Page 62 of Selfless

It’s been a week since my father told me the news about his plans for the company. Seattle was exactly what I needed. Her parents took us out and showed us the town during the day, and then the girls took me and Jaycent out at night to show us their favorite bars and places to shop. It was nice to relax. Forget about the busy streets of New York. I have always loved Manhattan but being in Seattle made me wonder what my life would be like if Ashlyn and I had a home with some land. Cars in the driveway and kids in the backyard. How simple life would be without the hustle and bustle. And if you ask me, it would be great.

Now we’re back, and things are what they always have been—work. I’ve always wanted this, but things change. And Ashlyn is my game changer. Losing her would be worse than anything. I know; I’ve felt what that was like once.

But as I sit at the conference table reading over the papers that my father’s lawyer wrote up, I find myself smiling. And it’s not the words on the paper, but the words written across the screen on my phone.

Ashlyn: You can do it. Don’t doubt it, believe it. I love you.

“Ryder?” my dad calls out.

I blink and look up at him. “Yes, sir?”

He points his finger down at the paperwork. And I sign the last line.

“That’s all, gentlemen,” Duncan, my father’s lawyer says. “Ryder?” I stand. “Congratulations.” He reaches out and shakes my hand.

“Thank you, sir,” I say with a swift nod.

My father and he say their goodbyes, and then he turns to face me. “Well, I’ll leave you to it,” he says, slapping me on the shoulder.

“What?” I ask, and my voice is high, showing the panic I feel. “You’re just leaving like that?” I ask.

He nods, sliding his suit jacket on. “I have somewhere to be,” he says.

I go to speak, but his phone rings. I catch that it says blocked number before he answers it. “Right on time,” he says as if he already knew who it was. “Yes.” He lowers his voice. “I’ll be there in twenty.” Then he hangs up.

I follow him out of the conference room. “Where are you going?” I pry.

“I’ll be back in a few hours,” he informs me. “Don’t let the place fall apart before then.” He laughs at his joke, and I shake my head. Something is wrong with him.

“Who was that on the phone?” I ask as he presses the button for the elevator.

“Wrong number.”

The doors open, and he enters. I follow. “You do know that I could hear you, right? Who was that?” I ask again.

He ignores me as he presses the lobby button. “Dad?” I snap.

He turns to face me. “What?”

I stare at him in disbelief. “What the hell is going on with you?”

“Whatever do you mean?”

My mouth falls open. “You … you just signed away all your shares to your company and stepped down as CEO, and now you’re running off to God knows where, and you’re making crappy jokes.”He just stares at me, and I turn to fully face him. “Are you having an affair?” I ask. That’s the only thing that makes sense to me at this moment. Mom knows, and she wants his company as revenge. He’s finally found the woman he wants to be with, and he will give anything to have her. I know; I’d do the same for Ashlyn.

He chuckles. “No.”

“I don’t believe you,” I growl, narrowing my eyes at him. He just shrugs as the elevator comes to a stop. The doors open, and I walk out behind him. “Have a good day, son,” he calls out as he places a pair of sunglasses on his head and then walks out the glass doors without a care in the world.

I watch as he gets into his waiting car and then run outside. “Do you need me to call Milton for you, sir?” the doorman asks.

“No,” I say and hail a cab. He looks at me strangely as I crawl into the back. “Follow that black Town Car,” I order.

If I followed him in the Escalade, he would know it’s me. This way, he can’t see me.

An hour later, we pull into a neighborhood outside Manhattan. Traffic was a bitch, and it took us an hour to get where it should have taken us less than twenty. But I sit up straight when I see the car pull into a driveway. “Stop here!” I order, and the cab pulls up to the curb.

I watch my father get out of the back of his car as the front door opens to the yellow house. What I see has my heart pounding in my chest. A woman who I know very well steps out dressed in a long fitting dress that matches the house. Her black hair down and a smile on her face.

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