After Simon Baylor’s funeral, Ashton was in a state of confusion. Ever since he arrived in Miami, he had been busy with the hospital formalities in the absence of Simon’s family or relatives. At the same time, he had to handle the business all by himself and prepare for Simon’s funeral too. However, he was glad that Victor Hughes helped him with everything. Having worked for Simon for eight years, Victor was extremely knowledgeable and knew everything about Simon Baylor.
“Mr. Pierce, I have scheduled a meeting today at 4 o’clock with Henry Willis, sir’s lawyer. Sir wanted you to meet him right after your arrival here, but we had to take care of the other important things first.”
There wasn’t much time at hand, and Ashton grabbed a late lunch and rushed to the conference room. Simon Baylor’s death was so sudden that Ashton didn’t get a moment of respite, struggling to sort out the loose ends. Maybe Simon didn’t expect the infection to spread so fast and turn fatal. Maybe he had expected to live a few more months or years.
After Baylor’s death, Victor had become Ashton’s full-time PA and followed him to the conference room. In a few minutes, Henry Willis arrived with some documents.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Pierce. Good to see you at last. I’ve heard a lot about you from Simon, my good friend, and mentor,” said the lawyer. Ashton got up to shake hands with the man and welcome him into the conference room.
“It’s really sad to meet under such circumstances. Please have a seat.” They sat down to discuss while Victor sat by Ashton’s side.
“I need to talk to you personally, Mr. Pierce. That’s what Simon had wanted.” Victor excused himself and left the conference room, closing the door behind him.
“Let’s get straight to the point, Mr. Pierce. I’m here to read the will that Simon left behind for you.” Ashton’s eyes widened with surprise at the mention of a will.
“Will? For me?”
“Yes, he called me to his house three days before he was admitted to the hospital. He made a new will.”
“Oh! So what does it say?”
For the next few hours, Ashton discussed the will with the lawyer. He was shocked to know that Simon Baylor had left his share of the business to him. Not only that, he wanted his beach mansion sold to generate funds for his business.
“There’s more, Mr. Pierce. Simon wanted his father’s mansion in Orlando to be converted into a hotel.”
“I will fulfill all his wishes, Mr. Willis. You can start the legal procedure right away.”
After the meeting, Henry Willis and Ashton felt overwhelmed that Simon left such a tremedous responsibility on his shoulders. He now had a purpose in life, to bring up the Baylor Group to its previous glory.
He returned to his penthouse in Hotel Bayview after a tiring day and freshened up. Making a quick one pot chicken stew and crusty bread, he sat down to dinner when the doorbell rang. Who could it be now? Trudging towards the door, he opened it wide and saw an exhausted Hayley at his doorstep with her luggage.
“Hayley?” he gasped, opening his arms out to her. She ran into his outstretched arms and he cupped her cheek to kiss her. It had been almost a month since he had kissed her. It was a gentle, passionate, and lingering kiss that left both of them breathless and needing more. Ashton sighed and released her mouth with longing. He still couldn’t believe that she was really here with him. After the funeral, he had considered visiting her when Mr. Willis appeared with Simon Baylor’s will. Now, with more complications, it wasn’t possible to go back to New York without completing the legal formalities.
“You could have called me, Hayley. I would have reached the airport to get you.” He released her, took the luggage from her, and led her inside. She looked so tired and unwell that he felt bad for not being able to take an update on her for the last two weeks.
“Granny died after you left. I came here straight after the funeral. I couldn’t stay away from you, Ashton.”
He closed the door and pulled her into his arms. They stood silently, holding each other. It had been almost a month since they had held one another close. “I know. I was thinking of going back to New York for you when additional complications came up.”
“Complications? Are you okay?” she asked him worriedly.
“Yes, I’m okay. Come and have dinner with me and I’ll tell you everything.”
He led her to the dining area and they say down to eat. Ashton gazed into her beautiful face, worriedly. “You still look exhausted, Hayley. Are you still unwell?”
“Yes. With Granny’s condition so critical, Dad was with her and I had to juggle work and hospital visits. I didn’t get any rest.” He pulled her into his chest, gently stroking her hair.
“You can rest here as much as you can, but if this persists, I’ll call the doctor.”
“Okay. This is so good. Did you make it?” asked Hayley, helping herself to the delicious home-cooked meal.
“Yes. I was tired of eating the hotel’s food every day. I would have made more if I had known that you would join me for dinner.”
“This is fine. I’ve lost my appetite.” Ashton was worried by now and frowned at her.
“This is serious, Hayley. How can you neglect yourself so much? I’ll call the doctor tomorrow if your health doesn’t improve.”
They finished dinner, and Ashton bathed Hayley in warm water. It felt so heavenly to slip into the bathtub with her, but Ashton knew she wasn’t well and didn’t initiate any lovemaking although he was dying to.
“Don’t you want me anymore, Ashton?” she asked, feeling hurt to see him unaffected by her. It had been almost a month, and it seemed the magic was lost already.
“I do, babe! But I’m worried about your health. I don’t want to tire you unnecessarily.” He wrapped a towel around himself and carried her to the bed, laying her down like a delicate petal. Next, he took out a fresh pair of pajamas she had left behind the last time she was here and handed them to her.
“You’re right, I just can’t keep my eyes open,” she said as she wore her clothes. The relaxing bath, the light food, and his warm presence calmed her down.
He wore his clothes and followed her to the bed, lying next to her. Hayley wrapped her arms around his torso and embedded her face into his neck to sleep. “Mm, you smell so good. I’m feeling better already.” Ashton smiled and kissed her forehead, tightening his hold on her. He had missed her so much. All his restlessness and anxiety of the last two days disappeared completely. He trailed his lips to her cheek and jawline.
“I’m so happy that you came here despite being so sick. I was having a tough time surviving without you, but I couldn’t let Simon down. I had to honor his last wish.”
“I thought as much. So what complications were you talking about earlier? Who will now be the chairperson of the Baylor Group?” Hayley asked with concern.
“I will be the new owner, chairperson, and CEO of the Baylor Group. Simon’s lawyer read out his last will to me today. He has left his share of the business to me. He wanted me to take his place.”
“Oh, that’s good news indeed, Ashton. I knew Simon loved you as his own. He treated you like a son.”
“Yes, he did. That’s why I couldn’t let him down and prioritize my personal life. His lawyer wants me to take over immediately. He’s preparing the documents. Simon wants me to sell off his mansion and generate funds for the company. He also wants me to turn his ancestral home in Orlando into a hotel,” said Ashton with a sigh.
“Don’t worry. You can prioritize your work, Ashton. I’m not going anywhere. Take your time and complete your work. We can plan our wedding a few months later,” said Hayley, kissing away the stress lines from his forehead.
“Thank you for understanding, Hayley. I really don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“I have an idea. Why don’t you move into our office in New York? We’re partners, right? Our corporate office is so huge, it can accommodate the Baylor Group. That way, you don’t have to work out of Hotel Bayview. We can live together in your apartment and go to work together. What do you say?” Ashton smiled at her suggestion. It was a wonderful way to stay near her, but he wanted her dad to suggest it. He couldn’t take advantage of Barclay’s goodwill.
“We’ll think about it.”
The next morning Hayley was violently sick, and he had no time to think about her suggestion. He summoned the doctor immediately, and she checked Hayley up.
“Congratulations, Mr. Pierce! Your fiancee is eight weeks pregnant!”