Esther was resting in her unit for a while. She plans to go to E.S MAGAZINE to review the latest issue and see if her previous interview that involves Carlson were removed and modified.
She's enjoying her coffee in the balcony when her door bell rang.
She checks her phone to see if someone send her a message for a visit. But she get no messages. So she wonders who could it be.
Amber and Kiana knows the new combination of her door lock. So who could it be?
She went to the door and open it. And to her surprise ...
"Carlson?!"
He storms in and went straight to her living room. Esther was packing up some of her things as she decided to move out and live in a different place, since this unit has a lot of memories with him.
"what the hell are you doing here?" Esther
Carlson stare at her ....
"what's going on?!" Esther is already irritated
"what are you doing? pairing up with Ashton Taylor? What is your relationship with him?" Carlson
"Ashton offered me a job and I gladly accept it. And my relationship? The hell you care?!" Esther
Carlson grab her arms, he was squeezing it to the point that Esther is already getting hurt.
"Carlson! le.let me go! you're hurting me!" Esther
"I want you to cut your connections and contract with him right now!" Carlson
"why do you care ??!!!" Esther
Carlson still holding her arms until it's leaving a mark that could lead to a bruise.
"That title is supposed to be given to Anne. Why are you taking that away from her?" Carlson
Esther did not control herself she gave him a big slap on his face. And that prompt him to let go of her arms.
"how dare you say those words. Me? taking things away from her?! are you for real? Since then she's the one who's trying to take everything away from me. Look, she even have you. And now you're saying I am taking things away from her?! You're stupid... I never know you are this stupid!" Esther
Carlson were upset by Esther's last statement to the point that he pushes her. Esther was lying now on the ground with bruise in her arms and legs. And some wounds from the broken vase that was scattered on the floor.
Carlson was shocked on his actions, he's not sure what to do. In his mind he only did it because he was pressured by Anne and her mom on what are his plan to stop Esther.
He ran outside and leave her in pain and wounded. She had multiple wounds on her feet and legs, she can't move them properly.
She try to call Amber or Kiana but their phone is out of reach. She knew that she sent Kiana to attend the meeting on her behalf at E.S ENTERTAINMENT.
Amber was probably still sleeping from being drunk. She no longer no what to do and who to call.
When a message pop ups on her phone
* Esther, it's me Asthon. If you're available on Monday i'd like to set up a meeting for your first project in the company. If that's okay. *
Esther called his number right away
"Hello? Esther?" Ashton
She was just sobbing, not because of physical pain but because she could not understand why would Carlson do this to her. He was so gentle before and never dare to hurt even the tip of her hair.
"What is wrong? Where are you?" Ashton
"H.Help me." Esther
"okay, wait for me. Send me the address" Ashton
Esther then send her address to him. Ashton went straight to her and was shocked when he saw Esther lying on the floor with bruises in her arms and multiple wounds in her legs and feet. There were still parts of the vase that were not removed from her legs as it cuts through deep
"what happened? who did this? are you okay? are you hurt? damn it!" Ashton
He then carry her and went to the hospital. His hospital that he built.
"Carlson" Esther
She whispered then she passed out as she's exhausted of all the drama that happened that day.
And soon enough the news about her being injured and admitted in the hospital was over the internet.
"What happened?" Kiana
Kiana asked Ashton, because the moment she heard about the news she went to the hospital right away. Amber arrived shortly.
Ashton did not answer her instead Lark just inform them that she's okay now and that she just need some rest.
Ashton was so upset that he instructed Lark to contact some of the biggest shareholder of Carlson Company and some of its big clients to pull out.
He even instructed him to release the news about the fraud case happened 5 years ago, but E.S NEWS covered it.
He is too upset that he is ready to destroy him in one blow. He ask Lark to investigate what happened on that day. Meanwhile he stays at the hospital to take care of her.
Amber was also waiting for Ashton's instructions before she will release something on the news. Kiana was helping Lark to gather information on what happened.
There were media in the hospital lobby, as a manager Kiana needs to update the public.
"can you please tell us what happened to Esther?"
"Is it true she's hurt?"
"who did this to her?"
"what's the relationship between Ashton Taylor and Esther Smith?"
Kiana face the crowd of media team.
"we thank you for your care and support for Esther all this time. Right now she suffer a small accident at her home. And Mr. Taylor as her close friend and also her business partner help her, and we are grateful. Right now, she's okay, she's resting. And I hope that we avoid any news that are not true be circulating. Thank you"
Kiana and Lark went to the car but the reporters followed them and keep asking for more.
----
Carlson losen up his tie as he sit in the sofa. He's so lost and still in daze, he can't believe he was able to hurt Esther. He was not able to do that for 10 years in the relationship.
Anne who just came out of her room saw him sitting and look agitated.
"what's wrong?" Anne
"Nothing..." Carlson
Anne was about to ask again when her agent call her and told her about Esther's condition.
"My agent just called me and said that Esther was in the hospital due to minor accident. Are you aware of this?" Anne
His eyes began to move and he cannot control his emotions.
"w.what? Uh, I ... uh ... I ... I am not sure about that" Carlson
"hon tell me, was it you? did You cause this accident?" Anne
"I didn't mean to push her. I didn't see the vase that was on the corner. I ... It .. It was an accident." Carlson
Anne hug him and gave a small smirk...
She won't be doing any modeling or acting because she'll have scars ... She is happy about what happened to Esther ...
----
At the hospital, Ashton is done making phone calls on all of Carlson's major share holder. And all of them agree to his condition that they will back out on their investment if Carlson won't sell the company to Him.
And if that happens, Ashton will be Carlson's boss.
"sir." Lark
He gave him a tablet and showed him the CCTV footage where Carlson was seen coming in and running away agitated. It is also evident on the video that before her door closes they can see the wounded feet of Esther.
"so he did this to him?" Ashton
"Sir Mr. Smith also ask for the CCTV footage so i gave him a copy. I heard that he summoned Mr. Young to his house" Lark.
"it's fine. I want you to prepare the contract that I mentioned last time. Once Esther is okay and awake we will go and make him suffer" Ashton
----
Mr. Smith throw the glass in front of Carlson.
"when you and my daughter broke up and the news of cheating came out. I did not do or say anything to you because I still consider you as my son. But how can you do this to my daughter?!" Mr. Smith
"sir. I.. it's really an accident. It's not my uhm intention to hurt her." Carlson
"but you still hurt her by the moment you start cheating! Tell me Carlson, did we ever treat you bad? Did we not support you financially, or support you in any way? We helped you not because you are our daughters boyfriend. But because we trusted you and treat you like our son!" Mrs. Smith
Carlson could not talk or say anything. It's true that what he has right now was because of Esther's family.
"i"m sorry" Carlson
"I want you to leave now. I don't want to see your face ever again." Mrs. Smith
"a piece of advice, get yourself together. Ashton Taylor is going to buy your company. And if you don't
agree you will lose your biggest shareholders, including me. And I agree to his offer, I agree that he will take over the business. I no longer trust your capability to run it. I won't lose my money again to you." Mr. Smith
Carlson was shocked about what he heard. Why does Ashton interested in his small company? Why is he buying it and threatening him with the shareholders?
Right after he received a call from his secretary saying that Ashton Taylor is waiting for him at the office.
He went ahead to the office and saw him sitting in the conference room.
"Mr. Taylor, what a surprise" Carlson
Ashton looks at him and want to punch him in the face. But he just calm down, he promised to Esther that he won't do anything that could taint his image.
"I am here to offer you something. And I don't want to run around the bush. I know what you did this morning. We have evidence that we can use to file a case." Ashton
"if you are threatening me with my company. You can leave." Carlson
Ashton gave him a piece of paper
"from the time your cheating scandal came out your revenue is keep on declining with a 5% loss every day. And now you have lost million of dollars already. Shareholders are about to back out."
Ashton again give another piece of paper
"These are the signed affidavit of all shareholders of this firm that they will file a case and back out if you won't sell me the company. Think about it Carlson, if you insist on yourself. Many people will lose their jobs just because of your incompetent." Ashton
Carlson was in rage as he look at those papers. This company is his blood and sweat. But of course, Esther has the biggest contribution on to this.
Ashton knew that Carslon is still adamant in accepting the offer
"How about this Mr. Young. I'll let you decide just for 2 days. If I don't hear any response, i presume that you decline my offer. And I can easily file a case to you. " Ashton
He stood up and leave his office right away. As he also received a message from Kiana that Esther is awake and she's looking for him