The billionaire’s unexpected bride

“Ash, Ashley, I’m in deep shit” I bolted to my feet after hearing what my seventeen year old sister had just said. I didn’t react the way I did because of what she said, no, Jane was a troubled teenager and as such, she’d been in plenty of deep shits, but never have I seen or heard her cry, and she was doing so right now, on the other end of the phone.

“Who is it” Jeff asked, trying to pull me back into bed, but I shoved his hand away, furiously

“It’s Jane, she’s in trouble”

“She’s always in trouble” he said, drowsily and stretched his hand again “She’s old enough to deal with her own shit”

I glared at him before moving to the bathroom of his small apartment and locking the door.

“Jane, Jane can you hear me?” I asked, my voice taking on a worried note

She sniffled before answering “Yes, Ash”

“Good, can you come over to Jeff’s, lets talk?”

“I… I can’t, Ash. I’ll be locked up soon”

My heartbeat faltered “What? Where exactly are you?”

I bolted out of the room, put on the faded, blue crazy jean I’d worn to Jeff’s place, and one of his black oversized shirt before fumbling for my car key in my purse, then dashing out of the apartment, ignoring every word that came out of Jeff’s mouth. I wasn’t ignoring him on purpose, it was more like after hearing Jane say that she was being held at a police station, my brain refused to process anything.

My hands trembled greatly, and I struggled to put the key into the ignition. I got it after a while, and as I drove to where my little sister was being held, my head kept pounding with the same four words. THIS IS MY FAULT.

Ever since we were kids, my mother had always tasked me with looking after Jane. Our dad had abandoned us right after my got pregnant with Jane. I was six when it happened, but I could clearly recall my father asking my mother who the child she was carrying belonged to.

I remembered my mom’s face, soaked with tears, her knees touching the ground as she pleaded and swore that the child belonged to him. He called her a liar and left, and he never returned. I had vowed that day that I would never put myself in a position where I had to beg any man like that, and so far, I’ve followed that vow thoroughly.

My mother raised us both by herself. I found myself looking up to her as my role model. She was beautiful and strong, and despite the numerous attempts from men, she refused to be anybody’s wife. She was an independent woman and she raised us to be exactly like her.

She got a job after some time at the highschool I and Jane attended, as a history teacher and the pay helped ease our suffering a bit, we were comfortable, until my mom got sick and had to be admitted to the hospital. She spent over a month there and she never got better.

We’d visit her everyday, after school, I and Jane, with foods, and we’d do our home work with her, tell her about our day and what boy confessed to us at school.

On the day she was to die, she called just me into the room, and begged me, with tears in her eyes that I do all in my power to take care of my sister. I’d promised her while hugging her and crying.

I failed her. It dawned on me as I burst into the police station and found Jane, eyes swollen, mascara ruined, cheeks flaming red, and face streaked with tears, seated on the floor, behind iron bars.

My heart broke and tears threatened to spill from my eyes.

“J… Jane?”

She raised her head to look at me and then she cried “Oh, Ash” she got to her feet and I grabbed her hand through the bar

“Ash, I’m so sorry. I… I didn’t mean to… they said we were only going for a stroll… they left me, Ash, they left me” she cried some more and I had to wrap my arm around her neck to soothe her

“Who left you?”

She hiccuped and blew her nose before answering “My friends. They took me to a jewelry shop and then they broke in and said to help them load their bags or they’d put it all on me, I did and they left me still. I’m so sorry, Ash, I really am”

“Shh, just calm down, alright. Don’t cry, I’ll be back” I let go of her and moved to stand in front of the desk of an officer. He was a fat man with a bald head and a funny moustache, with a mouth stuffed with sandwich.

“How can I help ya?” he said intelligibly

“I… uh… I’m here for my sister, Jane”

The officer looked at me with what appeared to be boredom as he took his time chewing and then swallowing before deciding that it was time to answer me. “I need to inform you that the jewelry store your sister targeted is one of the many branches of Sebastian Luxe.”

At the mention of the company's name, I felt a jolt of panic. I'd heard of Sebastian Luxe. It was one of the world's leading brand for fashion design and accessories, and it was owned by Richard Sebastian—billionaire, fashion mogul, and a man known for his ruthlessness in business.

“Why is that important?” I asked, my voice growing weak.

The officer took a bite from his sandwich and repeated the slow process of chewing and swallowing before speaking “Mr. Sebastian himself has taken an interest in this case. He’s instructed that whoever comes for your sister must meet with him first.”

Shocked and greatly worried, I asked, “Why? What does he want?”

“Don't you think that’s something you’ll have to find out from him?” The officer stated with a sneer. “As for now, your sister stays here. Here's the address of the head office where you'll be meeting Mr. Sebastian.”

My heart dropped to my stomach as I collected the piece of paper the officer slid to me. I had the sinking feeling that whatever I was going to the office for, the result would not be good. I walked back to the cell Jane was being held in.

“I have to go meet with the owner of the store, alright? I'll have you released in no time” I said for the sake of wanting to reassure her and not because I was certain I could do it. I had no idea what had been stolen and the repercussions of it, or what I might hope to meet when I see Mr. Sebastian, but I didn't want her crying.

She nodded, tears still spilling down her cheeks “I'm sorry, Ash. I really am”

“It's fine. I patted her head before she let go”