Page 34 of Don’t Fall for the Billionaire
Chapter Thirty-Four
Ashton
I hugged Eloise goodbye. Melissa disappeared to meet her boyfriend at their new home, and Charlie left as well to get ready for a date.
Charlotte stood behind the empty table that was now full of crumbs and memories, counting her stack of bills and struggling to organize the cash into neat piles.
I couldn’t help but wonder if the woman who created flaky crusts and mouthwatering fillings that brought tears to grown men’s eyes might find QuickBooks a different kind of challenge.
“Congratulations, Pie Queen.” I smiled. “You did good today.”
“Thank you.” A bright grin graced her face. “What a day. Wasn’t it so much fun? Could you just feel autumn seeping into your pores?”
“Yeah. It was pretty cool. Are you ready? We need to stop at William Sonoma and pick up a coffee machine.”
“I’m ready.” She placed her purse on her shoulder while I grabbed the bin.
We walked into William Sonoma and over to where the coffee machines were on display.
“Oh, a Miele. I’ve heard these are the best,” she said.
“It’s three thousand dollars,” I said in shock.
“And worth every penny.” A sales associate walked over. “Let me give you a demonstration.”
Her demonstration convinced me, and I ended up purchasing it.
“The guys you hired returned the rental van, right?” Charlotte asked out of the blue.
“Yes. They took it after they brought all the pies to the table.”
“Oh, okay. I just thought about that.”
I carried the heavy machine to the cab, and we climbed into the back seat.
Things between Charlotte and me were better today than they’ve been the last couple of weeks.
We seemed more relaxed and comfortable with each other, rather than strained.
Everything that happened between us was my fault, not hers.
And I would graciously admit it. I reached over and pulled a small crimson leaf from her hair.
“You brought someone with you.” I smiled, holding up the leaf.
“Thanks. Isn’t it beautiful?” She examined the leaf. “The colors of autumn are truly amazing.”
I’d never met anyone who felt the way she did about autumn. It was refreshing and adorable.
The cab pulled up to the townhouse.
“I’ll grab the bin. You carry that heavy coffee machine,” she said.
We climbed out of the cab. Charlotte bent down and lifted the mat, noticing the key wasn’t under there.
“Shit, Ashton. Where’s the key?” She looked up at me.
“Damn it. Now what?”
She placed her hand on the handle and opened the door.
“Are you kidding me? Katrina never locked it?” I said.
We stepped into the house, and I set the Miele down on the floor while I took off my jacket.
Walking into the living room, we were startled when my father popped his head up from the couch, staring at us, as if he’d just been caught doing something illegal.
Charlotte’s hand gripped my arm as the sharp intake of her breath cut through the silence in the house like a blade.
“Jesus Christ, Dad. What the hell are you doing here?” My brows furrowed.
“Uh, what are you doing back?” he asked, his face flushing the same color as the crimson leaves on the trees.
“This is my home! How did you get in here? And for the love of God, why aren’t you wearing a shirt?!” I demanded to know.
Suddenly, my mother’s head popped up, her eyes wide, displaying a hint of shame.
“MOM!”
“You don’t understand, sweetheart. This isn’t what it looks like.”
Against my better judgment, I took a few steps forward. My eyes widened in disgust, staring at my parents, who were completely naked under the blanket they had wrapped around them.
“We’re you—we’re you,” my voice quivered.
“Were you two having sex?” Charlotte blurted out.
They both stared at us, completely silent and unable to speak.
“Get dressed now!” I shouted. “Oh my freaking God. What the fuck?” I held the sides of my head while walking into the kitchen.
“Ashton, calm down.” Charlotte softly rubbed my back. “I know this is shocking?—”
“Shocking? This goes way beyond shocking, Charlotte. I’m scarred for life. I could always proudly say that I was never one of those kids who caught their parents having sex. I can no longer say that.”
“Okay, son. Let us have it. Get it out of your system.” My parents walked into the kitchen.
“YOU TWO HATE EACH OTHER. MOM, YOU’RE MARRIED. AND DAD, YOU HAVE A BABY ON THE WAY!” I shouted louder than I’d ever shouted before.
“Calm down, sweetheart.” My mother put her hands up.
“Calm down? How did this even happen? How the fuck did you two get into my house? And what gives you the right to have sex in my home?”
“Really, Ashton. Consider it payback for all the girls you fucked in our home when you were younger,” my mother said.
“Just be quiet and let me explain.” She sat at the kitchen table.
“I came over to see if you would allow me to take Eloise for the night before we head back to Italy. I was out and about, doing some shopping, and I left my phone in our hotel room. When I arrived, no one was home, but then Paul and Katrina pulled up with Eloise and told me they were packing a bag for her because she was spending the night at their house. I came inside with them, kissed and hugged Eloise goodbye, and they left. I told Katrina I would lock up because I had to use the bathroom, and that’s when she told me you told her to leave the key under the mat. ”
“Then I came over, taking a chance you were home, because I needed to speak to you about something. I was sure as hell shocked when your mother answered the door. She slammed it in my face but failed to lock it. So, I came in and we had a few words. One thing led to another. What can I say?” He held out his arms.
“You’re both in relationships! God, I can’t even look at you two.
I really thought you both had done it all to me.
I didn’t think there was anything left than actually murdering each other in cold blood.
But here we are, in my home, with you two on my couch, having sex. What if Eloise had been with us?”
“Well, I already knew she wouldn’t be,” my mother said.
“And honestly, we didn’t expect you to return this early. We figured you’d go to dinner or something, and we’d be out of here by the time you got back,” my father said.
“Early? It’s six o’clock in the evening!”
“Exactly. It’s dinner time,” my father said. “Listen, Ashton. I’m not proud of what happened.”
“I’m not either,” my mother said. “But it happened, so deal with it! I have to get back to Raphael.”
“And I need to get back to Margo.”
“You two have no shame. This is wrong on so many levels, and you both seem unfazed by it. Like it was no big deal?”
“Well, it isn’t,” my father said.
“YES, IT IS!” I shouted.
“Oh, please, Ashton. Don’t you dare sit up there on your high horse and judge us,” my mother spoke. “And not a word of this to Raphael or you’ll be disowned.”
“Same for Margo, son,” my father said.
“Just get out. Go!” I pointed toward the door. “You, go back to Los Angeles, and you go back to Italy.”
“Fine. We’ll leave.” My mother collected her purse. “I’ll be in touch.”
“See you, son.” My father smirked and then winked.
My blood pressure was at an all-time high, and I needed a drink. Out of nowhere, Charlotte burst into hysterical laughter.
“What is so funny?” I narrowed my eyes at her.
“Them. Your couch. The sex. I’m sorry.” She put her hand up.
“You either have to laugh or have a nervous breakdown. The devil and a demon.” She laughed.
“The way you stood up to them and emphasized they were in a relationship with other people proves you are nothing like your parents. They don’t have any morals.
You do. Let me ask you this. If neither one was in a relationship, would you have gotten so angry? ”
I had to think carefully before answering her. “I don’t know. Maybe not as bad. Jesus Christ. I cannot with those two anymore. How can two people who despise each other and go out of their way to make the other miserable have sex like that? I don’t get it, Charlotte.”
“Maybe deep down they don’t despise each other.”
“Right now, I despise them both. And another thing, tomorrow we’re going furniture shopping for a new couch. I will never sit on that couch again.” I pointed.
“What about the blanket that was wrapped around their naked bodies?” Charlotte laughed.
“I’m burning it.”