Chapter One

Aidan

My eyes widen at the sight of my mother entering my office with a smirk on her face, leaving me groaning, knowing of what she’s going to say. The same thing she has been saying for the past few months, leaving me frustrated.

“What are you doing here?” She asks, eyebrows furrowed as she eyes the files on my desk. Then, she turns to look at Flynn, my assistant for the past three years. One of her hand goes up to lift her sunglasses, “Aidan Gabriel Ashton, didn’t I tell you to go and meet—”

I cut her off, dropping the pen onto one of the files before pulling onto my sleeves onto my elbows. Without me realising, I’ve already clenched my jaw as I sigh deeply, a sign of displeased by her.

“I’m always busy,” I respond, “I don’t have time to go on dates,” My voice sounded low and almost inaudible it was loud enough for my own mother to hear; knowing that she is always unsatisfied by my answer.

“Bullshit,” She replies, causing my eyes to widen.

“Excuse me?” I raise an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue on as she takes a few steps closer towards me. Her right hand holding onto her phone, shoving it towards my face, making me lean my head back in surprise.

“Scandals . . . ” She scoffs, shaking her head, “Don’t feed me with lies as if I’m a child, Gabriel. We both know about your pathetic reputation,” She scrolls down her phone, her nose scrunching in disgust; showing it clearly through her expressions, ”Look at this,” She adds.

I lean to look at her phone, my picture was taken randomly a few days ago while someone was holding onto my forearm as we were entering the hotel. Within seconds, I am already pinching the bridge of my nose before leaning my head back in disbelief.

“Why are you even keeping up with these things?” I ask, completely dissatisfied. Especially at my age for being an adult and old enough to control my own life yet she’s busy trying to alter mine. Days spent with her telling me to get married . . . have a permanent commitment.

It’s not as easy as ABC. I mean, I can’t just walk down the street and ask a stranger to marry me. First of all, that’s just plain stupid. Second, I can’t marry someone I don’t love because marriage is not a temporary thing. It’ll have to last forever—so, I have to marry someone special.

But as for now, no one owns my heart, yet.

“Because you’re my son and you’re embarrassing our family with your one night stands. Where’s the benefit of it all? What about the dates I’ve set you up?” She takes a seat near my desk as sigh, once more. My eyes wander to Flynn who is currently, awkwardly standing beside me, giving him signs to make an excuse for us to leave.

He seems to be getting my signals as he clears his throat, “Unfortunately, Mrs. Ashton . . . Aidan has another meeting in five and it’s very—” He is cut off by my mother glaring at him, “Uh … I think it’s important,” He adds, his voice almost inaudible as she sighs, deeply.

“Flynn, do you want me to fire you?” She asks, leaving me roll my eyes in disbelief. My arms are crossed as I keep on closing my eyes; hoping this is just a dream, might as well be a nightmare that it shall end soon.

“He works for me. You can’t do that,” I answer and she raises an eyebrow, her lips are curving up into one of her devious smiles before chuckling.

“And you work for me. I can do as I please,” She says.

“What’s it with you about my life? Why are you so eager for me to get married?” My voice raising as I try my best to control my temper but I’m not so sure of holding it in any deeper due to the fact that she’s doing her best to make me lose control.

Mother rolls her eyes, “Because you’re wasting your time. Set your brother as an example, he got himself a wife and they currently have a lovely daughter. All I’m asking you to do is be a responsible man instead of wasting your money for women who doesn’t secure your future. You’re acting like a spoiled man—stop that,” She says, deadly serious.

As soon as I’m about to say another word, she has already cut me to it. Her index finger raising up to silent me before showing an unknown picture of a woman on her phone with a cheeky smile plastered on her face.

“Family gathering. This Sunday,” She says, eyes showing determination. “Bring your future wife or you’ll have to marry the woman of my choice. Perhaps one of the dates you’ve canceled? Maybe even Shin-hye,” She repeats before standing up, clearing her throat.

As she starts to walk away, “It’s in three days. How am I supposed to find someone to marry in three days? You’re out of your mind,” I reply, clenching my jaw, hard.

“Aidan Gabriel Ashton, you managed to scoop yourself different one night stands in about at least an hour, how hard can it be to find yourself a wife?” She stops for awhile, “I assume you’re already interested in someone as of why you’ve rejected all of the dates I’ve assigned you to go to,” She puts her sunglasses on, head held high.

“I mean, look at me, I got married when I was nineteen. Got you, your brother and your sister and I’m still not in my fifties. Stop giving excuses, Aidan and start showing me your damn commitment because that’s how I raised my sons,” She turns around as she heads towards the door, leaving me sigh again, closing my eyes in disbelieved.

“Remember, this Sunday, don’t disappoint me.” She adds before finally stepping out of my office, leaving me stare at the spot she once stood. My mind goes blank at the sight of her disappearance—yet, left me with a whole burden on my shoulders.

I am suddenly remembering back the date with Shin-hye. Don’t get me wrong, she’s a decent young woman with beautiful features. Apart from that, she is also the heiress to the finest hotel in Korea which means that she has a lot of connection but she lacks a lot.

What’s so good about an heiress that knows very little about business? All I can say is that, she was fed with silver spoons and the title was given. Her parents worked hard while she was spending their money carelessly. How could mother had chosen her?

“Should I call Kenna, Mr. Ashton? Maybe, she’ll be able to comfort you.” Flynn says, making me look up at him before instantly, caught up with an idea of my own. My eyes widen as I think of the possibilities of making it true—Kenna and I have always been close, it might happen.

“Actually, I’m meeting her right now. Tell Gerald,” I respond, smiling to myself. Without further ado, I quickly make my way towards my desk before taking my phone after grabbing onto my coat, looking up at Flynn who is currently hesitating on something.

“Why are you still here?” I ask.

“Uh, but you have an actual meeting in half an hour,” He replies before standing in front of me, the desk separating us. My eyebrows furrow as he hesitates to speak again—Flynn has been careful whenever he speaks, afraid I might respond as my mother as I am known to have a bad temper, which is very true.

“So? Just cancel it,” I breathe out, slightly annoyed.

“It’s a very important meeting, Mr. Ashton. I can’t just cancel the meeting because they’ll flip and it’s n—never good when they flip,” He stutters while I roll my eyes, taking a few steps closer towards him as I harden my gaze, making sure that he gets the memo.

“Cancel it. Do as I say, Flynn. We don’t want you losing your job,” I speak and he gulps, sweats begin to form on his forehead as he nods. With a small smile appearing on my face, I begin to make my way out of my office—letting him trail behind me in a hurry.

As I stand in front of the elevator, I wait for Flynn to press onto the button in which he does before standing beside me. He clears his throat, waiting for the elevator to arrive at our floor. As soon as the elevator doors’ open, I am left looking at my employees, their eyes widening.

Both Flynn and I enter the elevator that has gone silent as soon as the doors were opened. With both of my hands in my slacks’ pocket, I wait for Flynn to press onto the ’G’ button while I stand in the middle—my employees pushing themselves towards the wall as far as possible.

We walk out of the elevator, receiving greetings and smiles from the other employees as we walk out, meeting with Gerald who is already waiting beside my car. He opens the door for me, letting me enter the backseat while Flynn goes straight towards the passenger’s seat.

“Call Kenna,” I say as soon as he buckles his seatbelt. He looks up at the rear-view mirror, searching for my gaze before nodding. Then, he looks inside his pocket for his phone before a panic-look appears on his face, making his hands shake, “Are you going to call her?” I ask.

The look on his face shows just how much he wants to throw himself out of the car instead of answering my question. He turns to look at me with his eyes avoiding making any eye contact with me as the car drives forward, “I’m disappointed to tell you this, Mr. Ashton but I might have left my phone in your office . . . ” He stutters slightly, as I continue to stare.

“Might have?” I raise an eyebrow and he leans back into his seat, turning to look at Gerald who continues to drive down the road before looking up at the rear-view mirror. “Gerald, we’re turning around so that Flynn here, can get his phone,” I say after clearing my throat.

“We don’t have to turn around . . . ” Flynn breathes but as soon as he caught the look on my face, he nods his head before looking out at the window while I keep on scrolling onto my phone without looking up front.

Flynn runs out of the car, in a hurry.