Ch-3 Sacrifice

Ashley's POV

As a last resort, I request Ethan to sit and talk somewhere, hoping that he will agree to sit face to face in some cafeteria of the hotel. And there, I might be able to persuade him to reconsider his stance.

But instead of agreeing to or rejecting my question right away, he just looks at me with an unreadable expression. 

Finally, with a subtle nod, he gestures towards his hotel room;

"Very well, let's talk. But I'm leaving a very important meeting for this, Miss Waverly, so you better make it worth my time."

I feel like my ears have lost all credibility today, forcing me to question the accuracy of what I am hearing, again and again.

Is he really asking me to go to his room, instead of a public place?!

Shocked and uncomfortable as I may be, I also know that I can't say no at this point. And the impatient manner in which he has lifted his eyebrow while glancing at his watch is telling me I don't have much time to decide. 

With a deep sigh, I walk into his room; but to my surprise, there is no other furniture apart from a bed, and a table pushed up against the wall.

He gestures towards the bed while he himself leans against the table, and trying to balance myself on the edge of his bed, I decide to speak without thinking too much about this awkward arrangement. 

"Mr. Johnson, I believe we started off on the wrong foot. So I want to avoid this misunderstanding and make my stance clear–"

"I don't think so, Miss Waverly. I think I understood you perfectly clearly when you said that you were ready to pay any price, and then you backtracked when I actually named my price. What other fact is there to be misunderstood?"

Ethan's tone is harsh, leaving no scope for any arguments. His words make me feel like I have been jolted by electricity.

I am not a coward, nor do I have a habit of going back on my word– but to what extent? 

Just the prospect of surrendering my body to him in exchange for his help fills me with a deep sense of shame and indignation, and I fall silent for a moment. 

On one hand, is the company whose sentimental value is much higher for me than its monetary value. And on the other hand, is my dignity, which I haven't ever thought of putting a price on!

How can I compromise my principles for the sake of my parents' legacy? But at the same time, how can I let my only chance slip away while I stand by, doing nothing? 

Desperate to find a solution that would satisfy both my conscience and Ethan's demands, I try to offer various compromises. 

"What if we draw up an agreement to share dividends with you? Or perhaps we could discuss giving you a stake in the company, maybe even half?"

I cringe internally, because even I can see the desperation in my voice. But Ethan Johnson remains unmoved.

"I don't have time to waste, Miss Waverly! And besides, do you even think that all your assets combined can even match one-tenth of my wealth?" 

He states bluntly, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. 

"I am not interested in anything else, apart from your body and spending a night with you tonight. So it's up to you.now. You can reject my offer if you want, but I won't have anything to do with your business."

His words remind me of the harsh truth- I need his help, not the other way round. I feel like I am trapped between two impossible choices… 

I think it is time for me to step out of my denial and acknowledge that I'll have to make a sacrifice, no matter how painful. 

My upbringing and morals demand that I place a tight slap on his face for even suggesting this in the first place. But for me, the stakes are too high to walk away without a fight.

"I… I can't let them snatch my company, but…"

Before I can even finish my sentence, he steps forward casually slipping out of his jacket. 

I lower my gaze instantly, feeling the blood rush to my face. Although he hasn't said a single word, his gesture has conveyed the message loud and clear: if I want to keep my company, I have no choice but to fulfill his terms. 

I can feel my heart pounding in my chest like a drum, as my mind scrambles to come to terms with the unthinkable…  can I truly go through with this? 

As if he read my mind, Ethan took one more step in my direction while his fingers lifted to his collar, loosening the buttons of his shirt one by one.

What… what does it mean? I haven't even said yes yet, and he is already rushing things?! Oh God, have I just walked into the lair of a monster? 

My brain short circuits out of sheer panic as I almost jump in my place and quickly cover my eyes out of embarrassment.

But this is when the sound of Ethan's sarcastic chuckle falls in my ears;

"What happened to your courage and confidence, Miss Waverly? Time and time again, your actions prove that you're actually unfit for the role of a business partner! Don't worry, I'm just going for a shower now. Till then, you have around ten minutes to think about your decision…"

I only lowered my hands when the sound of his footsteps had faded, feeling like my heartbeat was gradually returning to normal. 

I don't know if he was joking or taunting me, but either way, his words caused my inner turmoil to reach a fever pitch. I feel dizzy, as if I will pass out right now. 

With a heavy heart and mind clouded by conflicting emotions, I resign myself to the grim reality of the situation. 

Ethan may be my only hope in saving the company, I realized with a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. And if securing his support means sacrificing my innocence, then so be it… 

Just as I laid down all my weapons in surrender, a flicker of defiance sparked within my mind. Is there really no other way? Even if I do as I must, I don't want to remember anything… anything about this night, about him. 

With trembling hands, I reach for my phone and dial Tiffany's number, my heart racing with a desperate hope.

I hold my breath as the ringing sound echoes from the speaker, my pulse quickening with each passing second. 

In a state of frantic desperation, my heart almost leaps with relief as Tiffany answers the phone after just two rings. 

"Hello? Are you okay, Ash-"

Without wasting a moment, I hurriedly cut her off, my words tumbling out in a rush of urgency. I don't know when he might come back, and I don't want to take any risks.

"Tiffany, I need your help. Do you know of any sedative medication that could help me numb my senses for the night?"

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, followed by Tiffany's concerned voice. 

"Ashley, what's going on? Why do you need sedatives? Just wait, I'm coming there right away–" 

"No… no, don't!"

I hesitate for a split second, torn between the urge to confide in my best friend and the fear of burdening her with the weight of my dilemma. 

"I'm in a difficult situation, Tiffany," I finally admit, my voice barely above a whisper. 

"I… I need to numb my senses for the night. Please, I don't have time to explain. Just tell me if you know of anything that could help."

Tiffany's response is immediate, her voice tinged with worry as she pleads;

"Ashley, whatever it is, don't do anything rash… we will find another way, I promise. Just hold on a little longer, I'm coming there."

I should have seen it coming, Tiffany is panicking and wants to sort out my mess herself. But I have made up my mind, and there is nothing she can do. 

"There is no other way, Tiffany. 

I'm willing to do whatever it takes to save my father's company."

That's all that I said out loud, but I completed the rest of the sentence in my mind.

I will do whatever it takes to save my father's last memory… even if it means compromising my own integrity and self-respect.

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