Chapter 65 Ashton’s Pov Red Flag
Chapter 65 Ashton’s POV: Red Flag
+15 BONUS
While Mirabelle was sitting in the bistro with Finn, ten miles away and sixty–eight floors up, Ashton finally found out–second- hand–that she was suing Rhys Granger.
The moment the glass doors to his office swung shut, Ashton hurled a thick stack of contracts straight at Cassian Langford’s
chest.
The hit landed with a meaty smack.
‘Why the hell didn’t you tell me earlier?‘
Cassian stumbled back, one hand catching the papers, the other slapped to his ribs. ‘Jesus, mate, trying to bruise a lung or what?
Ashton didn’t answer.
The tension in his jaw said plenty..
Cassian straightened, rubbing at his ribs with exaggerated flair. ‘Look, I didn’t know either, alright? It’s not like Rhys and I are besties in a group chat. How the fuck was I supposed to know he was running his mouth?‘
‘Then how do you know now?‘
‘Yaine’s birthday party. Mirabelle had a go at him. Rhys and his girlfriend were both there. Things got… messy. I just kinda forgot to mention it.‘
Ashton’s jaw flexed again.
His eyes were already dark, but now they looked like wet asphalt before a storm.
‘When was her birthday?‘
‘Three days ago? You told me to go, remember?‘
Another folder slammed into Cassian’s shoulder.
‘And what exactly did I tell you to do at that party? Ogle the influencers? I said watch Mirabelle. That prick Granger was dragging her name through the dirt and you didn’t think to open your mouth?‘
Cassian held up his hands. ‘Look, it wasn’t that bad. Yvaine backed her up, and Rhys fucked off with his girlfriend. Situation handled. Plus, Mirabelle’s got a lawyer. She’s already suing him. What more can you do?‘
Ashton jabbed the intercom. ‘Get Legal up here. Now.‘
Cassian sank into an armchair and watched while Ashton launched a barrage of clipped instructions at the head of Legal.
Once the door clicked shut behind the lawyer, Cassian gave Ashton a slow once–over and clicked his tongue.
‘What?‘
Cassian clicked again, grinning. ‘Just… never seen you like this. You’re properly gone for her, aren’t you?‘
Ashton’s answer was bone–dry. ‘Didn’t I tell you at The Rookery?”
“Yeah, yeah. About how you met her years ago and it was all fate and stardust or whatever. But I don’t get the same energy from her, you know?’
Ashton’s eyes narrowed. ‘What energy.‘
“The one you’re radiating right now.‘ Cassian pointed at him. “That look on your face whenever her name comes up. You need a mirror, mate. You’re practically glowing. Your eyes are sparkling like a fucking TikTok filter.‘
Chapter 65 Ashton’s POV ned Flag
If you’ve got time to sit there sounding like an extra from Gossip Girl, you’ve got time to leave.‘
+15 BONUS
Cassian smirked. ‘What, are you shy now? Come on, Ash, we’ve been through hell together. I thought I’d seen every version of you. Turns out I missed the one who acts like a high school kid on is first date.
Ashton flicked him a glance. ‘Not all of us were teenage Don Juans
‘I’d prefer to be called a young DICaprio. Anyway, I was chatting with her at Yvaine’s party, right? Tried to dig a little. For your sake, obviously.‘
‘I told you to keep an eye on her. Not interrogate her.‘
Cassian raised both hands. ‘Whoa, calm down. If it’s illegal to be a concerned friend, throw the cuffs on. Anyway, I asked her a few things–normal stuff. She was polite, yeah, but guarded. Real areful. Didn’t give me a damn thing I could use.‘
Before Ashton could snap at him again, Cassian added in a hurry, Not that I was looking for things to use against her. But you know how it is, people in our circle burn each other for sport. Doesn’t hurt to do due diligence, right?‘
Ashton nodded for him to continue.
‘Everyone knows about her and Rhys. They were engaged, what, three years? Four? That’s practically a decade in our world. Then she dumps him and marries you in less time than it takes me to replace my tailor. You can’t tell me that’s not a red flag.‘
‘I told you already,‘ Ashton cut in, sharp. ‘I pushed for the marriage. She didn’t want it. I did.‘
Cassian held his hands up again. ‘Alright, alright. Don’t bite my head off. I’m just saying, if this isn’t just another PR stunt and she’s actually your wife–wife, then I should get to know her. She’s gonna be part of your life, which means she’s gonna be part of mine.‘
Ashton didn’t respond. His silence gave Cassian room to keep digging.
‘So, yeah. I asked. Prodded a bit. And… I gotta be honest, man, I don’t think she feels the same about you.‘
Ashton stilled.
Cassian pressed on. ‘She didn’t seem to remember Florence. Or Eindhoven. At least, not the way you remember them.‘
The silence stretched.
Ashton didn’t flinch, didn’t blink, didn’t react at all.
But Cassian had known him long enough to spot the way his shoulders lowered just a fraction.
‘You didn’t tell her, did you?‘ Cassian asked, more gently now.
“Tell her what?‘
“That you love her.‘
Ashton turned away without answering.
He walked to the window.
The skyline pulsed under him, this city he’d once sworn off.
He’d come back anyway.
For her.
‘I haven’t,‘ he said finally.
‘Why the fuck not? If I like a girl, I tell her. “Oi, be my girlfriend.” Done. If I’m dumb enough to want to marry her–God forbid— I’ll just say it. But you? You’ve been circling her like a damn border collie. You, of all people. Mr “You’re fired” before the coffee’s cold. Now you’re moving like every step might blow up.‘
Chapter 65 Ashton’s POV ned Flag
+15 BONUS
Ashton finally turned. ‘If you were carrying a fifteenth–century Flemish reliquary, one–of–a–kind, irreplaceable, would you be sprinting with it?‘ He let that sit for a beat. ‘Didn’t think so.‘
Cassian groaned, dragged a hand down his face. ‘Jesus. Mirabelle‘ not a fragile relic, Ashton. She’s a woman. A pretty tough one at that. You’re acting like she’ll crack if you breathe too hard ear her.‘
‘I don’t want to scare her off.‘ Ashton’s voice dropped lower, rougher. ‘She’s not ready. Not yet.‘
Not until he’d erased Rhys Granger from every inch of her life.
His fingers curled against the desk.
The same fingers that had once skimmed her body.
The same ones that had memorised the curve of her waist, the softness of her thigh, the exact moment she’d stopped pulling
away.
Now they twitched like they wanted to smash something.
Preferably Rhys’s jawbone.
Cassian looked at him sideways. ‘You planning on waiting forever?
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Chapter 66 N***x and Chill, in Reverse Order
