Chapter 1 THE PROMISE

Ashley stared at the piece of paper laid on the table in front of her, weighing the words written thoughtfully.

Across her is Anton Stanford whose eyes remained cold and emotionless while studying her face.

For a moment, there was a brief silence between them, and both seemingly calculating.

Anton's lips curved, forming a cold smile as he began to speak.

"Don't you know how much I hate you?" 

Ashley looked up and stared at him with the same expression.

"You don't have to tell me. We both feel the same."

BANG!

The table produced a rattled sound as Anton slammed his fist hard on the table, furious.

"You even have the guts to hate me after taking my woman's life?! How dare you!"

Ashley blinked in confusion after taking every word into her mind.

"You can't stand the sight of me, I got that but what was that piece of paper mean? It clearly states that you want me to stay by your side not to mention you're demanding that I should be in charge of everything including your daily lifestyle."

"That's right! You're a complete eyesore to me!" Anton agreed with her first word and tries to explain the rest. "That's why I want you to stay by my side just for a year and after that, you're free to go!"

Her brows furrowed as she tries to understand his way of thinking. She spent a few minutes pondering his words over and over again yet she still couldn't understand him.

"It doesn't really make sense to me!" She grumbles under her breath. "Seeing me, you said makes you sick yet you want to breathe the same air as mine, are you desperate to die?"

"I was!" He said, "But you kept on lingering around me during those times."

She lowered her head as she felt her cheeks redden in embarrassment for being caught. "How... How did you know about that?"

"I'm not a fool!" He scowled. "I'm just drunk but my senses are always working. I felt strange whenever you're closer to me!"

Ashley bit her bottom lip, keeping herself silent.

He went on, "I'm really curious. Perhaps you enjoyed watching me living a miserable life or it could be..."

"It could be what?" She interrupted him.

He stared at her sharply and replied. "You want to replace her in my life?"

Ashley felt inexplicably insulted by his words.

It was her fault as to why he turned like this but she never thought of replacing that woman in his life. For her, no one could ever replace the person that he cherished so much as memories of them together would always remain in his heart.

"Mr. Stanford, you seemed to misunderstand me." She said, "I didn't take pleasure in watching miserable people like you. I simply feel guilty for what happened, that's all."

"So, tell me. What's your decision?" He asked her.

"I'll decide once you tell me why." She explained, "At least I have the right to know how much trouble I'm putting myself into."

"Simple." He replied, "I need you to stay alive. Seeing you every day will help me regain back my footing."

Ashley gave out a complicated sigh before she signed the piece of paper. Though it was a clear woven trap, she still wants to fall for it.

'So he wants to use his hatred to live.' She thought in understanding. 'At least he has a goal now.'

She stood up from her seat, about to bid goodbye but Anton deliberately hold her back from going out of the door.

"The deal starts now." He said. "I believe that you're professional enough to follow the conditions written in there."

Ashley began to feel flustered when she looked at herself. She was just wearing a pair of tight shirts and ripped jeans because she didn't expect that he was going to take her somewhere.

"Mr. Stanford, it's late. I think I should start tomorrow morning." She reasoned but he shook his head.

"No! This is the perfect time. Come with me, I have a meeting." 

With that, he went ahead to the door and left.

Ashley was feeling upset, causing her to grumble. "This is ridiculous! I haven't settled anything yet!"

Anton walked ahead with an evil smirk on his face. "You asked for this, so now I'll give you a taste of your own medicine. I'll make sure this year is just as unforgettable for you as it was for me!"

After passing three doors, Anton stopped and tilted his head.

"You can handle your liquor, right?" He asked.

She nodded reluctantly. "Perhaps."

"The meeting will last for two hours. Drink whatever they tossed you." He instructed before he pushed the door open.

Ashley hesitated. 'Am I really going to do this? Would it really make me feel better?' She thought as her feet stilled, a few inches away from the door.

Ashley's heart trembled as a thought briefly flashed through her mind.

She had whispered something before she stopped breathing.

"PROMISE ME. YOU WILL TAKE CARE OF HIM."

The same words kept her awake in the middle of the night since that incident happened.

The very reason why she was always there to linger around him.

The reason why she chose to stay in this place rather than keep her distance from him.

And the reason why she decided to face him even if it was humiliating, degrading, and embarrassing.

It was all because of those words which she even failed to digest during that time. She just remembered nodding like a fool.

It was only now that she come to realize how heavy that promise meant. It was like she was asking for an abrupt reconstruction of her life to let the man be a part of it and it was too late to take it back. She already left!

Ashley stared at the dimly lit room and took a deep breath. She was determined to conquer her fear, no matter what the consequences might be. 

Anton stared at her before he speaks.

"Listen, everyone, I can't drink tonight that's why I brought someone to take the shots for me."

The men began whistling, curiously looking at her while the women sitting beside them looked intrigued.

The sight of them made her feel uncomfortable yet she tried to remain calm, silently reminding herself that this will pass in no time. 

Anton dragged his chair without further ado and gestured to the seat beside him. 

She took it in silence with her head hung low.

Their business discussion began and the shots went to her simultaneously.

Ashley gulped them without complaint while peering at her wristwatch from time to time. She still had an hour to endure before the night ended.

Anton observed her from the corner of his eyes and thought, 'Are you just really guilty for what happened? Why do I feel that there's something more behind it?'

Her attention might be on the glasses she accepted but her senses were widely awake. Even Anton's little movements didn't escape from them.

Those ravenous eyes that keep on ramming her face from time to time, she had them recorded in her mind. Not to mention the obvious curiosity lingering in them.

'Your anger would be doubled once you recall something that you shouldn't have and I apologize for that in advance.'