RUSH (Montgomery Men #1) - C.A. Harms Page 0,56
mind. And nothing would stop me from giving that arrogant, domineering, pushy bastard a piece of my mind.
“I don’t care if I need the passcode to get through,” I seethed as I stared back at the night security guard that was looking at me as if I was a homeless person. I should have worried about him calling the police and having me arrested, but I was past the point of caring. “I’ve been here a number of times,” I assured him. “Call up to Mr. Montgomery’s penthouse and tell him I’m not leaving until he tells me to, face-to-face.”
“Ma’am—”
I narrowed my eyes in irritation. “Do not call me ma’am.” What the hell? “And you heard me. I am not leaving.”
“I can’t call Mr. Montgomery.” He squared his shoulders and crossed his arms over his chest, widening his stance. Just another asshole using that familiar tactic of intimidation, but I was immune to it.
“Why?” I asked, placing my hands on my hips and squaring my own shoulders.
“Because he left for the airport over an hour ago,” he said with a smirk.
And just like that, the fight in me faded.
He left.
It didn’t matter how hard I tried to fight it. Being tossed aside without any further thought was the worst feeling I’d ever had.
I just wanted a chance to explain. I should have told him everything before he found out from someone else, but damn it, I never once thought that would happen.
I stumbled into the streets of New York City and walked away from his building. Each person I passed look at me in curiosity, or pity. One older woman tried to give me a twenty dollar bill, and I stared back at her without speaking a word before looking down at myself. As I noticed the way I looked, I started laughing.
I was in my pajama pants and a tank top.
And if that wasn’t embarrassing enough, I was wearing my slippers too.
I was a mess.
By the time I made it back to my place, my head was clearer.
I’d left ready to blame Ashton for everything, but I now realized it was my fault.
I caved when I shouldn’t have. I gave in to the temptation of his advances. I became too comfortable and began to enjoy the freedom Ashton gave me.
This was all on me.
I searched my apartment for my cell, my heart racing and my hands shaking.
I had to get out of here.
I couldn’t face the mess I had created.
But once I found my phone tucked just beneath the edge of the couch and saw the awaiting message, I collapsed to the floor and for once let the tears fall without fighting them.
Ashton: I hate you for making me love the woman I thought you were. Good bye.
Why couldn’t I have met Ashton years ago? When things were simple and I had nothing to hide.
Me: I’m sorry I lied, but I never pretended with you. The woman I was when I was with you, that is Kinsley. You gave me back the woman I once was. I’m so sorry I hurt you, but never did I ever pretend to feel something I didn’t. I love you, Ash. For all the things you’ve given me and all the times you made me feel as if nothing from my past could ever hurt me again.
I’d hit bottom, and I had never felt so lonely.
ASHTON
THE MOMENT I BOARDED MY jet, I did something I rarely do. I decided to keep my phone off. I needed one weekend free of bullshit. One weekend to sort through my thoughts without anyone attempting to make me feel any different about everything that had taken place.
I’d deal with the consequences on Monday. This weekend was for me.
I arrived at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel and didn’t even take the time to go to my room. Instead I paid the bellboy an extra hundred to take my things up and secure them in my suite while I went straight for the bar.
I told the bartender I wanted a scotch and to keep them coming, because I planned to drink Kiera out of my mind. Kinsley, Kiera, fuck, I honestly had no idea what I should call her.
I couldn’t get the image of her hunched over on her floor, staring down at the death certificate in her hand out of my head. It nearly broke me. And now it was threatening to bust through my anger at her lies and deception.
I closed my eyes tight and downed the tumbler