Page 48 of Fateful Exposure

Alex must have thick skin because he only smiled in response. "Hopefully, one day, we'll work together."

Ashton's eyes flashed, and for a second, I thought he was going to do something crazy, like walk up to him and punch the smile off his face.

But his lips thinned, and his voice lowered, "I wouldn't hold my breath. I don't do business with frauds."

nineteen

Ashton

Without another word, I guided Selma outside the building, ignoring the cameras clicking at us and signaling the valet to bring my Mustang around. It came in under fifteen seconds, and with my hand still resting on her back, I opened the passenger door, and she got in. I helped her arrange her dress before shutting the door and turning around to the driver's seat.

When I got in, she was on her phone, typing furiously on the screen. The fiery possessiveness I felt earlier was still burning bright, and I clenched my jaw to stop myself from reaching out and grabbing the phone.

"Who are you texting?" I asked instead.

"Maria," she said, and I let out a breath. “I'm apologizing for leaving early and telling her to use my car to get herself back home."

That sounded good to me.

"Okay." I started the engine and pushed the gear to drive mode, stepping on the accelerator. "Now, mind telling me what you were doing talking to your ex-boyfriend?"

I could feel the heat of her stare burning a hole into the side of my head. "Excuse you?"

"You're excused."

She scoffed. "Who the hell do you think you are to ask me that?"

"The father of the child you're carrying. Whatever you do affects my child, whether you like it or not, and I will not have you putting its life in danger."

"By talking to Alex?"

I risked a glance at her before looking at the road, anger bubbling to the surface. "Did you see the way he was looking at you, like he wanted to eat you up? And what the fuck are you wearing? Your tits are practically spilling out."

God.The rage that blinded me the second I saw her talking to him. The way his eyes had washed over her, mostly resting on her cleavage, set my blood on fire because I recognized that look.Pure, unabashed hunger. He had been practically eye-fucking her, and she'd just stood there and let him look.

I gripped the steering wheel tighter until my knuckles bleached white. Never had I felt such blinding rage.

"Stop the car," she ordered.

"What?' I looked at her for a second and saw her eyes burn with fury.

"I saidstop the fucking car!"Her voice rose with every word. "I will not sit here and listen to your stupid comments about what you think I should or should not do. I am not your wife."

Not yet, anyway, I thought wryly, grinding my teeth. Something weighed on my mind. It was heavy and conspicuous and fucking killing me.

Too soon. It was too fucking soon.What was wrong with me? What was this inferno that blazed inside me whenever it concerned Selma?

"Do you still love him?" I asked.

"What?" Her voice was low, and her forehead puckered.

Bristling, I drove into our building's garage, heading for my parking spot. Turning the engine off, I opened the door and got out, needing to breathe air that didn't have her scentintoxicating it. I sucked in a breath and exhaled through my teeth, running a hand through my hair.

"Ashton, wait." Selma alighted, shutting the door behind her.

I shook my head. It was too much. Everything I felt for her was deep and incinerating, whether it was hatred, lust, or fucking love. It scalded me, my body, my heart, my soul. I wanted too much of her, way more than she wasn't willing to give.

I willed my feet to move, not looking back. The elevator opened, and I walked in, but the stupid thing was too slow to close, and even in heels, she caught up with me.

---