Chapter 142
ASHLEY
"Anything else?" I ask Trevor over the phone as I wait in Mila’s office.
"Nothing else. I’ve scoured the internet but the guy’s is literally a ghost."
"No adult human has a dearth of information online unless he/she has gone to great lengths to make that happen, and if he has, then he’s got something to hide." When Mila enters from the corner of my eye, I wrap up the call. "Thanks, Trev, Talk soon." I slide my phone into my pocket and watch as Mila, looking as ravishing as ever, sashays into her office like it’s her personal runway.
"Well, I am a fool to have expected a teary, mascara riddled face. You look stunning for a fiancée who just git jilted publicly." I kiss her knuckles while she smiles and reclines in her chair. I don’t know who’s the best at being indifferent between Ashton and her.
"I am co-chair of a conglomerate. We snack on scandals daily. Besides, I have a business to run. We don’t cry over hopeless relationships here." She leans forward with her hands steepled on her desk. "Although, I was kind of hoping your insensitive brother had somehow found the decency to stop by and offer some apology or explanation for his dick move. It’s very immature of him to carry on like nothing serious happened between us."
Despite her firm look, I can feel the mini cracks in her voice and the sliver of pain in her eyes. She must have been grilled by her father to snap out of her heartbreak phase sooner than most. I for one know how much she loves Ashton. It couldn’t have been that easy to move on so quickly.
"If it makes you feel any better, you’re doing way better than him after the breakup. He’s been withdrawn ever since which begs the question why he called it off in the first place." I lie to soften the blow.
Mila silently savors that info with a corner of her lip curled up in a smile.
"Your family lucked out in letting him do as he pleases. My cousin, Michelle, is a gem in her own way but you’ll all soon find out that she’s rusty when it comes to bonding with family. She’s all business and profit. Nothing else matters. Brace yourselves. You dropped a pound and picked up a penny. Sorry Michelle."
I recall how devastated Asher was when father refused to change his mind on the alliance. Personally, I was moved when I saw Asher, for the first time, butting heads with out father over a question of obedience. He’s changing.