As soon as I spoke, Ashton’s expression became frigid. He was silent for almost a minute before finding his voice again.
“Is that really what you want?” he asked coldly; it frightened me to think that he could sound this devoid of warmth.
I averted my eyes from him and hung my head. “When I was at White Corporation,” I said wearily. “The work was easy. Though I’d be very tired, you needn’t worry. On the other hand, if I can help Marcus on my own, I would be very happy. Even if I were so tired that I’d just fall over asleep, it would add value and meaning to my day-to-day life.”
I meant every word of it.
Ashton hadn’t spent much time with me at home. He wasn’t aware of the suffering that I endure every night before bed. Yesterday night, the bad dreams did not appear for the first time since I started the job at White Corporation.
Ashton wasn’t convinced. He took out his phone. “I’ll give Marcus a call now, and he’ll tell you to stay out of it.”
I interrupted his act of dialing. “Don’t bother. He’s currently on the plane to M Country. He’ll be unreachable at least until tonight.”
I looked into Ashton’s eyes. “Even if you did manage to contact Marcus, it’d be useless,” I said with steely determination. “This is my decision. Everybody in White Corporation knows how Marcus treats me. As long as I have the intention to return, nobody will suspect anything. I will take over his duties in his absence to the best of my ability. Even if I fail at that, those parasites will have to crawl over my dead body to take advantage of White Corporation!”
I’d managed to get a grasp of the situation at White Corporation after an entire night of study. Though it had been a problematic month, it had been under control thus far. As long as we intercepted the problem at this early stage, we could subdue it before it got out of hand. We didn’t have to rely on investments and acquisitions as long as we weren’t broke.
I couldn’t help but feel emotional in my passion. It sounded like I was speaking for the sake of arguing with him but I meant every word.
I loved him but I couldn’t tolerate his business ethics. We were able to make up and embrace the opportunity for a fresh start all because Marcus did not leave me to die. Therefore, I could not stand idly by and watch Marcus suffer because of how Ashton felt about him.
Ashton’s stony expression did not change for some time. Slowly, he lowered the half-dialed phone in his hand.
After glaring at me for two whole seconds, he turned around left in utter disappointment.
I only felt my anger ebbing away when Ashton’s footsteps were nowhere to be heard. I slumped back into the chair as if I had lost the pillar of support
I have predicted this day a long time ago. A day when Ashton would not hold back against Marcus as I knew it was unavoidable.
I wanted an opportunity to ensure that all of us were on the same page. I loved Ashton but I could not pretend that Marcus didn’t exist. As long as I could make up for all of my past transgression, live and love without guilt, Ashton and I would leap at that opportunity.
Ashton had not been gone for very long before I saw the representative of GW Group. It was Sean.
Sean came during mealtime. Mrs. Eriksen cooked plenty of food, but since Ashton did not show any sign of returning any time soon, I invited Sean to eat with me.
Our last encounter wasn’t pleasant, but Sean was courteous enough to pretend that that never happened. He behaved like a perfect gentleman. It felt like he endured another round of insults while trying to gain control of the White Corporation.
These businessmen enjoyed talking business over a meal; Sean was no exception. He initiated his proposition halfway through the meal.
