Lorenzo followed suit, his eyes never leaving Ashley. The golden glow from the chandelier above bathed his features in a soft light, making him look even more breathtaking.
A waiter approached, carrying a tray of wine glasses. Lorenzo took two and handed one to Ashley.
Their fingers brushed as she took it, sending an electric jolt through her. She was quick to compose herself, but it didn't stop Lorenzo from noticing it.
Ashley quickly averted her gaze and took a sip of her red wine, eager to fill the silence. The richness of the fruity flavor unfolded itself across her taste bud, leaving a lingering rich finish that made her crave another taste.
"What is your relationship with the Flynns?" She asked, savoring another sip, her voice calmer than before.
Lorenzo's expression remained unreadable. "I'm Michelle's granddaughter's plus one," he replied simply. "Turned out, that's you. I must say I'm surprised."
Her brows furrowed. Why would Michelle choose him as my plus one?
Ignoring his last sentence, she asked. "What's your connection to her?"
"She's a friend of my mom"
Ashley scoffed, swirling the wine in her glass. "I bet you were more disappointed than surprised when you realized it was me."
Lorenzo's expression remained neutral, but something shifted in his eyes.
"Shocked is the better word," he admitted, voice quiet yet intense. His eyes held hers. "I never thought I'd see you again, Ashley."
His tone sent a sharp pang through her chest.
"I swear I missed you, sunshine," he murmured, reaching for her hand.
Ashley quickly pulled away, and her grip around her glass tightened. The nerve. He had no right to say that – not after everything.
Forcing herself to breath, she glared at him. "How can you claim to miss me when you left me?" she demanded, her voice quivering despite her best efforts to remain indifferent.
"You left me, Lorenzo. I meant nothing to you."
"No, Ashley..."
"I'm in no mood to discuss the past." her cold voice cut Lorenzo off, making him swallow back whatever he had wanted to say. "This ship sank eight years ago."
Lorenzo's expression darkened, but he didn't argue. Then, just as she thought she had shut the conversation down, his next question shattered her defenses.
"Why was there so much pain in your eyes at the hospital?"
Ashley's grip on her wine glass tightened, her knuckles turning white. A lump formed in her throat, and suddenly, the ballroom felt suffocating.
What was she supposed to say? Every possible answer would only expose how much her life had fallen apart since he abandoned her.
Christian had always made her feel small, like an afterthought, a possession he could control with just a look. But Lorenzo… Lorenzo noticed the things no one else did. The slightest change in her mood, the tremor in her voice, the unspoken emotions in her eyes, just few minutes of their meeting, even though there was an eight years distance between them. And that irritated Ashley.
She exhaled shakily and placed her glass on the table. "I think I might need to step out for some air."
"I was thinking the same," Lorenzo replied.
"Alone," she added firmly. She didn't understand why he was being so hard-headed. It disgusted her too.
Lorenzo's smile faltered, but he didn't relent. "What would be my use if I let my lady wander alone?"
Ashley gritted her teeth. His presence unnerved her in ways she didn't want to acknowledge, made her emotions spiral out of control. She shot him a warning look, but he only smiled in return.
"Okay," finally he raised an arm in mock surrender. "I'll just be behind you—serving as...your bodyguard."
Ashley rolled her eyes, thinking of his choice of words. 'My lady, your bodyguard.'
In the past, such words would have turned her into a blushing mess. Now, they only fueled her annoyance.
As she rose, she reached for her handbag, but Lorenzo's large hand came down over her small one, covering it completely.
"Bodyguards hold the boss lady's bag," he reminded her with a smirk.
Ashley almost laughed. Was he serious?
With an exaggerated eye roll, she turned and walked away. Lorenzo trailed behind, carrying her handbag like a dutiful bodyguard.
As she walked, she couldn't help but wonder What Lorenzo wanted after all these years?
The event was only minutes from commencing, and most attendees were already seated, some of their eyes fixed on Ashley and Lorenzo as they made their exit. Ashley quickened her pace, eager to escape their scrutiny and get some fresh air. Her plan was simple—step outside briefly, ensure Lorenzo didn't follow her back, and return before Mikael needed her.
But fate seemed to mock her perfect plan. The moment she stepped through the double doors, flanked by two security men, her shoulder brushed against another girl.
She turned to apologize but froze when her gaze landed on the familiar man and woman clasping hands together. Their eyes reflected the same shock as hers.
"Ash...ley," Christian's voice came out uneven, shocked.
"What are you doing here?" Kayla demanded, recovering quickly. Her sharp gaze raked over Ashley, sizing her up.
She still looked impeccably beautiful, her slender legs exposed by the scandalous slit of her black, body-hugging dress.
Ashley might have felt intimidated if not for the voice that rang out from behind her.
"I was going to warn you to slow down, love. Are you okay?"
Christian and Kayla's heads snapped in Lorenzo direction, their faces turning pale the moment their eyes met his.
'Did they know him?' Ashley wondered.
'He's really out of jail.' Christian and Kayla's thought ran simultaneously.
Christian had indeed visited James last week, who after some digging, confirmed that Lorenzo gained freedom five years ago. Christian had found it hard to believe, and so did Kayla after he told her.
Another thing he didn't prepare himself for was that he would be seeing his Ex-wife in the arms of the criminal.
He opened his mouth to say something but lost his words. Before Ashley could voice the question plaguing her mind, Lorenzo's hand slid around her waist, possessively.
She flinched slightly at his touch, but quickly relaxed when she caught the way Christian's face reddened in anger.
A slow smile curved Ashley's lips as Kayla disentangled her hand from Christian's, and in a transparent attempt to imitate, guided Christian's hand to her waist instead.
Some things never changed, same way some people never grow up.
"Was he the reason you fled the hospital before I could return?" Christian lashed through gritted teeth.
Kayla's eyes widened in shock, her face draining of color. "Christian, what are you talking about?" she demanded. It was clear he hadn't told her about their encounter, and Ashley decided to take advantage of it.
Christian stuttered, backtracking, "I-I mean... I stumbled into someone who looked like her."
Ashley rolled her eyes at their drama. "Or you were carefully holding me in your arms, our lips only a breath apart, begging to kiss me," she mused, emphasizing the last part. The mere thought of the scenario she'd just painted disgusted her, but she couldn't resist stirring the pot.
Kayla's expression shifted from shock to fury. "What's she talking about?" She peeled Christian's arm off her waist. "Don't tell me you're seeing her, Chris?"
Christian's face darkened, his eyes darting between Kayla and Ashley. "She's lying!" But Kayla wasn't having any of it.
His frustration finally boiled over. "Be calm for once! Are you so dumb that you don't see what she's trying to do?"
Kayla's eyes turned glassy, but Ashley only scoffed. More and more people were beginning to glance in their direction. It was time to leave the doomed couple to their mess.
A sense of satisfaction bloomed inside her. Her pettiness had ignited the drama, and she had no regrets.
"Let's give the couple some privacy, Lorenzo," Ashley said with a smirk.
Amused, Lorenzo nodded, and they turned to leave. But before they could take a step, Christian blocked their path.
"Time has made you forget your place," he growled, his voice low and threatening. In the past, Ashley would've been intimidated by his glare, but in that moment she felt nothing.
Lorenzo's grip on her waist tightened, pulling her slightly behind him as he leveled Christian with a warning stare. "I think that's enough," he said, his tone just as dark, just as dangerous.
Ashley didn't miss the flicker of unease in Christian's eyes every time Lorenzo spoke, and curiosity pricked at her.
Christian's fists clenched, his knuckles white as his bloodshot gaze lingered on Lorenzo's hand on her waist.
"It's okay, Enzo. Let's get out of here."
The moment the nickname slipped past Ashley's lips, her breath hitched. For years, she had forced herself to forget, to erase every piece of him from her life. And yet, here she was, slipping back into old habits like they had never been apart.
A flood of bittersweet memories rushed into her mind, and she silently took a sharp shaky breath which Lorenzo noticed.
"Are you okay, sun...?
"I'm fine." Ashley cut him off quickly, her voice sharper than intended.
"I don't want you anywhere near me for the rest of this event," Kayla barked at Christian, making Lorenzo and Ashley turn back to them.
The tension was heavy in the air, so much that they didn't notice the new presence at the scene—until a well-familiar voice sliced through the air.
"Already clawing your way through the elites, huh? Only two years, and you've quickly latched onto another promising young man... LIKE THE LEECH YOU ARE."
Ashley stiffened, every muscle in her body locking up at the arrogance dripping from that voice.