Chapter 18: An offer you can't refuse

Ashley's POV

Last night I ignored Tristan's text. I didn't know what to say to him. We had sat in the car for half an hour, yet he chose to say nothing.

I didn't know what to say to him when I was still processing this situation myself.

"You did the right thing," Ivy whispered rubbing my back as we walked into the lobby.

Ivy convinced me to go and get a pregnancy test done at the doctor. I did that first thing this morning. She was with me throughout the whole thing which meant we were now at least two hours late for work.

They said that the results would be made available to me later in the day. However, because of work, I requested for them to send the results to me via email.

"Within a few hours, we'll know the truth," I added.

We continued walking into the hotel.

"Ashley, Ivy!" We heard a loud yell.

Ivy and I turned around to see Marcus furiously walking toward us.

We knew we were in deep trouble. What was the excuse we had decided on for being late, traffic?

As Marcus approached us, I noticed just how red his cheeks were.

"Do you two like your jobs?" Marcus asked.

Ivy and I nodded simultaneously.

"I had to find someone else to do your jobs for you just because you lazy asses couldn't show up to work on time!" He yelled.

Marcus lowered his voice, aware that some of the guests had started to stare.

"And you, Ashley, do you have any idea just how close the boss came to having my head? I expected this from your friend but not you." He continued.

"I'm sorry sir it..." I spoke.

Marcus cut me off. "Ivy, this is your third and final warning. If this ever happens again, you can both forget you have a job."

Ivy and I looked at Marcus thankfully. He must have been in a good mood; I knew a lot of people who were fired for a lot less.

"Now get to work before I change my mind," Marcus warned.

Ivy and I both rushed off to the female lockers.

We changed into our uniforms in a hurry.

"Don't worry, your child is about to inherit this entire establishment. This will all be over soon," Ivy whispered.

I chuckled; I think this whole 'Tristan's baby' thing was getting to her head faster than it was to mine.

I slammed my locker and then readjusted my uniform as I walked to my next post, Tristan's penthouse.

Ivy and I walked our separate ways as she took the other direction.

I walked in the direction of the elevator that led to Tristan's penthouse.

I pressed the elevator button.

"Excuse me, Miss," a voice yelled.

I turned around to see a man rushing toward me. He wore a black suit with a matching black tie and shirt. A typical driver/bodyguard look I would say.

He managed to catch up before the elevator doors opened.

I sighed, tapping the elevator buttons again, hoping that it would come sooner.

"I need you to come with me please," the man pleaded. He was still pacing his breath.

"What for?" I asked. "I'm already really late, I have to go." I insisted.

I was already more than two hours late for work. I couldn't afford to be even later.

The elevator doors opened.

I took a step forward only to be stopped as the man gripped my arm.

As I looked back at him, I wondered what he was doing. He didn't just plan on attacking me in such a public place.

"My boss would like to speak with you and trust me, she is not a lady to be ignored." He said.

"Well, you can tell your boss to forget it. I have a job to do." I insisted.

"She is not a woman you can easily say no to. She has a very generous offer for you." He continued.

Why couldn't he understand it? I wasn't going with him. Besides, who was this woman anyway?

"I said, I'm not coming anyway." I continued.

I tried moving forward but his grip on my arm only tightened.

"Either you come with me willingly or I'll have to force you and I don't think you want to make a scene in front of all of these guests." He said.

He jolted his head to the side pointing in the direction he had been walking in.

Looking at my surroundings, I knew I didn't have much of a choice. Besides, what could go wrong?

Who could this woman be?

I pulled my arm away from his grip, allowing him to lead the way.

He walked us to the bar. In the hotel, they had a bar that guests would book privately to host their private functions. I could not even imagine the price it would cost to rent the place out just for yourself for an hour.

He opened the door to the bar as he gestured for me to move forward. Eyeing him angrily, I moved forward.

I expected him to follow behind me but instead, I heard a loud bang of the door closing. It nearly startled me.

I continued taking slow steps further into the room.

A woman sat on a stool at the large bar counter. She held a glass in her hand. Her back was toward me, only reviling her wavy beach blonde curls.

My jaw dropped as she turned around, slowly reviling her face.

"Madison," I whispered.

She drank half of whatever was in a glass all in one go.

She gestured for me to move forward. I did so hesitantly.

Why did she ask to see me here, and why?

"You can take a seat," She pointed at the stool next to her.

I continued to move forward. I took a seat next to her making sure to leave some room between us.

She slammed her glass on the counter.

Why did she bring me here? Was it because I interrupted Tristan and her the last time?

"As you can imagine, I brought you here because I didn't want any of the other maids to start gossiping. I hope this conversation remains between the two of us." She spoke.

I nodded.

"I'm aware that you are now the maid fully in charge of taking care of Tristan's penthouse while he is here, which means you will be spending a lot of time with him." She spoke.

I swallowed hard as my mouth suddenly became dry. Was this the part where she gave me a death warning?

"Because of that, I need you to keep me informed of Tristan's every move. I want to know who he calls, who he talks to, who he goes out with and everything. Spy on him if you have to. I just want you to keep me informed."

Her words surprised me, even more so than her calling me here.

Did she really want me to spy on him? I couldn't do that. Not only was it wrong on so many levels but I was really terrible at spying on people.

"I don't think I'll be able to do that," I answered.

"I need you to think about it. I'll make sure to reward you accordingly. "It will be enough to put a stop to this miserable job you have and set you off nicely." She said.

The offer was tempting. All I had to do was spy on Tristan and I'd have enough money to leave this job and never have to face Tristan again.

But it still wasn't right.

"I am sorry but..."

"Think about it," she interrupted. "Don't you feel that you deserve to live a life much better than this one? Think of what that money can do for you and your family. I don't want you to answer me now, I'll give you a few days." She continued.

"You may go now," she waved me off. She leaned back against the counter.

I stood up from the stool ready to escape her madness.

"Oh, and before you consider refusing my offer, don't forget that I can make your life here really miserable. I could even make sure you lose your precious job." She threatened.

I knew then that she was a nut case. If Tristan ever ended up with her, I would feel sorry for him.

"And be a doll and don't tell anyone about this conversation, you know what would happen." She added.

I finally made it out of the room. I was finally stepping out of the lion's den.

What were my options? What could I do about this? I couldn't be an accomplice to her madness.

I could tell Tristan about her offer but who knows if he would believe me? But wait, I was carrying his child, at least he thought I was. That had to count for something right?

I walked as fast as I could to the elevator. Within minutes, I was standing in front of Tristan's door.

Before I grabbed a hold of the door handle, the door swung open as Tristan appeared.

"We need to talk," Tristan said.

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A/N: Please vote and comment down your thoughts.

What do you think about Madison's proposal?