Chapter 49
CHAPTER 49
SIMON
A shley looked ravishing in a pitch black, classic ballgown with white lace over it. If Abigail didn’t own every last part of me, I might’ve let this go, but I couldn’t.
“I’m so sorry, Ashley.” I looked past her bright pink mask right into her eyes. “That was a mistake. The bracelet fell out of my pocket. It’s not for you. I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask for it back.”
I shouldn’t even have brought the damn thing here, but in my determination to win Abi back tonight, I’d figured I’d give myself the best shot possible. Back when we’d been at the aquarium, I’d seen her looking at it like it meant everything to her, and I’d asked the sales guy to grab me another one just like it from the back.
While she’d been staring at the one that had been in her hands, I’d bought the other and I’d intended on giving it to her tonight. Instead, while I’d been rushing around looking for her, I’d been toying with it in my pocket, and as luck would have it, it’d dropped out and landed smack at Ashley’s feet.
She’d stopped me a few seconds ago and had been trying to draw me into conversation with some line about how surprised she was to see me here, and then it’d happened. Her eyes had widened before her lips had curved into a smile and she’d bent over to scoop it up.
But now, she was holding it like she would never let it go. She smiled as she ran her thumb over the silver seahorse charms. “It’s not my usual style, but it’s quite unique. I like it.”
“Thank you. I’m glad you feel that way. I’d be happy to put you in touch with the store where I bought it. It’s the gift shop at the aquarium in Florida. I’m sure we can arrange to have one shipped over for you.”
“I think I might rather have this one.” She looked up into my eyes, a teasing smile on her lips. “Come on, Simon. You don’t have to be shy. I know this is for me. Why else would you have thrown it at my feet? It’s an unconventional way of offering a gift, but I’ll take it.”
“I didn’t throw it at your feet,” I explained, trying to remain collected and patient, but who the hell would honestly believe that someone, anyone, would offer a gift by chucking it at another person’s feet? I wasn’t a caveman.
The woman was loopy for even thinking of something like that. She smiled, her head tilting ever so slightly as her gaze held mine. “Do you think that happened by accident, then? You just dropped it and it landed right in front of me?”
“That is what happened.” I shifted back on my heels to put some distance between us. “Look, Ashley, I mean no offense, but that’s really not for you. You even just said it yourself. It’s not your style. It was an accident.”
Which had probably happened because she’d been hurrying after me. In my rush to find Abigail, I’d heard Ashley call my name, but I’d ignored her until she’d practically been breathing right down my neck.
Even then, I’d only stopped to be polite—and then the damn bracelet had fallen. As she looked at me now, however, I could see she still didn’t believe me, and it wasn’t only because she was making no move to give it back.
“I don’t understand why you’re suddenly being so shy,” she said lightly, giving me a come-on-now smile. “It’s cute, but you don’t have to play hard to get with me, Simon.”
My mouth dropped open. “Excuse me?”
She waved a manicured finger between my chest and hers. “There’s been a little something here for weeks. You know it. I know it.”
“My company is in the running to represent yours. That’s the only thing going on between us, Ashley.”
She smiled. “Maybe I could put in a good word for you with my brother. If you agree to spend a little bit of time with me, that is.”
“I’m sorry if you got the wrong idea, but that’s not how I do business.” It was how my dad did business, sure, and he’d probably disown me if he knew what I was doing right now, but I didn’t give a shit anymore. “If Astor and Co wins the account, it’ll be based on merit. It will be because we’re the best fit for the job. Now, I really am going to need that bracelet back.”
Holding my gaze with disbelief flaring to life in hers, she suddenly sniffed and dropped the warm metal of the bracelet into my open, waiting palm. “All I wanted was to spend some time with you, but seeing as how you’ve rejected my offer, you’ve just lost my vote, and I am half of the vote, Simon. Make no mistake that you will receive no further backing from me.”
“Ashley, I?—”
She shook her head, hands on her hips as soft, derisive laughter bubbled out of her. “It’s too late now. Just to be clear, I wasn’t saying that you would’ve won. If I’m being honest, I’m not sure you’re good enough for that, but a kind word and a friend on the board wouldn’t have hurt. Good luck with the rest of the competition, Astor. You’re going to need it.”
In a truly impressive, dramatic spin, she turned and left me at the base of the staircase, her long blonde hair swishing across her back as she stormed away from me. What the hell was that?
I closed my fingers around the bracelet, relieved that at least I’d managed to get it back, but as I dropped it into my pocket, I knew I was as good as out of the running. Dragging in a deep breath, I rubbed the side of my neck and walked away, shaking my head at how absurd that had been.
While I was no stranger to ulterior motives or underhanded dealings, that had been the first time I’d experienced something quite like that. Go out with me or I’ll blackball you from the account.
The lady was crazy if she’d thought I was going to romance her to get a client. I wanted it but not that bad.
What the hell is wrong with guys anyway if a woman like that feels like she has to promise professional favors in order to get a date?
Ashley was gorgeous. Successful. Smart.
Yeah, you probably should’ve led with that.
I blew out another heavy breath, suddenly realizing the exact extent to which I’d blown it. There are ways to shut people down without straight-up rejecting them, Astor.
Unfortunately, seeing Abigail’s bracelet in Ashley’s hand had rubbed me the wrong way. When she’d refused to return it, I’d gone on the offensive instead of thinking rationally. It really hadn’t been ideal and yet I couldn’t bring myself to care.
As I looked around, still trying to find Abi, I took a few steps up on the staircase to get a better view of the room. This was what I’d been coming this way for before Ashley had intercepted me. My footsteps felt heavy as I moved from one stair to the next, ascending about a quarter of the way up and then turning to face the banister.
I hadn’t seen Abigail at all since she’d stepped into that side room with Jeffrey, but I’d seen him coming out only about a minute later. If I hadn’t, the Hulk might’ve insisted on going in there after them to tear them apart if I had to, but he’d headed for the bar and my jealousy had simmered down.
As my gaze scanned the ballroom, I finally caught sight of her dress, that deep red standing out amid the sea of mostly black and white. I zeroed in on her, seeing that she was moving across the room from one side to the other.
People stopped her on every second step to talk and she handled it with ease, having short conversations with everyone who wanted her attention before she’d be on her way again. Quickly realizing that she seemed to be headed toward the bar, I decided to meet her on that side of the room.
Taking the steps down two at a time, I dodged people left and right trying to get to her. Whenever someone tried to draw me into conversation, I waved them off, giving them all tight smiles and a muttered, “I just have something to take care of real quick. I’ll be back.”
Eventually, when I was finally getting close to her, I saw a man stand up from a table just ahead of where she was. It took me a beat to make out that it was Blake. As I watched, he extended a hand toward her, angling his head toward the dance floor on the far side of the room.
Shit. No. Fuck. Say no, Abi. Please say no.
Instead, she laughed at whatever he’d said, hesitating for only a moment before she placed her palm in his. He shot her a big grin, pulling her closer to his side, and led her to the dance floor. My pulse started hammering in my throat, my fingers curling into fists, but there was nothing I could do to stop it from happening.
I kept moving, though, unable to resist the urge to get closer to see if she would go through with it. I wound around the bodies that had packed themselves around the edges of the dance floor to either watch or catch their breath.
I broke through the loose circle around it just in time to see Blake pull my Abigail into his arms. My stomach clenched, my extremities going cold.
As if I was being forced to witness my worst nightmare come true, I was glued to the spot. Time seemed to slow, and even if I knew it wasn’t actually happening, it sure felt like there was suddenly a spotlight on them.
All the noise in the room faded when she smiled up at him, those gorgeous blues happy as he swept her across the dance floor. Although there were people everywhere, I didn’t see anyone else. The only thing I could focus on was my girl happily dancing with another man.
All my fears—about her and about us—were validated in that moment. Abigail could be perfectly happy without me. She’d had a whole life I hadn’t been a part of and she’d been just fine. Thanks to my own inconsistencies, it was entirely possible that I truly could lose her forever, and frankly, she’d probably be happier if I did.
The worst part of it, however, was that I deserved it. After everything I’d done to her—and not only in the past. In fact, more specifically in these last few weeks—I really didn’t deserve another shot with her.
Abigail Walker could be happy without me, and maybe it was about time I left her to it.