Chapter 15: Bad and Good News

Ashton

"W-What happened d-daddy? Why does he seem so angry with me? Why does it feel like he despised me and wanted nothing from me? Doesn't he miss me? Why?" I cried in Zie's arms, we were inside his car and I don't want to leave without asking my twin what's wrong, I don't want to leave knowing my twin kind of hate me for an unknown reason. I was confused, did Nick hate me because he thought I was not looking for him? That I forgot about him? All my life, I thought my twin brother is dead, did my parents lied to me? But for what reason, this is making me anxious.

"Let's go back please, I want to talk to Nick, maybe he was just surprised by my presence earlier," I begged Zie but he just looked at me with pity on his face.

"Not now Ashton, this is not the last time you'll meet your twin brother, Rex and I will set you two up to talk but let your twin brother adjust to his new life, for now, let's come back whenever he's ready to talk to you, okay?" Zie replied and kissed me on the forehead, he comes close to me, his face is only inches away from me that for a second I thought he will kiss me but he just smirks noticing my lips anticipating his kisses, he put on my seatbelt instead.

"I can still see him soon right?" I hopefully asked, slightly smiling.

"Yes, let's go home," Zie said emphatically and turned on the car engine.

I sadly glance at the cupid statue outside the mansion as the car drives farther away from the mansion. When will I see my twin again? I don't know but I hope it's soon.

When we arrived at his penthouse we went straight to bed, my head resting on his chest while one of his hands was wrapped around my body. I would find our position very romantic tonight if only I wasn't bothered about how meeting my twin brother turns out bad.

"Let's get some sleep, baby," Zie said, I closed my eyes and forced myself to sleep. In hopes that if I sleep, maybe I can momentarily forget what happened tonight at Rex's mansion.

When I woke up the next morning, Zie was no longer by my side. I got out of bed and left the room. When I enter the living room I saw Zie busy preparing the food on the table.

"Good morning." I greeted him enthusiastically, feeling a little better than the last night.

"Good morning, baby." He replied, "come on, the food is ready," he pulled up a chair and motioned me to sit there.

"What are you going to do now? Paper works I guess?" I asked Zie as he put a small portion of every food he prepared on my plate, I started eating after saying thank you to him.

"I have a meeting with the editors for the new book we will launch in a few days." He answered and can't hide the smile on his lips. His smiles are addicting that I can't help but also smile, I'm happy for him. This means that his company is slowly recovering and hopefully the launch of the book will be successful, the author must be jumping in joy right now. How does it feel to see the hard copies of your novel on the national bookstore? I bet it's the most fulfilling moment for every aspiring writer.

"You should come, I have a surprise for you," Zie said with a smile as if he's excited to let me know whatever surprise he's planning. I look at him suspiciously trying to figure out the surprise, base on his expression. I just nodded when I can't seem to figure out the surprise because his face became stoic as if he doesn't want me to find any single clue.

After eating and getting ready we went straight to Zie's company. When we enter his office, a man in his mid-thirties, I think,  was sitting on the couch, wearing eyeglasses while reading whatever it is in his folder. The man only stops when he saw us approaching.

"Good morning, Zie." He greeted Zie and smiled slightly when his eyes landed on me.

"You must be Ashton." He said after looking at me from head to toe, I swallowed my saliva suddenly feeling intimidated in his stares but somehow I still managed to nod at him.

"Okay, let's get into this, so this is Mr. Brendon, he's the editor-in-chief and he has something to tell you, baby," Zie said and sat down in the swivel chair, there was another vacant seat next to him, I carefully walked towards the vacant chair and sit down.

"Well, I'm not gonna let you wait any longer. So I assume Zie already informed you about the state of Mendez Publishing Inc. and we are trying our best to cope up and gain our loss profit this month. As a result, the publishing company will venture into an indie pub where the pub will solely publish books with the boys' love genre." Mr. Brendon explains to me but I just look at him confused. Okay? Why is he telling me their plans for their company? I'm not a marketing assistant so I'm so confused by this.

"Zie told me that you've submitted manuscript here before, gladly we found the copy, the team review your manuscript and come to a decision that your manuscript is not that bad as a debut book for the indie pub. I like how provocative the characters are. " He continues to explain as my mouth forms an 'o'. I look at Zie in disbelief but he just nods his head confirming that what Mr. Brendon told me is legit. I space out for almost a minute trying to process every word that Mr. Brendon said.

Am I dreaming? Please, if I am dreaming don't ever wake me up. I'll kill whoever wakes me I swear. Both Zie and Mr. Brendon are beaming at me.

"Well, welcome to the company Ashtin." He said as he placed his right hand on my thigh and squeezed it sending a tingling sensation on my body.

"This is surreal. Are you sure you want to publish my story?" I asked even though they already made it clear to me that they want to publish my story. I don't know, I'm surprised, shocked and at the same time happy.

I remember the day where I got an email from the publishing company, I was so broken when they told me that my manuscript got rejected, I was upset for a few days then blaming myself for not being good enough, asking if my work was so trashy that they could not even consider my story. Now it all makes sense, I think everything happens for a reason.

"This is real Ash, you're getting published," Mr. Brendon replied.

Mr. Brendon went on to talk about the contract but I only nodded in response even though I could not understand what he's saying, it was as if I was floating in the cloud and mentally forget that I am inside an office.

"Ash."

"Ashton."

I blinked when someone suddenly tapped me. When I'm out of my trance, I notice that it's only me and Zie is inside the office.

Did I space out? Again?

"Where is Mr. Brendon?" I asked confused, he was just in front of me then suddenly he disappears.

Zie smirked at me, "he left ten minutes ago," he replied.

"What? I didn't even notice him walking out, sorry if I space out," I said and stand up to get closed to Zie, I hugged him tightly from his back, "thank you so much, Zie," I sincerely said.

Zie turned around and embrace me, he looks at me with his eyes full of lust or passion. I don't know. I can't read his face.

"How grateful are you, Ash?" He asked, with an authoritative tone as if he does not want me to say how grateful I am but rather show him how grateful I am.

"I-I can do anything you want, D-daddy," I replied weakly suddenly feeling like I'm out of breath. I'm nervous but I want to show Zie what I can do to repay his kindness to me.

I want to repay his kindness and I think today is the right time.

"Show me what you've got then," Zie replied, a burning desire visible in his eyes telling me he wants me and I'm giving it now.