Rising from the Ashes (Andrew) novel Chapter 1730

After a brief moment of stunned silence, Andrew firmly declined, "Thank you for your kind offer, Mrs. Peck, but I find your proposal absolutely ridiculous!"

He could already see the same madness in Victoria that Tiana had shown before. No doubt, her outrageous request stemmed from two things.

First, like Tiana, if not worse, Victoria was the kind of woman who wielded power without caring about norms or taboos. Keeping a man like a pet was something she did without a second thought.

Second, she clearly saw Andrew as a replacement for his father.

And that was both understandable and utterly twisted.

"So you're saying no to me?" Victoria asked coldly, her smile vanishing.

Andrew's tone remained steady. "Yes, I'm saying no. Mrs. Peck, I'm not the kind of man who does things casually. What you proposed wasn't just inappropriate, but it crossed a line."

He added, "You're a senior. I'm the younger one here. We're generations apart, and we have no emotional connection whatsoever. So with all due respect, I found your suggestion ridiculous."

Victoria scoffed. "Ridiculous? Are you saying I'm too old for you, or is it my looks you find lacking? Or maybe you don't think my power or position is enough to tempt you? You do realize this is the modern world, right? Traditional gender roles don't mean anything anymore."

He added, "Those pretty boys you see on the streets driving luxury cars, wearing designer suits… Well, half of them are being kept by some sugar mommy. Most of the time, they're dating women who are old enough to celebrate their 60th birthdays. You're not that naive… are you?"

Andrew was speechless. He had not expected her to be so persuasive. Her logic, as wild as it sounded, was disturbingly sound.

He finally sighed. "Mrs. Peck, maybe everything you said is true. Men with power keep mistresses. Women with power keep male companions, boy toys, or whatever. But I'm not that kind of man. I don't enjoy being ‘kept'; I prefer to conquer."

He continued, "Besides, you're already a mother of two. Miles is someone I actually consider a friend. The last thing I want is for him to confront me one day and say, ‘I thought you were my friend, and you tried to sleep with my mom?'"

Victoria froze. Then, for the first time, color rushed to her face. "You little punk! You wish! You think being my male companion means sleeping with me? Please. I've had two kids already. You think that's even possible?"

Andrew blinked. "Then why ask me to be your male companion in the first place?"

Victoria let out a laugh, both furious and amused. "Why? To kill time and build influence. I think all men are disgusting, you included. If it weren't for some special reasons, do you really think I'd be here, talking to you so nicely?"

Her tone suddenly shifted, sharp and cold again. "Fine, you don't want to be my companion? Then marry Liliana and become my son-in-law. Work under me and help me expand the Peck family empire. If you do that, I'll let everything go."

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