Ruthless Heir (Ruthless Billionaires #5)

Chapter 22

Chapter Twenty-Two

Harper

I drive up the long winding driveway toward Asher’s house, cursing the pain brewing in my head. It feels like the start of a mega migraine. I haven’t had one of those in months. They always seem to come about when I’m too stressed and anxious. And when I haven’t had much sleep.

I can’t say I’m surprised to have a headache. I actually expected it. I just didn’t want it sneaking up on me tonight.

Asher and I are attending Luna’s annual wine auction. We’ll be at the Astoria again, which I always love. What I don’t love is the idea of socializing when I just want to roll into bed.

I had an excessively long day which saw me at NYU from nine o’clock this morning. It’s after seven now.

Today was orientation day for the transfer students. Classes start in exactly one month. There were three hundred students starting their senior year. Twenty of whom were in my music program.

Although it was nice to be on campus and immersed back in college life, the day was intense. Especially for me who’s been out of the game since last year, if I’m being honest.

There was the shit with Nick, the court case, then the aftermath with Vito. I feel like I’ve been on a roller coaster to hell, suffering through loop after loop and big drops. The worst thing is I don’t know when it’s going to stop.

Admittedly, being away from Asher and Le Blanche Global today was good for me. Asher is going to be in Hong Kong on a business trip with his father from tomorrow. So that will be another welcome break where I don’t have to be jealous of him and Alexis. I just have to get through tonight.

At least I know Alexis won’t be at the event. She’s supposed to be off on her exotic trip to the Maldives. Good for her.

What still irritates the hell out of me is that she and Asher were away for over two hours yesterday. That put me in a bad mood all day and I know poor Layla must have felt like she was caught in the middle.

I don’t want anyone to feel like that. After all, this is my battle and my agreement to be Asher’s fake girlfriend was the way I chose to pay the debt I owe him. I agreed knowing full well that I was signing my sanity away to something that was likely to screw with my head.

The garage door rises and the automatic lights snap on, chasing away the darkness. I drive in and get out, wincing at the sharp pang that pulses behind my eyes.

Damn it . I should have stopped at the drugstore. I thought I had some painkillers in my purse but I must have used them some time ago.

When I get inside the house I can tell that all the staff have already left and Asher isn’t here.

The house gives off that blanket of silence that suggests it’s been empty for a few hours. Asher should be home soon, though. We’re leaving at eight.

By the time I reach the kitchen the pain has doubled. I grab a glass of ice-cold water and down it before I head to the main bathroom to search for some aspirin.

It’s just my luck that there’s none in there.

I think for a moment on where I saw some and it comes to me. It was inside Asher’s office. A place I haven’t been since that night we made our mistake.

It’s off limits to me but I don’t care about that right now. Better to apologize for the intrusion than be in pain and grumpy all night.

I head down there, turn on the light and walk in. The room smells like furniture polish and Olga’s rose scented perfume. It’s a nice combination.

I head over to the desk where I saw the aspirin next to some foolscap folders.

The desk is clear now but I assume they must be in the top drawer.

I open it and thank my lucky stars that something is going right for me when I find it.

“Hello, lifesaver.” I grab the box, take two pills out and pop them in my mouth. They should work in about fifteen minutes but just swallowing them makes me feel better.

When I put the box back I notice a newspaper with Asher’s picture on the front page.

It gets my curiosity going and I wonder if this is an article about us. The press went wild for the first two weeks of us dating but they seem to have calmed down now.

Mostly because they couldn’t confirm if we were dating or not. I think it was because they haven’t managed to get any pictures of us kissing. That’s been good for us because of Josh.

Lisa, his fiancée, mentioned seeing us in the tabloids the other week but we laughed it off as nonsense. I gave her the explanation Asher and I agreed on. That the press was always going to assume we were dating from the moment they saw us together. I knew she would buy it so our plan is still safe.

It’s strange how Josh will have been away for almost a year by the time this is all over and so much will have happened without him knowing.

I read the article and realize that it’s not about Asher and I, but about him and some actress. Of course she’s beautiful but the woman was also under investigation by the feds for drugs.

The date of the article was the weekend before Asher picked me up in Massachusetts.

The article was written to make it seem like Asher might have been involved. He certainly was involved with the model. There’s a picture of them together, kissing.

Seeing them flares my jealousy. It seems that he can be with everyone, even someone clearly bad for him, except me.

“How did I not know about this, Mr. I Can Do No Wrong ?”

“Because I kept it secret.” Asher’s voice nearly makes me jump out of my skin and I end up dropping the newspaper.

I look up to find him approaching me with that hardened look on his face.

“Sorry. I needed some aspirin. I remembered seeing some in here,” I explain.

When he reaches me he crouches down and picks up the newspaper and my mind takes me back weeks ago to when he bent down just like that to eat me out.

He rises slowly with the paper in his hand and his gaze drifts between my thighs. The unmistakable look pulls at my core and that ache in my pussy returns.

As he rises I try to school my thoughts, remembering that I’m not supposed to think about him like that ever again.

His eyes darken, looking stormy with unrestrained emotion as he keeps his gaze on me. “Did you find it? The aspirin?”

I point to the box in the drawer. “Yeah. I have a migraine coming on. It was a long day.”

“Are you going to be okay later? We can cancel if you need to rest.” Although he’s asking me a specific question, his eyes tell a different story. Like he’s thinking about something else.

“I’ll be fine.” I’ve said those three words so often I’m tired of hearing myself.

Asher holds up the newspaper. “This was the reason I needed a new publicist.”

“What happened?”

“She was paid off to follow me and get dirt that would make me look unfit to run the company.”

I raise my brows. “Really? That’s terrible.”

“Yeah. It’s worse when people you trust double-cross you.”

“Of course.”

“Hunter and I managed to do damage control. I guess I kept this as a reminder to be careful and watch my back at all times. So you see I’m definitely not Mr. I Can Do No Wrong.”

“No. I suppose not.” No matter what happened with the publicist Asher still dug the hole for himself.

We stare at each other for a moment until he straightens. “You sure you can go out tonight? Everyone will understand if we can’t make it.”

It’s strange; it’s almost as if he wants me to say I can’t go. It makes me wonder if he’s finding this act of ours as hard as I am. But as usual I can never be sure of anything when it comes to him.

“Let’s go. Honestly, I’ll be fine. Luna is looking forward to seeing us there.”

“Alright.”

“I’m going to get dressed.”

He gives me a clipped nod. “See you in a little while.”

“Sure.”

I make my way out and his eyes follow me every step I take. It’s only when I reach the corridor that I don’t feel his gaze burning into me.

What is he thinking?

Maybe he’s become close to Alexis and wants to cut me loose. If that’s the case, I’ll let him.

It would be easier than this.

The Astoria is as beautiful as ever.

I’ve enjoyed studying the style of décor at each of the events. The party planners must have a field day choosing how they want the place decorated.

Tonight there’s a black and silver color theme that highlights that underlying elegance of the place. It’s also the dress code so Asher and I are both dressed in black with hints of silver.

He has silver cufflinks and I have a Tiffany bracelet around my wrist that cost more than I’ve ever earned in a year. Asher handed it to me before we left the house as if it was nothing more than a last-minute prop. Apparently he bought it for me to wear to this event.

His parents are the first to greet us when we reach the main hall. Both his mother and father have the same endearing smile on their faces as they look at us.

“You two look so good together,” his mother says.

“Loving the color coordination,” his father agrees.

“We were going for subtle,” Asher explains. “The less-is-more effect.”

“Well, you both nailed it.”

I smile at them, trying to keep my game face on. “You both look wonderful, too.”

They’re almost matching like we are. The only difference is that Asher’s mom has more silver streaks on her dress.

“Thank you, dear.”

“We’ve got to sit with the Caldwells tonight,” Preston explains. “But join us later at the bar for a drink.”

“Of course, Father.”

“See you both later.” His mother smiles back at us and blows us a kiss.

Asher and I exchange glances when they leave. A silent confirmation that we managed to fool them again.

“There you are.” Layla rushes up to us. I didn’t even see which way she came from. “You two look amazing.”

“Thank you,” Asher and I say at the same time.

“Boss man, if you don’t mind, I’d love to borrow Harper. She needs to see my ice sculptures. They are to die for.”

“Sure.” Asher nods. “Meet me at the gala when you’re done.”

“Okay,” I reply.

Layla grabs my hand and off we go but I look over my shoulder at Asher as she ushers me away. He gives me a little smile but I can tell he’s troubled.

Again I think about the Alexis situation.

Would I really be okay with being terminated?

I can’t deny that it would be for the best but that silly part of me is still hanging on to… What?

Nothing .

I have nothing but the air and the fake kisses we share.

But it’s something. No matter how small.

Layla takes me out into the garden where Luna and Autumn are standing by a gorgeous ice sculpture of a girl holding a bird.

It’s so beautiful it takes my breath away.

“Oh, wow,” I gasp.

Luna and Autumn smile at me.

“We knew you’d like it.” Luna chuckles. “I can’t believe that a year has flown by since I last did this event. I wanted to go all out this year to make it more special.”

“It certainly is special.” Autumn nods her approval.

“Agreed.”

“Come, let me show you the rest,” Layla prompts us, reminding me of an excited child at Christmas. “We have half an hour before the auction begins.”

She takes us to view the other masterpieces, then launches into a deep conversation about babies and shopping with Luna and Autumn.

I don’t mind the talk about babies although something like that is way, way, way down my list.

When we go back inside I leave the girls and look for Asher.

My heart sinks into my stomach when I gaze across the room and find him talking to Alexis.

What the hell is she doing here? Isn’t she supposed to be on the other side of the world?

Sure, she might be nice but she’s clearly here for him.

Surely she must know by now that he’s with me. Or maybe she doesn’t.

Regardless, it’s irritating the hell out of me that she’s here with him, looking so good in her sleeveless silver dress.

And Asher is smiling at whatever she’s saying to him.

“Thought you two were together,” comes a menacing voice from over my shoulder.

I turn to find Nolan smiling at me. He glances at Asher and places a hand at his heart. “If you were mine there’s no way I’d leave you standing around all by yourself.”

“I was with Layla,” I reply.

“He looks busy.” Nolan glances back at Asher who is now laughing with Alexis. “Doesn’t he?”

“Yeah. I guess.”

“How about we go sit in the balcony and watch the auction, then maybe we can play some pool if your dearly beloved is still… busy .”

Asher doesn’t want me talking to Nolan but to hell with that. I’m supposed to sit tight looking like a fool while he flirts his ass around with Miss Supermodel?

I don’t think so.

“Okay, that sounds great.” I nod and Nolan smiles wide and toothy, reminding me of a shark in an Armani suit.

“Right this way then, Miss St. John.”