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“Then why is he here? Apparently, it’s not hate if you’re eating pizza with him.”
“Get out,” Billie demands. I can picture the glare on her face, her cold eyes piercing into him.
“I’ve requested to no longer work with him.”
“Are you stupid?” she shoots back. “Asher is the best thing that could have ever happened to you, considering what you’ve been doing.”
He scoffs. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, you do. And I promise you, if you don’t stop, I will take everything you own. Your company will go to hell in a Birkin bag, and I will ruin your reputation worse than you ever could.”
“Empty threats,” Josh replies dismissively.
“And that will be your downfall,” Billie counters without missing a beat. “Leave.”
“Bill—”
“Do not call me that. I fucking hate it. I’ve always hated it,” she says firmly. “You shouldn’t be here. I have nothing else to say to you.”
“I’m sorry, baby. Please forgive me. I’ll do anything if you give me another chance,” Josh nearly begs.
My jaw clenches tight.
“You weren’t sorry when your dick was buried in your ex while you were with me.”
Almost a minute of silence passes.
Then the door swings open, and I’m face-to-face with Josh.
I exhale sharply, aware of how this must look, even though it shouldn’t.
“You bastard!” His fists start swinging.
Billie tries to pull him away, but it’s no use. Josh lunges toward my head, and I duck just in time. With a fierce growl, he charges at me, rage radiating off him.
“You don’t want to do this,” I warn. “I’m not dating Billie.”
“You’re clearly fucking her!”
I let out a laugh. “I’ve already told you once that it’s none of your damn business what I do in my free time.”
He swings again, but this time, I fight back. My knuckles connect with his face, and he stumbles back. He trips and falls to the floor, and I tackle him, ready to finish this once and for all. Years of resentment bubble up inside me for how he treated Billie when they were together.
“Don’t do it, Asher,” she whispers, reaching for me. “He’snotworth it. I promise.”
I lock eyes with her, then glance back at Josh’s pathetic face. “You’resolucky she’s logical.”
Josh growls as I release my grip on him.
I stand, pinning his shoulder down with my foot, increasing the pressure. “Next time you pull some shit like that, you’ll really regret it.”
“Don’t threaten me,” he says, trying to sound tough.
“It’s not a threat,” I assure him.
“I’m so sorry,” I tell Billie as I leave her room, knowing this was a mistake.
She follows closely behind me.