I Trust You

There was no one else in the mansion aside the two maids who had been assigned to watch over Nathaniel. Eleanor was made to stay in the living area while Nathaniel and Ashley moved to the study downstairs.

Ashley stood opposite Nathaniel who was seated behind the desk. He tried to look calm, but Ashley knew he wasn't. He was trembling and so was she.

"Ash, you're my darling granddaughter. I'll always say this. You know I'll never believe what that girl says. So, I want to hear it from you." Nathaniel closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Ashley saw the fear in his phoenix eyes once he opened them. She gulped shakily. "Now, tell me. Do you want to divorce Nathan? Are-are you and my grandson getting divorced?"

Ashley stood still. It was as though her brain had stopped working. A loud ringing seemed to be heard in her ears. Finally, she opened her mouth and spoke resolutely. "Yes."

Nathaniel fell back in the chair, his face pale and his expression unstable. "Grandpa." Ashley neared him but the man raised his hand to stop her. "No. I'm fine." He caught sight of the flash of hurt on her face. "I'm not angry at you, Ash. I just need to think."

Ashley stood still, staring at him to make sure nothing went wrong. "I guess that's why you're here, right? To inform us about your decision." Nathaniel spoke after a while. There was nothing but exhaustion in his voice, completely opposite from the heart elderly man earlier.

"Yes." Ashley paused, gauging the expression on the elderly man's face carefully. She then continued. "But Nathan doesn't agree."

Nathaniel waved his hand as though telling her not to worry. "Don't bother about that boy." He then sighed deeply. "If you truly want a divorce, then…I'll support you. I won't allow that stinky boy to get in the way of your happiness." Ashley seemed to hear the old man choke.

She then neared him and crouched down, holding his hands in hers. His hands were wrinkly and bony, almost fragile. It seemed that with any minor movement, you would hear them crack.

"Grandpa." Ashley smiled at him. It was a smile full of gratefulness. Her eyes shimmered with tears. "Thank you."

The elder gave a weak smile and turned his head to the side. "Is it because you love another man?" Ashley widened her eyes. Her gaze then went to the desktop on the table which Nathaniel had his eyes on. On its screen were pictures of her and William. It was the same pictures that had been circulating on the internet after the charity event. But there seemed to be even more on the desktop.

"Of course not. I don't love that man, grandpa. He's just a friend. And besides, the reason I want to divorce Nathan is because the two of us simply aren't compatible." Ashley could have brought up the issue of Vanessa. She could have brought up the fact that Nathaniel's grandson was not as loving and kind toward her as he seemed to be. But she didn't.

Ashley abhorred Nathan's attitude, but she didn't want anyone finding out. It would break the hearts of those she cared about the most and hence, she decided to bottle up all her grievances. It was enough that Nathaniel was willing to accept the divorce.

Nathaniel retracted his gaze from the desktop screen and stared at her. "It's okay, Ash. I trust you." The man seemed to have grown a bit older in the few minutes making the young woman worry.

Ashley's phone then began to vibrate with a call. It was Jonathan calling. "I'm sure you have a lot of work to do. I'm old and helpless. Don't let me keep you here."

Ashley stood up and tried to hold him. "At least let me help me to your room." The old man waved his hand and said softly. "I'm fine, Ash. Now go." Ashley moved back. "Are you sure?" Worry was in her eyes.

The old man laughed. He seemed to be in high spirits once again. "Yes, I'm sure. Go."

Ashley nodded and began to walk away, but with every step she took, she turned back to look at the old man. She saw him smile warmly at her before picking up the telephone in the study. "Send Eleanor out. Tell her I won't be meeting her." Those were the words Ashley heard before she finally left.

The door then closed, leaving Nathaniel alone. The laughter in his eyes had disappeared, leaving only sadness as he leaned back in his chair. He then turned his head to look at the desktop screen, his gaze on William.

…

Ashley felt excited. The kind of excitement one would feel after getting a present on Christmas or winning a lottery.

She hummed as she walked into her favorite coffee shop, 'Munchies', where Jonathan had asked to meet.

Once she caught sight of him at their regular table, she beamed. "Hello, John." She then sat opposite him, stealing a cookie from his tray. "Why are you so happy?", Jonathan asked, his eyes raised in amusement.

Ashley giggled and spoke. "I'm just happy." After finishing the cookie, she stole, she rested her elbow on the table and cupped her left cheek. "Is it wrong to be happy?"

"No." Jonathan smiled, a bit mesmerized by the look on her face. "It's not."

 Ashley then sat up straight. "So…why did you call me here?" Hesitation flashed across Jonathan's face and Ashley grew serious upon seeing this.

"Well, you remember the book which's copyright you wanted to sell to Joshua Entertainment?" Ashley nodded and raised her eyebrows indicating he continue. "The C.EO…" He cleared his throat before continuing. "Felix has sold the books copyright to Cleveland Entertainment."

"That son of a-."

"Language, Ash."

"Don't 'language' me." Ashley was so infuriated that her voice raised by a few decibels.

"Who gave him that right?"

Jonathan scratched his head. "I told him you wouldn't be happy, and he responded with, 'I'm the C.E.O. I have control over everything here.'" Jonathan recounted Felix's exact words.

And Ashley chuckled. It was low menacing chuckle.

"I'm going to show him who has control over everything."