Chapter 23
I woke up with a pounding headache, the weight of the past few days weighing heavily on my mind. My mouth was dry, my body sluggish—as if I’d been drowning in whiskey, though I hadn’t touched a drop. The real hangover wasn’t alcohol. It was rage.
A faint commotion drifted in from outside. I shoved the curtains aside, and my stomach dropped.
A sea of reporters and photographers had gathered at the gates of my mansion, their cameras flashing nonstop, even from this distance. It was like looking at a swarm of locusts, hungry for any information they could devour.
“Shit,” I muttered, letting the curtain drop.
My jaw clenched as I made my way downstairs, the house feeling so quiet despite the growing commotion outside.
Pouring myself a much-needed cup of coffee, I turned on the TV in the kitchen. Every news channel seemed to be running the story:
“TECH TYCOON LIAM ASHTON ACCUSES WIFE OF INFIDELITY.”
“DIANE ASHTON: GOLD DIGGER OR VICTIM?”
“SYNERGY SPHERE GROUP STOCK FALLS AMID CEO SCANDAL.”
I felt a mix of emotions watching the TV—anger, frustration, but also a twisted sense of satisfaction. Let Diane see what happens when she tries to take me on, I thought bitterly.
The ringing of my phone pulled me from my thoughts. It was my head of security.
“Mr. Ashton, we’ve arranged for a car to take you to the office. It’s waiting in the garage. We’ll create a diversion to draw the reporters away from the main gate.”
I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “Good. I’ll be down in ten.”
I changed into a sharp navy suit, adjusting my tie with steadier hands than I expected. Grabbing my briefcase, I made my way to the garage, but even through the thick walls, the roar of the reporters was deafening.
Taking a deep breath, I pressed the button to open the garage door. The moment it began to rise, it was like a dam breaking. The reporters rush forward, their shouts becoming really loud and annoying.
“Mr. Ashton! Mr. Ashton!” The cries came from all directions.
“Is it true your wife cheated on you?”
“Are you the one who was unfaithful?”
“Did you know about the affair?”
“Where is Diane now?”
“How will this affect the Synergy Sphere Group?”
I kept my head down, using my briefcase as a shield against the onslaught of cameras. The car was only a few feet away, but it felt like miles. Camera flashes exploded like strobe lights, nearly blinding me as I rushed towards the waiting vehicle.
Suddenly, a reporter broke through the security line, shoving a microphone in my face. “Mr. Ashton! Do you have any comment on the allegations that you’re the one who was unfaithful?”
Before I could react, one of my security guards tackled the reporter, sending them both tumbling to the ground. The crowd rushed forward, the commotion escalating as more guards rushed to contain the situation.
I took advantage of the chaos, diving into the backseat of the car.
“Drive! Now!” I shouted to the driver, who didn’t need to be told twice. We drove away from the house, leaving the frenzy behind us.
As we sped towards the city, I slumped in my seat, my heart racing. “Geez,” I muttered, loosening my tie. The driver caught my eye in the rearview mirror but stayed wisely silent.
As we approached Synergy Sphere Group headquarters, I could see another crowd of reporters gathered outside. My stomach clenched at the sight.
“Take us around to the side entrance,” I instructed the driver. He nodded, maneuvering the car away from the main entrance.
A team of security guards was waiting at the side door. They quickly surrounded me as I exited the car, forming a protective barrier as we rushed into the building. Even inside, I could hear the muffled shouts and camera clicks from outside.
The elevator ride to the executive floor felt like it stretched forever. When the doors finally opened, my assistant was already there, looking two seconds from a breakdown.
“Mr. Ashton—” He hesitated, then continued in a rush. “Dozens of calls. Investors. Partners. The press. What do I tell them?”
I met his panicked gaze and, despite the storm raging around me, my voice was calm. “Hold all my calls. I’m not speaking to anyone right now.”
He nodded, visibly relieved at the direction. As I walked past, I felt their eyes on me—employees whispering, watching the downfall of the man who signed their paychecks.
I shut my office door and collapsed into my chair. The weight of it all finally pressing down. How had everything gone so far out of control?
I hadn’t been sitting for more than a few minutes when my assistant buzzed in. “Mr. Ashton, there’s a situation downstairs. Some reporters managed to get into the lobby. Security is handling it, but it’s causing quite a disturbance.”
I stood up, a mix of anger and determination coursing through me. “I’ll handle this.”
As the elevator doors opened on the ground floor, I was hit with a wall of noise. The lobby was in chaos, security guards struggling with determined reporters while employees looked in shock. And then—
“Mr. Ashton!” One reporter spotted me, and suddenly all attention was on me. “Can you comment on the allegations against your wife?”
“Is it true you’re pushing for a divorce?”
“How will this affect Synergy Sphere Group’s future projects?”
I held up my hands, calling for silence. Surprisingly, the crowd quieted, all eyes and cameras on me.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” I began, my voice steady despite the nerves i feel in my stomach. “I understand your interest in my personal affairs, but I must ask for respect and privacy during this challenging time. Synergy Sphere Group remains committed to our mission of innovation and excellence, and we will not let personal matters interfere with our work.
Now, I must insist that you all leave the premises immediately. Thank you for your understanding.”
With that, I turned and walked back to the elevator, ignoring the shouting behind me. As the door of the elevator closed, I caught a glimpse of security beginning to escort the reporters out.
Back in my office, I loosened my tie, feeling drained but somewhat satisfied. At least I’d done something, taken some kind of action in this madness.
I stared out the window at the city below, my mind wandering. Somewhere out there was Diane, probably watching all of this unfold. Was she laughing at me? Crying?
I shook my head, trying to clear these thoughts. It didn’t matter what Diane thought or felt.
The intercom buzzed, interrupting my thought. “Mr. Ashton? Mr. Guerrero from the board of directors is on line one. He says it’s urgent.”
I felt a shock of surprise, followed quickly by fear. A call from the head of the board could only mean trouble.
“Put him through,” I said, bracing myself for whatever was coming next.
As I picked up the phone, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of an even bigger storm.
“Liam,” Mr. Guerrero’s voice came through, tense and urgent. “We need you here for an emergency board meeting. Now.”
I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. “I’ll be right there, sir.”