Chapter 29: Chapter 29

DEMI

"Did you find anything?" I ask frantically into the phone.

"Yes." Liam replies. A sigh of relief escapes my lips. I worked too damn hard to load a spy app on Ashton's phone and I am glad it paid off.

"Well, what's in there?" Now my heart skips a beat, not because I am expecting to hear priceless information and secrets about his family but because I am afraid of learning he might be into Mila or some other woman or even secretly married.

"It's strange really."

"How so?"

"This line has very few numbers on it and they seem to belong to complete strangers. Women between eighteen through thirty-five."

My heart plummets. Why the hell am I surprised? It should have been obvious that a dashing man like Ashton would crave the attention he is used to getting from the female folk. However, I expected this kind of thing to be done by Ashley who is unapologetic about his flirtatious lifestyle. Ashton never struck me as the type to fuck his way through a horde of women.

"They all call him Mr. Fantasy."

Ew. I think. Of course they do. I can imagine all the fantasies he helps them fulfil. I am too disgusted and disappointed to hear more at this point but then Liam mentions something surprising.

"Mila's number is here too. It appears this is how they met. She continues to text him with this number till date but what I find odd is the fact that she refers to him as Will instead of Ashton."

Now, that's interesting. "Will? Why would she do that? She knows exactly who he is."

"She isn't the only one. I perused through earlier texts and I realized Ashton has been firm in demanding that the women hang out with him as Will not Mr. Fantasy."

"Why?"

"I have no idea. His texts are very terse. Mila might know more about this secret identity of his."

I don't know how to feel about Ashton having a secret identity. Just then, I have a flashback of the night I accidentally locked lips with him instead of Ashley back in Ashley's room. Ashley had passively mentioned his brother was off to a date that night. When Ashton returned, I had noticed he was in a bad mood. Could that have been one of his dates as Will? He also wore very plain clothes and his hair did look off.

"Demi, are you there?" Liam asks.

"Yeah, sorry."

"Does any of these facts ring a bell? Have you noticed anything strange about Ashton?"

I exhale. "No, not really. I was always too busy keeping my distance from him as someone clearly warned."

Liam sighs. "I think Ashton has another phone, his main phone with all the important contacts in it. This seems like a phone he got just to entertain these women or his fantasy as a guy called Will. Your work isn't done Demi. Get to him and spy his main phone. Try the other brothers too."

"I will."

After the call, I get dressed and go downstairs. Unlike my in-laws hoped, the heat from Liam's post hasn't shown any signs of cooling down after four days. Asher is close to pulling his hair out as his PR team are also getting bashed for their half-baked press releases spouting lies to redeem the image of the family and company.

Father has been very vocal about his displeasure with the situation and my connection to it. I have had very little of mother's attention but much of her support. I managed to talk to her two days back about the same idea I ran by Ashton and Ashley but she is yet to bring it up with father. I don't blame her. He's like a ticking bomb when his company's image and stock prices are on the line. It takes very little to set him off and right now, nothing will work faster than the mention of my name.

Mother has been distracted lately. Ashal is in the worst state I have ever seen him. He has been weepy ever since he returned home four nights ago. He has remained confined in his room and wouldn't allow visitors, not even his mother. Ashton was the only one he let in for the first two nights and more recently, mother.

I have no idea what could have put him in such a state. He looked cheerful when he was about to leave for an urgent matter the last time we spoke. Though I feel bad for him seeing as he had been eager to comfort me during my own distressful time, I am not allowed to go close to his room without ruffling some feathers. Hence, I choose to stay in my lane and hope he gets better.

"No!" Father yells from his study. I wonder what he isn't agreeing to. Asher has been in there with him for a while. I suspect it has something to do with me being excessively attacked by the blogs. The dust hasn't settled and father is finally feeling pressured.

"Demi?"

"Yes mother?"

as ever. Duncan, the senior bodyguard whispers something in mother's ears as I approach her. He bows to greet me and excuses himself.

"Mother, is something wrong?"

I hope you're not reading those harsh comments about you and our family." She gently touches my cheeks. "I hope you don't believe we don't love you or haven't fully accepted you

all care for me, mother. I just feel guilty being the target of gossip and attracting negative media attention to this family because of our different economic

will change soon

towards father's study where muffled voices filter through the partly

is but he'll

looks flustered at the sight

and you're out. I'll be keeping an eye on you the whole time so you better not fuck this up." He whirls and stomps into the elevator. A

Can I

yet dear. He still wants

the last time we spoke. He said he had something urgent to attend to. I feel so bad that I can't comfort him. He has been really friendly and nice to me. Could you pass

Mother smiles and nods.

news with Liam when a loud voice catches my attention first. It sounds like the quads are having a big fight in Ashton's room. The

the startup brand founded by Josh Randall and you go in there and convince him to let Demi work at

father was already thinking about it. I didn't have to sell him on anything. He had resolved to hire her due to your incompetence in tackling the

"You're lying!"

have been working with to nip this media disaster in the bud.

was Ashton? The Asher that had scared the wits out of me as he informed me of my new employment status was actually Ashton

did this for

does Demi working closely with you and

shatters to the floor. A flower vase maybe before Asher's voice

you wanted to please her so much, why didn't you just hire her in your own company? Why foist her on mine? I already have

Randall?" Ashton asks. "Why are you constantly trying

find out when I resume work next week. Asher doesn't bother to answer Ashton's question. He cusses some more before storming out. By this time, I am safely tucked away in

to Ashton not just because I still have to get to his main phone. There's so much to unpack as a million questions are running through my head. I am barely recovered from the discovery of his secret identity as Mr. Fantasy/Will and now, he's playing Asher? How many sides are there to this man? What other secrets could these brothers be

side and now Ashton and Asher aren't on talking terms. The entire atmosphere is very uncomfortable but just as I think things can't get any worse, Mila strolls into

up the mood in the house with a cheerful meal. When a maid shows Mila in, she is visibly

mine. While I shake her, I try to ignore how tall and beautiful she is and how she effortlessly pulls off the fuchsia off-shoulder sweater and leather pants she

with a tray of champagne. I have never seen father so hospitable. Asher has a lopsided grin on his face when I

Ashton calls in surprise as he jogs down the grand staircase. "What are you doing here? Did we have something planned?" The annoyed pinch of his nose at her surprise visit makes something jump in my chest even though I pretend not to

you mean? You reached out to my personal assistant via email inviting me over. I was just

glance with Asher who winks

here whenever you want, Mila." Father assures

"Thank you, Mr. Rollins."

shoots Ashton a 'Behave yourself' kind of look before heading back to his room. The awkwardness in the room is only felt between Ashton, Asher and I, but unlike us, Asher is thoroughly

for what I am going through. One look at her and how sweet she is being, and I instantly realize what the fuss is about. She is definitely a sweetheart and all in a class of her own. Maybe Liam didn't lie or exaggerate when he compared me to Mila and Nicola.

It takes a lot to not look back to see Ashton's face one more time and confirm if he is truly not thrilled by her visit, especially now that both of them were

suggest before the elevator doors can shut properly in

***

weirdest, shocked expressions on their faces when I tell them the good news. I don't know what to make of it. While Kira is visibly astounded by the fact that the Rollins family deigned to include me in their business, aunt's

"R-Rollins HQ???"

"Yes."

of what Ashton and Mila could probably be saying or doing in his room. Anna is still at work and I didn't want to bother her. I think I need

think it is. That family just set the ball rolling. Intern? Get ready for more drama." Then her eyes narrow. "This is starting to sound

mention of my mom, my eyes flip to aunt's. She's almost white as a

at Rollins HQ before

shakes her head. "I don't

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