Ashley's POV

My body froze as I suddenly regretted my words.

What had I just done? Where did that idea even come from?

I panicked; I didn't want him to fire me, so I just said the first crazy words that came to mind. It looks like it did the trick but now I was in even deeper trouble.

"And you are sure about this?" Tristan spoke snapping me out of my thoughts.

I nodded my head vigorously.

What was I doing? Why was I adding to my lie? It would only get me into more trouble.

Maybe I could take back my words and tell him that I wasn't pregnant and that what I had just said was only a mistake, but how do you make a mistake in saying 'it's your child,'.

Tristan paced the room and then kicked the table, knocking it from its position.

"How am I just supposed to believe you are pregnant, you could be lying for all I know." He spoke.

I was lying. But it was too late for me to back out of this lie now.

"I know how you feel, I was also surprised when I found out," I spoke.

My voice lowed at each word; I wasn't very good at lying.

"Come on, I don't need to remind you about your profession. You are not exactly on my list of ten people I can trust. This could all be an act for money." He blunted out.

"You don't have to insult me," I retorted defensively.

"How I'm I supposed to just believe it's my baby? You could have slept with a hundred other guys for all I know." He barked.

My anger surfaced as my cheeks reddened. Maybe I deserved some of that, but that was just uncalled for.

"I'll have you know that you were a very willing participant in this. That's how we made this baby." I yelled pointing at my empty stomach.

My words seemed to do the trick. A calmer expression appeared on his face.

Approaching me, he leaned in closer. His body hovered over my small frame, once again trapping me in a corner.

It's like he enjoys watching me panic.

"Now tell me, how much is it going to cost?" He whispered, his breath fanning against my cheek.

"Excuse me," I whispered, trying to gather all the willpower I had to prove to him that his presence didn't bother me at all.

"Come on, I know people from your profession very well. All you want is money." He spoke.

He pulled away from me.

There he was again, throwing more insults at me. Who did he think he was?

He walked out of the room, slamming the door on his way out.

Did that mean I could leave now?

Maybe I could run away and book a flight to the furthest place possible, but with what money? If I thought he was being cruel now, I could imagine what he would do when he found out I was lying.

Before I had decided on my next move, Tristan was back in the room. This time with a more relaxed expression.

He pulled out a piece of paper and then handed it to me. It was a check.

"What is this for?" I asked. My eyes widened at the number on it.

It was a check for two million dollars. I have never seen so much money in my life.

"I need you to get rid of the baby," He instructed.

My eyes widened.

"What?" I whispered. I don't even know whether it was his words that shook me or the amount of money he was offering.

"Come one, you don't expect someone of my calibre to have a baby with someone like you, now do you?" He spoke.

It felt like another slap in the face.

I got even angrier.

"Who do you...."

"Shh," He cut me off covering my mouth with his fingers.

The nerves of this guy.

"Think about it, you have two days. We are both really upset right now, and this conversation is not going to get anywhere. We should take some time before we can have this conversation again." He spoke.

Perhaps this was the most reasonable thing he has said so far, besides accusing me of lying. I could use the time to come up with a better lie or at least get the courage, to tell the truth.

I took in a deep breath trying to contain the anger slowly building up inside me.

He then opened the door, gesturing for me to leave.

I gratefully took the opportunity to leave, storming out of the building.

It took a while before I finally realized the full extent of what I had just done. I had just lied about being pregnant. This was only going to get me into more trouble.

Ivy must have left the building a long time ago.

When I arrived home, both mom and Katy were in the kitchen making a batch of cupcakes.

I dropped my bag at the door. I answered mom and Katy with a simple wave.

I was both physically and emotionally tired.

I needed to talk to someone, my mom would hit me across the head the second I alter the word pregnancy. Let alone mention that I was lying about being pregnant.

I took my mom's phone to my room and dialled Ivy's number from a phone book that I kept from years ago.

I still hadn't replaced my phone.

"Hi," I whispered as soon as Ivy answered.

"Hi, what's up?" Ivy asked.

I took in a deep breath. Even explaining this was about to sound crazy.

"I told Tristan that I was pregnant," I spoke.

Ivy was silent.

I then began explaining the rest of the story.

Even Ivy was left speechless and that rarely happened.

I bite my nails anxiously waiting for her to respond.

"From what you just said, I don't see what you are worried for. He wants you to get rid of it and you're not even pregnant, so this is just perfect for you." She explained. "If I were you, I'd take the money and take this as a win." She continued.

Maybe she did have a point.

"I can't just accept all of that money, that would be deceptive," I spoke.

"Come on, you deserve that money. After all he said to you. Think of all the things you can do with that money." She reasoned.

Maybe she was right, he was extremely rude to me. Besides, we needed that money.

I was worrying myself over nothing. This was all going to work out perfectly for me. He didn't want any baby and there was no baby. This couldn't be more perfect.

"We'll talk tomorrow first thing before work. Someone is at my door." She spoke.

We said our goodbyes as she rushed to her door.

I smiled reassured by Ivy's words.

I stuffed the check into my pocket. I didn't want to put it amongst my things because mom and Katy always went through my things, if not to borrow something it was to get information on me.

How was I going to explain to my mom where I got all that money? I would have to start by saying that I am going to try the lottery before saying that I won two million dollars. Does the lottery even pay that much these days?

I smiled to myself. I could already imagine myself as a millionaire.

My day might have started terribly but this wasn't too bad of an ending.

I went downstairs to get some water and to return mom's phone. Mom was now watching TV while Katy was busy with her homework, probably something a grade higher than she was. She always tried to outsmart everyone.

"Come and sit with me sweetheart, I barely see you these days," Mom spoke tapping the empty spot next to her.

I took a seat next to mom.

She covered my legs with half of her blanket.

"You should watch this show with me, I'm sure you will enjoy it," Mom spoke. She handed me the bowl of popcorn.

I stuffed my mouth with popcorn as we began watching the series.

Mom laughed at the tv characters.

"You should see this girl; she is out here pretending to be pregnant just so she can get the guy. Some women are shameless. They will do anything just to get money." Mom spoke.

Her words touched a nerve, it sounded like she was talking directly at me. But maybe what I was doing wasn't nearly as bad as what those tv characters did or was it?

I was in a way getting between Tristan and whatever relationship he had with Madison. I was also lying about things, maybe I was the villain in this story.

"She is so stupid. With these things, the truth always comes out and when it does, it's only going to be worse. You can't keep lying about a baby, it must be born eventually." Mom continued.

I took another hand full of popcorn. This was such a guilt trip.

"I'm so glad I raised you girls so well. One day you will meet a man that will truly love you and you will find that money isn't everything. Lies like these never amount to anything good." She spoke.

This couldn't be a coincidence, maybe this was a sign. What I was doing was wrong. I'm not too sure I would have reacted differently if I was in his position. It wouldn't be right to take advantage of him like this. Even if he did deserve it, I couldn't do that to my mother, it would break her heart f she found out about any of this.

The house phone rang, Katy was quick to answer it.

"Ashley, someone is on the phone for you!" Katy yelled minutes later.

I sighed standing up from the couch. I walked to the phone in the corner of the living room.

"You should seriously get a new phone," Katy spoke handing me the telephone.

"Hello?" I answered the call.

"I'm outside your door." The voice spoke.

It took me a while to register. Wait, was that Tristan's voice?

I looked out the window in a panic, there was a black Porsche outside my gate, with Tristan leaning against the car.

What was I going to do? Didn't he say I had two days? How did he even know where I live?

I couldn't let my mom see him.

I quickly hang up the phone.

"Mom, I think I'm just going to go to the store. I need some things." I spoke in a panic.

"At this time?" Mom questioned.

"It's just around the corner, I'll be right back," I spoke. I was already at the door.

"Be safe!" Mom yelled after me.

I stepped out of the house feeling the cold breeze against my skin.

I crossed my arms over each other, trying to keep myself warm.

I speed-walked to his car.

We don't usually see cars like these in our neighbourhood, I hope our neighbours don't start gossiping.

"So have you made a decision yet Ms Owens?" He asked as I approached him.

It was a bit frightening that he already knew my last name.

"I thought I had two days," I spoke, my teeth almost chattering.

"Well, I am a very busy man. I want to know if you have made your decision yet." He spoke.

I don't know if I was ready for the decision that I was about to make. Maybe it was completely stupid of me, but I knew it was the right one.

I sighed

"I'm sorry but I can't accept your money, I won't be able to go through with it." I extended my hand, handing the check back to him from my pocket.

"If you don't want to take any responsibility for the baby it's fine, you can just pretend this never happened and I can look after it alone," I spoke.

This was probably the most convincing lie I have ever told. I just hope that this excuse was good enough. This can still work out in my favour; he doesn't want the baby anyways. I'll tell him later that I lost the baby, or it didn't make it, and then all my problems will be solved. I just hope he won't fire me.

He smiled taking the check from my hand.

I can't believe that I had just let all that money go.

"Well, I'm glad that we are on the same page on this issue. We both want to raise this baby." He spoke. He stuffed the check into his pocket.

"What?" I whispered dumbfounded.

"You didn't think that I was paying you all that money to get rid of the baby now did you?" He spoke.

I was even more confused. Wasn't that what he wanted? If he didn't give me the money to get 'rid of the baby' then what was it for?

"I just wanted to see if you would take the bait or not, I didn't believe you and I still don't trust you either. I was hoping you would just take the money and prove all of this is nothing but a scam for money, that you are not even pregnant." He spoke.

"So, you did all of that just to test me," I spoke as my mind finally registered.

"Yes," He nodded, placing both his hands in his pockets.

His words angered me. He was right not to trust me after all I was lying but it still hurt to think that he would go that far.

"I could have gone through with it you know," I yelled. I wanted to punch him for nearly catching me in my lie.

"But you didn't. Besides, I sent my bodyguard to keep an eye on you." He continued.

I didn't know whether to congratulate him on not being completely stupid or to consider him a psychopath for having someone watch over me.

This just complicates things for me, why couldn't he just be like the other guys out there and refuse to take any responsibility? Now I was in a deeper hole.

"Tomorrow morning, I'll come and pick you up to go for an ultrasound or whatever it is that the doctor has to do." He spoke.

"What?" I whispered again. My mind was still not able to process.

"We need to make sure that everything is alright with the baby," He spoke. "I'll pick you up tomorrow and we can go and see the doctor together." He explained.

My smile dropped. Just when I thought everything was working out, he brings this up. My whole plan was slowly unfolding in front of me. I was surely going to get caught now, I was done for.

What was I going to say when the doctor confirms that I'm not pregnant? Was I just supposed to say that the pregnancy test gave me a false positive?

"You should have a lovely night Ms Owens," He smirked.

Before walking into his car, he gave me a small wave.

If I wasn't before, I was surely screwed now.

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