Chapter 10: Rumors
1224 Words
The next morning, Ashford Tower was anything but calm.
Before Aria even reached the executive floor, she noticed employees gathered in small groups, whispering excitedly while staring at their phones.
The moment she stepped out of the elevator, the conversations stopped.
Then resumed in hushed voices the second she walked away.
She frowned.
“What now…?”
As she entered the CEO’s office, Evelyn was already waiting with a tablet in her hands.
Her usually composed expression looked unusually tense.
“Good morning, Miss Bennett.”
“Morning.”
Evelyn hesitated.
“I think you should see this.”
She handed over the tablet.
The first headline made Aria’s stomach drop.
THE ICE COLD BILLIONAIRE HAS A SECRET FIANCÉE?
Below it was a crystal-clear photograph.
Damien stepping out of his Rolls-Royce.
Aria standing beside him.
Another swipe.
WHO IS THE MYSTERY WOMAN LIVING IN DAMIEN ASHFORD’S PRIVATE PENTHOUSE?
Another.
ASHFORD HEIR’S SHOCK ENGAGEMENT STUNS THE BUSINESS WORLD.
There were dozens of photographs.
Aria entering the residential tower.
Damien opening the car door for her.
The two of them walking into Ashford Group together.
Even a picture of them standing side by side in yesterday’s board meeting.
Her face paled.
“Someone’s been following us.”
Evelyn nodded.
“The photos appeared online just after midnight.”
Aria scrolled further.
The comments were even worse.
She’s obviously after his money.
Another gold digger.
This marriage won’t last a month.
Damien Ashford has finally fallen.
She set the tablet down.
“They don’t know anything.”
“No,” Evelyn said softly.
“They only know what they can see.”
⸻
The office door opened.
Damien walked in as though nothing unusual had happened.
He removed his suit jacket and placed it neatly over the chair.
“I assume you’ve seen the news.”
Aria folded her arms.
“You don’t seem surprised.”
“I’m not.”
“You expected this?”
“I expected it eventually.”
He pressed a button on the intercom.
“Evelyn.”
“Yes, sir?”
“Cancel every appointment before lunch.”
“Done.”
“And prepare a press statement.”
Aria looked at him.
“A statement?”
“If we remain silent, speculation will grow.”
“So you’re going to deny it?”
Damien looked directly at her.
“No.”
Her eyebrows shot up.
“I’m going to confirm it.”
⸻
Within an hour, every major news outlet in the country had picked up the story.
Television channels interrupted their morning programming.
Business websites published breaking news alerts.
Entertainment blogs exploded with rumours.
One headline spread faster than all the others.
BILLIONAIRE CEO DAMIEN ASHFORD CONFIRMS ENGAGEMENT TO MYSTERY WOMAN.
By noon…
Ashford Tower was surrounded.
Dozens of satellite vans lined the street.
Photographers crowded the entrance.
Security barriers had been erected.
Microphones bearing the logos of national news stations pointed toward the revolving doors.
Employees gathered by the windows.
“They’re everywhere.”
“I’ve never seen this many reporters.”
“They’re waiting for Mr Ashford.”
⸻
Evelyn entered Damien’s office.
“Sir.”
“The board meeting begins in twenty minutes.”
Damien nodded.
“And the reporters?”
“They’re refusing to leave.”
He stood.
“Good.”
Aria frowned.
“Good?”
“The longer they wait…”
“…the more valuable their photographs become.”
She stared at him.
“You planned this.”
“I planned the announcement.”
“Not the photographers.”
He picked up his suit jacket.
“Although…”
“…they’ll be useful.”
Aria had a terrible feeling she knew what he meant.
⸻
The private elevator carried them down toward the lobby.
The atmosphere inside was silent.
Aria shifted uneasily.
“There are hundreds of reporters outside.”
“Approximately two hundred and thirty.”
She blinked.
“You counted?”
“I received the security report.”
She sighed.
“You really are impossible.”
The elevator doors opened.
Immediately, flashes exploded through the glass entrance.
The reporters had spotted them.
“They’re here!”
“Mr Ashford!”
“Miss Bennett!”
“Look this way!”
Security guards quickly formed a protective line.
The lobby erupted into chaos.
Microphones stretched toward them.
“CNN Business!”
“Daily Financial!”
“London Post!”
“Mr Ashford!”
“Is it true you’re getting married?”
“Who is this woman?”
“When is the wedding?”
“Did you secretly propose?”
“Is she pregnant?”
Aria’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“What?”
Damien leaned closer without changing his expression.
“Ignore them.”
His voice was calm.
“They’ll invent stories regardless.”
They continued walking.
Camera flashes lit up the entrance like lightning.
One reporter shouted,
“Mr Ashford!”
“Is this a business arrangement?”
Another called,
“Miss Bennett!”
“Are you marrying him for his fortune?”
Aria instinctively slowed.
The question stung.
Damien noticed.
Without warning…
He reached for her hand.
Their fingers intertwined.
Aria looked up in surprise.
He gave the slightest squeeze.
A silent reminder.
We’re performing.
The reporters went wild.
“They’re holding hands!”
“Get closer!”
“More pictures!”
The flashes became blinding.
Just as they reached the waiting car, another journalist shouted,
“Mr Ashford!”
“Do you actually love her?”
Everything seemed to pause.
The crowd fell unusually quiet.
Everyone waited.
Damien turned toward Aria.
For a split second, even she didn’t know what he was about to do.
Then…
He gently lifted one hand to her face.
His fingers brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
His expression softened in a way no camera had ever captured before.
Before Aria could react…
Damien leaned down…
…and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
The world seemed to stop.
The reporters erupted.
The cameras flashed nonstop.
Gasps echoed through the crowd.
Someone shouted,
“He kissed her!”
Another yelled,
“We’ve got the front page!”
Aria stood completely frozen.
She could still feel the warmth of his lips against her forehead.
Damien opened the car door for her as though nothing extraordinary had happened.
Quietly, so only she could hear, he murmured,
“Smile, Mrs. Ashford.”
Still stunned, Aria looked at him.
Then, despite herself…
A small smile appeared.
Behind the sea of reporters, hidden inside a black SUV parked across the street, a man lowered a camera with a powerful telephoto lens.
He zoomed in on the last photograph.
Damien kissing Aria’s forehead.
The man smiled coldly and dialed a number.
“The rumours are no longer rumours.”
A familiar voice answered.
“Excellent.”
The photographer looked back at the image.
“They’re convincing.”
The voice on the other end laughed softly.
“They’d better be.”
There was a brief pause before the order came.
“Keep watching them.”
“We’ll use this marriage to destroy Damien.”
The call ended.
The photographer slipped the memory card into his pocket.
Far away, in a luxurious office overlooking the city…
Victor Ashford smiled as he stared at the photograph on his desk.
“So…”
“My dear nephew…”
“Let’s see how long your little fairytale lasts.”
- Writer
