Page 26 of Selfless

She looked so gorgeous, and the thought of him having her made me want to punch a fucking wall. Or myself. I knew the moment I saw her dressed in his shirt and the way she called him baby, I had lost her. But I love you? Nothing and I mean fucking nothing could have prepared me for that punch to the gut. I’m still having trouble breathing. I can’t get it out of my head. I love you too …

“Ryder?” my father calls out, clearing his throat.

I look up at him and stand up straight when he arches a brow in question. What the fuck are you doing, Ry? You’re supposed to be working. You had the weekend to drink yourself into a stupor, but now, it’s time to man up.

“Gentlemen,” I say, straightening my black suit jacket as if it wasn’t already in place. “Let’s get started, shall we?” I sound so unaffected. As if I haven’t had a major loss. As if I came to work prepared when all I wanna do is hide under my desk and drown in a bottle of Jack.

They all nod as they look up at me. I open my mouth to speak when I hear Kelly speaking loudly outside the conference door. “Miss … he’s in a meeting … you can’t.”

“One sec, gentlemen,” I say, already making my way over to the door. It swings open and about hits me in the face.

“Mr. O’Kane, I’m so sorry. I’ve called security …” Kelly begins, storming in behind the last person I expected to see.

My heart races, and my eyes widen when I see the beautiful blonde standing before me as if my mind summoned her. “Ashlyn?” I ask in a high pitch voice.

She narrows her blue eyes up at me, and she pulls her shoulders back. My eyes run up and down her in a way that I should be ashamed of, but I’m not. “We need to talk, Ryder,” she demands.

My father clears his throat, and I realize I’m standing in a room full of men who see me as a professional running a billion-dollar company. I pull my shoulders back as well and clear my throat. “I’m busy,” I say, trying to sound like a boss, but my eyes drop to her chest, and I lick my lips at the way her tight black blouse hugs her tits.

Why would she think I want to talk to her? Did she not get that hint when I shut the elevator door on her this morning? It was a little low of me, but I couldn’t chance being in there with her alone. I’m trying to keep from falling to my knees to beg her to pick me. I don’t have much confidence in myself right now either.

She places her hands on her hips. “This won’t take long.”

“Ash—”

“I’m tired of you acting like a child!” she snaps, interrupting me.

I snort. “Me acting like a child?”

“Yes!” she shouts, and I ignore the men shuffling uncomfortably in their seats behind me. “Not only have you been ignoring me but you’ve also been ignoring your sister.”

I run a hand through my hair as my jaw clenches. I can’t deny that. But all she wants to discuss is Ashlyn. Hell, that’s what everyone wants to discuss. I’ve even been ignoring Jaycent.

“I’ve come to tell you that Bradley and I—”

“Are what? In love? Getting married?” I snap, interrupting her. “Well, I wish you the best …”

She jams a fist in my chest that I wasn’t prepared for, and it actually knocks me back a step. “Quit interrupting me,” she shouts.

I regain my footing and step up into her, my chest bumping hers, and I can feel her heart pounding against mine. My eyes narrow as I look down at her.

Kelly’s eyes go back and forth frantically, no doubt wishing security would hurry their asses up.

“I didn’t fuck Bradley,” she growls.

My father clears his throat. “I think we need to—”

I snort and interrupt him. “I know what I saw.”

“You know nothing.” She stabs her finger in my chest this time, but I don’t budge. “All you know is what you think you saw. And you’re wrong, Ryder.” Her voice softens for a moment, and she lowers her hand to her side. “Bradley is long gone. He walked out right after you did. The only difference is that I didn’t chase him out the door.”

I stand before her breathing heavy with narrowed eyes. But they soften at that statement. Could I really have been wrong? “No!” This is a trick. “I heard you telling him you loved him this morning.”

She throws her head back laughing, and it’s like a knife in my chest. That sound, I’ve missed it this past week. She straightens and looks me in the eyes, that laughter now gone. “That was my mother,” she replies flatly. “I was on the phone with my mother.” She huffs. “I would have told you that had you given me the chance to speak. And not run like a little boy!”

Just then, the door opens quickly and two men dressed in blue security uniforms enter panting as if they took the stairs. “Mr. O’Kane, is there a problem?” the bald man asks, his hand on his wide hips.

I just shake my head as I stare at her, trying to make sense of what she just told me. “But you—”

---