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?"

the senior bodyguard whispers something in mother's ears as I approach her. He

"Mother, is something wrong?"

and our family." She gently

mother. I just feel guilty being the

will change soon

father's study where muffled voices filter through the partly open door. "Father is

but he'll come

door to father's study swings open and Asher steps out. He looks flustered at the sight of me. Stepping up to

an intern at Rollins HQ next week. Be prepared to wake up extremely early and work extremely late. I hear one complaint 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 huge grin forms on my face as I turn to mother. Hers is a weak but relieved smile. I embrace her and thank

Ashal? Can

dear. He still

He has been really friendly and nice to me. Could you pass my message to him? Tell him I miss him

Mother smiles and nods.

attention first. It sounds like the quads are having a big fight in Ashton's room. The door is slightly ajar as I

you to impersonate me and tell dad not to sponsor the startup brand founded by Josh Randall and you go in there and convince him to let Demi work at the HQ? Have you

on anything. He had resolved to hire her due to your incompetence in tackling the issue. His words, not mine. You know what that means,

"You're lying!"

media disaster in the bud. If I hadn't stepped in and preempted

of me as he informed

did this for

working closely with

floor. A flower vase maybe before Asher's voice

company? Why foist her on mine?

against Josh Randall?" Ashton asks. "Why

Josh is but I guess I'll 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 my room

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

best time. The brothers are all on edge. Ashley hasn't left Ashal's side and now Ashton and Asher aren't on talking terms. The entire atmosphere is very uncomfortable but

trying to figure out what the family should have for dinner. We are hoping to perk up the mood in the

hand out to shake 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 has on. In her six-inch heels, I hate that I have to look up at her face

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

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 reached out to my personal assistant via email inviting me over. I was just as surprised to

with Asher who winks at

here whenever you want,

"Thank you, Mr. Rollins."

to his room. The awkwardness in the room is only felt between Ashton, Asher and I, but unlike us, Asher is thoroughly

Mila offers her sincere apologies 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

smiling warmly. After that, I excuse myself as well. It takes a lot to not look back to see

suggest before the elevator doors can shut properly in front

***

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 lips

"R-Rollins HQ???"

"Yes."

my mind 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 a bunch of new friends to fill during times like this. Liam is on his way so while I wait, I figured I'd tell my naysayers the latest

the good news you 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 familiar, right

eyes flip to aunt's. She's almost white

Rollins HQ before the

head. "I

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