The Deal I Never Chose
The media always raved about Ashton as the most desirable bachelor in the country.
“There are studies suggesting black holes do exist,” Ashton began. “In 2015, astronomers discovered the largest one known. People are scared because of the way black holes pull everything around them—even light can’t escape. If something falls into one, it can never come out again. Some theories say it would be stretched like spaghetti. Others say time gets distorted.”
He explained it so naturally. I couldn’t deny it—his knowledge impressed me. I had always liked astronomy too. But as he spoke, he shot me a glance. That half-smile again. Cold. Calculated.
“Spaghetti? Time distortion? I have to look that up!” the boy exclaimed. “I’ll be back in ten... no, fifteen minutes!” He jumped down and ran off like lightning.
“Max… You should’ve eaten first,” Ashton called out gently, shaking his head as he watched him go.
“You’re quite the father,” I said. “But it turns out you’re also good at hiding things. The world thinks you’re some eligible bachelor destined to dethrone David Taylor.”
Ashton’s cold mask returned.
“Max is my nephew,” he said flatly. “His parents died in a car accident. It killed my brother and father too. I’ve raised him since, and I asked him to call me ‘Daddy.’”
I went quiet. All I could whisper was, “Sorry…”
“Finish your meal. Then we talk.”
Ashton led me into a room. I assumed it was his study. Everything about it—the furniture, the lighting, the decor—carried a classic elegance, softened by a touch of modern detail on the ceiling. It was neat and precise, furnished with a desk, a few chairs, tall bookshelves, and a long couch stretched along one side. I stood still while Ashton leaned slightly against the desk, arms folded across his chest.
“Yesterday I told you I wasn’t hiring you as a cook,” he said calmly. “There’s only one thing I’m asking from you.”
I narrowed my eyes. “One thing?”
"Pretend to be my fiancée, and if things get urgent, enter a contract marriage with me. One day, I’ll hold a press conference to introduce you and reveal your identity as the daughter of David Taylor," he concluded, his smile still something I interpreted as a sly smirk.
“I can’t! I’ll never agree to reveal who I am. I don’t want to invite trouble.”
He stepped closer. Far too close. His smile didn’t waver, but the look in his eyes was sharp and cutting. For a moment, I was afraid—afraid he might hurt me.
“You can’t run,” he said quietly. “Just like a celestial body caught in a black hole with no escape, you’ve crossed the point of no return. There’s no getting out now.”
“You can’t force me! This wasn’t the deal. I was offered a job as a cook. How did it come to this?” My voice rose with disbelief. I felt betrayed—trapped.
“I’ve already given your mother a considerable amount of money. She agreed to the deal. She also said you’d go along with it. This is your only chance to be acknowledged by David Taylor. If you walk away now, you’ll never earn enough—no matter how long you work in a flower shop—to repay what I gave her.”
His words were steady. Cold. His eyes still pinned me in place.
I felt something inside me shatter.
Wasn’t this the same as my mother… selling me?
“So this is all just to ruin David Taylor’s reputation? Is that it? Is that why your methods are so cruel?”
He didn’t answer. He just kept watching me. Then, without warning, he pushed me against the wall. His hand clamped tightly around my arm. I gasped. He didn’t care that he was being rough.
His sharp eyes seemed to scan me from head to toe. I could feel his breath brushing against my face. If he weren’t this cunning, I might’ve already fallen under his spell. I have to admit—he’s hot.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to make that old bastard pay for what he’s done.”
His voice was low, edged with rage and something deeper, something darker. Revenge.
“Why are you using me as your weapon? I’ve never even met him. I’ve never had a father. Not really.”
I forced myself to look into his eyes, though my chest trembled.
“If he had another daughter, maybe I would’ve gone after her. But you’re the only one. All your half-siblings are sons. When your identity is revealed, the media will have a field day.”
He was ruthless. Calculating. Today he had the upper hand, but one day, I swore, I would rise above him.
Still, there was one thing that haunted me.
“You won’t touch me, will you? I may be pretending to be your fiancée, but I won’t allow you to touch me.”
Ashton laughed softly. A sound that made my stomach turn.
He leaned in. Too close. My heart pounded harder. I feared he’d do exactly what I’d warned him not to.
He tilted his head slightly, his mouth nearing my ear. I froze.
My heart felt like it stopped beating. The scent of his masculine cologne nearly swept away half of my consciousness. He embodied everything I’d ever imagined in a prince on a white horse who might one day come to save me, handsome, charismatic, sharp-eyed, and sexy.
But I quickly pulled myself back to reality. That kind of story belongs to Cinderella, not to a girl who doesn’t even believe in fairy tales.
“I don’t get aroused by girls like you. Don’t flatter yourself,” he whispered.
Then he pulled back and looked at me, expression unreadable. Cold. Detached.
“Or maybe… that’s what you want? Are you starting to feel something for me?”
I clenched my fists. Fury burned in my veins. I wanted to punch him—to shut that mouth.
But I stayed still, wordless. All the rage I couldn’t direct at him turned toward my mother instead. Why had she done this to me?
Ashton finally let go of my arm. He smiled again—that same twisted smile.
“Enjoy your stay,” he said, like a victor announcing his win.
I remained motionless, my thoughts a storm of confusion.
What other kind of surprise did this man still have in store for me?