but still, he wasn't alarmed. He forced himself to exhale evenly, calming his expression. If he reacted too soon, they'd have him. If he waited too long, he’d be dead.
Chapter Seventy
Marked for DeathMorning came slow. The night that passed was the longest of Ashton's life. Every time he woke up, he could almost hear his brother's voice right in the hotel room. His dreams were plagued with his face. Was he dead? Was his ghost now haunting him? “Bloody hell!" He swore as he slammed his hands down on the alarm clock and jerked up. What was the alarm for anyway? He couldn't even recall. Sighing, he padded out of bed and went to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee. Celeste and Carter had both left him yesterday with more questions than answers. But the good thing was that they offered to help him. Or at least that's how he understood it. Celeste was convinced that they had a common enemy and he didn't know why. But so far, he knew how influential the Monroe family was and that they could help him. So, he was in. After getting his coffee, Ashton sat in the dim motel room, staring at the ceiling, his thoughts all over the place. The events of the past 24 hou
Chapter Sixty nine
Breaking Point"Stay with me," Ashton growled, shaking him. "Stay with me, damn it!" Augustine coughed, blood flecking his lips. His fingers weakly grasped at Ashton’s sleeve. "I’m fine," he muttered, though his voice was barely above a whisper. "Just...a scratch..." A scratch? That was a goddamn bullet wound, and Augustine was slipping away. Before Ashton could react, the masked men snapped into action. "Move! Take them!" Ashton watched in shock as the men got out of the van and tried to grab him and Augustine. Ashton fought with all he had. Punches. Kicks, blows, everything he had. But he was outnumbered sixteen to one. The odds were against him on every side. "We're taking him now!" the man barked, holding Ashton off despite how much he fought. Two men rushed forward lifting Augustine’s limp body from Ashton’s grasp. "Don’t take him!" Ashton snapped, his voice raw, "you cowards!”At this same time, the roar of new engines added to the chaos on the bridge. Headlights s
Chapter Sixth eight
Trapped on the BridgeThe men didn't stop chasing them as they rushed into the car, finding a way to reverse out of the parking lot of the school. Ashton sprinted toward the abandoned lot. His legs burned, his breath came in ragged gasps, and behind him, the sound of rapid footsteps and gunfire echoed through the school’s quiet lot. Augustine was right behind him, and for once, neither of them had the time to argue. "Get to the car!" Augustine shouted. Ashton didn’t need to be told twice. His eyes locked onto the sleek black sedan they had driven in, parked near the rusting chain link fence. The engine was off, but the keys were still inside. They just had to get there. Another gunshot rang out. Ashton ducked, cursing under his breath. "Who the hell are these people?!" "No idea," Augustine grunted. "But they sure as hell aren’t here to say hi!" That alone was obvious and it made Ashton even more upset. How many times did he have to duck a bullet in one month? It was be
Chapter Sixty seven
The Forgotten YearsMemory lane? Ashton didn't know why that sounded oddly too familiar considering his circumstances. Did Augustine know how horribly confused he felt? Did he know anything more about Veronica than he was letting on? The car ride was long and silent, the hum of the engine the only sound filling the space between them. Ashton clenched his jaw, glancing at Augustine, who was focused on the road ahead, his expression giving nothing away. “Where are we going?” Ashton finally asked, breaking the silence. “You’ll see,” Augustine said simply. “That’s not an answer.” “It’s the only one you’re getting right now.” Ashton exhaled sharply and turned to the window, watching the landscape blur past. He wasn’t armed, and the realization left him on edge. But as he sized up Augustine, he reassured himself, if it came down to a fight, he could take him. Years of taekwondo and self-defense training weren’t for nothing. But he hoped he didn't have to fight his brother. H
Chapter Sixty six
BlankAshton stepped out of the Blackwell Hospital, his breath misting in the cold night air. His heart was still racing, though not from adrenaline anymore. It was the intensity of what he had just uncovered, all the lies, the betrayal, the lengths to which his father had gone to erase his mother from existence. “Wicked old goose!" He hissed as he got to the car park. He clenched his jaw, shoving his hands into his coat pockets as he made his way to his car. The truth had been there all along, just waiting for him to uncover it. His mother had been abandoned. Denied medical treatment. Left to suffer because Frederick Reed had deemed her unworthy. Ashton got into the car and slammed the door shut. Carter looked at him through the rearview mirror. “Where to, sir?" Ashton hissed, “home.x The ride was silent as they drove back to the Reed estate. Thankfully, Carter didn't ask questions. He wasn't ready to answer anyways. His mind was a storm, torn between anger and a cold reso
Chapter Sixty five
A Mother's Heartthrob The speed on the motorbike was exceptional. The city lights blurred into streaks of gold and red as the motorcycle tore through the streets. The cold night air bit at Ashton’s skin, but he barely noticed. His focus was locked on the darkened roads ahead, on the wind whipping past his face, and on the woman maneuvering the bike with impressive speed. Behind them, the men that pursued from the house had vanished into the distance, but Ashton didn’t let his guard down. He still had his gun in hand as he twisted his head slightly, scanning the streets. No headlights, no black vans. Had they really shaken them? Even if they seemed to be out of immediate danger, Rovan didn’t slow down. She weaved through the lonely road with the confidence of someone who had done this a hundred times before. Every sharp turn, every sudden swerve sent adrenaline coursing through Ashton’s veins. It was reckless. It was dangerous. But so far, Rovan seemed to know what she was
Chapter Sixty four
The Badass Rovan Ashton took the flash drive from Rovan’s outstretched hand, his fingers tightening around it as he studied her. The dim street light outside barely illuminated her face, but he could see the slight skepticism in her eyes, the kind of look that belonged to someone who had lived on the run for too long. “This isn’t enough,” he said flatly. “If you want me to believe you, I need more.” “You should be glad I'm giving this to you. You'd never be able to find out what happened to your sister otherwise." Ashton looked at her and then the flash in his hands, “Frankly, I don't care." Then he flipped the flash drive in his hands, “I need information and I know you have it." Rovan sighed, shoving her hands into the pockets of her dark coat. “We can’t talk here. It’s not safe.” “Then take me where we can talk." Rovan looked at him like he'd just lost his bloody mind. “I think you're missing something here. I'm helping you, you aren't in the right place to make demands
Chapter Sixty three
A Messenger “Sir, we found out that the elevator was being tampered with," one of the security men said. Ashton sighed and shook his head. “I'm sure it's nothing, just make sure the lights don't go out again.” “Sir, you don't understand, you might have been in danger in there, I think we were breached." This was the part that he didn't want to deal with. He didn't want anyone snooping around just in case they found the Irish woman. She'd gone through so much stress to warn him. "Don't bother, I'm fine. Don't push it.” He warned sternly and then left them all stunned. As Ashton made his way toward the executive wing, a voice called out behind him. “Mr. Reed! Sir, if I could just have a moment of your time.” Ashton barely slowed down. He hoped no one would get nosey and ask about the elevator. He wasn't about to tell anyone what happened in there. A young man,no older than twenty-seven, hurried after him, his eyes were gleaming with enthusiasm. The ID clipped to his blazer re
