Chapter 7
Sophia’s face was swollen from the slaps, and Riley’s words had struck a nerve. Guilt flickered behind her eyes. Despite the puffiness, she forced a weak smile. “Riley, you’ve misunderstood. I just lost my balance earlier p>
“Right,” Riley said with a careless laugh. “Sophia, you were raised by the Ashfords. You’d never do anything that shameless. Getting involved with your foster brother while he’s married–that would be low p>
She let the word “low” hang in the air.
For a moment, Lucas wondered if she knew something.
But when he looked up, Riley was already reaching for his face, her touch gentle.
“Lucas, this is my fault, honestly. I heard from some colleagues that the mysterious Mrs. Ashford had shown up at the office, and I jumped to conclusions. I thought you were keeping some woman on the side. You’re not upset with me, are you p>
Her fingertip grazed the swollen spot on his cheek. Lucas winced.
But when his eyes met her hurt expression–and he remembered that in one month, Sophia would take her place–the anger drained out of him, replaced by guilt.
“No. I’m not upset.” An idea occurred to him. He called for his assistant. “Send out a memo. Ms. Myers is only assisting at Ashford Group temporarily. No one is to spread rumors or cause confusion. I don’t want my wife getting the wrong idea p>
If those rumors reached his grandfather, there would be hell to pay.
Besides, Riley only had one month left as Mrs. Ashford.
Consider this a small kindness.
Standing to the side, Sophia’s swollen face flushed with fury.
Temporary assistance? So his wife wouldn’t get the wrong idea?
If Riley hadn’t barged in, she could have spent the next month quietly solidifying her place, letting the rumors spread until everyone accepted her as the real Mrs. Ashford.
Riley caught the look on Sophia’s face and nearly laughed.
Sophia wanted her position? Fine. She’d make sure Sophia stayed exactly where she was–in the shadows, with no title, no status.
“Lucas, you’re the best p>
Riley’s voice was sweet, but she made no move to ask the assistant for ointment or ice. Instead, she slid the suspension paperwork across the desk. “Here’s the suspension request. The company’s in your hands now. Yours and Sophia’s p>
Lucas deliberately ignored the resentment radiating from Sophia.
He glanced at the document, then at Riley, guilt flickering through him again.
He knew how hard she’d worked on the partnerships. The travel, the late nights, the negotiations.
But when it came to the upcoming investment summit and the connections with the Torres and Harper families, she wouldn’t be much help anyway.
And Sophia was the real Mrs. Ashford.
Riley had given years to the company. When he finally told her the truth, he’d keep her comfortable. Set her up somewhere nice. She’d want for nothing.
After all, key roles–like heading the investment division–needed to go to someone he trusted.
He flipped to the last page and signed without hesitation. Then he looked up at Riley, his expression warm. “Sophia’s still learning. She’ll need your guidance p>
Sophia swallowed her fury and forced a smile. “Yeah, Riley. I hope you’ll show me the ropes p>
Riley smiled faintly, her gaze dropping to the signed document.
Lucas‘ signature was clear at the bottom of the page. The corner of her mouth twitched.
Show her the ropes? Show those Ashford pigs anything?
They’d used her when it suited them and now they were tossing her aside.
Too bad she wasn’t their personal doormat anymore.
With what she’d come for secured, Riley glanced at the two bruised faces in the room, bit back a laugh, and said, “Well. I have things to do. I’ll see myself out p>
In the hallway, she looked down at the document in her hand and peeled off the top page–the one labeled “Suspension Request p>
Beneath it lay her resignation letter.
She crumpled the suspension cover and dropped it into a trash can.
Free of Ashford Group, the weight on her shoulders lifted.
Word spread quickly through the office–something about Lucas and the new girl, Sophia, both walking around with faces swollen like they’d gone ten rounds with a heavyweight. But Riley didn’t have time to enjoy the gossip.
Her phone rang. Anthea.
Now that Sophia was back, Anthea’s patience with Riley had evaporated entirely.
“Did you forget about the ladies‘ charity luncheon? If Sophia’s at the company, what are you still doing there p>
Anthea’s voice rattled through the phone.
Riley held it away from her ear until the noise stopped, then replied flatly, “On my way back p>
Suspended from the company, her only remaining value to the Ashfords was playing caretaker.
If they thought she’d keep playing maid, they were in for a surprise.
:09 pm
At a coffee shop downtown, Riley sat by the window, letting the afternoon light warm her face. She finished her drink and headed to the counter to pay.
A man in a tailored suit stepped ahead of her.
“Latte, please. Extra milk, extra sugar p>
Riley raised an eyebrow. A man ordering coffee that sweet?
He paid, collected his cup, and turned. When he spotted her, his eyes lit up with recognition. “Ms. Harper p>
Riley studied him. She’d never seen him before.
“Have we met p>
He handed her a business card.
Nathan Williamson.
The name meant nothing. The title did: Executive Assistant to the CEO, Torres Group.
Sebastian’s right hand.
Her coffee arrived, but Nathan smiled and produced an elegant box instead.
“Ms. Harper, what a coincidence. Mr. Torres and I are in Havenbrook on business this week. He asked me to deliver this to you. I didn’t expect to run into you here p>
Sebastian?
Riley opened the box. Inside sat a small, quirky little figurine–wide–eyed, mischievous, and completely unexpected.
She blinked.
Her brother had told her about Sebastian. The crown prince of the Torres empire. A business prodigy. Ruthless, decisive, cold. Men twice his age had learned to fear him.
But he played co–op games. And sent her a figurine.
Riley laughed despite herself. “Please thank Mr. Torres for me p>
She didn’t read too much into it. The families were heading toward an arranged marriage. A man like Sebastian—proper, strategic- was probably just being courteous to his future fiancée.
Besides, she’d agreed to this marriage because she’d given up on love entirely.
If she had to spend her life with someone, she trusted her brother’s judgment more than her own.
And so far, whatever Sebastian’s personal tastes, he at least seemed serious about the arrangement.
That was enough.
“I’ll pass that along, Ms. Harper p>
PP
Nathan left after she accepted the gift.
Riley returned to the counter to settle her bill.
Outside, a black sedan idled at the curb, its tinted window halfway down. In the back seat, a man watched Riley through the glass.
He was immaculately dressed, his jaw sharp, his eyes deep and unreadable–except when they landed on her. Then, something warm flickered beneath the surface.
“Mr. Torres. The gift has been delivered. Ms. Harper accepted it p>
“Good p>
Sebastian’s reply was quiet, his gaze narrowing as he glanced at his phone. On the screen: a text from his friend Orion Barnes.
“Step 1: Bond over shared interests–gaming works. Step 2: Gifts. Plushies, flowers, jewelry, whatever. Step 3: Show up when she needs you. Make an entrance. Be there. Step 4 p>
Sebastian’s thumb hovered over Step 3.
Another message from Orion buzzed through, voice crackling with pride. “Heard you flew to Havenbrook to chase your future wife. How’s it going? My guide working for you p>
This was Orion’s signature move. His playbook. He’d only shared it because Sebastian was actually pursuing someone for once.
Sebastian’s expression remained glacial. But he carefully highlighted a line and sent it back.
“Define ‘make an entrance‘. Also. What if she doesn’t need me yet p>
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