Can't Compete

five

ELLA SAT BEFORE her father in his study. Her posture straight and proper, waiting to be addressed as she was taught.

After her parents had shooed away Ashton shirtless from their house last night, Ella sardonically chuckled at the fact that her Christmas wish was for her parents' presence, but she was granted what she wanted at the wrong time.

"So, you and that Fernandez boy, huh?" Her father quizzed.

Ella looked at him passively and curtly nodded.

His body became tense. "Words, Ella."

"Yes."

"Are you not aware of what he does?"

Her left eyebrow lifted, then realised her facial features was longer impassive and moved her muscles to make sure she looked apathetic. "I'm aware that you have provided their family with a hospital and medical resources with full acknowledgement of the business they conduct,"

"It was merely a business deal that I was ambushed into," he leaned back into his chair.

"Yes. My boyfriend can be very persuasive," Ella bit back a proud smile.

"And so am I. I don't want you around that boy anymore. He's going to get caught one day and when fire strikes, your — our — name will caught in a crossfire as well."

"And if he's still around?"

Her father clasped his hands together. "I am not afraid to take back my medical resources and hospital building."

She wanted to call his bluff but was afraid that he would actually go through with retracting medical help. If her father was to do that, many of Ashton's people would more likely get caught by the Feds, or end up dead from lack of medical support.

"Why did you even agree to the business deal?"

"That's none of your concern," her father declared in a stern voice.

"No. I know Ashton. He uses blackmail and violence to get what he wants,"

He shook his head. "You should be ashamed. You know his ways and still stick by him."

"Business is business," Ella shrugged.

For as long as she's known, the only real family that constantly had her back were the Elites.

Her father remained quiet for a moment, and the silence gave Ella a chance to think. It wasn't long before she pieced the puzzle together. Her father had access to medical resources including pharmaceuticals and laboratories.

"You're creating drugs for him." She stated. "Does mom know about this?"

"No, and I'd like to keep it that way."

A doctor with no morals. A husband who lies and deceits. A father who is selfish and tries to control every aspect of his daughter's life. And he said I should be ashamed of myself.

She knew not to bother wasting her breath any further, and stood up from her seat. As she walked to the door, he continued, "I will give you two weeks to break contact with him. If you don't, not only will I retract his privileges, but I will go back to my original employer — his competitor."

"I will tell mom."

"Do that and he will end up in jail as well as lose his status."

Walking out the room, their conversation was pushed to the back of her mind. Ella hated confrontations, and any hard situations she needed to deal with would be dealt closer to the deadline date.

Her father gave her two weeks, didn't he? She drove to Ashton's penthouse. It was around ten am. Ash wouldn't be awake yet. Business deals usually occurred in the afternoon or late at night — where the sun would still be down but it was the next day. This meant that he wouldn't be awake until at least half past eleven in the morning.

She wanted to tell Ashton this issue, considering the fact that he knew all her problems. But she knew she couldn't. It was too unpredictable on how her father would react if he knew she blabbed her mouth to her lover. And on the other hand, Ashton was too predictable that he would murder his problems if blackmail didn't work.

Despite not on usual parental loving terms with her father, she couldn't bear for him to die, let alone be the reason why he died.

Ella walked past all the hotel staff without any stops, seeing that they were all aware she was here for Ashton who resided in the penthouse. She went into the lift and typed in the passcode. The passcode was mandatory, enabling the elevator to move up to his penthouse suite. She smiled at the fact that the numbers were her birthday day and month; 17-03.

The elevator doors pinged open and she made her way through the living room and kitchen, up the stairs to his bedroom. She immediately saw Ashton lying prone, shirtless with half the blanket draped on the floor and his arm facing down on the pillow beside his.

Chuckling internally, she slipped off her heels and sneaked in beside him. Pulling the blanket up to cover the both of them, Ashton lifted one eye open and smirked when he saw her.

He lifted up the one arm that was faced down and Ella snuggled closer under him. His arm dropped and rested over her. Ashton drifted back to sleep with her placing soft kisses on his neck.

This problem she had could wait until tomorrow. Right now, she was home and happy.