BXBX NOVEL Chapter 93 - Priceless
Megan\'s POV
I tried to compose myself and act as if I didn\'t know about Gregory\'s plan for tonight. I couldn\'t believe he would do something like that to his son; well, I should not wonder because he already did something horrible to Isabelle and Dexter. And how I wish I could tell Isabelle the truth so she will stop herself from hurting and realize how much my brother missed her and yearned to be with her once again. I know I should conduct myself according to Gregory\'s liking, but I am aware no matter how I carry myself, I will always be nothing in front of his eyes because I don\'t belong to a wealthy family.
"Are you enjoying the party, Megan?" Ashton\'s father asked the moment we started dancing. I wanted to avoid his gaze, but I knew it would be inappropriate, especially now that he had asked me a question. I raised my head to look at him, and I could tell Ashton\'s dad was handsome up close, and he looked younger than his age.
"Yes, sir, I am," I replied, and I felt so glad I could find my voice because I was afraid if I couldn\'t speak in front of him.
"That is good, Megan. I want you to enjoy the party while it lasts." He said, and I could understand the meaning behind his words, but I never showed Ashton\'s father that I felt so terrified at the moment. I gave him my sweetest smile. He continued to look at me, and I could tell he was looking for the right time to strike.
"Have you been in here, Megan? Did Ashton show you around?" He asked, and I wondered if I should answer him truthfully or lie to him, but I chose to tell him the truth since I hate lying, and I don\'t think it will make any difference.
"Yes, sir, but only once. It was Zachary who brought me here." I said, and he nodded his head.
"And what can you say about our house?" He asked, and I smiled at him.
"You have a lovely home, Sir, and a beautiful family," I replied.
"Indeed, have you seen our library? I heard from my wife you are number one in your class. I am impressed, and I could tell you like books." He declared, and I wasn\'t expecting to have this kind of conversation with Mr. Gregory Pritzgold.
"Yes, Mr. Pritzgold, I love reading, and I usually spend my free time reading and playing the guitar," I responded, and he beamed at me.
"As expected of you, being the brightest student in your class, I could tell you love writing and reading. And I am excited to give you a tour to the mansion\'s library now, Megan, while everyone is still busy dancing, and I know you love to see my anthology of literature." He said, and I suddenly realized Gregory Pritzgold was not bad at all.
"It would be my pleasure, sir, and I know you are a busy man, and thank you," I replied.
"You are Ashton\'s girlfriend, and I want to know you more, Megan. I know my son must have seen something in you that made him so crazy about you." He declared, and I couldn\'t stop myself from blushing.
Ashton\'s father guided me in going to the mansion\'s library, I could feel the excitement and fear, but I wished Mr. Pritzgold was good to me. I was looking for Ashton before we left the ballroom, but he was busy dancing with his mom, and I could see how happy he was. I didn\'t want Gregory to think I was so clingy to his son, so I followed him through the hallways until we reached the massive library that made my eyes get so big as I could see the collection of books.
"Wow!" I couldn\'t stop myself from admiring the place as I looked around me. I can see comfortable couches at the center of the library, and there are plants in every corner that make the surroundings fresh and look cozy, and I can see the wide glass window with a direct view of the garden.
"Have a seat first, Megan." He said, and I started to feel uncomfortable when I heard his voice change from accommodating to authoritative, and I braced myself for his coming attack. He poured whisky on the glass on top of the center table while I sat on the couch while I listened to the pounding of my heart.
"What can you say about our family, Megan?" He asked while he sat across from me and looked at me with an unreadable expression on his face.
"You have a perfect and beautiful family, Sir," I responded.
"Yes, our family is perfect, Megan Corteza, and I just want to ask you how much you need so you won\'t taint our family name?" He asked, and I looked at him with confusion on my face.
"Don\'t pretend you don\'t understand what I mean, Megan. I know your kind. You pretended to be so naive and sweet, but I can tell you only after one thing." He added.
"I don\'t understand what you mean, Mr. Corteza," I replied with a trembling voice.
"Come on, Megan, how much money do I need to put on your bank account so you will stop seeing my son?" He asked, and his question took me off guard that made me stunned.
"See? You can\'t even answer my simple question, why? Are you still computing how much money you want to take from me?" He asked, smirking at me, and I shook my head as I tried to control my tears from falling.
"I don\'t need your money, Mr. Pritzgold. I love your son, and he is priceless." I replied, and he laughed.
"Don\'t make me laugh, Megan; you are nothing but like your brother. Is it your scheme to target my children?" He asked, and I could tell he sounded angry now, and his words pierced my heart.
"I don\'t know what you are talking about, Mr. Pritzgold, but I want you to know Ashton chased me, not the other way around," I said, and I want to tell him my brother has left no choice that time, but to accept his offer because my mom was dying. But he is now working double time to pay him in the future entirely, but I know I can\'t tell him that because he asked Dexter to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement.
"Oh, is that so? Now, I will give you any amount you want; stay away from him, Megan. I am warning you. If you wish for your brother and parents to have their current job, then you should stay away from Ashton. Break up with him, and don\'t ever tell him we have this kind of conversation because I will know right away." He said, and my wall crumbled, and I could no longer pretend I was okay.
"That is so unfair, Mr. Pritzgold. I love your son." I replied as I tried to take a deep breath.
"Unfair? You dream too high, Megan. You don\'t belong in our world. And I will never allow you to ruin my son\'s future, and he is the future CEO of my company. Don\'t wreck his life because of your selfishness. If you love him, Megan, you should break up with Ashton." He declared, and I could feel my entire frame trembling.
"I know you are beautiful, I give you that, and you can sing and play the guitar well. In short, you are talented, Megan, but it will never be enough for you to be Ashton\'s girlfriend." He added.
"I am not that harsh, Megan, and I will give you until you graduate to break up with Ashton. You can continue to be his girlfriend until that day." He said, and I wanted to shout at him and ask him what kind of father he was for doing this to us, but no words came out from my mouth as I continued to look at him full of hatred and anger.
"Enjoy your remaining days with my son, Megan. I know your parents\' finances, and I am sure you will not let your family suffer because of your ignorance about love." He added.
"Sir, I didn\'t have any bad intention when I agreed to become Ashton\'s girlfriend. I love Ashton, and there is no way I will give him up." I said the moment I got the courage to talk back at him, and I could see how much his face turned red because of his anger with me.
"Fair enough, Megan. You know
the consequences if you continue your relationship with my son. It is all up to you, but you better decide now than to have regrets later. Don\'t ever dare come, and beg me in the future because this is the only time I talk with you. I am a busy man." He responded.
"I can ruin your entire family with one snap of my fingers, Ms. Corteza." He added, and I never felt so defeated in my entire life. And I felt so hurt, but I will never give Gregory Pritzgold the satisfaction of seeing me lose my self-confidence even if I felt like dying inside.
"I know you are intelligent, Megan, so I assume I don\'t need to repeat myself. Now let us go back to the party and pretend none of this happened. I want you to enjoy the party, Ms. Corteza," He said, and he drank his whiskey in one gulp before he walked out from the library while I remained standing like a statue as I tried to process everything.
How can I continue to enjoy the party after everything he had said to me. And now I can tell Gregory Pritzgold is evil, and even if I already know what he is capable of, I still couldn\'t believe he could do something like this to his children. I strode towards the door and got out of the library, trying my best to keep my tears from falling.. And I walked back to the ballroom with heavy steps and a wounded heart.