Chapter 9
“Ashley’s POV
Our laughter echoed through the room and I leaned into the chir, watching his face to see if there was any bit of acceptance in it. He didn’t smile too much, and laughing was just something I got to see once in a while. I was so used to him pushing me to be my best that I hadn’t realized that he was living for me.
“I’m serious, Xavier,” I said to him, after taking a deep breath. “I really think she likes you,” I repeated, this time my voice was softer.
He looked at me and then scoffed. “Nah.” He said, dismissing what I said with the wave of his hand.
“That’s not important right now.” He said, trying to change the conversation and not make it about himself. Something that he was really good at. But I wasn’t going to let him, not today.
“You should talk to her.”
He kept his eye on me and the smile on his face disappeared without him saying anything.
“What’s Important then?” I asked gently, careful about pushing him to the edge. Whenever we spoke it was always about the company or about other really serious things, we barely talked about him.
He hesitated, his eyes digging into mine, and then he looked away and glanced over at Brian, who was still playing with his toys, I turned my eyes to look at just in time he looked in our direction
His eyes were just like his father’s and I could almost see Nolan by just staring at him. I looked away quickly and my eyes fell. on Xavier again.
“You and Brian.” He said quietly. “You two are what’s most important to me. More than anything else. Finding a girl and getting married can happen without putting in much work. You are what I put my work in. Ashley, you and Brian.”
I swallowed hard and managed a smile. I didn’t need to be convinced that he meant what he said. He was my brother after all and he had spent the last five years doing everything he possibly could for me, and I didn’t need to be convinced about anything that he had to say.
“Xavier,” I called him softly. “Don’t you want to get married? finda mate? You’ve spent so much time protecting me and I know you’d say otherwise, but you deserve a break.”
His smile widened and he nodded slowly-
“Yeah.” He replied, “You see, I’m not done just yet.” He added. We both sat in silence once more and he didn’t need to explain to me what he meant.
up from where he sat and walked over to the counter, grabbing a bottle of wine and two glasses.
He got up
“What’s on your mind?” He asked as he walked back to me, placing the bottle on the table with a soft thud.
I took a deep breath and ran my fingers through my hair. “You’ve heard about my new project right?”
He nodded. “Yeah, you know I keep tabs about everything right do the best that I can.”
“Yeah,” I said softly, leaning forward. “And you know that we’ve just finished building another branch of the company on the other side of the country. And it’s right in the heart of Sacred Moon packs territory.”
He smiled sofily and there didn’t seem to be any hint of surprise in his eyes. He reached out and took my hand. “Well done. he said, his voice echoing with pride.
-1/2
69
Chapter 91
“Xavier, I called his name in a low whisper. He let go and then poured himself a glass and did the same for me.
“What?” He asked as he took a sip.
“I don’t even know if I’m ready to go back there,” I said to him, unwilling to look him in the eyes. I knew he wouldn’t judge me, but I was judging myself. I wasn’t scared about going there again, I was just worried that I would get overrun by my own hatred of the place and of the people in charge.
“And why would you think so?” He asked, looking at me and experting a response.
“It’s just.. I don’t know. It’s been years and maybe I just feel like there’s still a bit of time to do what needs to be done.”
He nodded and sat back down: “Ashley.” He began.
“I know you’ve come so far, I mean we have done so together. Trust me, when I first brought in the idea for you to start something and even though I supported you with all the resources you’d need. I am still in shock at how far you’ve gotten. You might not know how big this company is from the outside.
1 kept my eyes on him, listening for him to go on.
“What I mean is, you’ve been able to do this because of the love you’ve felt here. But also because of something that was planted in your heart. something you can’t and shouldn’t forget
I sighed and grabbed the glass from the table and emptied its contents.
“The annual ball is coming and I think it’s the perfect time, Ashley,” Xavier said firmly.
I lifted my head up and looked at him. He wasn’t smiling, but he wasn’t frowning either. There was this look on his face, and my guess was how I should be looking that day. Considering all that I had gone through.
“It’s a few weeks from now, and so is the grand opening of the company over there as well. I don’t think you need any more
signs.
I threw my
head back and sighed deeply. I hadn’t thought about it like this before. And the truth was that maybe I didn’t want to, maybe I tried to avoid it as much as I could. But there was no running away from it now.
“I guess it’s time then,” I said to him finally.
A smile formed on his lips and he nodded. “I guess it’s time.” He repeated, raising his glass to me.
“Cheers.”
SEND GIFT
COMMENT
1
14:07 Mon, Dec 9 G.
8K 69%
Chapter 10
