Chapter 6

LENNOX 

It’s been two days and all my effort to get in contact with Ashford has been futile. He has never missed my call before, hence, the reason I’m worried.

I can’t finish cleaning the cafe for some reason, due to how worried I am. So I sit on one of the chairs, sighing like the weight of the world is on my shoulders.

Ashford isn’t one to ignore my calls. This is new. A first time, probably since the beginning of our friendship. And boy oh boy, this man has me worried sick.

As I try his line for the tenth time in twenty minutes, my finger subconsciously goes to the ring, swirling it around my finger. 

I am slowly getting deeper in my spiraling thoughts when my phone rings, startling me.

Ashford is finally calling. I waste no time before picking up the call. Phew! 

“Hi—“ I am about to exchange pleasantries, but Ashford cut me right off, leaving me utterly speechless.

“Nox, I’m really sorry for ignoring your calls. I had a client to deal with, hence, the reason my phone is in a silent mood.” His deep voice has a way of soothing me. Calming my either raging nerves or my worries.

“You don’t have to apologize, big man.” I chuckle, fiddling with the ring around my finger. I am getting used to touching the ring always, which shouldn’t be. “It’s fine. You can get some rest and we will talk tomorrow.”

There is a pause for what I suppose was a second or probably more. 

“You called because you had something to say, didn’t you, Nox?” His deep voice goes an octave lower, sending shivers down my poor, aching spine.

“Yes, I did.” I chuckle, trying to cover up the fact that I am damn nervous around this man. “But since you’ve been busy, we can talk tomorrow.”

“You know how persistent I can be.” He insists and I sigh, giving in.

Left with no option, I give in and pop the big question swirling in my head since the family dinner two days ago. “Why are you going the extra mile?”

Another pause. “What do you mean?” 

“You went all out for me in front of Liana at my parents’ house and I knew for sure that wasn’t an act, Ashford. It was the real you.” I lean into the seat. He protected me from my sister, in front of my ex-boyfriend, who couldn’t even do the same when we were in a relationship. “And also, I checked the price of the ring you gave me. It just doesn’t make any sense, Ashford. Giving your fake fiancée a ring worth $150,000, makes no sense to me.” I say in one breath.

A chuckle spills out of him, filling my ear. “Is that all, Nox?”

“No.” I want answers. One to shut my brain up. One to keep me from drowning when this hits the news. “You could have gotten something cheaper. $1000? $2000? It is all an act, Ashford. No one cares afterwards.”

“Are you aware you’re getting worked up, Sunshine?” His laugh fills my chest with a warm feeling. One which is hard to explain. “It’s my choice. Whatever I do for you, I do them because I want to.”

“Yes, I get it. You’re a billionaire and all, but Ashford, I’m not very comfortable with all these. We can call it off before things get messy.”

“Nope.” He pops out the ‘p’ word, making me realize this isn’t up for debate. “We can’t call it off without a valid reason. You just have to relax. I have everything under control.”

I heave a sigh, dropping the matter because I lost to him. I always do. “Fine.” 

Just like every other day. Today’s no less a failure with Ashford Winslow.

 I look around the empty cafe, digging my fingers into my locks. Nara had already left the cafe as she was meeting up with her boyfriend. I’m still cleaning up so I can close up for the night when the door bell chimes.

“I’m sorry, but we’ve closed for today.” I say over my shoulder, wiping off the counter.

When I don’t get a response or whatsoever, I look over my shoulder again, only to see my ex-boyfriend, Joshua, making his way towards me.

A frown settles in between my brows as I ask. “What do you want?”

Instead of replying like a very normal person, Joshua upturns a table, startling me.

There goes his rage again. 

I’m still in shock, trying to wrap my head around the mess he’s created, when he begins to hurl words at me. “I didn’t know you were such a bitch, a low life and a gold digger. You think forcing Ashford to pretend as your man would make me look at you again?”

There goes his delusions. I wonder if he shares the same brain cell as Liana. Why do they think everything is about them?

“Not everything is about you, Joshua. The day you understand this, that’s the day you grow a brain cell.” That seems to rile him up even more. Good. “You don’t get to call me a low life when you’re no different yourself. You cheated on me and went for my older sister. What does that make you? A validation seeker.”

“I swear, I’ll make you regret your actions, Lennox. Even Ashford wouldn’t be able to save you.” He threatens, upturns another table on his way and leaves. Though, not without banging the door behind him.

Once he is gone, still riled up and angry, I fire a quick message to Ashford.

We’ve been caught. There’s no need pretending anymore.

“Let’s call this whole charade off. I’m damn serious this time.” I mean it. I am calling it off, with or without his compliance.

‘Why?’ He responds to the text, almost instantly, like he’s been waiting a long time for it.

“I got a threat. Please don’t ask who.”

‘From?’ He asks nonetheless. Ashford is fearless. I commend him for that.

I roll my eyes and am about to toss my phone aside, when a follow up text comes through from him.

‘Your ex….” I wait for his next line of words. “Boyfriend. Right. Don’t worry about him. He pissed off my fiancée—the soon-to-be Mrs. Winslow, and that’s just inconvenient. For him.”