Ashton's eyes had immediately switched with being expressionless again just because he wanted to look at her and she got very angry.What would it do to him if he didn't act like a stone around her? Would it kill him just to show a little emotion around her? Why did he feel comfortable showing others that he was human but he acted like a statue with no emotions around her?She would walk out and make him come after her, at least that was what she had in mind to do. Ashton's eyes searched hers for some reason and she suddenly felt uncomfortable. What was he trying to find in her?“I'm going outside to grab a bottle of water and I was wondering if you two need anything.” She cursed at herself on the inside as those words left her mouth. Ashton looked at Lica. “Do you need anything? Do you think this water is going to be enough for you?”Lica nodded her head. “Yes it will. What about you? You don't have any water or anything, are you okay being like that?” Her beautiful eyes widened wi
Mai Lee heaved a sigh as she glared at the woman in front of her. What exactly is wrong with this b*tch? She asked herself.Ashton turned around to face them and gave Mai Lee a nod.Mai Lee sighed. “What do you want?” “I'm looking for a girl, Lica, she was in the room before you arrived and I want to know what happened to her.” Rebecca spat out in a commanding tone. Mai Lee scoffed. “You know this is why Ms. Cooper doesn't respect you, you think you can command everybody when you really should just know your place.” She spat out.“What?” Rebecca asked as her face scrunched into a confusing expression. “What does Ms. Cooper have to do with any of this? How do you even know her and about my relationship with her?” Mai Lee made to speak but Ashton shook his head. She hissed. “You are being too nice on her.” She said while looking into his eyes. “What?” Rebecca turned around to find Ashton standing behind her. “What are you still doing here? Didn't I tell you that I didn't want to see
There was nothing Rebecca hated more than being turned down or rather denial. How dare lowly security guards turn her down even after she told them who she was! Her family weren't the big shots in the city but they were well known enough to be respected by ordinary soldiers. There was a pyramid of the city and the way things worked. If she were to grade it, the Cooper family would be grade A and she and her family would be at grade C now that she had a partnership with their family. So she felt like the people from grade D to the lowest grade should at least pay respect to her and listen to her and not someone like Ashton who obviously didn't belong to any grade.Which was why she had found it rather unbelievable. It wasn't making any sense to her that they were taking orders from Ashton but she didn't have the time to make sense of it either. She angrily walked towards Ashton with a frown on her face. “What is the meaning of this? Is it some sort of trick? Rather, is it funny fo
Myles had done it! She knew it! He called his father while she and her mother watched and she was sure he put a call through. But did his father really agree to help them? How come he was fidgeting when Ashton asked him to prove himself? Was he the one she really owed her praise for the contract?She shook her head. “No, you didn't do anything that day, I know that Mr Jameson put a call through for me because he is a very considerate and helpful man. More than you can ever be. Why won't you just lay off of him huh? Do you envy him that much?” “Envy?” Ashton scoffed a laugh. “What was I expecting from an ignorant rock like you?” He asked himself though in a tone loud enough for her to hear. “Ignorant what?” She growled angrily. “I know that even if you were hit in the face with the truth, you still wouldn't see it because you walk around with your eyes closed and listen to the devil on your shoulder for directions.” Ashton plainly said. “How dare you??” Her eyes widened with flame
Lica gave her a smile and called out her name. The young girl's angelic voice snapped her out of her thoughts. “Ms. Knowles, I am so glad that I can see you again. I have to tell you, you really were brave even in the presence of death.” Rebecca smiled as she walked up to her and gently hugged her. She didn't know where was hurting her but she knew she had to be careful. After all, the girl was sitting on a hospice bed. “Lica I–” “Please,” Lica cut her off. “I really despise being called that name. Just call me Angel, it makes me feel a little less tense and it reminds me that I am no longer in that dreadful place. Only my enemies and torturers call me that name.” The look on her face darkened as she spoke. She looked up to Ashton who was standing right next to her bed and her lips pouted. “Why didn't you tell her?”“I am so sorry, I can't believe I let something as vital as that skip my mind.” Ashton apologized with a sad smile on his face. “I promise to let things stick into m
The question stuck on her tongue like a tape refusing to let go. It bothered her endlessly but on a scale of one to ten, how foolish would she look if she suddenly asked him why he was feeling like a whole new man?So she let the question bother her for as long as it would remain there and she would even swallow the entire thing if she could. She looked away from Ashton and focused her attention on Angel who didn't even seem to have her time. Ashton suddenly picked himself up and left the room. He must have said goodbye but she didn't hear him, she could only see his mouth move all through the time her mind was plagued by the question.She shook her head and paid her full focus on Angel. “I really am overjoyed that you are okay Angel. I want to help you with everything and anything you might ever need so can you please reach out to me if any need arises?” She looked a little desperate as she spoke. “I have to say you are a little late on that one. Ash already promised me everything
She noticed that her brain was finding it hard to process the story she had just heard. Definitely there was something wrong about it.Did Angel hit her head somewhere? Was she starting to lose her mind? Or was she just saying all that nonsense because she probably had feelings for Ashton?After all, he was a very handsome young man who always wore a cool demeanor wherever he went, drawing the eyes of every woman that passed him by.He was more of a babe magnet and it worked so effortlessly that it made her jealous.While they were still married, she could remember clearly that even her friends used to talk about how handsome Ashton was and they wouldn't mind getting down with him even though he was poor.They assured her that they would never try to do such with her husband though but she knew that if Ashton had given them a chance then the both of them w
Rebecca walked to the gate and dinged on the electronic alarm. She stood for a moment and waited while the door man took his time. While she waited she thought back to what Angel had said earlier. She had no doubt that what the young lady had said to her were inspired by Ashton. She only wanted to know why Angel conceded to say only the things Ashton wanted. Could it be because of the stupid promises Ashton had made to her or was there something else? She soon looked up to see the door man watching her cautiously. She looked at him and wondered why he was staring at her that way. Was she sullied with dirt or was there a mask over her face that he couldn't recognize her?"What is it?" She asked him, trying to ignore the irritation that was growing somewhere deep in her belly from the way he looked at her."Your car ....." He trailed and she looked around her and realized what he was talking about. She then rolled her eyes as he unlocked the gates. "I only went for a walk." She respon
The night was thick and the wind blew incessantly as Rebecca Knowles sat alone in her dark study. Her fingers drummed anxiously and noisily against the glass table as she mulled and thought over and over about the events of the past few weeks. She had played her hand well, or so she had thought. Manipulating Ashton and blackmailing him with Kelvin was one of her best plans in her grand scheme—everything had gone exactly as she planned. She let out a laughter at the thought. Soon and no one would hear anymore about the man, Ashton Pearce. He would be long gone, and so would his legacy. She was going to make sure of it. But right now, there was this unusual feeling of unease that was beginning to creep in. Things weren’t adding up. No doubt, Ashton had been far too calm lately, and she could feel something shifting beneath the surface, something she hadn’t accounted for. She hoped that it wasn't exactly what it was that she was thinking. As far as she knew, Ashton had asked to see Ke
Ashton paced the length of his living room, the dark light of the evening made out very long shadows against the walls. His mind raced as ge struggled to process the bombshell his informant had just dropped on him. For the last few weeks, Rebecca had held the upper hand, weaponizing that kid against him, threatening to take away the one thing he had vowed to protect above all else. But now, everything had shifted. The truth, as ugly as it was, lay before him. Kelvin wasn’t even his son.He grabbed his head as he felt the migraine come down on his oh so heavily. She was sick, Rebecca. His phone buzzed on the coffee table, and without hesitation, he grabbed it, his thumb hovered frantically over Thomas Gomez's contact. Ashton’s mind flashed back to their last conversation—the one where Thomas had warned him about Rebecca’s unpredictability. He was right, more than Ashton wanted to admit.Taking a deep breath, Ashton hit the call button. It rang twice before Thomas answered.“Gomez,”
Ashton had barely left the bar when his phone rang again. This time, it wasn’t Marco or Elizabeth—it was someone unexpected. He glanced at the screen and saw the name. A cold chill washed over him as he hesitated for a moment before answering.“Pearce,” the voice on the other end growled, low and menacing. It was Gregory, one of Rebecca’s most trusted associates and a man who had never hidden his disdain for Ashton. “We need to talk. Now.”Ashton’s hand tightened around his phone. “What do you want, Gregory?” he asked. “There’s no time for games. Meet me at the old pier in thirty minutes. Don’t be late.” The line went dead before Ashton could reply.A sense of unease settled over him. What could Gregory possibly want? He had never approached Ashton directly before, and the suddenness of the call reeked of desperation. Ashton wasn’t a fool—he knew he was walking into something dangerous. But if Gregory had information or was willing to talk, it was worth the risk.He texted Elizabeth
Ashton’s thoughts raced as he walked alongside Elizabeth, their footsteps echoed down the dimly lit streets. The weight of Rebecca’s threats still hung heavily in the air, but Elizabeth’s revelation about the mysterious meeting had lit a fire within him. He needed answers—and fast. His phone buzzed in his pocket, and when he saw the name on the screen, a flicker of hope stirred within him.It was his contact, the spy he had placed to gather intel on Rebecca."Ashton," the voice on the other end was low, cautious. "I’ve got something big. Meet me at the usual spot in an hour. You need to hear this in person." He said to him. Ashton nodded, though the man couldn’t see him. "I’ll be there." He said. Elizabeth looked at him questioningly, and Ashton explained, “It’s my guy. He has something—something important. This might be the break we need.” he said to her. Elizabeth nodded, her expression unreadable but supportive. "I’ll come with you." She said. They headed to the meeting plac
Ashton stood under the shower, the steam enveloped him like a shroud. The water cascaded down his body and it washed away the remnants of the earlier confrontation with Rebecca, but he knew the bitterness of her words lingered in his mind like a stain that wouldn't come out. He could hear her mocking laughter echoing in the recesses of his thoughts, taunting him with the possibility of losing everything he held dear, including his son and his job.His phone buzzed incessantly on the counter, jolting him from his thoughts. Elizabeth's name flashed on the screen, and he immediately felt a feeling of urgency mixed with dread. He had kept her in the dark about the fallout with Rebecca, not wanting to drag her into the chaos. But as he turned off the water and toweled himself off, he knew he couldn't hide from her forever.After pulling on a pair of sweatpants and a loose t-shirt, he picked up the phone and answered. “Hey, Liz." He said. “Ashton,” Elizabeth’s voice came through, steady a
Ashton leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking beneath him as he stared at the glowing screen of his phone. The fury that had once consumed him now simmered beneath a surface of determination. Rebecca had made her move, but he was ready to play the game on his own terms. He had to find a way to outsmart her—find a way to reclaim not just his son, but his entire life.He opened his contact list, scrolling through names until he landed on the one that stood out. A name he hadn’t thought he’d have to rely on again: Myles Jameson. They hadn’t spoken since their falling out over the rumors, but desperate times called for desperate measures.With a deep breath, he dialed Myles’ number, his heart racing as the line rang. He had no idea how Myles would react after everything that had happened, but he couldn’t let fear hold him back.The call connected, and after a few rings, Myles’ voice broke through. “Ashton? Is that you?” Myles asked. “Yeah, it’s me,” Ashton replied, trying to kee
Ashton Pearce paced back and forth in his apartment, his phone was clutched tightly in his hand as he paced. The walls felt like they were closing in on him, like they were going to suffocate him as the weight of his situation bore down on him. His career, his reputation—everything he had worked so hard for—was now on the line, and he knew exactly who was behind it. Rebecca.Why was she being this way ?Why did she had to be so cruel and evil to him?The sound of his phone dialing Rebecca’s number sent a jolt of fury through him. He'd had enough of her games. After about three rings, the line finally clicked open and her cool, composed voice greeted him.“Ashton,” Rebecca said, her tone was smooth. It was laced with a venomous sweetness that made his blood boil. “What a surprise.” She purred into the phone. “Cut the crap, Rebecca,” Ashton snapped at her, he was unable to keep the anger from his voice. “I want to see my son. Where’s Kelvin?” he demanded. Since she claimed he was h
Rebecca’s mind still buzzed endlessly with how intense and the discussions of her meeting she had with Miguel as the car cruised through the darkened city streets. She glanced out of the window, and watched the blurred lights as they passed, but her thoughts has already spinned ahead, she anticipated her next move. Miguel was a snake, she knew that much, but for now, he was her snake—one she could use to finally dismantle the Cooper empire alongside Ashton Pearce and claim her victory.But as much as she felt in control, there was a gnawing voice in the back of her mind. Was she truly prepared for what working with Miguel would entail? She knew that she wasn’t naive. Miguel played by his own rules, and while he may have agreed to their alliance, she knew trust was a fragile thing in their world. Still, the adrenaline that coarsed through her vein was undeniable. The rush of power, the thrill of knowing she was about to topple giants—it was almost addictive. Myles wouldn’t underst
Rebecca stepped out of the sleek black car, the hum of the city faded as she stood before the entrance to Miguel’s exclusive club, the same one she had been to with Myles but tonight, let's just say she was doing things in her own terms and by that, going with Myles was too much crowd. The neon lights flickered above the doorway, it illuminated an eerie glow on the street. Tonight was different—tonight, she had come alone.Myles had no idea about her plan, and she oh so discreetly intended to keep it that way. This was her decision, her strategy to forge a new alliance and take control of the situation. Myles could be too cautious, too predictable. But Rebecca knew that if they were going to bring down the Coopers, they needed someone ruthless, someone like Miguel.Not that she hadn't slandered him behind his back, but he mustn't know about that. She was dressed to kill, she wore a dark emerald dress that hugged her frame, it exuded power and confidence. Her heels clicked against the