Five
Ash
Straightening my tie, I headed to the office of Ronald James. It was pretty clever for them to purchase the stocks under the name RJ Investments. The real name of Ronald James’ company was Peterman, Vogel, and James. Now that I knew Veronica was behind this I prepared myself to go head to head with her father.
Ronald James was another old slick bastard. He never liked me much even before Veronica and I broke up. He was old money and resented ‘nouveau riche’ as he’d called my father. He’d always wanted Veronica to marry a Vanderbilt or a Kennedy, in other words anyone who wasn’t me.
I pulled my Aston Martin up to the valet and tossed him the key. I ducked into the men’s room and ran my hands through my hair. It had been six years since my last encounter with Veronica which had ended just as badly as our break up. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to face her again.
I had been named a partner with Harold and Jeremy Goldstein. Taking my new assistant, Amber out for a drink seemed appropriate. As Amber and I walked into the lobby of the Core Club, all eyes were on us. This wasn’t unusual as I always seemed to turn heads. I thought perhaps this time it was Amber as she was absolutely stunning, but as a hush fell over the crowded bar I realized it wasn’t because Amber was with me.
It was because the Wall Street Journal had made my partnership with Goldstein front page news.
“Ash, everyone is staring at us,” Amber whispered holding my arm.
“That’s because you’re breathtakingly beautiful,” I whispered back.
Amber rolled her eyes. She glanced down at a neighboring table and saw the cover of the Journal.
“Look, Ash. Have you seen this?”
I shrugged. I looked at the Journal every day.
“No, look at the bottom right. It’s you.”
I snatched the paper from her and right there on the front cover was my picture next to Harold and Jeremy Goldstein.
I sat back stunned. It was another one of my dreams coming true. Sadly, it was too late. I had always wanted my father to share this day with me, but he had passed away last year after a brutal battle with pancreatic cancer.
“I only wish my father could’ve seen this.” The words escaped my lips before I could stop them.
Amber’s full lips turned downward.
“I’m so sorry for your loss.” She squeezed my hand.
I waved my other hand dismissively.
“It was last year. Pancreatic cancer. I’m all right now.” I signaled the waitress to bring us drinks.
When the waitress returned instead of bringing us the champagne I’d ordered, she placed a bottle of Macallan 25 on the table along with some glasses.
“Excuse me, miss, but I didn’t order this. I asked for a bottle of your finest champagne.”
She smiled and winked.
“Compliments of the lovely woman at the end of the bar.” She gestured to the figure of a petite, shapely woman clad in a deep blue dress.
As the woman turned in profile, I nearly fell out of my chair. That exquisite profile, the mass of spun gold hair, the hair that could only belong to one woman.
Veronica.
“Who is that?” Amber asked following my gaze. “She’s beautiful.”
I nodded and gulped down a glass of the fine scotch. I knew Veronica would be coming over to our table. I had no idea what I would say to her or what she might say to me. It had been four years since our breakup and I hadn’t heard a word from her.
As I finished my second glass, I looked up to meet Veronica’s incredible blue eyes. She was as gorgeous as ever. Her long hair was swept back from her face and caught high at the crown with a cluster of curls tumbling down to brush her bare shoulders. Her dress matched her eyes perfectly. It was strapless and daring, revealing a great deal of her cleavage. Sparkling diamond earrings swung from her lobes.
“Veronica, how wonderful to see you. Thank you for the scotch.” I extended my hand towards her.
She flashed her eyebrows up at me for a moment. Then she smiled taking my hand.
“Ash, I’m surprised to see you this evening. I would’ve thought you’d have been celebrating with your date in a quiet, intimate setting.” She looked at Amber.
I shook my head.
“Veronica, this is Amber, my assistant. Amber, this is Veronica, my ex-girlfriend.”
Amber’s eyes widened briefly, when I mentioned “ex-girlfriend”, but she shook hands with Amber.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Veronica. I’ve just had the good fortune to begin working with Ash recently.”
Veronica nodded sweeping her eyes over Amber’s petite, busty frame. Perhaps she was thinking what I always did: how much the two of them looked alike.
“Veronica, why don’t you join us?” I pulled a chair out for her.
“I’ve only got a minute. I’ve got an early flight in the morning. So, I hear you’ve been made a named partner at Goldstein. You’ve gotten what you always wanted.”
I looked down and bit my lip. I didn’t know seeing her would be this hard. Looking at her all I could think of was how amazing she was in bed and how much I missed her.
“It’s been fantastic, but a long hard road to climb. Working 80 to 90 hours a week is grueling. It doesn’t leave time for much else.”
Amber sat quietly next to me sipping her scotch. She looked distinctly uncomfortable.
Veronica took an empty glass and poured a bit of scotch into it.
“No, I guess it doesn’t. You were right about that.”
“So, how is London? I see your firm is doing quite well.”
“Yes, it is. I’m being considered for a senior level position.”
“Doesn’t surprise me. You were one of the top students in our class.”
Veronica’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears. She blinked several times to keep them from spilling out smearing her eye makeup.
“Ash, I’m going to slip out and use the ladies’ room. It was nice meeting you, Veronica.” Amber took her evening bag and hurried off.
“So, how has your life really been? Cold and miserable, I hope.” Veronica’s words turned bitter.
I reached across the table to brush her hand. She snatched it away.
“Ronnie, please. It’s so good to see you. I’ve missed you.”
Veronica laughed.
“I’m sure you have in between fucking your new assistant and all the other beauties who come your way.”
I shook my head sadness filled me as I heard the anger in her voice.
“It hasn’t been like that. Besides, no matter how many women I’ve been with they’re nothing compared to you.”
Veronica held up her hand.
“Oh please, I read the New York society columns. You’re the talk of the town. A handsome, wealthy, eligible bachelor living in a Manhattan penthouse and the newest partner at the biggest investment bank in New York. Every woman must be dying to get you in her bed. I’ve seen the pictures of you in those gossip rags. You always have some gorgeous girl at your side.”
I sighed. It was true. The fucking press wouldn’t leave me alone. Only last week I caught TMZ following me and a date home.
“What does it matter, Ronnie? I wanted to be with you.”
Veronica slammed her hands down on the table.
“No, Ash, you don’t get to do that to me! Not now, not ever. You only wanted me if all I wanted was to be your submissive little fuck buddy!” Her voice was rising and several people turned to look.
“Calm down. That’s not true. I had a lot of feelings for you.”
Veronica shot up from her seat.
“Feelings? That’s what you call them. You’re the coldest, most uncaring man I’ve ever met! The only thing you care about is yourself and your money! Don’t you dare try to placate me by telling me you have feelings for me. The only feeling you have for me is a fucking hard on!”
With that, Veronica tossed the rest of her scotch in my face.
Quickly, I wiped the burning alcohol from my eyes. By now, everyone was watching us and several people were snapping pictures with their phones. Veronica scanned the room full of people staring and she ran for the door.
Racing after her, I barely had time to nod at Amber who was standing near the front door with her mouth agape.
Veronica was standing on the sidewalk trying to hail a cab tears streaming down her face.
“Ronnie!” I grabbed her shoulder.
“You know, I thought I could do this. I thought I could see you and congratulate you and treat you like nothing more than an old boyfriend. But it’s not over. It never will be,” she sobbed.
Pulling her to me, I cradled her in my arms. She sobbed against me for a moment before collecting herself.
“Why don’t I give you a ride back to your hotel?”
She pulled back and waved her hand.
“No, I’m fine. I just want to go back to my hotel. I’m leaving New York tomorrow to fly back to London.” She brought a tissue to her eyes.
“Are you, Ronnie? Couldn’t we go somewhere else and get a drink? I don’t want you to leave like this.”
“Don’t you need to get back to Amber?”
“She’ll understand.”
Veronica gave me a look I’ll never forget. Her heart was so clearly in her eyes. She still loved me.
But I...I didn’t feel anything like that for her.
I reached down again and it just wasn’t there. I cared about her more than anyone but I couldn’t call it love no matter how much I wanted to.
My lips brushed her forehead. She still smelled amazing.
“I see things haven’t changed for you.”
I closed my eyes and shook my head.
She nodded as the cab pulled up to the curb.
“Then I guess this is goodbye, Ash.”
The wind whipped her blonde hair into her face. Tears slid down her face in muddy black streams from her mascara.
“Please let’s have a drink. We can go anywhere you want.” I reached out to brush the tears from her face.
She stood still for a moment allowing my fingertips to brush her soft cheek. Then she grabbed my hand and threw it down.
“I can’t, Ash. If things haven’t changed then there’s no point in me staying.” Veronica pulled open the cab door and jumped in.
The cab pulled away from the curb as I watched it until it disappeared into the sea of traffic.
Remembering the last time I saw Veronica, I actually began to feel nervous about seeing her father. Normally, I never feel nervous. I’m always cool, calm, and collected, but knowing about our breakup his reception of me would surely be chilly to say the least.
I stepped off the elevator and paused in front of the heavy glass doors leading into Ronald James’ offices. They were quite lavish. A set of exquisite original Rodin statues stood in the lobby. As I stopped to admire them, my eyes rested on a set of red Prada heels. My eyes travelled up the luscious lean legs of Ronald James’ secretary.
“Mr. Blackthorne? Are you here to see Mr. James?” The young curvaceous brunette smiled at me.
“Yes, I am. How have you been, Kristin?”
“Very good, Mr. Blackthorne. Let me show you to the conference room.”
I followed her, watching her sexy ass in her tight skirt.
“Thank you, Kristin.” I winked at her and watched as she blushed. She was far too young for me but staring at her ripe curves made me think twice about that.
Placing my briefcase on the long oak table, I took a glass and filled it with water from the pitcher in the center of the table. I admired the view of the New York skyline.
Suddenly, the door flew open. I stood up expecting to see Ronald James with his graying head and his paunchy frame.
Instead, I looked right into the bluest eyes I had ever known.
Her gait was still graceful as an angel’s, her hair like spun gold flowing around her shoulders, her lips ripe and full. I longed to rip her clothes off and take her right there on the conference table. I wanted to hold her and never let her go. My heart thudded in my chest. Was it possible that I could actually feel something for her now? After all this time?
She coolly met my gaze pleased with my shock from seeing her.
“Hello, Ash.”