My Ex is a Billionaire

Claim

Ethan

I can’t believe he asked for her. I didn’t expect any of this to happen. When I asked Myles to help I didn’t think he’d come in here, and immediately ask to take one of my employee’s away, and of all of them why Beatrice? I know I didn’t have any claim on her. Working with Myles would be such a great opportunity for her. I just hated that he would be spending time with her. 

I had spent such a long time trying to build myself up, and make myself just as important as Myles was in college. He was always so popular and had everything handed to him. I was on scholarships and pushing my way through with hardly any money in my pocket. 

When I opened this law firm I was the only one in this city with a degree from L.A so everyone trusted me. The city trusted me. I didn’t have hundreds of famous clients like Myles did, but I had the trust of people who had nowhere else to go. When I hired everyone who works here I made sure to pick people that I thought were perfect, and hardworking. I remember when Beatrice came in. She was beautiful, she still is of course. I hadn’t been in a relationship since college, and that didn’t end well. I knew I wanted Beatrice to work for me, but I had to tell myself not to start anything with her. No matter how smart she turned out to be, or how much she seemed to understand everything I needed.

I would see her laughing and talking with Lauren, and I couldn't help but wonder if I could ever get her to laugh like that. But she’s my employee, not only would it be inappropriate, but I knew I wasn’t the nicest to her. If I treated her the way I really felt, everyone would know I was obviously playing favorites, so whenever she talked to me I was cold, and I didn’t look her in the eyes. I feared if I did I would get lost in them, and not be able to concentrate.  

Myles comes in for one day, sees her, and decides that he wants to work with her. I know it’s more than just wanting someone to take over Amanda’s job, because I know Myles better than he thinks. I know what he looks like when he’s trying to flirt with someone. I saw the smug way he was looking at her as he said he wanted her to be his assistant. 

I can’t tell if she ran out because she was upset, or because she was excited. I hoped she was upset. I hoped she'd come tell me that she didn’t accept it and that she wanted to stay working for me and only me. That would be so stupid though, and Beatrice is not stupid. Why would she give up an assisting job for an L.A lawyer, to work for a small town lawyer, as a receptionist. 

I found myself regretting ever trying to ignore her, and the way she made me feel. Maybe if I would’ve been straight forward with her, or even asked her out for coffee, maybe I wouldn’t be in this situation. Or maybe she would be my right hand girl around me at all times, the way she was going to have to be with Myles. I was so stupid. I didn’t have any claim on her that was sure. There were times I would hear her telling Lauren she had a date, and I hated that, but there was nothing I could do. She didn’t even know I liked her, so how could I get mad at her for accepting a date with someone else. 

The only thing that made this situation hurt more than anything was the fact that it just had to be Myles Ashford. I wished I would’ve never brought him here for help, but I needed him. That wasn’t something I could deny. There was a murder here in our city. The first in years. Usually crime for murders happens a few hours out where there is more gang activity, but here, it’s peaceful. So as soon as there was a suspect, his family ran to me. 

Defending a murderer was not really what I wanted to do, but I knew as a lawyer we didn’t always get to defend people we liked, but after hearing his family, and him, I knew I needed to take on the case. I didn’t believe he was guilty, not in the slightest, but proving that was going to be harder, because all the evidence we had so far pointed at him being guilty. The only person I knew who had handled multiple murder cases like this, was of course pretty boy Myles.

When Myles comes back in the room he’s smiling like an i***t and I know that Beatrice told him yes. I can feel myself filled with anger, but I ignore it. I can’t show it. I can’t let Myles know that once again, he took the girl that I wanted. 

Beatrice

I heard footsteps coming from the office, and I knew they were out of the meeting. I look up and sure enough I see the three of them there. Myles is the only one who goes right in front of the receptionist desk and smiles at me. I hated how good looking he was when he smiled. I hate that he’s just as hot as the last time I saw him, if not hotter. But I don’t let it get to me, I can’t. Just because he’s good looking doesn’t mean he deserves forgiveness. 

“So did you find the place?”

I nodded. “Yeah there’s a sandwich shop just 5 minutes away from here. There’s usually not a lot of people because all their specials are dinner specials, so lunch is pretty empty.” I look at him, doing my best to prove that I am up to whatever it is he has planned, but what I was learning about this new Myles, was that I have no idea what he’s thinking.

“Okay great. Are you ready to go?” 

I blink. I’m back to not knowing what’s going on. “Ready to go where?”

He starts to play with the pen that’s on the raised part of the desk. “To the sandwich place you picked out.”

I shake my head, “I have to stay here to answer the phone calls for Mr. Finch.”

He lets his lips curl up, “Well Miss Monroe,” I hate that he’s calling me by my last name, but at the same time I love the way it sounds from him. “You are my assistant now technically, not Mr. Finch’s, and I did tell you I’m working on a case at lunch, so I need you there in case I need something.” He says the next part louder for everyone to hear. “Mr. Finch will find someone else to cover the desk from now on as you’re my assistant, so we can leave for lunch now.”

Mr. Finch comes over to the desk and quickly says, “Oh yeah of course. Sorry I didn’t get everything ready sooner. Beatrice go ahead and go. I’ll get Lauren.”

Myles puts the pen down, and smiles, “See, all settled. Now let’s go to lunch. I’m starving.” 

I turn from him to Mr. Finch, who’s looking at me eagerly. I know I don’t have a choice. Mr. Finch was so set on impressing Myles I know that if I don’t leave, Myles was right, Mr. Finch might just fire me.

So I grit my teeth for a second, then give Myles a face smile as I say, “Of course Mr. Ashford let’s go.”

I grab my purse and follow Myles. I can tell he’s grinning about the way I called him by his last name. I’m not sure if he felt the way I feel about him calling me by my last name, or if it was just funny to him that that was my way of being sarcastic, yet appropriate in front of Mr. Finch. 

I walk behind him as he leads me to a car outside. Myles opens the backseat and nods for me to get in. There was a driver in the front seat who smiled. “So, where are we headed?” he asked Myles out loud. I’m not sure where Myles intends to sit, so I slide all the way to the other side, and sit down, clutching my purse, as I could feel my anxiety start to rise. I really did want Myles to sit up front with the driver, I didn’t want to be close to him, or in a car with him for that matter, but it seemed today was just full of things I didn’t want, because he sits down in the seat next to me, diagonal from the driver. 

He looks at me and says, “Miss Monroe, can you give Rick the address to where we’re going?”

I take a deep breath, and repeat the address on my phone, the driver nods and starts to take off. Myles stretches in the car, and I do my best to not look in his direction. I can feel his eyes on me, but I don’t dare look. I want to sit in absolute silence, but of course Myles breaks the silence, by asking, “Seriously, does Ethan make you call him by his last name all the time, or is that just something you do when there’s guests around?”

I look out the window as I answer, “It’s something I do out of respect. He’s my boss.”

Myles chuckles. “Well you were always super nice to your superiors. But Ethan’s chill, you shouldn’t feel so scared around him.”

This time I looked at him. His eyes are clear as they look back at me, and I remember when I used to say that I could see ocean waves calmly moving in them. What stupid thoughts I used to have. I clear my throat as I say, “I’m not close enough with him, plus there’s nothing wrong. I’m not the only one. You can’t tell me there aren’t people who call you Mr. Ashford.”

He shrugs, “Sure there are some; you, a couple of minutes ago being one of them. Which is funny, but please don’t do it again.”

“I don’t see what the deal is with me calling anyone the way I want.”

“You told me not to call you Bea, so I’m telling you not to call me Mr. Ashford, it feels wrong. And as for teasing you about Ethan, I guess it was just weird to hear you call one of my close friends by their last names. It’s you after all, and Ethan is a good friend, I can’t believe you work for him. What are the odds?”

I can’t help but turn around so my entire body is facing him as I almost shout, “You’re telling me! Myles, what the hell are you doing as a lawyer? From LA?”

His smile is back on his face, and the ocean waves are moving again, “I know. A lot happened. I would love to tell you what I can. But you are the one who told me to keep it work related, unless you want that to change?”

He raised an eyebrow, but the playfulness didn’t leave him. I was torn. I want to say yes, but if I said yes, that was me agreeing to open up the past. That meant that I wanted there to be a future. I don’t entirely want that either. I don’t want to open myself up to him again, only to have him leave me. I can’t. Not again.

“No I don’t. But I will agree not to call you Mr. Ashford, if you stick to calling me Beatrice. Miss Monroe is way too weird.” I admit.

I can see the disappointment in his face, but he tries to hide it by keeping the smile up. He was always good at doing that. Hiding what he was feeling, but I guess that one thing that didn’t change, is that I am always good at knowing what he’s actually feeling, so I knew he was disappointed, and a little hurt. 

“Sounds good to me.” he says then he pulls out his phone, and starts texting someone. I did the same and noticed Lauren had texted me.

“They just told me to cover the phones for you while you go to lunch with him. How is it? Are you okay?”

I text back “We’re not even there yet but I’m already freaking out.”

“You’ll be okay, just breathe. I believe in you!”

I let out a breath, and I finally got my wish, as the next 5 minutes, the ride was filled with silence. Although I would occasionally turn to look at Myles, and I would see his face scrunch at whatever he was reading. I  had never seen him look so serious and annoyed, but he was. He lived such a different life now, I could never imagine him like this. 

The Myles Ashford that sat next to me now was not the one I used to know. This Myles had gone through such different life events, and whatever that was I didn’t know if I even wanted to be a part of it.