Serves Me Wright (Wright #9) - K.A. Linde Page 0,3

sound of his voice. I’d never heard him talk like that before. Charming Julian Wright had fled the building. He’d been betrayed by Ashleigh. He hadn’t forgiven her, and he wouldn’t forget what she’d done. If it were me, I’d be cowering at that voice. But Ashleigh continued to look at him in some form of mock shock.

“I came to see you, and this is happening?” she demanded.

“What are you doing here?” he snarled.

“I wanted to see you.”

“You’re not allowed on the premises.”

Ashleigh flicked her bright blonde hair off her shoulder. “I came to talk to you about the gala that we’d planned.”

Julian tensed. “What about it?”

“I have some final details to go over with you, and I want to coordinate our outfits.”

“We’re not going together,” he said lethally.

Ashleigh fluttered her eyelashes. “We always planned to, love.”

“That was before.”

“We can get past this…”

My jaw dropped. The audacity of this woman.

“It’s time for you to leave, Ashleigh. If you have something to discuss with me, you can send an email,” Julian said, crossing his arms over his chest and straightening to his considerable height. “Now, go.”

Ashleigh’s smile turned purely feline. “But, babyyy…”

Her whine grated on my nerves. No one had ever really liked Ashleigh, even when we’d tolerated her for Julian’s sake. I still had no idea what he had seen in her as far as personality went. She was a nightmare. But she was gorgeous with long tan legs, thick blonde hair, and bright blue eyes. She always wore the latest fashions and had money coming out of her ears. Maybe it was easier to ignore her personality with all the rest in your face. Maybe for a dude.

“Don’t make me call the cops.”

“You wouldn’t,” she hissed.

He narrowed his eyes, as if to say, Just try me.

“I’m done with this. If I see you on the property again, I’ll have you arrested.” He stepped forward, towering over her already-tall frame. “And I’ll push to take you to court for everything you did earlier this year, too.”

Ashleigh sighed and rolled her eyes. “You’re so dramatic.”

Part of me wanted to reach out and shake her. She literally didn’t see the danger in front of her face. The other part of me wished I had her gall.

Julian looked like he was going to blow his gasket, but she dismissively waved her hand.

“I know this isn’t real. There’s no way you could go from me to that.” She pointed at me.

My face turned three shades of red. I swallowed and wished I had a comeback to that. Instead, I felt humiliated by the accuracy.

Julian stepped forward. “Don’t fucking talk to her like that.”

Ashleigh lifted one shoulder. “Whatever.”

She turned on her four-inch stiletto heels and stalked back through the cellar. Julian watched her exit with hypervigilance. Not until she was out of the building did he finally relax and slump back against the doorframe.

“Fuck,” he said, running his hand down his face. “Fuck.”

“You okay?”

He shook his head. His eyes were squeezed shut. Then, they cracked back open and met mine. “I’m so sorry for everything.”

“You can’t control what she says and does.”

“No,” he said easily, pushing off of the doorframe. “But I can control what I did.”

I flushed and looked down at the ground again. Here it comes. All the ways he regretted that kiss. The kiss that I thought had been perfect…even if it was fake.

“You were just telling me that some other guy touched you without your permission, and then what do I do? Kiss you without asking if it’s okay.”

“It’s fine,” I said quickly.

“I mean, it was a great kiss.”

My head jerked up in surprise. “It was?”

He laughed and shoved his hands into his pockets. “I thought so. If you didn’t like it, then I’m doubly sorry.”

“No, it wasn’t…it was fine,” I finished lamely.

“Fine,” he said with a nod. “My mother tells me that fine never means fine from a woman. So, I’m going to continue to apologize for everything that happened. Kissing you without your permission and everything Ashleigh said. Don’t listen to a word out of her mouth. I learned the hard way how much of a poisonous snake she is.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Not your fault,” he said automatically. “Should I continue apologizing?”

I laughed and shook my head. “It’s okay. You saved me first. I was happy to do the same.”

His smile was electric. “I guess we’re even then?”

“We are,” I agreed.

“Good. Well, I should probably get our photographer back to the concert before it starts.” He gestured for me to step

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