Page 65 of Seduction

She remained smug and cold when she said, “Make it quick.”

What a bitch.

The tears fell freely as I secured my computer and mail from the other day. I shoved the clothes I’d worn on the night of the fire into my bag too. I hadn’t realized how smoky they smelled. I needed to do laundry. The fact that I was thinking about that at such a humiliating, confusing, and heartbreaking moment made me feel worse.

After I was all packed up and on my way out, she stood by the elevator. I didn’t want to see her again or that smirk on her face. I wasn’t weak, but I knew when to and when not to fight. She had won. Jake or Asher had already let me know he’d bought the penthouse for a woman he was close to.

“Whatever Asher has with you, forget about it. He’s not well,” she said. “My advice is that you bow out now before he breaks your heart later. Once his brothers know where he is, they’re coming to get him.”

My frown deepened, not because she was being a stellar bitch who I wanted to punch in the mouth, or because she kept calling Jake ‘Asher,’ but because I faintly remembered Eloise mentioning a Christmas brother. Then I recalled the news show I’d been watching the other day. They were discussing a politician named Spencer Christmas. One of his critics had called him a billionaire from old money. I could hardly believe how all the parts were falling into place.

Caught in a trance, I stepped into the elevator.

“Down,” Gina said, smashing the button. She scowled at me until the doors closed between us.

As I walked through the lobby, the people I was used to greeting said their hellos, and I put on my happiest face, not giving any indication that we were saying our final goodbyes. Then I was out on the sidewalk, walking back to my place, feeling as if my hot and fast relationship with Jake, or Asher, had come full circle.

Before I reached my building, I received another text, once again thinking it was the man I considered my ex-lover. I looked at my phone, curious to hear if his self-proclaimed girlfriend had told him what happened at the penthouse. But it wasn’t Asher. It was my aunt.

Found your mother. Come.