Chapter 2.

"Ashley John, did you consider her feeling before you said this?" Mr. Ashley asked Ashley John. He didn't like the fact that John was being blunt in addressing the woman.

"Her feelings! I just stated how I feel! Dad, can I leave now?" Ashley John asked. He was tired of what was going on here.

Johnnie exchange surprising look with Ashley John.

"Ashley John, Johnnie invested heavily in my companies. Not just him, even his family invested heavily and I can say it emphatically that Johnnie's family was one of the reasons why my wealth skyrocketed." Mr. Ashley said.

"You benefited from that wealth and when I die, you will even benefit more." Mr. Ashley said.

"Dad, thanks for everything but if you need all the money you have spent on me back, I'll give it to you." Ashley John said.

He added, "I have my companies and I'm doing well. Your assets will surely help if I inherit it all but if I did not , I would also be fine. Also, you wrote Joseph's name in your will and the guy had sold most of your assets, I wonder what is left for me to inherit," Ashley John said.

Mr. Ashley kept quiet for a while then hummed.

When the atmosphere fell into a terrible silence, Ashley John took advantage of that and stood," excuse me, dad." He then walked away.

His father didn't die, Ashley John only hid him from Joseph after he recovered from his gun shot wound.

He came out from hiding after Joseph got arrested and sentenced to fifty years in prison.

Ashley John got inside the car, his heart was heavy. How could his father make such promises? Who does that! In this century.

Ashley John shook his head as he started the ignition of the car. A few minutes later, he arrived at his house.

He got inside the house and saw Alma Andrew having a light discussion with a woman.

It was the first time Ashley John would be seeing that woman. Once the woman saw Ashley John, she said happily," hey, Mr. Ashley' John."

Ashley John wondered who she was and then, Alma Andrew spoke up, "This is my friend, she was my course rep in school and we were very close then. I was surprised to meet with her at the supermarket yesterday."

Ashley John finally understood whom she was to Alma so he forced out a smile and said," you are welcome."

"Thank you," the woman blushed. "I'm glad you are getting married to my friend soon."

Ashley John's face dropped when he heard that but he quickly lit up his face so that she wouldn't suspect that something was wrong.

"Thank you, please feel comfortable," Ashley John walked away from the room.

Alma didn't suspect that anything was wrong at all, she just kept on chatting with Sonia. When they were done, Alma Andrew escorted her out.

After she had driven away, Alma Andrew turned and before walking inside, she took one more look at the beauiful ring in her finger.

She just couldn't wait to get married to Ashley John.

She walked inside the house and went to the room but didn't find Ashley John there.

She thought that Ashley John would shower and lay on the bed, she did not expect him not to be inside the room.

She walked out and went to the possible place he could be in the house, that was his study room.

However, the study room was closed but from inside, implying that Ashley John was inside the study room.

Ashley John doesn't lock the study room whenever he is in, why would he lock himself up?

Was anything the matter? Alma Andrew wondered.

She planted a knock on the door and soon, the door got opened.

She walked in and said," Ashley John, why did you lock yourself in?"

Although Ashley John tried to hide his current state of mind, Alma was able to discern it on his face.

"Ashley John, what's wrong?" She asked.

After a brief moment of silence, she held his wrist and said, "tell me about it, what's the matter?"

Ashley John reasoned that if he tells Alma Andrew about it, she would be disturbed and be sad. He would find a way of dealing with it by himself.

"Alma," Ashley John pulled her close with a smile on his lips," I'm overwhelmed with work lately, managing several companies isn't easy. I hope you understand."

"Oh! It's all about work? I'm so sorry!" Alma said and hugged him close.

"Please, follow me inside and rest, " Alma Andrew said.

It wasn't that Ashley John was reading or meditating inside the study room, he was thinking about the recent issue his father discussed with him.

His father was wealthy and after he made research on Johnnie, he found out that he was a very wealthy man too, the two of them can not be underrated and they may not stop until they ensured that he married Christen.

Just when he thought all obstacles that were stopping Alma and him from getting married was over, his father sprang forth an old silly promise.

"I'll be done soon," Ashley John said.

Alma nodded and said ," please, be fine." She then turned and walked out.

Ashley John closed the door to the house and sighed heavily.

He went back to sit and then his phone beeped briefly. Checking the sender of the message, he saw that it was his father.

He opened the message and the content reads that he should download the video was sent to his personal mail.

Ashley John turned on his laptop and quickly went to open his mail, he donwloaded the video and on playing it, he saw that it was a video that he doctored in an attempt to force Alma Andrew to marry him two years back.

He had told Alma Andrew to play that video at the doctor's office then and he had threatened her with it, how did his father get access to this video?

It was a video of him acting like he was making love with Alma Andrew.