SLEEPING WITH THE DEVIL

"I know I am forcing my decision to you, but believe me darling, I have no other option left. I am not thinking about Sarah and myself, but only about the huge debts that we need to repay. The debtors won't spare us." Gracy said in a monotonous voice.

Ashley didn't utter a single word. She was sitting on the sofa, with both her eyes fixed on the floor.

Gracy Jonas and Brendan Rogers were sitting face to face with each other. Rogers has come with a proposal to Mrs. Jonas. If she wants to save her orphanage and her late son's company, she must get her elder granddaughter Ashley married to his only son, Scott.

If this marriage happens, Ashley's deceased father's bankrupt company will be taken over by Brendan Rogers. Jonas' loss making company will be taken over by the Rogers after this marriage, and it will their responsibility to revive the lost fame and glory due to their name being associated with it. At the end of the year, thirty percent of the company's dividend will be given to the Jonas' fund. In addition to that, ten percent of the company's shares will remain in Ashley's name.

Mrs Jonas does not want to hand over her beloved granddaughter to the Rogers family. After his son and daughter-in-law died in a a car accident, she has raised her granddaughters by herself. After her son's death, their company was in dire straits.

Since they had a business relationship with the Jonas' for a long time, he was making good use of that opportunity.

Ashley Jonas had just finished her studies. Grace had raised both her granddaughters Ashley and Sarah with great care.

Both the sisters are apple of pie of their granny, Mrs. Jonas. They have always seen their granny run an orphanage since childhood. It accomodates so many children. After the sudden death of their father, their business was sinking due to the corruption of the employees. If granny accepts the proposal of Mr. Rogers, then the lives of these children won't be in stake; since they won't be homeless then, all thanks to Mr. Rogers.

Before leaving her room, Gracy said, " I will wait for your answer darling. "

Ashley remained silent, thinking of the bright future that awaits her. All hopes will be gone forever if she ever agrees to this marriage proposal.

Back to her room, Mrs Jonas was reminiscing when her happy family consisted of Mr Jonas, son Steve and herself. No sooner he got married to Kelly, Mr Jonas passed away in a cardiac arrest leaving Gracy all alone in this big and beautiful Jonas Mansion.

Steve and his newlywed bride chose to live separately, since according to them staying with Mrs Jonas would affect their private life. So, they parted ways with her and started living in their another property. It was a bunglow purchased ages ago by Mr Jonas, but was not used much.

On hearing the news Mrs. Jonas was unhappy at heart, but she nodded. Few days later after the funeral was over, the couple moved to their new house.

A few years later.

The Jonas Mansion is all beautifully decorated on the eve of baby shower ceremony of Kelly. A week later, the Jonas family welcomed the newborn sisters with great pomp and show. Gracy named them Ashley and Sarah.

But destiny had some other plans.

Everything was going smoothly until Mrs Jonas got a call from the police. When a terribly shaken Mrs. Jonas reached the location, everything was over.

In a pool of blood, the bodies of Kelly and Steve were lying. Mrs Jonas came to know that the couple was going for a vacation, when an oil tanker hit them hard at the front. The tanker was not at all to be accused, since it was not driving rash. The car was on a very high speed, it seems it was running at not less than 120-130 km per hour.

This tragic incident left Mrs Jonas took over the charge of raising her granddaughters alone.

Ashley was one of those pretty and charming young women, who sometimes are born, as if by a slip of fate, into the Jonas family. She was an average student, both in school and college. She took interest in school & college functions and actively participated in them, besides flirting with other rich lads, who were smitten by her beauty at that very age.

Her face glowed up with a sudden thought, as she remembered someone who could be her only saviour amidst this great danger of her life, where she has to sacrifice her dreams and be Mrs. Rogers.

She switched off the lights and went to her bed. Underneath the pillow, she could feel her cellphone. She pulled that out and made a ring to her boyfriend.

"Hello, Richard"

"Yes, my sweetheart Ashley."

"I am in a fix and need to meet you."

"Oh, so sorry honey, I can't make out that now. Not before next week."

"But, I don't have time till next week. Granny is..." Before Ashley could tell that Mrs. Jonas has planned to get her married the next week, the line got disconnected.

No sooner the call got disconnected, Halley asked, "Who was on the phone Richard?"

Richard replied, "It's just a client, my love. She has been constantly after me to make a portfolio of her."

Halley put her hands around Richard's neck and asked, "Are you sure, she's just a client, nothing else?"

Richard replied in a firm voice, "Do you doubt me honey?"

Halley replied, "Not really, but I don't like your way of talking with other female models."

Richard smiled and replied, "It's part of my profession Halley. I am a fashion photographer. Won't the girls try to get noticed by me to flourish their career?"

Halley said nothing. She had firm faith in her husband and blindly believed him.

Ashley felt very helpless. Even Richard is so busy that he won't be able to make it up before the next week. But that will be too late.

Ashley looked helpless. She has to reveal the hidden truth anyhow to Richard before it's too late.