Page 6 of Inevitable

“It’s complicated but thank you Ian. That was really sweet.”

He nods and lets out a laugh that lacks much humor. “That’s me, the sweet friend.”

I grimace slightly and try to look anywhere but his sad green eyes. He raps his knuckles on the door and ducks his head in a goodbye before he walks away. Cool, let’s make an already miserable day worse.

-

It takes me 6 hours to try and update my original designs that were supposedly out of style. When I check the clock, I realize that I need to wrap up and get home soon if I am going to be ready in time for my date. Yay.

A mound of anxiety weighs on my chest the closer I get to my house. I’ve been dreaming of the day that I can get away from all of this for good, away from him. After my mother passed away he changed. We were never very close growing up but he wasn’t…cruel.

Currently he is the one that will be in charge of relinquishing control of the company over to me, so I have 9 more months of keeping my head down until I get what is rightfully mine. Then, I will move out and with any luck never see him again.

When I step into the foyer I bump in to our housekeeper. “Oh, hi Maude. Sorry about that.”

She looks at me with a displeased glare before she walks past me. She is 75 years old and crotchety as hell. We hired her right after the Mariano’s left and unfortunately, she has stuck around ever since. It doesn’t really matter anyways. It’s not like I interact with any of our employees anymore, I know better now.

After my father kicked out the Mariano’s he discussed with me at length about what type of people wereappropriatecompany to keep and what types were not. To summarize, if they don’t come from a wealthy background or are not a prestigious figure in some way, we are not to lower ourselves to any interactions with them that is more than necessary. I fought him for so long, but my protests became painful and useless. Eventually I just bowed my head and walked away when the topics were brought up.

I make my way up the stairs when I hear my father shout my name.

“Ashlynn, is that you?”

My back goes ramrod straight and I stop mid-stride before I turn back around to head for his study. Two solid oak doors stand guard at the entrance of the room, I take a deep breath before pulling on them. When I step through, I am greeted with the smell of cigars and old scotch. I see my father hunched over his desk with papers sprawled out on every surface. He glances up when he sees me.

“Ashlynn dear, how are you?” His tone is stiff and formal, just like always.

I keep a few healthy feet away from us while I politely fold my hands in front of myself, trying to mask any displeasure I have for him.

“Father, I am well and you?”

“Good, very good. I hear you have another date with the Baxter boy. You two seem to be getting along well.”

“He is very respectable.”

I roll my eyes at myself, it’s the only nice thing I can say about him though. Dad has always pushed me towards socialites and other businessmen, but none quite like Andrew Baxter. I don’t get his fascination with him. All he has going for him is his family’s wealth, maybe my father sees that as a sign of stability. He keeps telling me how I need to settle down with someone who can take care of me and who is respectable. I can’t imagine anything less appealing. But we have had this fight too many times for me to get into it again. I know better than to get on his bad side if I can help it.

“Wonderful, I am glad you are happy dear.”

Happy? I am pretty sure I never use the word happy anymore. I haven’t felt truly happy since Luca walked away. I definitely haven’t been remotely happy since my mother passed, and no stuck-up rich boy will be the one to change that.

I nod and he gives a subtle wave of his hand, gracefully dismissing me. I turn around and head for my room. I have 45 minutes before Andrew gets here, wouldn’t want to keep him waiting.

After I get out of the shower I walk into my closet and grab the first dress I see. Just a simple little black dress, nothing too flashy and a neckline that is high enough to hopefully tip him off that I am not interested. I straighten my long honey blonde hair and it falls almost to the middle of my back. I put on a minimal amount of makeup and give myself a perusal in the mirror. My blue eyes stand out with the lack of makeup and I have to admit I look pretty tonight, despite my efforts to appear drab.

I hear the door open downstairs and a booming voice echo’s throughout, greeting my father excitedly. I roll my eyes and shake my head. That’s it. This is the last date I am going on with this guy. I know my father likes him and Andrew has been perfect at keeping him off of my case but enough is enough. Maybe I can convince him I need to use these final months to focus on work before I take over the company. He is always a sucker for a solid business plan.

I grab my black clutch and toss in my wallet, keys and phone as I head down the stairs. There I see my father chatting with Andrew in the foyer. He is wearing a navy blue 3-piece suit with a grey tie that makes his grey eyes pop. His blonde hair is perfectly gelled and quaffed in a neat swoop. Andrew is just about 6’0 and graces me with a GQ model worthy smile as he sees me walking down the stairs. He really is good looking. Too bad he is pretentious as hell.

“Ashlynn darling, you look incredible.” He leans in to kiss my cheek and I allow it, trying to hide my obvious disgust.

“Thank you, Andrew. You look very nice as well,” I say in the politest tone I can muster.

He beams at the compliment and I can’t help but feel bad for the idiot. Does he really think this thing between us is going well? Clueless.

My father leans in to place a kiss on my cheek. “Have a wonderful night dear.”

I nod my head but choose not to respond. Andrew holds out his arm and I rest my hand in the crook of his elbow as we head out to his cherry red Lamborghini. Yeah, he is that guy.

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