me thankful he’s with her today.
“Stay there. I'm on my way.” I hang up and slide my phone into my pocket. The elevator door slides open so I step inside, my mind so focused on getting to Linda that I fail to notice anyone else in the elevator until the door slides closed.
“Hello, Asher.” I turn at the purring voice behind me and frown. How the fuck did she get in here? She is not supposed to be able to get any farther than the lobby.
“Why are you here, Dawn?” Seriously what the fuck does this woman want?
“I came to see you. We haven't spoken since you approached me with your little idea, so I came to check up on you,” she answers, placing her hand on my arm as she steps closer to me.
I shrug her off and take a step back.
“The deal is off, Dawn. I told you that. It was a stupid idea to begin with. I must have still been hungover when I came up with it. Sorry you had to waste your time and your energy by coming down here.”
“Oh, Asher, now don't be rash in your thinking. Having a fiancée will only help make your character seem more wholesome and stable. I'm willing to do that for you, honey.”
Is she serious right now?
“You’re making it sound like you'd be doing me a favor when in all honesty, Dawn, you'd be doing it for cold hard cash. Nothing more, nothing less,” I remind her.
She laughs lightly at my words, leaning over to press the emergency stop button. “It's not all about money and you know it. I've always found you attractive, Asher, I think we could really make this work.”
Before I can anticipate her move, her lips are on mine—cold, hard and insistent. I'm frozen for a moment, shocked at her fucking audacity before I grab her arms and roughly shove her away.
I hit the button to continue our descent before leaning in toward her, my anger palpable as it crackles between us. “Touch me like that again, and I'll make you wish you were never born. Get the fuck out of my building and don't come back. If I see you anywhere near this place, I'll destroy you,” I seethe, meaning every fucking word.
The elevator door slides open with a ding, the small group of people waiting to enter freeze at the look on my face and take a collective step back, so I don’t plow through them as I storm out of the elevator with a furious glare on my face. I march over to the reception desk and try to get a hold on my temper as the receptionist visibly wilts in the face of my anger.
“This is the last time I will say this. Ms. Larson is not allowed entry to this building under any circumstances. If she turns up, call security, and if she still creates a scene, call the police,” I order.
The receptionist, who must be new because I don’t recognize her, looks at me with wide uncertain eyes.
“Yes, sir, Mr. Sloan,” she agrees politely.
I nod my head and stomp out of the building and wait impatiently for the valet to bring my car around for me.
When he finally pulls up and tosses me the keys, I tip him and climb inside, heading over to the cafe where Davis told me they were eating. I grip the steering wheel tightly, my knuckles turning white as I fume silently over Dawn’s actions.
How could I possibly have considered her for the role of my fake fiancée? My skin crawls at the thought.
Thank fuck I made her sign a nondisclosure agreement because I have no doubt that Dawn is vindictive enough to cause an issue. What she won’t do is risk her money, or what little is left from the settlement my father left her. She knows if she breaks the NDA, she’ll lose everything because I’ll take her to the cleaners. I’ll leave her so broke her descendants will still be paying off her debts.
Ten minutes later, I pull up outside the cafe and take the last available parking space. I grabbed a coffee from here once or twice when it first opened. Looking around at how busy it is now just shows how popular this place has grown.
I push the large glass door open as a dozen heads turn to face me, but none of them are who I’m looking for. It isn't until I'm in the center of the