Chapter 15
Vaughn stayed with me for two more days, and in that short time, we managed to see the city from a perspective I never would’ve found on my own.
We wandered through ancient streets, shared meals at quaint little trattorias, and even laughed over wine as the sun set over the Tiber River.
It was a bittersweet moment when he had to leave, duty calling him back to Ashworth.
He pleaded with me to return with him, but I wasn’t done searching for the pieces of myself that I’d lost along the way.
He understood, though I could see the reluctance in his eyes.
After he left, the emptiness returned, magnified by the absence of his steady presence. I wandered through the city alone, and while I was used to the constant presence of paparazzi, it seemed they were more aggressive here in Europe.
I tried to ignore them, but the day after Vaughn’s departure, as I perused a small store near my hotel, a headline caught my eye. There, on the front of a gossip paper, was a picture of Vaughn and me walking through the streets, his arm wrapped protectively around me.
The headline was brutal - Widow Moves On: Ashworth Heiress Caught in Love Affair with Stepson.
My breath caught in my throat, my hands shaking slightly as I skimmed the salacious article.
They made it seem as if I had quickly forgotten Colson, painting me as a woman who had moved on without a second thought.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
I missed Colson desperately; his absence was a constant ache that I couldn’t shake. But I was also lonely, and that’s when I realized it was time to go home. Europe could wait—I could always come back, but the solace I sought wasn’t here.
I returned to my hotel and began making arrangements to fly back to New York that evening. As I finalized my reservation, my phone rang, and Logan’s name flashed across the screen. I answered, trying to keep my voice light.
“Hey, how are you?”
Logan’s tone was anything but light. “Are you having an affair with Vaughn?”
I nearly dropped the phone, caught off guard by the accusation. “For fuck’s sake, Logan! Not even a hello?”
“Are you?” he pressed, his voice tight with anger.
I closed my eyes, frustration boiling over. “No, Logan. Vaughn gave me what I needed…companionship. That’s all. There’s nothing between us like you’re implying.”
There was a heavy pause, and then Logan exhaled loudly. “Joey, he’s dangerous. He wants to get in your panties. He’s taking advantage of your vulnerability.”
I clenched the phone, my knuckles turning white. “You don’t know him like I do, Logan. Vaughn has been nothing but supportive. He hasn’t tried to—”
“Josephine,” Logan interrupted, his voice laced with concern, “Vaughn has always been after what he can’t have. He’s playing a game, and you’re caught in it. Just... be careful.”
His words stung, not because I believed them, but because they came from Logan, the one person I thought would understand. “I’m not a fool, Logan,” I said quietly, the hurt evident in my tone. “I know what I’m doing.”
“Do you?” Logan’s voice softened, but the doubt lingered. “Just promise me you’ll keep your guard up. I don’t want to see you hurt.”
I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “I’ll be fine, Logan. I’m coming home.”
The line went silent for a moment, and then Logan sighed. “Good. I’ll see you soon.”
As I hung up, I felt a wave of exhaustion wash over me. The last few weeks had been a whirlwind of emotions, and Logan’s warning only added to the confusion swirling in my mind. But one thing was clear—it was time to face whatever awaited me back in New York.
Once I arrived home, I immediately began planning a family dinner at the mansion.
With winter approaching, I knew I’d be spending more time at the triplex, especially if it snowed.
The thought of braving icy roads made me shudder.
I hurried around the kitchen, double-checking everything, wanting the evening to go off without a hitch.
Tonight, would mark a significant moment—a reunion of the Shaws and Ashworths, two families whose histories were deeply intertwined. As I fussed over the details, Simone drifted in, her hand gently resting on my shoulder.
"Can I talk to you?" she asked softly.
Simone and I had grown closer before Colson died, but despite our newfound friendship, there was still a distance between us.
I had always longed for a sister, but I doubted I’d ever have that kind of relationship with Simone.
As she guided me into the pantry and closed the door, a flicker of anxiety shot through me. Was this about Vaughn?
"Simone, there’s nothing going on between me and Vaughn," I blurted out, trying to head off any awkward conversation.
She let out a snort, shaking her head. "I know that. You loved my father. Do you think I believe what those stupid tabloids say? No, I wanted to show you this."
With a mischievous smile, she reached into the pocket of her slacks and pulled out a stunning Harry Winston three-carat engagement ring. It caught the light, sending sparkles dancing around the small space. My jaw dropped.
"When?" I asked, my voice full of awe.
Her face lit up with joy. "Two days ago. I've been bursting to tell someone, but Logan insisted we wait until we could share the news with the whole family."
Without a second thought, I pulled her into a hug. For a brief moment, she was stiff, but then she melted into the embrace, holding me as tightly as I held her.
"I want you to be my maid of honor," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "Please say you will."
Tears pricked at my eyes. "I’d be honored."
And then, she said the words that warmed my heart more than anything.
"We’ll be sisters."
I chuckled through my tears. "Well, technically, I’m your stepmother."
She stepped back, staring at me with wide eyes before bursting into laughter. I joined her, the tension between us dissolving into the air.
"Put it on," I urged, nodding toward the ring. "I’m so excited for you."
She placed a hand on my arm, her expression turning serious. "Joey, I want to apologize to you for everything. I don’t know what was wrong with me back then. I was so caught up in my own life that I couldn’t see I was hurting you. I was an idiot, and you didn’t deserve any of it."
I smiled, my heart swelling with a mix of emotions. "I forgave you a long time ago, Simone."
She looked down, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I want you to know, if you ever want to see Vaughn, I wouldn’t have a problem with it."
I sighed, the weight of old memories pressing down on me. "That’s not happening. As much fun as I had with your brother, there’s more bad blood between us than there ever was between you and me."
A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. "You have no idea how much he talked about you when we were younger. Of course, I always discouraged him because I thought you were—"
"Not worthy," I finished for her, the words tasting bitter on my tongue.
"Different," she corrected, her tone gentle. "You were always worthy, Joey. But Vaughn would’ve ruined you even more than my father did."
Her words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the tangled web of our pasts. But as I looked at Simone, I saw something new in her eyes—a genuine affection, a desire to make amends. Maybe we weren’t quite sisters yet, but for the first time, it felt like we were on the path to becoming just that.
Returning to the office should have felt like slipping back into a familiar rhythm, but Vaughn's abrupt shift in attitude threw me off balance.
His hot-and-cold behavior was maddening.
Since Archie Bass had been jailed, Bass Banking had started to stabilize, but they were still struggling financially.
The new CEO, Silas Bass—Archie’s thirty-year-old son—seemed more interested in jet-setting than steering the company. I hadn’t met him yet; he was partying in the south of France when everything fell apart. Now, he was reluctantly tethered to a desk and eager to offload the company.
I let Vaughn take the lead on the merger, but getting information out of him was like pulling teeth. It was as if he’d built a wall between us, one I wasn’t allowed to climb. Frustrated, I decided to confront him directly. The day of our scheduled dinner with Silas, I stopped by his office.
Vaughn’s eyes remained glued to his laptop, fingers flying over the keys. “I’m busy, Josephine. I don’t have time for this,” he said, his tone clipped.
“We have dinner with Silas tonight,” I reminded him, trying to keep my voice steady.
It was a formality more than anything; the merger was practically finalized.
But Silas insisted on meeting in person.
Vaughn had booked a private room at The Diamond Square Hotel, where Ashworth Financial had also arranged a suite for Silas.
“Nothing but the best,” Vaughn had said, but now it felt like a hollow sentiment.
“You don’t need to come,” Vaughn replied, his focus still on the screen. “The details are already hammered out. The playboy just wants a free meal and a couple of nights in Manhattan on our dime.”
I frowned, irritation bubbling beneath the surface. “Can you look at me, please?” I demanded, my voice firmer than I intended.
Vaughn finally stopped typing, slowly raising his eyes to meet mine. They were cold, narrowed with impatience. “What can I do for you?” he asked, his voice dripping with condescension.
“I don’t understand you. What’s your problem?” I shot back, unable to hide my frustration any longer.
His expression darkened as he leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. “I can handle this on my own, Joey. I don’t need your input.”
“Well, as long as I’m a CEO, my input is what you’ll get,” I countered, crossing my arms in defiance.