The Billionaire’s Fan (The Whispering Oaks Society)

Chapter 15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Jordyn

I’m standing at the counter of Pie Squared clearing up a few customer checks on the register as Ryan steps in front of me.

“Um, Jo-Jo. You off soon?” Ryan asks.

“I mean, I’m not technically working right now. What’s going on?”

“I’ll wait until you’re not busy.”

“Honestly, I’m just closing these up. What’s going on, you’re kind of worrying me.”

“Have you talked to Asher today?” he asks.

“Yeah, well, a bit.”

“What did you guys talk about?”

“He called me early this morning from the airport and told me he and the guys all have a ride. Boring stuff. Why, what’s going on?”

“There’s something that you need to see.” Ryan pulls out his phone, types something onto the screen, and holds his phone out to me. “Take it.”

I do as I’m told and look at the screen. The headline is catchy, and it takes me a moment to understand what I’m seeing.

“Un-Knightly Behavior”

Last night, the frontman of the popular rock band, Knights Honor, Asher Knight was seen in New York City cozying up to a new woman in the back of a loud nightclub. Looks like he’s already moved on from the woman he was photographed with in Empire Bay.

There was an accompanying photo of a blonde woman sitting beside him, closely. They were looking at one another. I scroll down and there’s another photo of the same venue. The woman’s body is fully turned to Asher and is tilted, covering his face. The photo is no doubt suspicious.

Not only was Mr. Knight photographed with this woman in the nightclub. He was also photographed with the woman in question the following morning at the meet and greet during the band’s showing on Good Morning, World. The two of them, once again, looked pretty cozy together in the photos that the station took.

I scroll down and see another photo. This one was clear and bright, unlike the photos from the club. The woman and my boyfriend were holding hands, and not in the generic way. Their fingers were wrapped around one another. It was intimate, and her lips were on his cheek.

I looked at the rest of the guys, the women that were beside them looked excited to be beside them, but none of them were holding hands, aside from Asher.

I return the phone to Ryan.

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asks.

“It’s nothing. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

“That’s not the only article. It’s all over social media.”

“I’m sure it’s all smoke and mirrors.” I shake my head.

My phone in my pocket rings. I pull it out and see Not Jeff is calling me. I silence the phone and place my phone down on the counter and punch in the next customer bill and swipe their card. I repeat with the last customer bill and then place them on the counter for our server to grab and bring to their respective tables.

“Was that him?” Ryan asks.

“Maybe.”

“Are you going to talk to him?”

“What?” I look up.

“Asher, are you going to talk to him?”

“I need to. But I need to digest this. What does this all mean? Is this what really happened? I mean, the way that she’s sitting in front of him in that second photo, there’s no proof they’re kissing. And in the last photo, he doesn’t have a smile. He looks shell-shocked. It’s totally not a thing. I have nothing to worry about.”

My phone rings again. I don’t even bother looking at it.

“What can I do for you?” Ryan asks.

“Drinks. We need to go have drinks.”

“Done and done. Let’s go.”

“Is this how rock stars are? They love ‘em and leave ’em out to dry? They make a woman feel like the best thing that’s ever happened to them, and then they step on them like bugs. Squash. Am I a bug?” I lean forward on the table.

My phone is sitting on the table across from me, in front of Ryan, out of my reach. The screen has been non-stop with notifications, texts, and calls. I asked him to keep it away from me for the time being, especially since I started taking shots. Ryan has been sitting quietly, listening to me ramble on about the possibilities of different scenarios to what could have happened.

“Maybe they know one another? Maybe they’re cousins. Maybe he’s a fuckboy. I was just another notch on his bedpost,” I ramble.

“Honey, are you going to be good here for a second? I’ve gotta go to the restroom?” Ryan asks.

I hiccup and nod.

“I’m taking this.” Ryan holds up my phone and stands. He heads over to the hallway where the bathrooms are and disappears.

I motion to the bartender and he lines up three shots for me, then has a server bring them to the table.

I slam one down.

How long has Ryan been gone? I take another shot.

I’m staring down at the last shot as Ryan slides into his seat across from me.

“Jesus woman. That’s a lot of booze that you’re drinking tonight.”

“It just tastes so delicious.” I take the last shot. “I can’t even taste this. So, it’s got to taste delicious.”

“Proof that you’ve maybe had enough.”

“Nah, there’s no such thing as too much.” I shake my finger at him.

“Listen, I’m going to get you water and then, we’re going to go home.”

Ryan leaves the table and is back with a glass and pushes it in front of me.

“Oh, that’s a big cup of vodka.”

“Exactly, that’s all vodka. That’s gonna fuck you up. Chug it.”

“I couldn’t possibly.” I shake my head.

“I bet you that you can. In fact, I double dog dare you.”

“You’re double dog daring me? Oh, man. You know I’ve got to do this now. I’m going to be so fucked up after this. You may need to pump my stomach.”

“Well, what are you waiting for?” he eggs me on.

I wrap both my hands around the glass, look up at him, and pull the glass to my mouth. I open my throat and I guzzle down the vodka.

“Alright, drunkie, it’s time.”

He stands up and rounds the table holds out his hand, and pulls me up. I fall into him.

“That’s the most vodka that I think I’ve ever drank in my entire life.” I slur.