Page 8

8

ASHER

FIVE DAYS LATER

M y door swings open, but I don’t look up from my screen. My eyes are almost magnetized to it.

“Can I help you?” I continue typing my thoughts before I forget them.

When I glance up, I meet ice-cold eyes. Billie steps forward in those red fuck-me heels and stands beside my desk. I meet her gaze as she gently falls to her knees before me.

“Please. Asher. Please help me save my company. I’m begging you,” she whispers, pushing my thighs apart.

Her hands rub my body, and I smile before she fades away.

My phone vibrates, and I lift my head from my desk. A puddle of spit has pooled on the wooden surface. I brush my hand over my face, realizing how exhausted I’ve been lately. That was a nightmare.

Fuck Billie Calloway!

I can’t escape her. She storms through the hallways of my mind, wreaking havoc wherever she goes .

I spin in my seat, realizing it’s dark outside. The ice queen is at her desk. Considering her light is the only one on, I’d assume she’s there alone, per usual.

My door opens, and Nick abruptly walks in.

“Oh good, you’re here. Are you still meeting Josh tonight for drinks?”

“Yeah. Need to confirm he’s not as bad as I remember.”

“And Billie?”

“I’m not helping her. I’ve given her plenty of time and she hasn’t reached out,” I say matter-of-factly, stretching. “I gave her two different opportunities, and now I’m bored. I thought maybe I’d shake some things up in the fashion world. Make her fight for it.”

“You two should just fuck it out already. How long will you let this go on? Another thirteen years?” he asks, glaring at me.

“Not ever happening,” I tell him.

He picks up the baseball on the edge of my desk, tossing it in the air. It’s the same ball we used to play with as kids. It’s my lucky charm.

“Don’t underestimate the Calloways, little brother. Weston will help her, and so will Easton. They’re called double trouble for a reason. They’ll team up with Billie. The three of them together are dangerous. They’re not who I’d want to be facing against with Josh Lustre as my partner. Pfft. He’s an idiot. I’d rather punch myself in the face than have one drink with him.” He throws the ball higher. “You’re good, Ash, but you won’t beat the Calloways. You know that, right?”

“I’ve planned for them to help her. But it’s really not about winning or losing. Just trust me. Okay?”

“I know you don’t want to work with Josh. I don’t understand, and you won’t explain it to me,” he says.

“I can’t. And don’t ask me again.” I give him a pointed look.

His face softens. “Do you think Eden would want you working with him?”

“I’m aware of the optics, and I’m okay with it. And the answer is yes. She would have approved of my decisions because she trusted me. People are already talking, and it’s great for business. We’ve been flooded with contracts since the award ceremony a week ago. This is the feud of the decade,” I confirm.

“Between who? You and Billie? Or her and Josh?”

“All of the above. Think about it: Billie Calloway’s number one enemy teams up with her shitty ex to take her down,” I tell him with a laugh.

“She’s a warrior princess. Her cult will rise up and stand behind her. If you think the Swifties are sometimes unhinged, you haven’t met a Billoway. They’re her most faithful followers. Billie can do no wrong in their eyes. They will rise against you,” he warns me.

Laughter bubbles up. “I almost forgot her little fan club was called that.”

“It’s not little .” Nick isn’t smiling. “I understand she’s your perfect opponent, but this is billion-dollar corporations you’re playing with. You could be adding gasoline to a social media fire that’d be much bigger than what our firm could handle. We don’t want anything to do with this PR nightmare.”

“Josh has a crisis PR team to manage that. The higher the stakes, the harder the fall. I’m actually really excited about the next quarter. I can’t wait.” I check my watch, realizing I should be at the bar right now, meeting Josh Lustre. “ Shit. I gotta go.”

“Do not do this,” he says, following me to the elevator. “Your name doesn’t need to get dragged.”

“Look, I’ve made no decisions. I’m only giving Josh a fair chance. I gave Billie two. Thanks to the Blind Item that someone stupid posted about us, the games have already begun. I can’t stop this,” I explain.

“Either way, you lose,” Nick tells me. “There isn’t one scenario where you win this game.”

“You’re wrong and I can’t wait to prove it to you,” I tell him as I step into the elevator .

“You’re so stubborn. I’m not cleaning up this mess!” he says as the doors slide closed.

After a ten-minute cab ride, I arrive at the tequila bar called Agave. As soon as I enter, I see Josh sitting on a stool at the end of the bar, flirting with the cute bartender.

Her eyes meet mine, and she offers me a smile as I walk closer. “I guess this is the guy of the hour you were just chatting about?”

“That’s him. The best in the business,” Josh says, grinning and giving me a firm handshake. “Almost thought you were gonna ditch.”

“Nah, got caught up at work. You know how it is,” I tell him, knowing had I not fallen asleep and had awful fucking nightmares, I’d have been on time. “Apologies.”

“No problem at all,” he says as I sit next to him.

“What are you having, sweetheart?” the bartender asks, wiping her hands on a spare towel.

“Mmm. Surprise me.”

She leans in close. “I have a secret. It’s tequila.”

I chuckle, looking around the place that serves no other spirits. “I assumed. With salt, please.”

A minute later, a double shot of liquid gold is placed in front of me with salt and a lime on the rim. Josh is given one too.

“To success,” he says, lifting his glass.

“Absolutely.” I down the tequila, and it’s as smooth as water. “That’s dangerous.”

“Yes, it is,” the bartender says, winking. “It’s my family’s brand.”

She holds the bottle for me, and I commit the silver logo to memory. “With the right marketing, this stuff could take over. It’s fantastic.”

She laughs. “I know. It’s great. My great-great-grandpa created the recipe.”

I tilt my head at her. “So, you’ve got a story, and it’s relatable. You have a family-values angle. What’s your name?”

“Caitlyn. ”

I quickly text my brother.

Asher

Caitlyn, the bartender at Agave. Her family owns a tequila brand. Great-great-grandpa created the recipe.

He immediately sends me a thumbs-up emoji. Nick is used to my random texts like this. We have meetings about them at the end of each month.

Josh clears his throat.

I give her a smile. “It was nice chatting, Caitlyn. I’m Asher Banks.”

“Asher Banks,” she repeats with a smile.

Josh turns to her. “Just keep them coming, sweetheart.”

I roll my eyes, giving him the attention he desperately needs right now. Instead of tequila, I should be drinking coffee. The booze makes me … blunt. It doesn’t help that I don’t have patience for him—and haven’t since he dated Billie so publicly. But I can’t hold that against him any longer.

“Have you thought about my proposal?” Josh asks.

“I’m still deciding,” I admit. “I read your article in Businessweek . Why did you feel the need to mention Bellamore like that?” My patience is at a zero already.

“It was the truth. I do want to buy Bellamore. And I know it’s not for sale right now. Eventually, it will be, and I want to make the first offer after I bankrupt her.” He pauses for a brief moment, looking me over. “I don’t know how to ask you this, so I will be direct. Are you fucking Billie?”

“No,” I admit. “Considering she’s your ex, you know how we feel about one another. Nothing has changed. Actually, I think I might hate her more than I did before.”

“Ah, so she still despises you with a passion?” His shoulders relax.

“Still happily at the top of her shit list.” I smile. “But let me be clear. If I were fucking her, it’d be none of your goddamn business. You wouldn’t control what I did outside of our contract. Period. And you wouldn’t begin to test that boundary. I might not be able to work with your competitors, but that doesn’t mean I couldn’t fuck them on my personal time. Understood ?”

Fucking prick.

“Yeah.” His eyes narrow, and the tension grows between us.

This is pathetic.

I clear my throat. “Now, if I proceed with a contract, I’d be committed to your corporation. However, I’ve read your proposal, and I don’t give a fuck about the numbers. What is it that you want for Lustre? Not the canned response that everyone expects to hear. And if you don’t tell me the truth for the rest of this conversation, I won’t work with you. Excuse me being direct, but I don’t have time for pleasantries. The sooner we can cut through the bullshit, the faster we can start working together. I’m not your friend, and I won’t pretend to be, even if the tequila is good.”

The bartender shoots me a wink and places two more shots down.

“I want to be the industry leader. I also know as long as Bellamore is around, that won’t happen. I need to erase her company’s existence or purchase and merge it. Those are the two options.”

I stare at him and realize this isn’t about Bellamore. It’s personal with Billie. And, fuck, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get it. It’s the only reason I’m here. Billie is infuriating. She needs to be knocked down a few pegs, even if I know she’ll rise after it. I will humble her, but I will also make her so much stronger. Now is not the time for her to relax and be complacent.

“And you cannot coexist with her?” I ask. It’s a genuine question.

Josh takes a long while to think about it, and I appreciate that he does. It means he’s digging deep to give me honest answers .

I won’t work with someone who can’t be truthful about what it is they want.

“No. I can’t.” He takes another shot. “I just … hate how she’s still under my skin. I can’t stand how she’s always on my mind. She haunts me in my dreams, and I wake up enraged because I can’t stop thinking about her. I’ve tried to move on. I’ve tried to be with other people. And I can’t. She broke me, and I wish I’d never met Billie Calloway.”

It’s then I realize I’m no different from him. She’s done the same to me. We down the tequila and our glasses tap the bar top at the same time.

He grins wide. “At least we have one thing in common.”

“What’s that?” I ask, wondering if he can read it on my face.

“Common enemy. For now at least.” He grins wide.

Another round of shots is placed in front of us, and we swallow them down.

“Still dangerous,” I say with a smile, referring to the liquid gold.

This brand could be huge in the party scene, especially with summer upon us. It’s crisp and refreshing; plus, it has a nice story.

“You know, Billie was the best fuck of my life,” Josh says, pulling my attention back to him. He stares off into the distance, as if sliding into their memories together.

Knowing she screwed this guy makes me sick to my fucking stomach. I thought Billie Calloway would have better taste than Josh Lustre. She deserves better than him.

“The way she sucks cock. Those soft moans. Fuck.” He sighs.

My jaw clenches tight. Having to visualize it pisses me off.

“That’s enough.”

It’s then I remember exactly why I can’t fucking stand Josh. His locker-room talk has always been disgusting. My friends and I don’t talk about this shit— ever .

The mood sours, and I can’t stop thinking about the two of them being together. I think about his hands and mouth on her body. It’s absolute fucking torture .

What did she see in this prick? Then a light bulb goes off.

Billie loves a douchebag.

I shake my head, knowing she’s probably fucking creaming in her panties over me.

The bartender has been pouring doubles, and I need to cut myself off.

“What happened with you two?” I ask when I can’t taste the limes anymore.

He tilts his head at me. “We had our differences and amicably broke up.”

“Break it down to me like I’m a five-year-old. I need to know what I’m dealing with because this contract isn’t about Bellamore. We both know that. Now, carry on. The truth,” I remind him, waiting for him to explain.

Josh hesitates.

“I won’t work with you if I don’t know.” I shrug.

“I cheated on her with the woman I’d dated before her,” he says nonchalantly as chips and salsa are placed in front of us.

My brows furrow, and my jaw clenches tight. “With your ex? That’s fucked up.”

I can’t believe Billie never leaked that to the public. Why didn’t she?

“It was a huge mistake, and I wanted to work through it, but she couldn’t forgive me. If I could go back and change things, I would. I’d marry Billie in a heartbeat,” he says, and as sick as it is, I can tell he means it. “Whoever ends up with her, I’ll be envious.”

“Wait, are we talking about the same person? She’s a bitch .” I pick up my phone and text the bar’s address to my driver. I doubt this will last another thirty minutes. Regardless, I’m ready to leave.

“The bitch thing is mostly an act,” he tells me, his words slurring. “Her entire public persona is fake. She deserves an Oscar for the performances she consistently puts on. She’s soft. Beautiful. Caring. Kind. Funny. Her laughter is like no other.” He tilts his head. “I thought you knew her? ”

“Oh, I do know her. The real her. The sneaky, conniving little smart aleck who doesn’t know how to shut the fuck up.” I sigh. “She’s also one of the smartest people I’ve ever met, and you stupidly cheated on her like a dumb fuck. She isn’t soft, and a woman scorned is worse than me. People may call me the Boogeyman of Business, but if she hasn’t forgiven you, she’s not over it, and she will seek her revenge. She could ruin Lustre, Josh. Are you prepared for that? It’s personal on both sides.” I eat a few chips, needing them to soak up the alcohol.

Of course Billie wasn’t going to beg me to help her. She’s up to something, and she doesn’t think she needs me. But why? What has she figured out? What other dirt does she have on him?

She’s a strategy game that I want to play.

The cheating allegation could be bad. Women don’t play with cheaters, and that’s his target audience.

“Tell me this. Why are you trying to take down her company if you would have married her?” I ask because I’m curious.

“Truthfully? I’m hoping this will help me win her back,” he says, gulping down some water. “She loves an asshole who saves the day, and if I can rescue her company, the villain will become the hero. Bellamore will then be mine, and so will she. Then we’ll live happily ever after together, where I’ll have full control of everything, including her.”

I glare at him, shocked that he’d think Billie would ever submit to him. Some of that woman’s grudges are almost old enough to drink. This is the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard.

“You can’t be serious.”

He nods, and I have to stop myself from laughing.

“It’s the perfect plan, and it will work, especially with your help. You get to be the bad guy.” He pulls his black card from his wallet and clumsily slides it across the bar. “Let us cash out.”

The bartender swipes the plastic off the edge.

“Josh, I have to warn you about how dangerous this is. Billie isn’t playing a game of love with you. She will go for your jugular. Do you understand? You cheated. What if she tells everyone?”

“I’ll deny it.”

I laugh. “ No one will believe you.”

“I have the best PR team in the world. Who do you think named her the Wednesday Addams of Fashion?”

I stop myself from giving him a go to hell look. “You did that?”

“Yeah. Of course I did. When you dress like a professional Goth, it’s hard to sell florals.”

“She leaned into it though. It’s a part of her brand now. Her entire persona. By pushing her, you made her more powerful than she had been. Please tell me you see that she’s now an icon for wearing black every day of the year.”

“Her profits have dropped by half since last summer. That’s almost a year of loss. Doesn’t seem that iconic to me,” he says, cocky as fuck.

He doesn’t understand he’s hiking into enemy territory.

“I cannot guarantee your success,” I confirm. “You do know that?”

“If I get Billie back, I don’t care what happens,” he tells me.

I shake my head. “I’m not running a matchmaking service.”

“Then help me increase my profits while making her sweat.”

I stare at him, realizing just how stupid he actually is. He has no idea who Billie is and what she’s capable of. Underestimating her will be his downfall.

I follow him out the door.

“I’ll let you know something by Monday morning. Do you have any questions for me?” I check the time, knowing my driver will be here at any minute.

“Great. Nah, man, no questions.” He gives me a firm handshake. “Good to know you’re not fucking my ex. I’d probably have to kill you.”

“Don’t you ever threaten me like that again,” I say, ready to break his fingers .

“Hey, man, it was a joke,” he says.

“I didn’t laugh. I’ll be in touch,” I state just as my car arrives.

As I speed away, I lean my head against the seat, and then I text my brother.

Asher

I’m going to help Josh. End of discussion.

Nick

I hope you don’t regret this.