As soon as Renee and Bryan disappeared, Ashley's mean expression appeared. Her gaze shifted back to the man standing right in front of her, a deep frown marring her beautiful face.
"What do you want, Lorenzo? Why are you always lurking around me?"
"I'm sorry about the drama with Bryan... he's a curious kid." Lorenzo apologized like she didn't just ask him an important question.
Ashley's gaze swept across the vast compound, hoping her driver would return to put an end to the uncomfortable encounter. When she found nothing, her attention returned to the annoying man before her.
"Just stop following me," she demanded again, pointing an accusatory finger at Lorenzo.
Lorenzo arched a brow. "But I'm not."
"Then how do you explain being everywhere I go?" Ashley snapped.
"I'd say fate keeps making our paths cross, maybe for a reason." He smiled, flashing those gorgeous dimples. "Haven't you for once thought of that, angel?"
That endearment again? Ashley felt her annoyance spike, her fingers itching to claw his face—to wipe that stupid smirk right off.
A tiny voice in her head whispered that he was right—but she refused to acknowledge it. This was just another one of his mind games, and she wasn't about to fall for it.
If fate was trying to tell her anything, it was to run far away from this walking temptation. And she was trying—but somehow, Lorenzo kept appearing in her path, blocking every escape.
"I don't care about whatever nonsense fate is playing at. Just stop doing that thing you do!" she snapped. A second later, she realized she wasn't making much sense—but she didn't care.
"And what exactly do I do, my sunshine?"
His what? Ashley's nose flared up.
She instinctively took a daring step closer to Lorenzo, and her nose drank more of his intoxicating smell. It resembled sandalwood and spice, a scent that made her want to relax into him. Or maybe give his skin a quick lick. But she resisted the temptation.
"Quit pretending like you're not stalking me. Quit talking to me. Quit smiling at me. Quit those smirks. Quit everything!" She punctuated her words by repeatedly poking an amused Lorenzo's chest, her voice rising with each command.
But in one swift movement, Lorenzo caught Ashley's hand... and with her waist drew her even closer to himself. Their eyes locked, and before she could think, their lips met.
The air charged with electricity, sparking a fire in Ashley's soul—the kind she never knew could still burn. Her heart pounded, drowning out every other sound. Her knees wobbled, betraying her. For a moment, there was no world—only the heat of his lips, the rush of something she dared not name.
Lorenzo tilted her head and deepened the kiss, his grip firm but not forceful. That was when it hit her.
Reality crashed in like a tidal wave. Ashley's breath hitched, and she tore herself away, eyes wide, pulse racing. Before she could stop herself, her palm met Lorenzo's cheek in a sharp slap.
"How dare you?" She spat, but her voice came out softer than she intended. Almost a whisper.
Lorenzo gently rubbed the spot Ashley had just slapped, like it had become the most favorite part of his body.
"I'm not stalking you, baby girl," he whispered, his voice husky and low. "But I really want you to be mine again..." Eyes darkened. "...and I don't care how long I have to work for it."
Something in his tone not only scared Ashley, but also broke the remaining spell holding her to him. Blinking rapidly, she stepped back, putting some distance between them.
"Fuck you–" she replied. "...and fuck whatever idea you're having about us ever happening again." She added, voice trembling slightly. She looked like she was going to cry and that broke Lorenzo's heart. He wondered if he'd taken it too far.
"Ash..."
"Don't you dare touch me–again." Ashley warned, and Lorenzo backed off immediately. "Is your wife even aware that her dear husband is here confessing interest in another woman?" she asked, regretting the question the minute it left her lips.
She didn't want him thinking she was jealous, or worse that she cared about the woman who stole him away from her.
Lorenzo's expression shifted from worry to confusion.
"Bryan's mom," Ashley clarified, eyeing him carefully. It disgusted her that she just kissed another woman's husband.
The situation reminded her too much of Christian—how he had flirted with Kayla and others while still married to her. She had no interest in repeating history.
"Bryan's an orphan. I'm just a father figure to him." Lorenzo mumbled.
Ashley's eyes widened in surprise, and she secretly cussed herself for being so stupid.
"Oh my God, I'm... I'm so sorry," she murmured, tilting her lips, guilt washing over her.
Lorenzo started to say something else, but Ashley cut him off as she spotted her driver approaching from a distance.
"My driver's here," she announced, eager to leave before the awkwardness stretched on any longer.
Lorenzo followed her gaze before returning his attention to her.
"Just a moment, please." Lorenzo requested, but Ashley paid deaf ears, already walking to her car. The kiss was on replay in her mind, and she just wanted to disappear already.
"It's about Christian," Lorenzo said, watching Ashley's back stiffen, but not enough to halt her steps.
Ashley's driver arrived at the spot, explaining his brief absence before taking his seat. Just as Ashley was about to enter the car, Lorenzo went to block her way, his hand pressed against the door.
Her gaze turned sharply to him, an intensity passing between them that made her legs feel unsteady.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Her driver noticed the tension and readied himself to intervene, but Ashley held up a hand, stopping him.
"I know he hurt you," Lorenzo started, his voice laced with something akin to pain. Ashley's breath hitched. Why did he care when he had once done the same?
But before she could say anything, he continued. "We can make him regret ever doing so."
Ashley stared at him in disbelief before letting out a cold laugh. When she met his gaze again, her amusement was gone. He was dead serious.
Anger stirred within her. Leaning in, her voice dropped to an icy whisper. "There is no 'we,' Lorenzo. Do I need to carve it into your thick skull? Stop this madness. Stop acting like some noble avenger when all you want is another chance to get into my bed." Her voice was sharp, edged with anger she refused to acknowledge.
Lorenzo leaned even closer, his unreadable expression betraying only the slightest flicker of something—hurt maybe.
"I know you want revenge, chocolate." He crafted another nickname for her like it was the most natural thing in the world. "I saw the way you looked at Christian at the event ...the bitterness in your tone every time you spoke to him."
Ashley tried to ignore the way his words unsettled her– how true they were–but her heart betrayed her with an unsteady beat.
"I see it every time his name is mentioned," Lorenzo continued. "I want to be your partner in vengeance, damsel." His voice dropped to a whisper, his cold fingers tracing along her jawline. Ashley's body stiffened at the contact.
"All you have to do is let me." He took her hand, pressed a lingering kiss to her knuckles, and walked away, leaving her frozen like a statue.
With or without Ashley's permission, Lorenzo Grey was going to deal with Christian Harrington. In fact, he already began. But with Ashley by his side, it would be far more satisfying.
*****
The next day arrived in a blur.
Standing before the vanity mirror, Ashley felt her nerves tighten with each passing minute. Michelle had arranged for the same makeup artist from two days ago, and Ashley had opted for a light, natural look.
Though uncertain about her new role at Flynn Enterprises, she was determined to appear confident. She slipped into a cream-colored blazer over a sleeveless jumpsuit, pairing it with sleek black stilettos. A final glance in the mirror had her smacking her bold red lips together.
She looked breathtaking. Elegant.
Downstairs, she found Mikael and Michelle engaged in hushed conversation. They fell silent the minute they saw her, and Michelle quickly rushed over, giving Ashley a once-over before enveloping her in an unexpected embrace.
The woman was such a hugger.
"Oh, my dear, you look beautiful!" Michelle gushed dramatically.
Ashley stood still, waiting for her to finish with the dramatics. From a distance, Mikael watched with a subtle, proud smile.
"We have a surprise for you," Michelle announced, releasing Ashley, eyes sparkling with excitement.
Ashley's eyes narrowed curiously, wondering what the couple was up to this time.