"The deepest cuts are not from the enemies we see coming, but from the ones whom we trust blindly, who weild the dagger of betrayal with practiced ease. It doesn't just break your trust, it pierces your soul, and no matter how hard you try to get over it, the pinch and the ache keeps reminding you about the damn betrayal and the shattered pieces of trust that are buried deep down in your heart."
That's what Ashton thought while standing in front of the enormous glass window that gave the complete view of the clear bright sky. He mockingly laughed at his own self on the irony. His heart, his soul, his entire self was surrounded with darkness contrary to the light outside him, and no matter how hard he wanted to, he was unable to pave a way for that light within him.
How ironic it was!
Ashton Watson, the heartthrob billionaire of New York in his late twenties, was an emerging face in the business world as one of the most influential personalities who people thought had everything.....good looks, wealth and woman at his mercy. He stood tall at 6'2 inches, with hazel eyes, captivating a blend of green and brown hues, although fascinating and admirable for many, but holding a complex and intriguing story for a very few who would seldom dare to look into them to learn more about him. He was impeccable from his stature to articulation that could leave anyone with no words but sheer reverence for his ambiguous self.
However, the alternate reality was that behind the immaculate persona that he carried all the time, he was a man who was aggrieved, damaged and punitive and the world didn't know how catastrophic he was.....not only for his own self but also for the people who would dare to lie and betray him. His sculpted face and charming smile would give nothing to others with the eternal blankness enveloping him, but would take away everything if anyone plucked the courage to even think to cross him.
He blew a puff of smoke at his reflection in the glass window and turned around to start his day which he knew was going to be peculiar due to a strange command by his father Richard Watson. It was too uncommon for Richard to put forth a demand like such, especially to him as they were clearly not on the best of terms from a very long time and he just couldn't wrap his mind around the fact that he recommended someone..... a certain someone who he was unaware about, but was initially requested and then commanded with an ultimatum to do it anyhow..... Richard wanted him to take someone under his wing to teach business which left him astounded. It was too uncanny of Richard to come up with any recommendations as he very well knew that it was something that was disliked by both of them. Recommendations.
Having no choice, he felt infuriated beyond words as one of the many things that Ashton Watson hated in the world was giving up his control over things, especially when it was about his father, the man whom he claimed to loath the most.
It was still quite early and the employees at Watson Corporation were yet to come and start their work. No matter how much he smoked that day, he knew he needed to calm his mind to deal with whatever was coming his way. He stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray losing its count from the morning and made his way towards the cafeteria to get his daily dose of caffeine and clear his mind. Rubbing his forehead, he had just reached the coffee machine to make his usual black coffee when he heard someone ordering an espresso from behind.
"You know..... Having a black coffee on an empty stomach in the morning can lead to severe gut health issues and blood sugar, my dear."
Ashton rolled his eyes and turned around to find none other than his best friend from years, Chase Anderson behind him. No wonder he was one of the two people in his life to constantly get on his nerves. He was a charming American guy with blue eyes, blonde hair and a physique to drool on. He knew Ashton for more than a decade and made sure to stick with him through every thick and thin of his life. Although he had his family in Georgia, he had always wanted to live in New York and he did that when he started his own business in construction with Ashton. Though Chase was the face of their emerging Company, Ashton played an integral role in strategising and monitoring it, staying away from the limelight to focus more on Watson Corporation.
Ashton passed the coffee without saying a word which filled Chase with disbelief as if it was any other day, he would have been cursed incessantly.
"What's wrong, Ashton?" He asked earnestly observing his clenched jaw and stiffed demeanor.
"Everything." He retorted grinding his teeth.
"Ashton!"
Chase sighed defeatedly placing his hand on his shoulder to calm him. He was accustomed of watching Ashton losing his temper all the time, but when it came to Richard, he would explode in rage, no matter how small the situation was. And somehow he knew that it was something concerning him.
"Mr. Richard Watson. Everything is wrong when it comes to him. He ordered me to mentor someone. He wants me to help someone. He wants me to fu***ng teach business to someone."
Chase brows furrowed in perplexity. "Teach someone..... business? Who?"
"Someone who is very close to him..... about whom I give no flying fu***. I refused and guess what..... He. Threatened. Me....."
"Threatened.....?"
Chase's eyes widened on listening him further. He knew how much Ashton detested Richard and now compelling him to do something against his will was definitely not going to help him out in making things cordial with Ashton.
Keeping the coffee mug on the table, he turned around with red eyes. "It was just last week that you told me to be considerate towards that man.....to be affable with him owing to our so called relation.....but Richard Watson has these sadistic ways to inflict pain to others, especially me.....with his alleged deeds to inflate my animosity towards him. The more I try to stay away from any chaos with him, he comes with his tumultuous ways to get me, swelling my resentment towards his selfishness and indulgence. I hate that man from the core of my heart, and no wonder this hate keeps on building more and more....."
"HOW DARE YOU?"