Chapter 4
The room fell silent.
Everyone looked i
me, then at each other, unsure of what to say
I didn’t give them a chance to speak
I kept my head down and said, “We’re done here.”
Then I turned and walked out the floor, looking like I couldn’t face them anymore.
In reality, I was holding back laughter.
Just imagining Caleb More scrambling to clean up the mess i’d left with one sentence was almost too much
The moment I stepped out of the hotel, my expression went cold.
I pulled out my SIM card, flagged down a cab, and beaded to the branch office.
My brother was efficient as ever
By now, he must’ve already called ahead to let them know I’d be coming, so even if 1 showed up unannounced, it shouldn’t be a problem
Sure enough, as soon as I stepped into the lobby, the receptionist greeted me.
“Miss Ellington, Mr. Vaughn is waiting for you in the conference room.”
I nodded and smiled politely, though I was a little confused.
Why was he waiting for me specifically?
When I entered the conference room and saw a face that was both familiar and unfamiliar, I couldn’t help but exclaim, “Asher Vaughn?!”
Asher had been my childhood best friend.
Before I moved abroad, we were inseparable. It had been thirteep years since we’d last seen each other.
He grinned.
“I knew you’d show up today. You’re as impatient as ever.”
That one line erased the years between us. He was just as easygoing as I remembered.
blinked in surprise.
“What are you doing here in the States?
“Your brother,” Asher said with a groan
“He wants to expand business here but is living it up back home while I’m stuck dealing with a pack of corporate wolves. It’s exhausting”
“Quit complaining. You’ve got help now.”
Asher looked around exaggeratedly, avoiding my eye
“Help? Where? I don’t see any.”
I couldn’t help hút kick him lightly.
“How are you still this obnoxious?
How does Billionaire Upgrade!
“Not my fault, princess,” he said with a dry cinckle,
“Bat Havemwood’s business scene iseutthroat. Are you sure you can handle it?”
“Deep waters don’t scare me. You just need to stir them up a bit, right?”
He gave me skeptical look, but 1 cut him off before he old say more
laid my plan for him.
Ethan Harper and Caleh Monroe were our biggest competitors.
As long as they didn’t team up, we’d have no problem.
I didn’t think my presence alone could drive a wedge between them, but by Chandler could.
They both cared about her too much.
I refused to believe their partnership would survive if she became part of the equation.
Even if Ivy didn’t disrupt their plans, I could distract them long enough to blindside them at the last moment.
As I finished explaining, my throat felt dry.
Treached for my glass, only for Asberto shove a lopap
youth
I stared at him, confused.
He patted my head and said, “You’ve had enough bitterness for one lifetime. Time for something sweet.”
Turning away, I quickly wiped the tears that had shipped out before replying, “I can’t go home now.”
“Caleb can’t reach me, so he’ll definitely try to find me through my family. Help me find a place near the office”
You you could just stay at my place.”
1 glared at him, and Asher immediately backtracked, waving his hands.
“No, not I don’t mean it like that! I just happen to have an empty apartment. 1 usually sleep at the office anyway!”
I didn’t bother arguing.
I took the address and the door code and left, not even letting him call a car for me.
Once I got to his apartment, I quickly tidied up, skipping dinner entirely.
Then I reinserted my SIM card into my phone.
The notifications flooded in–hundreds of messages.
I didn’t read a single one, deleting them all and blocking Caleb and everyone connected to him
When I was done, only two contacts remained: Chan Harper and Asher Vaughn.
I laughed bitterly
In the ten years since I came back to the States, everyone I knew was connected to Ethan
The last three years were all about Calph. Thirteen years, and not a single person was truly:
No point dwelling on that now.
Chapter 4
I added a little heart emoji to Ethan’s name in my contacts and changed Asber’s to “Manager.” Then 11 out to a bar as night fell.
Sitting at the counter, I drank quietly, one
one glass after another, until 1 blacked out,
The bartender gave me a nödge, sighed, and grabbed my phone.
Without hesitation, he called Ethan.
“Hello, sir? Your friend as drunk Could you come pick her up?”
When the bartender hung up. I smiled.
te hooked.
Ethan Harper, you’re l
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