Some storms don't announce themselves.

My thoughts stray to the day; my dreams fade into the leaden sky, promises run away. Today has just been a different day, too many things happening at the same time.

I lost my dad, he was my hero, and all I wanted was to be like him. He owns the Cortez Empire and he has been training me since I was sixteen years old. He has taken me to places I should be, and I have learnt a lot about companies and how to navigate my way around businesses.

I learnt a lot from him. But now, I regret everything I have done to be like him. I gave up my teenage years, dedicated my life to the company, only for him to give it to his secret son.

I am the only child of my mother, but my father has a second wife, Donna, my stepmother, and she has a daughter, my stepsister Selina.

My mother went rogue when she found out that my father had a mistress, she threatened to divorce him, but she loves him so much, she forgave him and he made Donna his second wife.

Unknown to my mother and me, Donna had a son but kept him a secret for twenty-three years, because my father made her, so she wouldn’t hurt my mother’s already broken, heart.

“Everything I have built is for you, never doubt that.”

I trusted the words of my father with all my heart. But with what he has done, I don’t think I can ever forgive him.

“Ashley, you have been deprived of the position of the CEO of the Cortez Empire.”

Even with all the arguments of the company officials with the lawyer who was reading out my father’s will.

“This is not what we agreed upon, Miss Ashley is supposed to be next. Who else can do a better job than Mr Cortez?”

I never thought about that question till Donna brought in her son.

“My son, Kane Cortez is the new CEO of the Cortez Empire.”

Lost in exquisite confusion, processing all that is befalling me. Kane didn’t even look like a response person.

He looked like Selina, down to the smallest detail, but something was wrong. Red, restless eyes. A faint smell of weed in the air. A wrinkled suit, careless hair, sneakers where polish should have been. It was disappointing, embarrassing even. And the unease in his stare warned me that this was only the beginning of something far worse.

Every word that came out of his mouth was rude and ridiculous, the company wouldn't survive a month in his lazy hands.

Not only was I deprived of my rightful position in the company, but the reason was that I wasn’t married. My father never said this would be a hindrance to my title, he never did.

So I have to get married within five days to get access to a five percent inheritance. After nine good years of hard work and dedication, this is what I get. How wicked and corrupt is that?

“Some storms don’t announce themselves.”

I remember my father telling me, it sounded more like a warning. I didn’t think of it too much, till I got a call about his death, then the meeting in the company which turned out to be my downfall.

“Ashley, your father would never do this to you, to us. Donna manipulated him.”

“Mom, you need to get over this. He changed the will behind my back, the lawyer confirmed that he wasn’t drunk and his sanity was intact.”

Getting to the bar close to my house, after I had argued with my mom.

“There’s nothing a cup of tequila can’t fix.”

The words of my father still hurt me. I agreed he was a wise man, his voice calm and precise, cutting through figures and forecasts like a blade through silk. Me Cortez never raised his voice. He didn’t need to. Authority followed him naturally, bending to his presence.

To the world, he was a strict, respectful businessman, to me he was my father. But this betrayal is too big to be forgiven.

I’m already tipsy, it’s time for me to head back home, my mom should be asleep by now. After paying the barman, I tried standing up but bumped into someone.

“Oh, please forgive my clumsiness.”

“No worries, I hope you’re okay?”

Looking up to meet the eyes of my high school crush, Duke Vandercage.

“Ashley Cortez, I’ll be damned.”

“Oh, Mr Vandercage, I’m so sorry. It's been really long.”

I shyly say, tucking my front hair behind my ear, looking at my feet.

“Mr Vandercage, that will be my father, just call me Duke. It’s good to see you, Ashley. I heard about your father, I’m really sorry about that.”

Yeah, that man. Duke is really handsome, with his bold features, properly arranged hair, and perfect scent coming from just two feet away from him. I wish he were the one I got to marry.

“I see you’re having a drink. Here by yourself?”

“Uhm, yeah. If you’re not in a rush we can just have a drink, just to catch up and stuff.”

Weirdly, it's coming from me. I’ve never asked anyone out. I had a boyfriend, but after two months of dating, we broke up and Selina got married to him. I wasn’t upset about it, I didn't want to be in a relationship with him in the first place.

We sat for about twenty minutes, talking and laughing about old school days and my current situation with Kane and the company.

“It’s really nice talking to you Ashley, I didn’t know you could be this fun.”

“Please don’t mind me, I think it’s because of the tequila.”

“I thought as much. I’m really sorry to cut this meeting short, but I have to head out now, someone’s waiting for me.”

“Your girlfriend?”

I don’t know why I asked.

“No, a friend.”

“Ohh okay. It’s nice catching up with you.”

“You too Ashley, and about your issue, don’t worry too much. You really definitely get someone to marry you, you’re beautiful. Hell, I wish I could marry you.”

Wait, that will be good. I don't have to marry a stranger and worry about my safety or whether he will abduct me to request money after I get my five percent.

I don’t know where the confidence came from, but I just asked him without thinking about whether he would reject me.

“Then marry me.”

His face is giving a surprised and ridiculous expression, I don’t know whether it’s good or not.