The Love of Lies

Drama

Ashton’s POV

Mr. Dodson insisted on driving me to the restaurant himself, which is annoying because it means I’m bound to the man. I just came off of my suspension, so I can’t afford to piss anyone off, especially since I’m about to be the father of twins, who I will likely be solely responsible for, financially speaking.

I’m instantly annoyed when I see that this is some sort of set-up because Vanessa is already seated at the table, waving at us as though we’re one happy family.

I fake my way through the lunch, but it wasn’t hard because Vanessa was busy on her phone, telling her father that she was handling her overseas investments.

Their family has money, but it's not based on businesses or assets. They have cash, lots of it, but they have extremely limited means of keeping the money flowing, which is why Vanessa is so career oriented.

With the amount of people in their family, they won’t go broke if she doesn’t work, but inheritances don't last forever. If they don’t at least do something, by the time Vanessa has children, she’ll be reduced to a middle-class standing, and with spending habits like hers, that won’t take very long.

That is why Mr. Dodson is so paranoid. Unlike his daughter, he and his wife have nothing except their family names and joint inheritances. They depend on people like me to keep them rich, and I depend on trust fund kids like him to keep me in business.

At the very end, I pull out my business card, smiling when I remember how angry Cori was when she thought it was given to her in an attempt to get her in trouble.

At the time, my father just wanted to show me that Cori was telling the truth. She hated me so much that even using my money was sickening to her.

"I should probably get going," I try to drop hints, but Mr. Dodson slaps his leg, 'remembering' that he has another appointment to attend.

"Vanessa can drop you off."

"Fine," I reply through gritted teeth, still trying to keep the peace at least until my father returns.

As soon as I climbed into the woman's car, I felt wrong, but I wasn't doing anything bad, or was I?

"Vanessa, we are over with, you know that right?"

"Are you sure? My father looked into that girl's background and it's dark. How do you even know the baby is yours? She was in and out of homeless shelters only a few years ago, who knows what she's used to doing for money." I stay quiet, not wanting to curse the woman out, but she mistakes my silence as submission. "Read it for yourself…" Vanessa opens the glove compartment to reveal a large manilla envelope.

I pick it up, frowning at the amount of information she was able to find out about Cori.

I too had the woman investigated, but not her personal life. I just looked for her address, place of employment and of course, her criminal record, which was clean.

"None of this has to do with Cori. Her parent's issues are not hers."

“And yet, I notice that you haven’t fully accepted paternity.” I glare at Vanessa, once again hating that I ever found her appealing. “I won’t say anything, but just know-”

“Listen b*tch…” I really couldn’t hold it back anymore, and honestly, I feel like I have to be this harsh or she’ll never get it. “Whatever you think you’re doing, it won’t work.”

“You could really talk to me like that?”

“Absolutely… especially since you’ve been talking sh*t about me.”

“I’ve never talked-”

“I forced you to have an abortion?” I sarcastically question, causing the woman to slam on the breaks, and just like a f*cking high drama, a car smashes into the back of us.

I rub my temples, knowing that we’ll have to wait for the police, make statements, and a whole lot of other nonsense that’s going to take me longer than I thought, so I phone the office, telling them that I likely won’t be coming back.

They know how Mr. Dodson can be, so they aren’t surprised, and at nearly five pm, I’m only just making my way back to my car.

Getting to Cori is my number one concern, but when I arrive, only Tia Linda is around. She's not my biological aunt, but she’s worked for my family for years, and she’s old enough to be my mother.

I asked her to make dinner, knowing that I'd be late, so I was expecting to see her and Cori chatting in the kitchen the way the woman usually does with my mother.

“Where’s Cori?”

“She left…” the woman says, looking away with a slight frown. “It’s been hours, but she hasn’t come back.”

Cori’s POV

Glancing down at my phone, I see that I received a social media notification, which is rare since I only post random photos of food I want to try cooking, and my latest update was a week ago.

I open the app and see that Van_Do commented on my last post, making my chest burn with fear.

[One night can’t erase us.]

[Never tried; Also, I knew nothing about you,] I reply, feeling like I should at least be civil since this woman is likely going to be around my babies often.

]Perhaps that's the problem. Maybe if you would have tried harder, you would have won.]

[If Ashton, a cheating, lying, jerk is the prize, then I would rather lose. Congratulations by the way.] Annoyed, I block the woman and make my profile private, combing through my followers to remove anyone who may be friends with the man, except Julia and Troy of course.

I’m so angry that I just want to leave, but I’m also hungry, so I make my way into the kitchen first, surprised to see that Linda is still here.

“Are you cooking?”

“Oh, yes. Mr. Ashton asked me to stay behind. I hope that doesn’t bother you.” My eyes narrow as I sit at the kitchen island, calmly questioning the woman. “It’s a new position, and it’s hourly. I didn’t ask him the wage, I just know that one of us is supposed to be here Monday through Friday between 5AM and 6PM,” Linda says.

“I see…” Ashton fired me, then hired a replacement immediately after, telling me that his actions were done purely out of spite, and likely encouraged by his girlfriend.

I stand to leave, but Linda grabs my arm.

“I was wrong earlier. I just assumed because I was cleaning the Dodson’s home and overheard something, but maybe it’s a business meeting?” Gently removing the woman’s hand, I give her a very warm smile, knowing that she’s probably afraid of costing her family business.

“Don’t worry. Unlike the people you’re used to working for, I’m not petty. Also, I’m not Ashton’s girlfriend. I got pregnant by accident, and he’s just being nice by letting me stay here. Ignore me, okay? I’m in a bad mood, but it’s not your fault, so please stop worrying.” I smile again, but then my stomach grumbles, making me frown.

“Oh goodness, dinner won’t be ready for another hour, but I made you some snacks.” The woman runs to the fridge and pulls out a platter of finger foods that look specifically tailored for a picnic.

Immediately I get the inclination to eat outside, something I’ve never done before and likely won’t have the chance to do again considering that I’m planning on leaving tomorrow morning.

“Can you pack some in a container for me? I want to eat as I walk.” The woman nods eagerly, and when I return, I have a backpack full of the things I’ll need to make myself comfortable anywhere I see fit.

I leave the house and start walking toward where my GPS indicates a pond is located. I intend to sit there and enjoy the afternoon sun, and I’m not disappointed at all when I arrive.

I take a few pictures, read a few chapters of an online book, and because I walked a long way, I lay down and close my eyes, wondering how possible it would be for me to rent a place in a neighborhood similar to Ashton’s.

It seems like the perfect place to raise a family, and I really like how much space there is between houses. Beyond that, the neighborhood is quiet, comfortable, and only one person has come to bother me, and that was solely because she thought I needed help.

It’s a little too hot for a pregnant woman to be sitting outside, but the tree I’m under offers perfect shade, so I feel extremely comfortable, and once the lady was satisfied that I wasn’t in some sort of distress, she went right back to her jog.

I start getting really tired, so I set a ten-minute timer and close my eyes, but I didn’t hear it, and I’m jolted awake by the sound of a dog barking. Suddenly, a giant golden retriever is sniffing every part of my body, so I freeze until his owner collects him.

That’s my cue to go back, so I open my phone, intending to use the GPS, but the device is dead. I made several twists and turns to get to this place, but I think I remember the way, so I start walking back, glad that I packed extra water.

I made a few wrong turns, but eventually I made it back before it’s completely dark out, and feeling gross, I head straight to my room, wanting to shower, but I’m surprised by Ashton, who’s sitting at my desk.

“Do you know what time it is? Where have you been?”

“Not at lunch,” I quip, too tired to explain that I got lost.

“What is that supposed to mean?” I ignore the man’s confused expression, and go straight into the tub, taking my time to soak in the water because my legs are killing me. However, after only five minutes, Ashton enters, prompting me to cover my body.

“Cori, I already apologized. So, can you please stop this?”

“Ashton, I don’t want you in here.” With a huff, the man leaves the restroom, but he’s still waiting for me in my room. “Can you please go?”

“Can you tell me what’s wrong first?” He sadly questions, and for one second, I feel bad for the man, but sadness isn’t always an indication of remorse; I learned that lesson at five.

“There is nothing wrong.” I calmly pick up my clothing and attempt to walk back into the restroom, but Ashton blocks my path, making me shake because we’re home alone and anything is possible. “Ah-Ashton… P-please step aside.” The man goes to touch me, and I flinch, terrified that he’s going to hit me, but instead, he cups my cheek.

“Please don’t shut me out, I want to talk about the twins.” Intense anger overtakes me, and I push past the man, hating that he’s trying to guilt me into forgiving him.

I will never allow myself to be used in the way Ashton is trying to use me, and after getting dressed, I make sure to let him know how I feel.

“Ashton, you are the father of my children, I can’t change that, but there is nothing between us, and I don’t appreciate you trying to pretend that there is.”

“Cori, I’m sorry I was late, but please tell me… Did something happen?”

“I woke up, got fired, applied for a new job, met my replacement, went for a walk, and came back.”

“Fired? Cori, the doctor said that you needed rest. Is that why you turned off your phone?” I roll my eyes, and head to the kitchen.

I’m angry, but while food is still freely available, I will eat as much as I can.