2025-02-07 16:08:31Rags to Riches
Ashton decided to head to the graduation party. He wasn't so excited about it before. But now, everything has changed.
“I'm sure you're going to have fun, son,” Ashton's father had said as he handed him the card.
Fun. That was a foreign concept to him. Ashton had been working all his life after college to get a job. Fun wasn't exactly on his list.
"I guess I have what it takes to show up now,” Ashton murmured as he finally texted Liam that he was going to be at the party for sure.
The gold card felt heavy in his pocket. He didn't have any limits. In fact, it felt like he'd been given a task. How could he spend so much money in one night?!
He got dressed in an old suit, it wasn't anything expensive or grand but it was neat.
“Where to?" The driver asked as the car rolled to a stop.
“The biggest club in the city. We're having a party," he replied and the driver looked at him oddly through the rearview mirror.
Clearly, Ashton didn't look like where he was going. The club was the most expensive around and he didn't look the part.
“You're sure that's where you're going?" The driver asked and Ashton nodded.
He didn't say a word but he looked skeptical as he drove on.
Ashton leaned against the back of the leather seat. The task his father had given him seemed utterly absurd.
Spend one million dollars on a party? How was that even possible? How did his father get so rich? Why didn't he know anything about this when he was desperately seeking employment?
It didn't make any sense. It was surreal.
Yet, here he was, heading to a club he had never been to. “This should be fun," he thought.
The cab pulled to a halt in front of the venue. The party was at a massive, brightly lit lounge.
Ashton stepped out, paying the driver before taking a moment to gather himself. This was odd. He'd never been one for parties.
As he got to the front door, the bouncer gave him a brief once over. “Hey, not everyone is allowed in here," he called out.
Ashton stopped.
"Do you have an invite?”
Ashton nodded and handed the invite on his phone to the bouncer.
The bouncer hummed, almost like he didn't believe Ashton would have gotten an invite to such a top class party.
“You should consider yourself lucky to be invited to this club,” he mumbled and then allowed him inside.
The party wasn't in full swing but the music was loud and the chandelier was very bright. It was indeed a top class party.
The interior was beautiful. His classmates weren’t there yet. Ashton sighed, realizing he was a little too early.
He looked at the time and decided that he had a few hours more to spend.
Deciding to make use of the time, he approached the bar.
The bartender was a large man, his shirt slightly strained across his shoulders. He was busy wiping down glasses when Ashton leaned against the counter.
“Hey, man," Ashton said, his voice was loud over the music.
The bartender turned to him and then looked away like he didn't matter.
Ahsorn noticed that but still placed his order. After all, he had a million dollars to spend and there was no time.
“What’s the most expensive drink you have here?” Ashton asked confidently.
The bartender looked up again, his eyes sweeping over Ashton’s dull outfit. He didn’t respond, instead turning his attention back to the glass in his hand.
Ashton frowned, quickly irritated by his rudeness. “Excuse me. I asked you a question.”
The bartender finally looked at him fully, setting the glass down with a deliberate slowness. “I’ve got other things to handle right now,” he said, his tone dismissive.
“I don't have time,” Ashton said coolly. “I've got to get this done before morning, I have a deadline, you know."
The bartender scoffed and said, "I’ll get someone else to help you.”
Before Ashton could respond, the bartender raised his hand and gestured toward the back. “Bella! Come over here.”
A young woman dressed in a blue apron approached hesitantly, her steps were slow and she looked timid.
Ashton could immediately notice her timid demeanor as she stopped beside the bartender, avoiding eye contact with Ashton.
“Sir, you called," she mumbled softly.
The bartender nodded and then gestured at Ashton.
“This is Bella, she's a floor waiter there,” the bartender said flatly. “She’ll take care of you.”
He didn’t bother to wait for a response before walking off. Ashton watched him retreat to the other end of the bar, where he leaned toward a colleague.
Their voices weren’t loud, but Ashton could hear exactly what he mumbled to them and it infuriated him.
“That guy’s clothes are so shabby,” the bartender muttered.
“Did I just hear him ask for the most expensive drink?" Another asked incredulously.
“Bet he’s just here to ask questions. He can't afford such, there's no need to waste time serving him.”
Ashton clenched his jaw, forcing himself to ignore the sting of their words. Turning back to Bella, he took a deep breath. “I asked about the most expensive drink here.”
“What?" She stammered slightly, “the most expensive drink?"
Ashton cocked a brow at her, “Yeah, that's what I said."
Bella glanced at him nervously, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her apron. “Um… the most expensive drink we have is the Reserve Sapphire Cognac.”
"That's what I want.”
Bella cleared her throat nervously, "Sir, it’s ten thousand dollars a bottle.”
“Are you sure that's the most expensive?" Ashton asked.
Bella nodded meekly, her eyes widening slightly as if expecting him to walk away.
Ashton nodded with a smirk on his face. “I’ll take a hundred bottles,” he said firmly.
Bella blinked, her mouth falling open. “A hundred bottles?” she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Yes. Is that a problem?”
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The Rise of Ashton Chapter Ten
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Chapter Ninety Nine
Blood of my Blood Ashton didn't have to wait for a reply before he ended the call and slipped through the iron gates of the Green estate and headed straight to the garden. Augustine was waiting there for him no doubt. He found his car parked behind a row of flowers, the engine still warm. Sliding into the driver’s seat, he saw Augustine with a black hoodie sitting in the confines of the car. Augustine pulled back the hoodie and spun around, the corners of his mouth lifting in a rare grin. “You made it,” he said. “I half-expected Marcel to intercept you.” Well, he wasn't lying. “Nearly got held up, thank goodness the driver stopped being so nosey.,” Ashton replied, allowing himself a laugh. “Yeap, I noticed when I first arrived that Marcel wanted to have me under lock and key. I had to break off in order to keep working at Titanium." Ashton nodded. Now it made sense why Augustine had decided to pretend to be a wayward boy just to get what he wanted. Being in the Green Mansion
Chapter Ninety Eight
A Ghost in the MirrorAshton sat there, stunned, staring at the name on the file. Lily Forrest.She was regarded as a ghost in the tabloid news. A missing heiress. A tragedy that had befallen a once great family. "How sure are you about this?" Ashton asked, still bewildered. Lancaster leaned back and sipped his coffee slowly. "One hundred percent. She was declared missing and then after spending a lot of money to find her, her family finally gave up and she's never been found." “She's the one then, if she's missing and her name is Lily then she could be the one. But how does this relate to Marcel? There could be a million missing Lily's in this city.” "Well, she's linked to Marcel somehow. The Forrest family knew the Green family for so long. So…there's a link somehow.” Ashton dragged a hand through his hair. trying his best to fit the pieces together. Marcel had been hiding a girl in his basement for how long? "If she's supposed to be dead," Ashton said slowly, "then how the
Chapter Ninety Seven
A Missing Forest In just a few minutes, Ashton arrived at Swam Limited. It was magnificent, the sheer beauty of it still stunned him. But he knew this was all seeds of wickedness. “Goodness! No wonder they're friends," he hissed. Peter, the driver, looked at him through the rearview mirror and asked, “who are friends?" Ashton replied, "nothing.” Shortly they rolled into the parking lot and Ashton got out of the vehicle closing the door softly behind him. Ashton stepped into the elevator and adjusted the cuffs of his designer suit, preparing himself for yet another tiring day in this establishment. He had become a worker for both Frederick and Marcel, helping them build their empires even when he knew that they did not care about him. But it was all going to be to his advantage and one way or the other he would make them pay, both of them. As soon as he got inside his secretary, Amanda ran to his side, “Thank goodness you arrived on time, the meeting is set to start, sir." A
Chapter Ninety Six
His New Mission It was a new day. The morning sun poured through the tall windows of the Green family mansion. Ashton had barely slept the previous night. Nightmares of Marcel and the nas girl plagued him even as he had breakfast. He sat alone, dressed in a simple grey shirt with the sleeves rolled up, sipping a warm cup of coffee. His eyes were distant as he stared at the meal but couldn't seem to erase the thoughts of the previous night. The revelations about Marcel left a bitter taste in Ashton’s mouth. This man was up to something. He was no knight in shining armor. He was a monster.While he was still picking on his toaster, bacon, omelette and coffee, footsteps echoed down the staircase, softly. Ashton looked up and saw Veronica appear at the edge of the room, wrapped in a navy-blue bathrobe. She looked like she'd just showered and her dark hair was still damp from the shower. Her anger was quite obvious and even before she spoke, he could hear the irritation in her foot
Chapter Ninety Five
The Green Monster Ashton felt bad for her. What could she have possibly done that would justify such harsh treatment? He reached out to hold her hands but she jerked away violently. "I don’t like to be touched," she said suddenly. "Don’t come any closer.."Ashton froze. "I wasn’t going to." He lied. "I trusted someone once. A girl. She said she was my friend and I believed her, but she was a spy. Marcel sent her to watch me and see if I was healing. And when I told her that I was, she reported it. And then they brought the doctors."Her voice cracked and she was now trembling at the memories. "They made it worse. So much worse."Ashton’s stomach turned. Marcel had mentioned doctors occasionally visiting Lily for her condition. He’d said he paid the best of doctors and nurses to attend to her. Now he wasn’t so sure if it was to hurt her or cure her. He looked into her eyes again. There was so much pain there, buried beneath layers of anger and bitterness. How long had she been h
Chapter Ninety Four
Finding Insanity 2 The Green Mansion was quiet at midnight and Ashton knew this was the right time to move around. No one would see him. He was under the cover of darkness. Slowly, he rose from the dinner table and the maid moved close to him. "Would you like anything like dessert before bed?” She asked. The idea of a sweet and sugary treat sounded fun but he had other things to attend to. "No, I'll just get in bed. I'm exhausted,” he said, placing his hands on his forehead dramatically. She nodded, apologized and went off. As soon as he returned to his room, he locked the door, and shed the clean shirt and slacks Marcel had gifted him. In their place, he pulled on a black long-sleeved hoodie, jeans, and soft boots. He strapped a flashlight to his belt, then pulled up the hood. There was no one around as he stepped into the hallway, but he moved quietly anyway, sticking to the parts of the mansion he knew no one strolled. The left wing of the mansion was kind of forbidden.
