Page 60 of Phillip

“As did you,” Sean volleyed.

“This is a business lunch,” she tried.

Sean grinned and laid his hand over hers. “We ended amicably.”

She pulled her hand back, still catching how Phillip’s jaw twitched.

“Lucky you,” he said.

Ashley wanted to shake sense into Phillip. Couldn’t he see that Sean wasn’t her type? “The raffles are amazing.” Her voice trembled, and jittery, she nearly gave herself a paper cut as she fidgeted with the map. “Phillip had an incredible lineup already, and combined with The Laumet Society’s additions, I think this will be a huge success.”

“Ross Blackthorne offered his team car.” Sean leaned his elbows on the table and studied Phillip’s reaction.

“We know,” Ashley snipped before Phillip had a chance. Unable to hold herself back, Ashley continued. “Is there anything else that we should know?”

“Not that I can think of.” Sean grinned. “I’m here to help, but I’m not a miracle worker.”

Tension ticked in Phillip’s jaw as he sawed his teeth. “I thought you were here to learn.”

Sean shrugged. “To-may-to, to-mah-toe.”

“I’m so glad we’re working together,” Ashley interjected, forcing a smile. “As for the raffles—”

“I didn’t think we had a choice,” Phillip said. “Robert Paget said his son needed to learn a lesson in how to be charitable.”

Sean’s lips flattened. “And Agatha Cartwright explained The Laumet Society needed a strong hand to help ensure their financial commitments and goals would be met.”

Thatupset Ashley more than it did Phillip. Sean had never noticed or cared about the difficulties she had with her mother. Ashley’s cheeks tightened. “Did she? How nice.”

Phillip snorted, obviously hearing the snark that Sean missed.

Sean’s forehead creased. “Phillip, do you know what I meant to ask you about?”

Her stomach turned, and Ashley didn’t know what Sean was about to say, but it would be bad.

“I heard that Claire Blackthorne skipped town,” Sean said.

Phillip stiffened. “She didn’tskip town.”

Sean continued. “And there was something about a secret.”

“There are no secrets.”

Sean tilted his head toward Ashley. “I can’t blame the woman for leaving a Blackthorne—”

“Shut your mouth.” Phillip’s fists clenched.

Ashley gripped his forearm before he could do something they would all regret and tried to tug him away from the table. “Excuse us, please.”

Phillip didn’t budge.

She gave a firm pull. “Please come with me.”

After a worrisome moment, Ashley took a breath when Phillip followed her. She led the way to a back hallway that Montgomery’s only used to reach the office and for private events. Then she whirled around toward him. “Do not let that prick get under your skin.”

Phillip’s anger lingered. “Do you mean your boyfriend?”

“Ex-boyfriend,” she hissed. “Don’t be like that.”

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