Chapter 3 The Forced Marriage

Ashley's POV

"Don't tell the damn me this is the one and only Jackson Peters!!!" My subconscious screamed, I staggered a bit, I raised my gaze at him,

"Now you know who I am and why it's dangerous to go out. Give it time, I'll send them away and you can leave then". He walked out angrily, I was still frazzled by what I just found out, my phone rang again.

It was Jenna calling, Tim must need me. The feeling of being useless and trapped is the worst feeling ever. It broke my heart. I cut the call, immediately putting it on flight mode.

I went down the stairs, to see him in his elegance sipping from his glass of wine, the television was on and the soccer game too was on, I guess that's his favorite sport.

As if he noticed my presence he looked up and our gaze met, I held on walking down,

"Are you calm now?" His calm voice echoed,

"Sorry about earlier," I replied simply, the door bolt closed, our eyes both traveled to see if there was an intruder, but it was the guy from the morning, he was back facing not looking pleasant, he was a bearer of bad news already.

"Tyler? What are you doing back here, though we already discussed?" Looking surprised,

"Your parents to see you, sir," his eyes widened.

Jackson's POV

"Your parent demands to see you, sir" my countenance dropped, what the hell do they want this time if not telling him how to live his life,

"Tell them I'm busy." He walked out, leaving the both of us in the living room,

I cracked my throat to clear up the silence, " Has he always been like this?" Tyler smiled,

"Jackson's a good kid, he'll come around." He turned to leave, then turned swiftly,

"The whole paparazzi thing is over, you can head home now." I nodded as I watched him leave the door.

"Thank you, what about_?" He was already gone,

"Talk about a boss and his assistant with similar traits of arrogance" I grabbed my bag from the couch, exited the mansion, and boarded a taxi to Jenna's place straight away.

As soon as Tim sighted me from afar, he ran into my arms like I had gone missing for ages, my heart melted instantly at his hug, and all the frustration and aggression immediately left me, I looked up it was Jenna with an upside down smile,

"Can you give me details of why you're just coming, let's not talk about you hanging up on me?" I sighed, holding his soft cheeks I said,

"Timmy, could you wait for an aunty inside, we'll be with you shortly". He smiled running off,

"So cute." I could help but admire my brother's cuteness

"Ehhmm" Jenna's cracked cough distraught my thoughts,

"Explanation please? I turn on my TV just to realize my best friend is on the news headline. What did you do with Jackson? I never knew he visited the bar". Jenna's face squeezed into a frown,

"What are you talking about? Quit the exaggeration." Feigned to be not aware,

"Ashley Johnson?".

"It's just one time ok? I was just frustrated with life and it was by coincidence to have met Jackson. Alcohol got in the way of our sanity and heart, I guess you can imagine the rest." I reluctantly replied.

"How did the media get hold of the information within 24hrs? That's strange, was there anyone tracking you guys?" It was then it occurred to me that someone might have been on Jackson's tail and alerted the media just to spite him, I was just caught up in the middle.

What a perfect story to tell the media for them to be choking us this much.

I guess so too" I looked at Jenna, "I'm exhausted and emotionally drained out, I'll be heading home." I called out to Tim,

"Have you visited your father?" My heart skipped a beat,

"Not yet, if the hospital should see my face anywhere near that hospital they're not going to let me be, with the kind of debts I owe, do you think it's that simple?" Jenna threw me a hug,

"It's gonna get better, ok?" I flagged down a taxi, and with Tim in my arms, my thoughts traveled far and wide but still could not get the answers it was looking for.

I took a long glance at my brother, Tim. He was too fragile and young to go through all these with me.

"I just wish you were here mom, everything would've been easier with you by my side" I mumbled kissing Tim's forehead, the wind blew in calming me a bit and the driver drove carefully to our destination.

Jackson's POV

I sat on my laptop preparing the files for tomorrow's meeting, Tyler walked in with a cup of coffee,

"You know you can't continue running away forever?"

"And who said I was running away??" I turned to him,

"I don't know but you do what I'm trying to say." He dropped the coffee. on the table,

"Whatever"

"The lady that almost caused or rather caused a catastrophe for you is gone. Where the heck did you bring that girl from?" The disdain in his voice was noticed and I had to quickly set things straight.

"She did nothing ok? I was the one who put her in this messy situation that we're in right now, not her. So if you're angry, direct your anger at me , not at her." I just believe I said that,

"You're so bent on not listening to me, Huh? Sorry to burst your bubbles but your mom specifically said that if you're not home with the girl in two days, she'll save you the stress and come over. And you know what that means?" My eyes popped open as he downloaded the scenario to me.

There was no way I could let them over, my privacy, my time, and the space which I treasure most are at stake here.

"Where do I look for her now? I have no idea where she lives or who she is. I asked no one in particular.