MICHEAL'S POV My phone buzzed on the desk just as I finished signing off on a final report from the marketing team. I barely glanced at the screen before I saw the name: Connor—A private investigator.I answered immediately. “Talk to me.”Connor didn't waste time. “We've got sight of Ryan. He's been moving between hotels for the past two weeks, never staying in one place more than a day or two. But he's in the city now. He checked just into another hotel last night.” I sat forward, eyes narrowing. “Are you sure?”“Positive. I've sent you the location, full profile, and surveillance images.”My phone buzzed again with a message as he spoke. I opened it and there he was—Ryan. Same smug face, slightly grown-out beards, trying to look like someone new. It made my blood boil.“How long has he been there again?”“He checked in late last night. Might be watching someone or waiting to make his next move. There might be more to this guy than you think. I'm working on it, and you'll get full
MICHEAL'S POV I woke up to the soft touch of something warm and wet moving down my body. For a moment, I thought I was dreaming–half awake, arms heavy, sunlight peeking through the curtains. But then I opened my eyes and looked down, and there she was.Ashley.Snuggled between the sheets, her back arched over my knees, her hair sprawled over my skin like silk. Her mouth was soft and warm on my cock, waking me up slowly, teasing with measured strokes that got all the nerves in my body screaming simultaneously.“Good morning, baby.” she moaned.I gasped. “Jesus, Ash…”She smiled a little, her lips wet and glistening with drops of my seed. “You like that, right?”I reached down, brushing her hair back, my hand wrapped around the base of her neck. “You little naughty vixen, you're going to kill me with pleasure one of these mornings.” Her tongue moved up my skin slowly and I moaned. There was something different in how she touched me— like she wasn't trying to get me hot, but trying to
MICHEAL'S POV I sat at my desk, staring at the same line of code I'd been pretending to read for the last twenty minutes. The screen seems to be blurred. My mind was far away—stuck in that damn moment in the boardroom, her voice shaking, her eyes glassy, saying she didn't mean to hurt me. But she did hurt me.It had all fallen apart while I was blinking. The leak, Kate showing up unexpectedly, Ashley disappearing with her eyes laced with tears—God, I'd never felt so helpless.What if she decides I wasn't enough? What if she's tired of the drama that surrounds me? What if she never trusts me again? And the worst of all, what if this thing between us—this good, true love we have - was already on the point of shattering because I let too much through the cracks?.“Hey.” Ethan’s voice broke through the silence, pulling me out of my thoughts.I looked up to see him leaning against the doorframe with a cup of coffee in hand. “You okay?” He asked.I leaned back in my chair and released a
MICHEAL'S POV My phone buzzed on the passenger seat. I picked it up mindlessly to see a text from my assistant, Chloe.Chloe: Sir, I worked on what you asked, and I just wanted to let you know the result. Miss Kate has been in touch with someone named Ryan. Several calls and texts were traced to her number last week. I thought you'd want to know immediately.”I read the message. Read it again. And once more.“Son of a bitch,” I snarled.I spun the wheel with a hard pull and drove straight to the office. The rage did not just seep in—it blasted right through me. I couldn't even think straight. Everything else receded. Her face. Her lying. That fake crying shit she pulled last time. That won't work this time.Ryan?She was conspiring with Ryan?When I arrived at the building, I wasn't even breathing properly. My fists were clenched on the steering wheel as I pulled in the parking lot. The second I was in the lobby. I heard Ethan’s voice. “Micheal.”I looked up to see him walking towar
ASHLEY'S POV Micheal looked between me and Austin. "Your father's worried about you, Ash. Come on, let's go. I’II take you home." Liar.Austin turned to me. “Ashley, are you going to be fine?” “Yes, it's okay,” I said softly to Austin, extending my hand to get my jacket. “I'll go with him.”Austin looked at me questioningly—his jaw set, his eyes darting to Micheal, who stood still by the door like some guard that followed me around. But then, Austin nodded slowly and stepped back. “You sure?” “Yeah.” My tone was steady, though my insides were spinning. “Thanks for everything.”I embrace him briefly, holding on for a few seconds before I let go. I picked up my bag and stepped outside without giving Micheal a glance. I heard him curse under his breath, but I ignored. As I stepped outside, the night air seemed colder than it had been. Heavy with silence. Michael said nothing as he opened the passenger door for me. I hesitated for a second before climbing inside the car.He got in
MICHEAL'S POV “Come on, Ashley…pick up.” I muttered, pacing outside her apartment like a goddamn lunatic. My thumb hovered over the screen before I hit the dial again.Straight to voicemail.I stared up at the building, hoping—willing–some kind of light would flicker on, or a shadow would move behind the blinds, something. Anything.But it stayed quiet. Dark. Like she hadn't been home at all.I cursed under my breath and tried calling again. And again.Same thing. It went straight to voicemail.A blast of cold air cut through me as I rested against the wall. I rubbed my face hard, trying to settle my thoughts, but it only spiralled.Where the hell are you, Ashley? This wasn't like her even if she's mad at me. Not a word since she left, not even a reply to my text. After the look in her eyes when she saw Kate…after what I didn't say, I knew I'd messed up pretty bad. I should've run after her the second she walked out. I should've been honest.Now, I had no idea where she was.I pu