Page 85 of Tempting the President

When Rio answered in Greek, Kellion knew it was even worse, that his security was about to say something he didn’t want Aria to understand.

Ms. Redfield had been subjected to an attack...she was accosted, but we managed to apprehend her attacker before anything serious—-

Kellion cut him off, needing only to know one thing. “Who is he?” A name was all he needed, so he would know who he had to kill for daring to hurt Aria.

“A reporter under the influence and who appears to know about Ms. Redfield’s past...” When Rio repeated the reporter’s slurs verbatim, Kellion had to force his fingers to loosen up, the only way he could prevent himself from crushing his phone into pieces.

He said tautly afterwards, “Let me talk to her.” Guilt flayed him as he waited for Aria to come on the phone. If he had been there, she wouldn’t have been hurt, wouldn’t have felt alone—-

Kellion froze as he heard Aria’s voice on the other end of the line.

Please say thank you for me.

She sounded so defeated, so lifeless—-

But please tell him I don’t want to talk to him again.

She sounded like she no longer believed in him.

Chapter Fifteen

Dear Ashton,

You know what I’m most scared about?

That I’d forget about you – that I’d forget anything, everything – I don’t want to live another day if it means forgetting you.

Please, don’t let me ever forget you.

Love, Your Big Sis

“GOOD MORNING.” BOBBY, the evil redheaded queen, greeted me with an especially chirpy tone the moment I entered the club’s office.

That was a bad sign. I made a 180-degree turn, intending to leave, but she caught me before I could make it to the door.

“Not so fast.” Bobby dragged me back to her desk and forced me down on one of the leather chairs. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you, but...” Her eyes narrowed at me as she returned to her place behind the desk. “I’ve been told you haven’t been answering Kellion’s calls?”

Wow. News sure travelled fast among bikers and their girls.The thought was a pathetic attempt to not think about what Bobby really wanted to say, a desperate attempt to ignore how my heart couldn’t stop chipping away at the mere mention of his name.

“Aria?”

Seeing that Bobby was waiting for an answer, I made myself shrug and blink rapidly like a clueless child.I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Bobby wasn’t fooled. “Ha! Others may think you’re a helpless little thing, but I know better.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Tell me what’s wrong.” Her words were just as authoritative as the look on her face.

I scribbled on my board.YOU ARE NOT SCARING ME.

Her lip curled. “Oh, please. The fact that you’re writing that means you’re already scared.”

She was right, dammit.

Behind me, I heard someone knock on the door. A moment later, Leandro Christopoulos was walking past me and dropping a kiss on Bobby’s lips.

My eyes widened.

Bobby, the girl who was probably even more anti-PDA than I was.

And even now, she hadn’t murmured a single word of protest, could in fact only hold on to her fiancé as Leandro kissed her withtremendouspassion in front of me.