ASHTON
"You actually won that race, you know? I don’t understand why you want to believe you lost. I’m not even a good racer myself. I took advantage of your distraction the first ti but the second ti, you were locked in. I don’t know what you had going on in your head but you managed to cross that finish line before I could. That’s the honest truth and if you bother to watch the replay, you’d see it too. No foul play, just a fair ga."
I take a long sip of my champagne and wish I was anywhere else. In a different life and under different circumstances, being in Monaco’s presence would have been a true delight. She’s draped in a spiral dress, a nod to the iconic Parisian couture. With its thigh-high leg slit, elegant long skirt and cut-out spiral bodice that shows off her toned torso, it’s the perfect mix of futuristic and elegant with a hint of sexy.
But I am just in a bad mood generally. Between the tension of wondering what the night holds and anxiety for my loved ones, I can only keep my drink down and nothing else. I’ve tried to avoid unnecessary dia attention, disallowing interviews from reporters begging to talk to and all. The only reason I am still listening to Monaco yap is because I don’t want any reporters in my face.
My eyes stray to the far end of the gate. Why isn’t she here yet? Is this another one of her gas? What has she got planned? Why am I even bothered? I take another long sip and frown on realizing my glass is empty. Before I can request for another, Monaco pulls a champagne flute off a tray being carried by one of the wait staff and offers it to .
"Thank you." I mutter before downing it in one gulp.
"Whoa, easy."
"Don’t tell him what to do." Mila says, sidling up to us in a killer red dress that accentuates her curves. She places a gentle hand on my shoulder and beams at Monaco. "See those charming eyes, don’t let them fool you. A storm’s brewing behind them."
"Why don’t you ladies catch up. Don’t let interrupt you." But Mila hangs onto when I try to leave. "I’m trying to be nice, Spellman." I hum under my breath. "Don’t push it."
"Save the growl for your date." She replies, unfazed by my anger. Then she hooks an arm around Monaco’s shoulder and steers her away. "He’s a lost cause. Trust , you’re better off redirecting your energy towards one of the many fine gentlen in here that doesn’t have the Rollins’ last na. Have you t my brother, Liam?"
As I watch her play the wingman for her brother, I don’t know if I should feel slighted by her comnts or grateful to be rid of Monaco. Speaking of which, Monaco continues to steal surreptitious glances at while she’s introduced to Liam. Liam locks eyes with , not for the first ti since his family arrived my party, and nods.
He’s barely said a word to any of us, just calmly sticks by his father’s side. I wonder why he’s not pulling punches over Ashal’s escape or at the very least, throwing shades. Has he got ulterior motives for attending this event? A ball of unease unfurls in my belly once more. Everywhere I look, I sense foes and not friends. Everyone at this party secretly nurses an ill-intent towards my family. They’re not here to make rry with us; they’re here to have front row seats to our ruination.
Even the wait staff hovering around with drinks and treats seem to be nursing a secret grudge against my family. My vision blurs occasionally as my eyes dart across the room. How the fuck did I think gathering our enemies under one roof was a good idea? What if they’re all working together to ensure my family and I are totally screwed before midnight?
Hugh Spellman laughs loudly as he converses with a pri minister. He hasn’t even greeted father like he used to the second he enters our palatial mansion. Right now, he’s the top dog in our industry given the setback being faced by Rollins Group. Everyone of importance is jostling for his attention like they used to do to father.
And father? He’s pretending not to be bothered by the blatant show of disregard. He’s cruising with mother from one VVIP guest to another, trying to make small talk.
My fingers tighten around the stem of my glass. Will this night truly go well? Why does my heart rate say otherwise?
Ashal’s hand over my shoulder quells my racing heart.
"Calm down. I can sense the turmoil radiating off of you." He herds to a corner of the room free of guests.
"I’m starting to rethink all this. Maybe this party was a mistake. I have a gut feeling..."
"I know." Ashal cuts off with both hands on my shoulders. "Take a deep breath. It’ll all be over soon, okay?"
"I’m going to need a stronger drink for that."
"You’ve had one too many. Keep it together, Ashton. Rember, you’re the host. You can’t get drunk."
He’s right. I don’t do too well when I am drunk. I get destructive sotis.
"I’m ready for this party to be over. They want a big news? Let’s give them sothing."
Ashal looks confused. "I thought we weren’t doing that anymore. Demi wouldn’t..."
"I don’t care about Demi. Can you stop bringing her up?" I rake a hand through my curls and steady my breath. "I don’t know what Asher intends to do but let him know that it’s ti. I need these people out of our house soon enough. I’m sick of this."
Just on cue, Asher locks eyes with across the hall. His hands are jamd in his pocket as he converses with a few politicians. I text him about my concerns. After excusing himself to check his phone, he advances towards us.
"Brothers huddled together in secret conversation isn’t a good look tonight, bros. Can we pack it up?" He eyes a few reporters already wheeling their caras in our direction.
"How long is this going to go on for?" I ask him impatiently.
"The party kicked off barely two hours ago, Ashton. What’s your hurry?"
Ashal closes a hand over my stomach to stop from losing my cool. "I guess he’ trying to find out what the big plan is for tonight. What do you plan to do for the big reveal? We obviously can’t share anything about the accusations, can we?"
I stare at Ashal in disbelief. "Look around you. Everyone here is thinking the exact sa thing. They ca here to hear our side of the story, our defense or our admission of guilt. They’re not here to admire the decorations or eat anything they haven’t had before." I turn to Asher. "You know I am right. We can’t ignore the elephant in the room for much longer. Let speak. I have a few things to say."
"You don’t have to. I have a little surprise of my own." He leans closer. "We don’t have to say anything about the accusations because Liam will do the talking tonight. A little birdie helped uncover most of the dirtiest secrets of everyone judging us in this room right now. So of their actions even make father look like a saint."
"He’s not exaggerating." Ashley appears, smiling. "The information is confird. We’re not saints but neither are they. Liam will be rebutting the false claims he made on his blog about us tonight. He will also tender a public apology. As for the others who have a serious bone to pick with our family, we’ll be having a eting with them to discuss how we can appease them. We already invited them all." He angles his chin in a certain direction while looking at Ashal. When we follow his lead, we find Maddie helping Olivia to a seat. Even the Woodleys are in attendance.
I am amazed that I am just noticing them in the crowd.
"This was your plan all along?"
"I told you I’d find a way." Asher assures . "Our victims are here of their own accord. Nothing was forced on them. No threats. I extended an olive branch and so took it. Those who showed up tonight clearly accepted our offer of peace. After tonight, we’ll have a sit-down with them to forge the way forward for our family and theirs."
"And those who don’t show up?" Ashal inquires.
"We’ll cross that bridge later." Ashley answers. "The victims are here to show the world that they’re open to forgiveness. We’ll do our part, apologize for our wrongs and do what it takes to earn their forgiveness. As for our guests, none of them will dare disrupt the program of events because their hidden atrocities will already have been mailed anonymously to them."
"How did you get Liam to agree to that?"
Asher smiles at . "Isn’t that what his blog is about? Exposing the secret wrongs of wealthy people to get them to take responsibility? When he got the file containing all the atrocities committed by everyone in here, including his own family, he was dumbfounded. I gave him all the proof he needs to make tons of mind-blowing articles on Billion-Err for months to co but he still didn’t post any of it till date. His so-called blog values are a lie. To buy my silence, he volunteered to diffuse the rumors even before I could ask." He smiles warmly as he looks at . "What do you think of MY surprise?"
"Better than anything I could have co up with, honestly." I expel a sigh of relief. "I actually feel less tensed right now. Couldn’t you have shared this with earlier? I didn’t need half the alcohol I’ve had to keep my nerves down."
"Sorry. Liam only just confird last minute. Plus, I wanted it to be a surprise for you too. I know how much you bla yourself for everything that has led us to this night." He hugs amidst the clicks of cara shutters.
The sound of the microphone gets our attention. Father has taken to the middle of the room.
"It’s show ti." Ashley mutters under his breath.
"Thank you all for honoring our last-minute invitation to celebrate the birthday of my sons. I know a thing or two about how busy the wealthy can be so your presence here ans a lot to us." A round of applause follows his statent to my surprise. Everyone is beaming too., like they’re under a spell.
When I look at Asher, he confirms that the anonymous mail has already been sent. Little wonder they’re looking less judgntal and more friendly.
"Before we carry on with the festivities, I’d like to address so of the steaming accusations levied against my family by the popular blog known as Billion-Err." A sudden hush falls over the room. A pin drop would he heard at this point. Mother stands close to father, a demure look on her face. She looks so graceful and beautiful it’s hard to fault her. In the crowd, Kristy doesn’t appear pleased by the sight of a family bonded amidst trials.
Father carries on and finally welcos Liam to the stage to address the elephant in the room.
"Good evening, everyone. My na is Liam Spellman and I am the face behind the Billion-Err blog." The caras continue to flash at him. "Like I have always said in the past, my reason for creating the blog was to shine the lens on injustices perpetrated by the wealthy class against the common man. I hoped to make the wealthy and powerful answer for their offences just like anyone else, with the entire country as the jury. I always made sure to have solid and irrefutable proof backing my claims because I never wanted to tarnish anyone’s image if they didn’t deserve it. For a while, I succeeded, until recently."
Subdued murmurs echo round the hall before he continues.
"I got a lot of anonymous allegations regarding the Rollins family. As usual, I wrote and published articles about them only to find out a little too late that a bunch of them were false. I have no idea why soone would go to great lengths to forge evidence targeted at ruining the Rollins family but I bla only myself for being fooled. This family has lost a lot financially and socially because I wasn’t ticulous at verifying my evidence. For that, I am here first and foremost to clear their nas and to extend a heartfelt apology for every inconvenience they’ve suffered due to my recent blog articles." He turns with clasped hands and a contrite expression towards father, then bows his head in plea. "Please find it in your heart to forgive ."
Father goes ahead to hug him, and everyone claps thunderously. The drama makes sick to my stomach as I anxiously wait for the ’real’ part of this script. From the look of pure disgust on Ashal’s face seeing his assaulter tend a fake apology, I can tell he feels the sa way as I do.
After Liam returns to his place by his family, father’s face drains of all humor.
"Thank you very much Liam Spellman. I just want to add that my family and I are definitely not saints. We have trampled on many egos, hurt a lot of feelings and even altered lives irreparably on our journey to success. These accusations helped us take a step back and appraise our actions both as a family and as a company. We saw our errors. We saw our failings and we collectively decided to have a sit-down with the individuals and families that have truly been hurt by us. We will be doing all in our power to make things right. I want to appreciate each and every one of them that accepted our invitation and joined us here today. That’s proof that they’re prepared to forgive and forge ahead."
More applause.
He gestures to us and my brothers and I go to flank around him and mother.
"Thank you once again to everyone for celebrating with us today."
Standing as a family, we all bow our heads in reverence and mutter ’Thank You’ to everyone. That’s when a fragile hand shoots up in the crowd. Who the hell is trying to ask a question right now? I wonder silently.
When I zero in on the guest, I inhale a deep breath. What question could Monaco have to ask? Asher shoots a cool look that fails to hide his unease because we both know a Q&A wasn’t part of the plan. Did she even get the mo?
"One question, Mr. Rollins!" She yells. The reporters waste no ti in capturing the mont. Duncan tries to cut her off but Father stops him from fueling fresh suspicions from the viewers at ho. He sustains his forced smile as he urges Monaco to speak.
"Yes, dear?"
"My question is for the entire Rollins family." Silence envelopes the room. She folds her arms across her chest and peers at us. "If your victims collectively decide that the only way they’ll feel appeased is if you all rot in jail for the pain you have caused them, would you accept it in good faith to demonstrate your genuine remorse for your actions before the good people of Danvarr?
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