Chapter 570
Chapter 570:
Her smile grew wider. “And Ashton said the same p>
My throat tightened with the urge to ask, did he? But I bit the question back.
Instead, I said, “You’re using the company as leverage to threaten him now p>
Lea lifted one shoulder. “It’s just a tactic. Like you said, it’s leverage p>
“Do you really think it will work? Ashton’s a proud man. He doesn’t cave. Even if he marries you to keep the company safe, do you imagine he would love you after being forced into it? You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink p>
“Who cares? At least I’ve got the horse p>
The words made my stomach clench. “If you’re so confident you’ll get him, why talk to me at all p>
She took another slow sip of her coffee, then set it down with the faintest clink. “To pass the time. I’ve already played my cards. It’s Ashton’s turn now. All I need to do is wait. Either I get the man of my dreams, or I leave Skyline and never return. I’m fine with either outcome p>
She leaned back. “And I wanted to see the competition. You are the woman Ashton gave up his old life for. After meeting you a second time, I realize I needn’t have bothered. You’re no threat p>
Heat rose in my face, blood hammering at my temples. I had never wanted to punch another woman so badly in my life.
Lea leaned closer. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “You’re no threat because you’re a coward. I’m willing to put my company, my fortune, everything I own on the line to get Ashton. Even my life. I would do anything for him.” She tilted her head, eyes gleaming. “I’d kill for him. In fact, I once did p>
My pupils contracted. I couldn’t tell if she was joking or deadly serious.
“She stood smoothly, the chair legs scraping against the floor.
“Anyway,” she said lightly, “stick around. Maybe you’ll be invited to our wedding p>
I checked my reflection one last time in the compact mirror, snapped it shut, and slipped it back into my clutch. Lipstick intact, hair behaving itself. I took a steadying breath and stepped into the grand hall.
𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕤𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕤 𝕓𝕖𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝕥𝕠 ⋅ⅽ𝗈𝗆
The chandeliers overhead gleamed like frozen fireworks. The clink of glasses and the rise and fall of conversation filled the air. This was one of those chamber of commerce charity dinners where a plate of rubbery steak cost a five-figure “donation.” Normally, I would have found an excuse to skip it. I hated these events—the false laughter, the posturing, the air thick with perfume and self-importance.
But tonight was different.
Lea’s words still rang in my head. She had said she would do anything for Ashton. Anything. That poisonous little boast had lodged under my skin. It forced me to ask the question I had been avoiding: what about me?
I knew Ashton was buried in problems at LGH. Turning up at his office demanding to know where we stood, distracting him with relationship drama, would only make things worse.
If I couldn’t help him, I should at least stay out of his way.
But maybe I could help—maybe there was something I could do.
Yvaine had pulled strings. Her brother Emmett had passed on what he knew, which was enough to confirm that LGH’s biggest threat right now was a rumored city ordinance. If it went through, it would strangle the company’s cash flow and choke its projects before they broke ground.
It was still only talk, but that was how such things worked. A whisper became a rumor, the rumor became a certainty, and by the time the vote was cast, it was already too late.
Emmett had given me a name: Gerard Haldane, the Deputy Commissioner of Urban Development—the man who could make or break the ordinance. And according to the guest list, he was supposed to be here tonight.
Message from Noa: Have a great time dear readers. God loves you and Noa wishes you all the best. (˵ •̀ ᴗ – ˵ ) ✧