Chapter 183
When Theodore stepped through the dour of the Gilded ford, Ashton did a double take, certain he must be hallucinating
“Well, well, is the ever virtuous Mr. Hussell really inwering himself to grace my humble den of temptation!”
Theodore said nothing, simply took a seat in one of the booths and gave a single word in reply. “Whiskey”
Ashton arched a brow, signaled the bartender, thers slid Into the seat across from him, “Valentine’s Day and you’re not with your wife? What brings you slumming it with the rest of us lonely souls?”
Theodore’s voice was glacial. “Don’t push it”
“Ool Trouble in paradise?” Ashton chuckled, undetened. “Hell of a day to pick a light. Just look around.
At his gesture, Theodore cast a glance across the room. Young couples were draped over each other in varying degrees of intricated affection, whispering, kissing, wrapped in each other like hy on brick.
And all he could see, burned into his mind, was Eliana and Luke alone together in that private KTV suite,
Whatever they might have done, it was enough to bring a flash of violent cold to his eyes. The couple nearest to him, caught in the glare, scattered like birds sensing a storm.
Ashton watched the reaction with a flicker of unease and muttered under his breath, “Somebody’s pissed.”
Without missing a beat, he summoned the manager and murmured a quiet command.
Moments later, the manager returned, escorting a small procession of women, each one styled and poised like a fantasy waiting to be futfited
Theodore didn’t react, but Ashton smiled. “You looked like you could use the company. Don’t say I never treat you right. These girls are the best I’ve got.”
There was a glint of mockery in Theodore’s expression. If Eliana could spend Valentine’s with her ex, then he had every right to drink with strangers.
Ashton took the cue. “Go on then, girls. Sit.”
“Yes, Mr. Ford.” The women had been eyeing Theodore since he walked in.
Just then, the whiskey arrived, and the women sprang into action each eager to be the first to pour his drink.
Katie beat them to it. With a practiced smile, she leaned in, glass in hand. “Mr. Russell, I’m Katie. Won’t you have a sip for me?”
Katie Bailey had never lacked admirers. Curves in all the right places, a voice sweet enough to rot your teeth. Men fought over her, threw money like it was water just for the chance to sit beside her,
But Theodore Russell wasn’t like those men. He was the sort of conquest women whispered about in dressing rooms.
She batted her lashes. “Or would you prefer I feed it to you? Mouth to mouth?”
Theodore looked at her for a long, unreadable moment. Then, without blinking, he said, “Wipe off your makeup. I want to see your face.”
Katie froze. “Sorry what?”
Histone didn’t change. “You’re asking me to give you a moment of my time. But with all that makeup, I’ve got no idea what you actually look like. Why should I bother?”
Eliana came to mind. No lipstick, no concealer, and still, the kind of beauty that made you forget how to look away.
Katie gave an awkward little laugh. For once, she had no comeback.
Chapter 183
Another girl slid in to seize the opening “Mr. Rustell, I’m Ruby. No makeup here. Swear on my life. You can touch and see for your
He gave her a single glance, then said coolly, “Nose job. Too fresh, I’d rather not break İL
Elana’s nose was delicate, subtly upturned, the kind of small perfection you never thought about until it was gone.
Ruby, too, fell back, méimentary deflated
One by one, the girls tried their hand, but none managed to charm him. Every attempt was met with a remark more biting than the last, until the whole performance turned from flirtation to quiet humiliation,
Ashton, watching from across the table, could hardly contain his amusement
“Mr. Ford!” The girls, however, had lost their patience. Their expressions darkened as they turned to him
Ashton gave a theatrical sigh and waved them off, “Alright, alright. That’s enough. Go on now. I’ll drink with him myself”
“Yes, sir,” they mumbled, retreating in defeat. It was clear to all of them Theodore wasn’t interested in them. Staying any longer would only wound their pride further.
Ashton poured another drink and slid it over, His tone was dry. “You know, you might try being a little kinder to women, especially the gorgeous ones.”
Theodore took the glass. “I was.”
After all, he hadn’t told them to get out, though he’d clearly thought about it.
About an hour later, with Theodore visibly tipsy and the sharpness in his gaze dulled just enough, Ashton decided to push a little deeper.
“So, what happened with you and Eliana?”
Theodore didn’t answer immediately. He stared down into his drink as though he wasn’t looking at the amber liquid, but through it at someone. “If someone tried to take your woman, what would you do?”
Ashton had seen enough messy romances to recognize the weight behind the words. He didn’t hesitate. “Simple. Take him out of the picture.”
Eliana woke the next morning to an empty bed.
She reached across the mattress, but the sheets beside her were cold.
And considering how poorly she’d slept, she was certain she would have heard the door if Thoodore had come in during the night.
Her heart skipped, a sudden tightness catching her breath. Just then, her phone rang on the nightstand.
It was Theodore. She hesitated, then swiped to answer.
“Mrs. Russell?” A man’s voice came through the line. “Mind stepping outside? Your husband’s drunk.”
In the courtyard, Ashton was half–carrying Theodore’s limp weight, visibly struggling to keep him upright.
*He showed up at my place last night,” he explained as Eliana approached. “Drank himself onto the floor. I figured it was better to let him crash than drag
him home.”
She gave a brief nod. “Thanks for looking after him.”
“No trouble,” Ashton said, adjusting Theodore’s arm and draping it over her shoulder. “He’s all yours now.”
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Chapter 183
The moment Theodore’s arm fell onto her, her shoulder sank under the weight.
sim instinctively and that was when she saw it, a long, fine strand of red hair clung to the lapel of his coat.
She glanced down at him
She was sure it wasn’t Harper’s. The color was all wrong.
gaze shed slowly to Ashton, eyes sharp. “Let me guess. He spent the night at The Gilded Ford.”
Ashton’s brow twitched. He hadn’t expected her to be that specific.
She reached up, plucked the hair from Theodore’s coat, and held it delicately between her fingers. “Didn’t even bother cleaning up after himself. Does he really think I’m blind?”
Ashton sighed. He knew when a lie was pointless. “Yes, he was at my club. But I swear, Mrs. Russell, he didn’t touch anyone. We just drank. That’s all.”
“Oh really?” she thought, eyeing the hair. “Then what? This redhead just floated onto his coat?
hout She let out a short, humorless laugh. Then, dead cargo, landing unceremoniously on the ground.
much as a warning, she shrugged her shoulder hard, and Theodore’s weight slid from her like
Ashton blinked, the smile fading from halips. “You’re
nously leaving him like that, are you?”
itar a man who’d spent the night in clubs.
fed, already turning to
Reluctantly, Ashton hoisted
Ө
