Page 53 of The Switch: A Friends To Lovers Romance

Luke scrambled out of his chair. “Mom went to see Ashanti?”

“Yes. She claims the young woman snatched her wrist and left a bruise. I barely talked her out of calling the police.”

“I have to go.” Luke skated to the counter to grab his keys. “Tell Uncle Eddie I’ll be right back.”

“Luke?” Yong Chung rose, a bewildered expression on his face.

“Sorry, Dad.” He bowed quickly and opened the door.

“Luke! Get back here! I haven’t finished speaking to you!”

Luke slammed the door on his father’s words and jogged down the stairs. He pulled out his phone and pressed zero to speed dial Ashanti’s number.

He got her voicemail.

Luke cursed and thrust his door open. He dove into the driver’s seat, barely managing to get his key in the ignition. He started the car just as the café’s doors sprung open and his dad barreled through.

Yong Chung waved and shouted to get his attention.

Luke ignored him and threw the stick into drive. His tires squealed against the pavement as he took off. Belizean scenery blurred outside his window. Pale fingers dug into the leather of the steering wheel.

Why hadn’t Ashanti told him about the visit from his mother?

Luke stepped on the gas and charged down the highway. He headed toward the Madalon buildings and kept calling Ashanti’s number. It went to voicemail every time.

He spotted the tower in the distance and sped into the parking lot, throwing his vehicle between the designated white lines.

The sun glinted off the sea of car hoods in the lot. Coconut trees waved from select points in the mostly gravel yard. Luke pocketed his keys and jogged toward the tinted glass doors of the ground floor.

He knew where Ashanti worked, but he had never visited before. Mostly because Ashanti always found her way to the café. Also because she was constantly out of the office and chasing leads in the community.

He hoped that wasn’t the case today.

A blast of the cool air shocked him when he stepped into the tiled foyer. The room was empty save for a wilting plant wedged in the corner and a large desk. Two elevators buzzed in the walls to his left.

Luke wanted to zip straight for the elevators but figured that wouldn’t fly well with the man who was sitting behind the desk and eying him warily.

He approached and shoved his hair away from his forehead. “I’m looking for Ashanti Lane. I need to see her. It’s urgent.”

“What’s your name?” the guy said dryly, reaching for the telephone.

He sucked in a breath before answering. “Luke Zhang.”

The receptionist tilted his head and stared Luke down while he waited for someone on the other end of the line to pick up. Luke knew the moment they did because his entire countenance shifted and his voice warmed, sounding much friendlier.

“Hey, Stace. I’ve got a Luke Zhang down here looking for Ashanti?” He waited a few beats, nodded and glanced at Luke. “Alright. I’ll send him up.”

“Is she in?” Luke asked.

“Just take the elevator to the third floor.”

“Thank you.” The words flew behind him as he bounded toward the elevator and got inside.

On his way up, Luke wondered what Ashanti and his mother had discussed. If it got heated enough that Ashanti resorted to violence, he knew his mother had crossed a line. Or several of them.

The elevator stopped and the doors opened. He saw another glass door down the hallway and followed the path. The moment he stepped inside, he was drawn into a room filled with books. Newspaper clippings were pinned on every available surface.

A telephone rang in the distance. A man darted across the room, stopping from one cubicle to another.

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