CHAPTER 4 - Media Play

The next day, Ashley woke up as she took her phone. She went through it as a notification came in.

Ashley saw the news about her. Immediately she sprang up from the bed, and switched on the TV, and the news about her appeared on the screen.

VALENCIA'S ELDEST DAUGHTER IS DATING THE MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELOR IN US, LIAM ABBOT

VALENCIA ADMIT THEIR DAUGHTER HAD BEEN IN A SECRET RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM FOR A YEAR, AND SHE'S ENGAGED TO HIM WITH A PLAN TO GET MARRIED

Ashley could not believe the news, as her phone started ringing. She picked her phone from the bed, and checked the caller ID.

It's Chris, The team leader of the PR team in her parent's company. Ashley is not surprised by his call because she knows how much her father hates scandal and unnecessary attention that won't fetch him any benefits.

So he's calling because of the news.

“Chris, I swear I don't know how the news broke. Truthfully, I had a dance with him which lasted for just thirty minutes before I ended the dance” Ashley spoke first.

Last night, she agreed to his dance request despite her parents' cold eyes. She couldn't help it but accept.

Ashley fiddled with fingers as she awaits his predicted response which his, ‘Ashley, don't worry, I'm working on it, trust the PR team and be careful next time’

But his response became different from what she had predicted and thought.

“I was the one that released the press release. The PR team admit to the allegations”.

Ashley's eyes widened. “Why??? I'm not dating him, we barely talk, I don't even know his line, and I never admit anything to you” Ashley stated, still looking surprised as she stopped biting her nails.

“Your Dad ordered me to release a press release, admitting the allegation, and make it official” Her eyes widened more.

“Why???” She questioned.

“Ashley, I don't know, honestly. I was surprised when he asked me to admit to it,”

Ashley was shocked, and doesn't know when she ended the call first. Her butt landed on the bed as her eyes were fixed on the TV.

The news channel is talking about her achievements so far which is fake, it's definitely the PR handiwork. She even saw the clip when she bumped into him in the café the other day.

“Why will I be engaged to Liam Abbot? I should be happy because I once had a crush on him, but this is not how I want things to be, how will she handle things now??” Ashley wondered, began to feed on her nails again before standing up finally.

It's time to confront her father and know the reason behind his decision without caring to know whether she will be pleased with the decision or not.

She has never done this before, but she knew she had to, she couldn’t just sit back and let her father ruin another man’s life.

Ashley went to the washroom, and washed her teeth and rinsed her face before stepping out of the washroom.

She took her phone, and left her room as she headed downstairs. Luckily for her, she met her father having breakfast with the whole family.

“Good morning,” Ashley greeted, and she earned a positive nod from them.

“Father, I would like to have a private discussion with you” Ashley uttered.

“Wait for me in my study room,”

Ashley left and went upstairs to his study room. She entered and after a few minutes, her father joined.

“What do you want to say??”

“Father, I am not in a relationship with Liam Abbot. I don't know him from anywhere, I'm not close with him, so why will you admit to the allegations? I swear I'm not dating him for real,” She responded.

“So, what do you want?”

Her heart leapt, there's a hope he might change his statement and deny the allegations or bring up a new lie that things are over between her and Liam.

“Please handle the media, I'm not dating him, and I can't marry someone I barely know” She pleaded.

“If you are not dating him, then why did you dance with him last night against my will? Our eyes met, and yet you ignored my eyes as you went to dance with him, didn't you see the press yesterday at the event.

You know the press is constantly looking for a story to write on, and you openly gave them one.”

“Father,” Ashley called.

“Make things official with him because I won't allow you to ruin my business reputation by being regarded as a father of a fling to someone like Liam Abbot. You did not see a Mayor son to dance with, it's a billionaire from nowhere that you decided to dance so pay for your sins without complaining,”

Ashley had the intention to confront him, but she ended up being confronted as his words crushed her down.

“Father, I can't marry him, I don't love him, you said love is a weakness, but you want me to love him,”

“I never told you to love him, marry him to cover up the scandal you created. Ashley Valencia I'm sure you know how much I hate scandalous news, so do what is necessary, I have played my part, the last card is left in your hand so play it well.”

“Father, I'm practically a stranger to him,” She added, hoping to change his mind, but his strong expression is not giving her any hope. He's not changed his mind.

“I'm practically a stranger to your Mom, so kindly use the door,”

Ashley left his study room, and headed to her room. She locked her room door and took the television remote. She changed the channel, and could see all the news channels talking about her dating scandal with Liam Abbot.

“There's no way I'm still not going to get caught. I hacked his company server, and avoided him in the café. This foolish me forgot about my deeds and went to have a dance with him, and now I'm bound to him, which looks like a forever deal.

I can't run away, and If I run away now, then that means I'm ungrateful,” She thought.

“Ashley Valencia, you are finally doomed.” I thought to myself, not knowing how to approach him because there is no way he was going to stand still and watch my father do this to him.