Page 28

28

BILLIE

TWO DAYS LATER

K nock. Knock. Knock.

“Did you hear something?” Asher’s voice rumbles against my ear.

“No,” I whisper, rolling onto my back, the sheets tangled around me, and strain to listen.

Everything is a sleepy haze, and I’m too exhausted to care. Eighteen-hour shifts over the last two days have drained every ounce of energy I had left.

I’ve spent every waking second hunting for the perfect fabrics and overseeing the fit tests my designers have been running for the dress I’m revealing at the fashion show. The bodice—everything hinges on how it fits and flows, and time is slipping away. In less than three weeks, my entire team will be on a plane, flying across the ocean to give the fashion world an unpredictable surprise. I just hope I can pull it off.

My mind drifts, surrendering to the pull of sleep again.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

My eyes bolt open, irritation bubbling up.

“Okay, I heard it that time,” I whisper, frustrated.

“What time is it?” Asher asks drowsily.

I reach for my phone on the nightstand, and the screen’s brightness blinds me like a spotlight. “It’s just past midnight.”

He groans, but his breathing steadies.

Josh has been working Asher hard in preparation for the same fashion show. Right now, my days consist of having dinner, a shower, incredible sex, then sleep. Rinse and repeat, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. It doesn’t feel so monotonous with Asher by my side. We’ve also been taking turns sleeping at each other’s loft. I have a key to his place, and he has a key to mine. We just have to sneak in, hoping Mrs. Chambers doesn’t catch us. So far, we’ve managed.

“Billie!”

The familiar muffled voice has me groaning.

“Ugh!” I grumble, pushing the blanket from me.

“Who is it?” Asher asks in a deep rasp.

“It’s Harper. I’ll be right back.” I press soft kisses across the tattoos on his chest, catching a glimpse of his tired eyes before swinging my leg over him. I feel the heat of his body against mine as I lean down to capture his lips. “You’re so sexy.”

“Hurry back to me,” he mutters, his grip tightening on my ass before I slide off him.

I quickly throw on a T-shirt and some shorts that were on the floor. It’s what I had on earlier before Asher peeled them off and unwrapped me like a present.

I shuffle down the hallway, yawning and blinking away my tiredness. Peering through the peephole, I see Harper’s grinning face and blushed cheeks—a telltale sign that she’s had entirely too much to drink.

I swing the door open and freeze at the sight of Brody leaning against the wall behind her. His jaw is set tight, and I see a storm swirling in his eyes. The tension is thick, and his demeanor pricks at my instincts .

“Uh, hi?” My voice is hesitant, as I’m unsure of what’s going on.

Harper wraps her arms around my neck, her breath warm and sweet with the scent of alcohol. “I’m in love.”

I can’t help but chuckle, holding her steady as she sways slightly. “Really? Or are you just drunk?”

She giggles, pulling away to stumble inside. I lead her further in and glance back at Brody, his cold, angry eyes piercing through the moment.

Something’s off.

Harper twirls dramatically in my living room before flopping onto the couch like she owns the place. “I’m madly in love!”

I sit beside her, grinning despite Brody’s reaction.

“Give me the details,” I urge, trying to be supportive. This feels like a page out of our old playbook—sharing stories of our crushes and dates right afterward.

“Last weekend at the gala, I met this gorgeous man,” she gushes, her voice bubbling with excitement. “Micah Rhodes. He’s an entertainment lawyer. Do you know him?”

I shake my head. “The name doesn’t sound familiar. But I can ask Weston since he helped compile the guest list.”

“Please do! I’m crushing so hard. I feel like a teenager again.” She leans closer, lowering her voice. “You know what he said the first time he saw me?”

“Did he ask if you fell from heaven?” I glance at the stacks of fabric littering my living room—a reminder of how much work I have to do.

“No. He said he’d waited his entire life to find me.” She beams, lost in the memory.

“That’s sweet,” I reply, understanding that emotion deeply. It’s what I searched for and found in Asher. “And how did you feel?” I ask, genuinely curious.

Her grin widens. “Flattered! We walked through the gallery together and shared things about ourselves for hours. At the end of the night, he kissed me and then asked me out. Tonight was a dream, Billie. I’m floating on cloud nine.”

“I’m so happy for you, Harp,” I assure her, sincerity filling my chest. It’s been ages since I’ve seen her this alive—years, possibly a decade.

“I might invite him to London for the show. Be my plus-one!” A giddy smile spreads across her face.

“Let’s discuss it when you’re not toasted,” I tease. “Tipsy Harper sometimes makes questionable decisions.”

She leans forward and pulls me into a tight hug. She smells like cotton candy. “I make smart ones too! Oh shit! What time is it?”

“Close to one in the morning,” I yawn, stretching as fatigue threatens to pull me under.

“Oh no. It’s late! I should go.” She pulls away. “Can we meet up soon? I’ve missed you.”

I roll my eyes playfully. “Oh hush. You see me nearly every day.”

“Okay, but seeing CEO you and hanging with my best friend are two totally different things,” she insists.

“We’ll plan something when we’re back from London.”

Harper stands, still glowing with excitement about her latest crush, and I can’t help but feel hope for her. I hope he’s the one. No man has been worthy of her heart before—at least none that I’ve met. She deserves someone who sees her brilliance and beauty, who will protect her kind soul.

She gives me another tight squeeze, and her warmth seeps into my bones like sunshine.

“I love you, sister,” she says.

“I love you too,” I reply, opening the door to find Brody still where I left him.

He’s like a gargoyle, a silent guardian standing watch.

Harper glances at him as she heads toward the elevator.

I move closer to Brody, lowering my voice like we’re sharing a secret. “What’s going on? ”

“I don’t trust Micah,” he says, tension lacing his words, his brow furrowed.

“Is he dangerous?” My heart races as a knot forms in my stomach.

Brody doesn’t answer, but his silence speaks volumes.

“Don’t let her out of your sight,” I demand, urgency rising within me. “That’s an order. I’ll talk to Easton and Weston tomorrow about it. I’ll call Zane.”

“You’re my responsibility. Not Harper,” he says firmly, his voice steady, but his expression is concerned.

“Please,” I nearly beg, my voice softening as vulnerability creeps in. “I need you to keep her safe. I’ll be at work for another eighteen hours tomorrow and then home. Asher will be with me.”

“Okay.” Brody nods and walks away, leaving me leaning against the door, trying to regain my composure.

I move back to my bedroom, where Asher sits at the edge of the bed. His presence grounds me as my mind tangles with thoughts. As I approach him, he wraps his arms around me, pulling me close, as if he can shield me from it all. When we’re alone like this, it’s easy for me to believe.

“What’s going on?” he asks.

“Harper’s dating someone new,” I say, trying to keep my tone light.

“That’s great,” he says into my hair.

“Do you know Micah Rhodes?” I ask, searching his face for any clues that might ease my mind.

His jaw tightens at the name, a flicker of something dark crossing his features.

“What is it?”

“He’s older—mid-forties at least—and he’s weird. Very uppity and particular about things. I dealt with him at conferences when I worked for my father.”

“Brody doesn’t trust him,” I add quickly. “I told him to follow her. ”

“Good,” he says, capturing my lips in a reassuring kiss before folding down the blankets for me to climb in. “He’ll make sure she’s safe. Now, come on. You need your rest.”

I climb under the covers and nestle into him as he scoots behind me, wrapping his warmth around me like a shield. He protects me from it all.

“You’re the perfect big spoon,” I say over my shoulder.

He leans in and kisses my cheek. “You’re the perfect spork,” he replies, nuzzling into me.

“Spork?” I laugh, caught off guard by his choice of words.

“You may be smooth in some places, but you still have sharp edges. Love that about you.”

“I love a lot about you, Ash,” I mutter.

I let out a contented sigh as my breathing slows. I feel so lucky to have him here with me.

“Good night, princess.” He kisses me again, lingering this time.

“Night,” I whisper, wanting to say those three words, wanting him to know how I feel.

The next morning, I walk into work, carrying a box of Harper’s favorite pink doughnuts. My heels click against the polished floor, echoing in the otherwise quiet office. I push open Harper’s office door, half expecting to find her buried under a mountain of sketchbooks and loose drawings now that we’re finalizing next season’s designs.

True to my request, Harper hasn’t sent anything digitally regarding our upcoming launch. Whispers have spread around the office, but I don’t care. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect my company. Right now, the only ones we trust are our directors, who have been given closed-door meetings about what we’re doing .

If anything gets leaked, I’ll be able to confirm it’s management who’s responsible for double-crossing us and feeding Josh our designs. I’m convinced it’s them.

As soon as I take two steps inside, I notice the room is overflowing with vases of dark red roses.

Harper stands with a smile stretching across her pretty face, tears shimmering in her blue eyes as she reads a card. “He’s so sweet.”

“Harp, wow,” I say, setting the box of doughnuts I brought for her on the edge of her desk. The sweet fragrance of roses fills the space. It’s intoxicating, but for some reason, it makes me uneasy. “These are gorgeous. Who sent them?”

“Micah.” She beams as I set the doughnuts on her desk.

Micah.

His name drips from her lips like honey, but my mind flashes back to Brody’s intense gaze when I asked about him. I haven’t been able to shake off that look on his face, but I also can’t place it. Something isn’t right, but he’s not one to speculate.

I force a smile, knowing exactly how this story could unfold. I’ve been down this road before—Josh and his charm had me quickly wrapped around his finger too.

Anxiety floods the back of my mind, but I shove it down until I can get Weston’s and Easton’s take on this guy. Maybe Brody’s wrong.

Brody’s never wrong.

I lean closer to the flowers, inhaling them. “Tell me all about him.”

She glides over to me, her excitement contagious as she unlocks her phone. Within moments, she’s showing off photos of them together from last night. He’s handsome—dark hair, light-green eyes that glint with something more. I can see the allure, the spark that has her captivated. I swipe through their pictures, and genuine happiness radiates from her, but there’s something more sinister lurking in his expression .

“He seems familiar,” I say, tilting my head.

“I thought so too. But I think it’s because we’re invited to the same events.”

I try to tell myself I’m overreacting. I’m just overprotective of my bestie. That’s it.

“He’s forty-four,” she continues, her voice rising with enthusiasm. “Never been married. And it seems like we both want the same things in life. I think you’ll like him. He’s smart. Business savvy. One of the best entertainment lawyers in the country,” she adds with a dreamy sigh. “As soon as things settle down, can we do a double date?”

“With the prince?” I quip, arching an eyebrow.

“With your prince, not the prince.” She grins wider, clearly envisioning a double date with Asher and me alongside her and Micah.

Asher and I are still very much a secret. Louis and I are playing the power-couple role, but it won’t last much longer at this rate. Now I’m toying with Josh, something I hate to do, but it is necessary to save my ass. I’ve instructed Josh that I will call him, not the other way around. He’ll listen to me for a little while, until his mask slips. I can handle him for three more weeks. I don’t know what Asher is up to, but I trust him. He’s given me no reason not to.

“I would like that. Once we return from London, consider it done,” I reply, nodding, but internally, I’m hoping this is just one of those quick flings she tends to have.

“So, Brody was with you last night …” I say, trying to decode her expression when I mention his name.

“We just happened to be at the same bar,” she explains, a hint of nervous laughter escaping her lips. “After Micah left, he walked with me to your place. I talked the entire time—God only knows what I said to him. I barely remember seeing you.”

I study her, searching for signs of doubt. “Do you feel safe with him?”

“Of course. Brody is?— ”

“I wasn’t talking about my cousin,” I say sharply, my voice slicing through the air. “Micah. What did it feel like the first time you two spoke?”

It takes every bit of strength I have not to overanalyze her next words. Not that I’m an expert, but there’s a specific feeling when you meet the one . Her expression softens, almost as if memories are flooding back.

“I didn’t pay him any attention at first,” she whispers, “but the conversation flowed. It almost felt like talking to an old friend because he knew so much about me.”

My stomach tightens at her words. A flutter of unease dances in my chest.

What if Micah isn’t the Prince Charming he appears to be? I envision a giant red flag, but I push it away.

“You’re popular,” I say, aware that millions of people I don’t personally know, know things about me. With who we are, it happens. “I don’t know if I have a good feeling about this,” I finally admit.

“Once you meet him, you’ll love him, trust me.” Her eyes tell me that she’s infatuated. “He agreed to join me in London.”

“Wow. I can’t wait,” I say, knowing we will barely have any time to ourselves between the fashion shows and meetings.

I glance around her office, searching for answers hidden among the extravagant arrangements. My instincts tell me that I need to dig into Micah’s past before he becomes a permanent fixture in Harper’s life.

I’m caught between wanting to protect Harper and needing to know more about this man who’s so quickly captivated her.

“Have a beautiful day. You deserve it.” I tap the box of doughnuts and open the lid. “I was thinking about you this morning.”

“Thank you! My favorite,” she replies, her entire face lighting up like the sky at a fireworks show.

“Anything for my BFF,” I say, my voice steady despite how I feel .

“I’m proud of you,” she offers as I leave her office. “Oh, I’ve also seen the mockup of your dress. You’re going to shine like a diamond.”

“Thanks, Harp.” I smile wide, and my heart squeezes as I leave her office.

The weight of uncertainty lingers in the air, and I can’t shake the feeling that something is off. The office buzzes around me, and I have five million other things I need to do, but all I can focus on is finding out who Micah Rhodes is.

“Billie. Wow. This is a surprise,” Carlee says as I step inside the penthouse at Park Towers.

Once inside, I glance at the spot where Asher claimed and kissed me in front of everyone. That moment changed my life.

“How can I help you, sis?” she asks.

“I need to speak to LadyLux,” I reply matter-of-factly, blinking at her.

We haven’t talked since I discovered who she truly was.

She smirks, a playful glint in her eyes. “I don’t know what you’re referring to.”

I sigh. “What do you know about Micah Rhodes?”

Her brows crease in thought. “The entertainment lawyer?”

“Yes,” I confirm.

“Is everything okay?” Carlee asks as she notices my unease.

I’ve been wound tight ever since I left the office.

“Harper’s seeing him, and I have a terrible feeling about this guy. Brody couldn’t tell me if he was dangerous or not, but he doesn’t trust him. I really need LadyLux’s investigative skills to help me figure him out. It’s not a favor I’d typically ask, but she owes me at least one. ”

Carlee studies me intently, knowing I stole her laptop and posted her journal entries on the internet for everyone to read about how she really felt about my brother. I’d do it again without regret—because now they’re happily married.

“What else aren’t you telling me?” Carlee asks.

“He looks familiar, like I’ve seen him somewhere before, but I can’t pinpoint it,” I explain. “He’s also in his mid-forties, and he isn’t married. Huge red flag.”

Carlee reaches for the notepad and pen on her coffee table, scribbling something down before tearing the paper off the pad. “I’ll tell LadyLux you stopped by. She may or may not be able to help.”

“Thank you,” I say, meeting her eyes sincerely, knowing she will never admit it’s her. “I appreciate it.”

I turn toward the door, seeing myself out.

“I never got to properly thank you for helping me and Weston. Even if it took a little petty theft,” she says, raising her brow with a teasing smile.

“My brother needed you, Carlee, and I’d do anything for my family. That includes you,” I reply, giving her a warm smile before I leave.

When I step onto the elevator, she flashes me a smile that I return just before the doors close.

Easton and Weston picked two of the best women in the world to be their partners.

I want them to feel the same about Asher. I want them to know how he makes me feel safe and even makes me a better woman. I’m not the same because of Asher. I’m better because I want to be for him.

That’s the true Asher Effect.