Chapter 28: Getting Ready

Ashton's POV

"Good morning, Mr. Pritzgold. I want to remind you about your schedule for today," my secretary said the moment she got inside my office after knocking on the door. I was leaning on my chair and smiling like an idiot, and I was so excited to see Axel again. I was loosening my necktie as I watched Leslie standing in front of me.

"You don't need to remind me, Les. I remember my appointments for today. And would you please cancel my engagements from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. today?" I said, and her eyes widened.

"But you can't cancel—" I didn't let Leslie finish what she was about to say.

"Les, reschedule my appointments with Mr. Johnson and Mr. Cruz," I said, and she nodded her head and turned on her heels away from me.

"Thank you, Leslie, for ordering the flowers. I know I called you very late on Friday night, but I know I can always rely on you," I said, and she stopped in her tracks, spun around to look me in the eyes, and smiled. She was wearing a mischievous smile. Leslie is like an aunt to me since she has been my dad's personal assistant for a long time, and I asked her to be my assistant even after she tendered her resignation before my father got sick.

"You are always welcome, Ashton. I hope she will forgive you. Are you sure you want to court Megan knowing you have a pending engagement?" she asked, and I smiled at her.

"I know, Les, but I will talk with Claire tonight. She begged me not to break up with her, but after meeting Megan again, I can't wait to end my engagement with her. Claire knew we were getting there," I said.

"Good luck with your love life, Ashton. I just hope you will make it right this time, and I hope I can see your old smile," she declared.

"Thank you, Les. And there's one thing I want you to know—I have a son," I said, and I could see how her eyes widened as she looked at me in surprise.

"Is Claire pregnant?" she asked me in disbelief, and I shook my head.

"No. I found out I am the father of Megan's son," I said as I showed her the picture of my little boy. She was staring at my picture on my dad's desk when I was a little boy, then at my cellphone.

"I wanted to ask you how you knew you were the father of Megan's child, but the answer is clear. He looks like you when you were his age. That is good news, Ashton," Leslie declared, and my smile faltered when I realized I still needed to talk with Megan about Axel, and I didn't even know how I could face her after what I had learned.

"Yeah, I know, Les. And I want to do my role as his father, whatever it takes," I said.

"It seems you have more than enough reason to win back your first love, but it also seems it became more complicated," Leslie replied.

"And that's the reason why I want you to cancel some of my appointments—because I want to have lunch with my little boy. And please follow up with the flower shop about today's flowers. I want to send Megan flowers every day, so she will know I am coming back," I said, and she grinned at me.

"Okay, no need to worry. I already called the flower shop, and the person in charge said the delivery is on its way. I’m sure by this time Megan already received the flowers, and if she didn't throw them in the trash bin, she probably asked her secretary to put them in a vase," she said, and my face fell. But I knew Leslie had a point. I know Megan is still angry with me, but I hope she won't throw the flowers.

"Don't look so stunned, Ashton. It’s a possibility because you hurt her. You better think of a way to make your son like you, because I’m sure winning your son's heart is the only way through Megan's heart," she added.

"I will reschedule your two appointments with our new investors for tomorrow morning," she said, and I nodded my head at her. She left my room in a hurry to cancel the appointments while I remained lost in thought, thinking about Megan.

"Uncle Hunter! You came back!" Axel looked so happy when he found me talking with his nanny, and since I had already texted Clara that I was going to bring his lunch, she didn’t bring his food. She gave me a chance to spend more time with my son.

"Where is Uncle Zach?" he asked when we sat down on the ground after I spread the picnic blanket under the big tree and got his food from the basket.

"Wow! I love spaghetti and fried chicken, Uncle Ashton," he said, and I smiled at him as I joined him in eating his lunch. I was hoping he would call me Dad soon.

"Of course, I know you love this food. Your nanny told me it was your birthday last Saturday, so I came back to greet you and give you a gift. But I hope you will put it in your secret place because I don't want your mommy to get jealous that I gave you one of my footballs," I said. He smiled at me, and I can't explain the happiness I felt.

"Really? Are you going to give me one of your old balls? I hope it has your signature on it," he said, and I laughed as I ruffled his hair.

"Yes, buddy, I signed it. Even though I’m no longer playing on my team, I’m glad I have a fan like you, Axel," I said, and his eyes danced with happiness.

"Of course! You will always be my idol," he said, and I beamed at him. I watched him eat with fascination on his face, and I gave him fresh orange juice since I know his mom is health-conscious. Clara told me everything I needed to know about my son, and I felt so happy to have another moment with Axel. I let him take a nap on my lap, and as I watched the kids playing on the ground, I realized I loved the feeling of being a dad.

"Wow! Thank you so much, Uncle Ashton. Don't worry—I will hide this ball," he said as he put the ball in his backpack.

"Can I come and revisit you?" I asked, and his face lit up.

"I want to have lunch with you again, Uncle Ashton," he said. I sent him to his room, and I left Axel with a heavy heart because I wanted to be part of his life—not as his secret friend, but as his father. I drove away from Megalopre with a determination to win back Megan's affection.

"Ashton, what are you doing here?" Claire said the moment she saw me in her office. I could see how shocked she was, and her face looked so pale.

"Hello, Claire! I waited for your texts and calls, but I received nothing, and I can’t wait to talk with you. Can we have dinner?" I asked, and she was hesitant at first, but then she nodded and gave me a weak smile.

"I guess you can’t wait for me to break up with you," she said as we got out of her office, and I didn’t reply until we reached the parking lot.

"There’s something you need to know about me, Claire," I said, and she laughed after she closed the passenger door. She didn’t wait for me to open the door for her like usual, and I could tell I had already shattered her heart before I could even break up with her.

"You don’t need to tell me anything because I know that you’re still hung up on your ex, and I think there’s no way you’re going to get over that woman since you don’t want to try to forget her. Because in your heart, it will always be your first love. We’ve been engaged, yet I’ve never heard you say you love me," she said, and I could hear the bitterness in her voice. I fell silent because I didn’t know how to comfort her.

"We don’t need to go to the restaurant, Ashton. You can tell me here in your car. I can’t eat knowing you’re going to crash my heart tonight," Claire added, and I looked at her sideways and let out a heavy sigh.

"I’m so sorry, Ashton. I know I promised you that I would be the one to break up with you, and the reason I didn’t come to you is that I couldn’t. I know I will never be ready to let you go, but since you came here now, I think I don’t have a choice but to have my dignity and break up with you. Because it would be unfair on my part—I was the one who proposed to you, and now you will be the one to break it. So let me take back my pride and allow me to cancel our engagement," she said, and I looked at her beautiful face. I saw her tears falling like waterfalls.

"I’m sorry, Claire," I said in more than a whisper.

"It’s okay, Ash. The memories I have with you are enough to help me move on with my life. Thank you for being a wonderful boyfriend and for saying yes when I proposed to you—even if I know you wanted to say no, but you were thinking about how I would feel. And I think this time, I need to give you back your freedom," Claire continued to talk while I felt like a fool for hurting another woman. I only tried dating, and Claire was my only official girlfriend after my relationship with Megan, because I thought I would learn to love her—but it seems I can never teach my heart whom to love.

"I hope someday you will finally fall in love. You have to let go of your past heartaches, Ashton—that’s the only way to move on with your life. Good luck," she said, and then she kissed me on the lips. Before I could speak, she got out of my car in a hurry and ran back inside her building.

And I wished Claire would find a man who would love her back. I drove away from the parking lot with a heavy heart, yet I couldn't deny a thorn in my chest had been lifted. I could say I needed to make myself ready to meet Megan again. I felt so excited, and I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about kissing her sweet lips once again.