Billionaire's Fake Love

Chapter 3 - The Choice

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the café, Ashlyn found her mind far from the aroma of brewing coffee and the clinking of dishes. Consumed by Mrs. Blackwood's unexpected proposition and the burden of her escalating debt, she moved from table to table, taking orders and serving customers, her phone a relentless reminder of her financial predicament.

Midway through clearing a table, her boss's voice cut through the ambient noise. "Ashlyn, I need a moment in my office."

Her heart skipped a beat, and she nodded, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. As she navigated to his office, unease grew within her. She knocked lightly before entering, the tension intensifying with each step.

Seated behind his desk, Mr. Thompson gazed up from a stack of paperwork, his brows furrowed. "Ashlyn, please, take a seat."

Perching uneasily on the edge of a chair, she absently twisted her apron's strings. "Is there something you wanted to discuss, Mr. Thompson?"

He leaned back, his gaze steady on her. "Ashlyn, I've been patient, but your missed payments can't go ignored."

Embarrassment and anxiety flushed her cheeks. She had hoped to manage her debt privately, but it appeared her boss's patience was wearing thin.

"I'm genuinely sorry, Mr. Thompson," she began, her voice wavering. "I've been facing some challenges lately and have been working to catch up."

His demeanor remained stern, his fingers rhythmically tapping on the desk. "I understand life has its hurdles, Ashlyn, but the debt must be addressed promptly."

She nodded, her throat tightening. "I'll make catching up a top priority. It's just... been more difficult than I anticipated."

Mr. Thompson's expression softened, and he sighed. "I'm not heartless, Ashlyn, but I also have responsibilities. I can't keep extending deadlines indefinitely."

Ashlyn's heart sank, the weight of her situation pressing down. She had hoped for more leniency, yet it seemed her boss's patience had its limits.

"I'm committed to resolving this," she said earnestly, a plea for understanding in her eyes.

He nodded, a mix of sympathy and resolve in his gaze. "I hope so, Ashlyn. I’ll give you a bit more time, but I expect progress."

With a heavy heart, she stood and nodded. "Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Thompson. I'll sort this out."

Exiting his office, her steps felt heavier, her debt's weight more suffocating. Returning to the café floor, her friend and co-worker, Lizzy, noted the tension in her shoulders.

During a lull, Lizzy approached her. "Hey, everything alright? You looked really serious in there."

Lizzy, with her vibrant hair and infectious laughter, had been Ashlyn's confidante since they had started working together. Their bond was unbreakable, and they shared their joys, sorrows, and secrets with each other. They were a dynamic duo, working side by side to navigate the challenges of their jobs and life.

Ashlyn managed a forced smile, her anxiety still evident. "Just work stuff, Lizzy. Don't worry about it."

Lizzy's concern persisted. "Something seems off. You can talk to me, you know."

With a sigh, Ashlyn relented. "It's just... my debt. The usual thing."

Lizzy's eyes filled with empathy. "I wish there was more I could do."

Ashlyn shook her head, trying to dismiss her worries. "Don't worry, Lizzy. It's my mess to deal with."

Lizzy's hand settled on her shoulder, supportive. "I might not have all the answers, but I'm here to listen. You don't have to face this alone."

Touched by her friend's compassion, Ashlyn managed a real smile. "Thanks, Lizzy. Your presence makes this easier."

Lizzy looked apologetic. "I wish I could do more to help you."

Ashlyn shook her head, grateful for Lizzy's kind words. "Just having someone to talk to means a lot. Let's focus on getting through this, step by step."

Lizzy's eyes narrowed slightly, her concern deepening. "Ashlyn, there's something more, isn't there? I can tell when something's bothering you."

Ashlyn hesitated, her gaze flickering away for a moment. She had always shared everything with Lizzy, but the situation with Joseph Blackwood felt too surreal, too tangled to discuss just yet. She offered a weak smile. "It's really just the debt, Lizzy. It's been stressing me out."

Lizzy's brows furrowed, not entirely convinced. "Are you sure that's all?”

Ashlyn offered a reassuring pat on Lizzy's arm. "I promise, it's nothing you need to worry about. I'm just trying to sort things out on my own for now."

In the days following, Mrs. Blackwood's proposal lingered in Ashlyn's thoughts. The creditors' calls grew more insistent, the specter of legal action ever more tangible. Each moment was a reminder of her cornered predicament.

With a heavy heart and desperation clouding her mind, Ashlyn faced a crossroads. She had to make a painful decision–whether to accept Mrs. Blackwood's unorthodox offer.

During her next visit to the hospital, she headed straight to Ethan's room, where he lay in an unresponsive coma. A mix of sadness and guilt washed over her.

"Hey, Ethan," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I need to talk to you, even if you can't reply."

Summoning her courage, Ashlyn shared her thoughts as if confiding in a responsive friend. She bared her soul about their mounting financial crisis, the suffocating debts. The proposal from Mrs. Blackwood hung heavily in the air, its potential relief in exchange for taking on Olivia's identity.

Emotion choked her, tears filling her eyes as she continued, her voice trembling. "Ethan, please know I'm not betraying you. It feels so wrong, but we're drowning. I can't see another way."

Reaching out, she held Ethan's hand, seeking an imaginary assurance she knew wouldn't come. "I need you to believe this won't change who I am. It's for us, for the future we dreamed of, for a life unburdened by debt."

The room remained silent, save for the steady heartbeat on the monitor–a reminder of life's precariousness.

As she prepared to leave, guilt and uncertainty tugged at her. She wrestled with her decision, questioning whether she'd made the right choice under duress.

Buried within doubt, she recognized her lack of options. A deep breath steadied her resolve, faith resting on the possibility that her motives held a glimmer of justification.

Her final whisper to Ethan hung in the air. "I'm sorry for this. I hope you'll someday understand."

Exiting the room, the weight of her choice clung to her. She clung to the hope that, against all odds, Ethan might one day fathom the desperate circumstances that led her down this painful path.