Chapter 102
ASHTON
"Where are you? I am sorting out flowers and interior décor with your mom and a horde of her friends. She’s sweet but I really wish you were here with me to take the edge off. It’s our engagement party tomorrow, Ashton. Can’t you try to be more present?"
I turn around and glance at Keith who is stroking a horse in the stable. "I’m sorry, Mila. I know I promised to help but I’m a little tied up handling some business. I’ll try to swing by as soon as I can."
"Ashton, your noticeable absence during the preparations isn’t scoring you any points with my dad. Do you really have no plan to try to be friends with him, even for me?" I only exhale tiredly. "I made dinner reservations for the three of us at the underwater restaurant here in Rollins Towers. It’s by seven pm. You can’t be late. I’ll inform Gris too so he can remind you. Promise me you’ll be here."
"I promise." I reply before she hangs up.
I return to Keith who continues to pay attention to his horse like I am not here. Paul and Collette, his parents are inside the house.
Keith hadn’t wanted to grant me this audience. After he tore up Zoe’s picture and threw it into the fireplace during my first visit, he demanded I leave his family alone. He was very vulgar with hatred glistening in his eyes.
I found it interesting given that we had never met before that day yet he oozed such anger and contempt for me. That can only mean that my little sister might have shared some of her horrible past with him. He knows something about father and his treatment of my biological family. I intend to sift out that information as well as a way of identifying Zoe from her over protective foster brother, Keith.
"What do you want with my sister?" Keith asks dryly, turning to me. "The only reason I granted you this audience is because I want to know that much."
"I think you already know." We lock eyes for a moment.
"No, Mr. Rollins, I don’t. I don’t know why an heir of the Rollins Group would come to my parents’ farmhouse to ask questions about my foster sister. What are the odds that a billionaire will come here looking for no other than Zoe, a nobody." He quits brushing his horse’s mane and dusts his hands. "Mom mentioned that you made a promise to find Zoe and give her a better life. I’d like to know more about that. Who did you make the promise to? How are they related to Zoe? Why do you want to help Zoe?"