Ashton felt embarrassed

NARRATIVE 
  It was a busy night in the Grey's family manor. While Scarlett was busy showing Skylar around the manor, Imogen had taken it upon herself to supervise the kitchen staffs today. She had also been in charge of picking out the diverse meals for dinner.
  Ashton was relaxing in the game room and Harriet was busy holding a secret online meeting with her team in her room.
  The moment Imogen heard of the chairman's arrival, she hurried out to meet him.
  "Father," she ran over and hugged him. "It is so good to have you home again. I had the staff prepared most of your favourite meals, so be ready to dine well tonight." She grinned at him.
  Jamie Grey smiled over Imogen's enthusiasm and allowed her cling to his arm as she escorted him into the large, grand living room. She seemed to be making an effort to change and he wasn't surprised. Afterall, Finley had informed him she resumed work today and had behaved well too. 
 He would watch her for some months and if she did well, he would have her promoted.
  "Welcome, Dad." Scarlett smiled as she walked down the stairs with Skylar. 
  Imogen's grip around the chairman's arm became even tighter, as she was trying to make Scarlett jealous. But Scarlett ignored her and smiled instead. Jamie Grey raised his gaze and smiled at them.
  "Welcome home, Chairman." Skylar greeted also.
  "Father, you're here." Ashton greeted. He had also walked out of the game room the moment he was notified of the chairman's arrival.
  "Oh, this is lovely. It is a full house," Jamie Grey chuckled, glad to see the manor bustling with the children.
  "Darling, you're home." Harriet was the last to arrive. She smiled at the chairman but Jamie Grey cleared his throat and his smile easily disappeared at the sight of her. 
  But Harriet went on, looking undisturbed. "Imogen insisted on organizing the dinner tonight with the kitchen staffs. She worked really hard to make sure your favorite meals were made and served in accuracy of taste and order." 
  Imogen smiled at her mom and Jamie nodded acknowledgement. "Thank you, Imogen. I would make sure to have a feast tonight." Jamie smiled at her and Imogen felt on top of the world.
  "Of course you should, father." She hurriedly and excitedly said.
  Jamie Grey chuckled softly, enjoying the mood in the manor for the first time in many years.
  He then led the entire family to the dining hall, after inviting Skylar to join them of course. To him, since Skylar was his precious daughter's good friend, then she was a part of the family. And since she was staying here at the moment, he saw no reason why she shouldn't join them have dinner. 
  Harriet even though displeased by this news, had nothing to say. She wouldn't mind eliminating Skylar too if she poses as a threat to her plans in any ways in the near future.
  Through out dinner, Ashton found himself continuously locking gaze with Skylar and he wondered what was wrong with him. Skylar too felt the same but she tried to control herself, although she kept failing at that.
  "I am appointing Scarlett the position of CEO while Ashton is to be the Vice." While they ate, the chairman announced the news he intended to say and quite surprisingly, his intentions weren't resisted this time. 
  He had always known Harriet to be a cunning woman, so he knew she was definitely up to something not good. But of course, she wouldn't succeed this time, especially not under his watch.
  "Congratulations, Scarlett dear," Harriet began in hypocrisy and Scarlett almost puked at her pretense.
  "Thank you," Scarlett simply said, she couldn't even bring herself to call the woman 'stepmother'. She wasn't deserving of even such a title. Infact, Scarlett thought she wasn't even deserving to be called a 'mother'. 
  "Congratulations too, Ashton. I am sure your assistance to your sister would serve a great deal in running the company smoothly." Harriet continued and Ashton coughed slightly. Did she have to be so specific?
  "Thank you, mother." He said in a low tune.
  "Congratulations Sugar, I know you would do well." Skylar squeezed Scarlett's hand tenderly and Scarlett smiled at her. 
  "Thank you, Sky." She smiled.
  Imogen tried to pretend to get along with the news as she raised a cheer for the new development. "Congratulations, darling 'big' sis." She faked a smile at Scarlett.
  Scarlett smirked and also faked a smile at her. "Thank you, 'little' sis." She retorted too, stressing on the 'little' just like Imogen had done on the 'big'.
  Even though she felt upset by Scarlett's return of her energy, Imogen went ahead to raise a toast to the news. "Cheers to a new era, dearest family." She raised a toast and everyone cheered with their drinks. 
  "This is good news for the family, and a win-win also." Harriet said after clicking her glass with the others. Gaining their attention, she went on to continue. "But I would advise us not to be too loud about it yet. You know, until we've known the final results after the board meeting has been successfully held. Because for now, I sincerely feel that nothing is certain yet." She concluded and Jamie Grey sighed.
 Was she being stupid right now or was she doubting his authority over his own company? Who cares about what or how she felt by the way? 
  Deciding he would ignore her, he simply said. "We would see about that, definitely."
  "Definitely, we will." Harriet repeated with a smirk and the chairman's gaze fixed at her. And although the hate she saw in those green eyes were intense, Harriet held his gaze, while her grip on her cutleries tightened and it was obvious to anyone watching, that the steak in her plate was definitely feeling the heat of this moment.
  "Eat up father, this is your favorite." Imogen suddenly interrupted, placing a large piece of fried salmon on her father's rice bowl. 
  The air around her parents were always tensed and she really didn't like it.
  Chairman Grey looked at his food uninterestedly. He already lost his appetite. Every damned moment he spent under the same air or roof with this woman, he gets reminded of his awful mistake and his regret. Just how much longer must he tolerate her because of his children?
  Just when he was about to lower his cutleries and leave, Scarlett's hand found his and she gently squeezed. He raised his gaze and looked at his daughter, Heidi, and she smiled at him, speaking to him with her eyes.
  "Ignore it, Dad. It isn't worth it." 
  Jamie Grey let out a sigh and nodded subtly at her. Once again, he was grateful she survived and didn't die like Harriet had made him believe many years ago.
  Certainly, he was going to get to the root of the incident and have everything reinvestigated again. But for now, he would take things step by step. He surely doesn't need his enemies knowing his moves...
  "Thank you, Imogen." He said with a warm smile at his second daughter and soon continued eating. 
  Of course, Imogen saw the subtle communication between both and her fist clenched against her laps beneath the dinning table. However, she feigned a smile at her father and continued eating also.
  Ashton suddenly felt greatly embarrassed as he glared at his Mom, especially since they had a visitor _ Skylar. 
  All was fine until his mother opened her mouth and talked!
  Skylar quietly observed the scene while she drank from her glass of wine. It was her first time meeting Harriet and just from this first encounter, Sky noted how dreadful she was. And within her, she hoped to never have a one on one encounter with the mother of her crush.
  Harriet however, continued eating nonchalantly like she couldn't be bothered over how she had just ruined everyone's mood. 
  As far as she was concerned, she was never letting Jamie Grey win in this fight. Otherwise, she feared she wouldn't survive.

Book Comment (139)

  • avatar
    Ferlich Mae S. Arcallana

    It’s a nice story

    31/08/2022

      0
  • avatar
    Mimisu

    the best story highly recommended ❤️❤️

    26/05/2022

      4
  • avatar
    may_oh

    very interesting story! highly recommended 🤍

    17/05/2022

      1
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