He Broke My Heart So I Marry His Father

Chapter Two

Ashton:

I had barely settled on a seat on the bus, still fighting back tears, when my phone rang.

A number I didn't recognize made my heart do summersaults.

"It's just a telemarketer. You're foolish to think it's them," I told myself.

Then, my curiosity got the better of me.

"Hello?"

"Ms. Baylor. This is Ryan Walsh with Pike Industries. You got the job. Be here on Monday morning by six. You will receive an email over the weekend. Fill out every form before Monday. And Ms. Baylor... Buy some presentable clothes." before I could thank Mr. Walsh, he hung up the phone, and I dropped mine into my lap.

"They felt sorry for you."

Not even the negativity in my own head could ruin this for me. With my tears suddenly dry and a smile on my face, I couldn't wait to get home and tell Benjamin.

As soon as I stepped off the bus, my phone rang again. This time, the number on my screen made my butterflies of excitement turn into butterflies of fear.

"This is the call that says she finally killed herself."

I shook at that thought.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Ashton. It's Denine with the Broken Oaks. Your mother's payment is due, dear. Do you want to make that payment over the phone or drop it off when you come on Tuesday?" My head fell back. What a fine time for this.

"Yes, I could drop it off on Tuesday."

"Okay, great! See you then, Ashton. Have a great day."

"You too."

I hung up. The buzz over my new job had long been killed off.

The rest of my walk home was a drag as I went over and over in my mind, trying to figure out how to get the payment for my mother's stay in the only facility in this city capable of dealing with her.

"You'll be just like her someday."

That thought repeated while I called my three current jobs to put in two-week notices or quit entirely if they could not work me after five in the evening. I wasn't about to tell Mr. Walsh I needed two weeks before I could start. Once that was all done, I slumped onto the couch and dozed off, only to wake up and see Benjamin dressed for a night out, walking out the front door.

I leaped from my spot, nearly tripping on the blanket I had rolled into as I reached for the front door.

"Ben!" I called behind him, watching as he turned with irritation dripping from him.

"I'm going to be late, sleeping beauty. What's up?" The excitement about starting my new job on Monday returned.

"I got a new job. I start on Monday. It's an excellent job, too, and I will be able to quit the others, and we can—" he looked down at his buzzing phone, extinguishing my excitement for a second time today.

"That's great, Ash. The guys are waiting for me. We can talk more tomorrow. Don't wait up." He kissed my cheek and disappeared.

"He isn't meeting the guys. He's getting p.u.s.s.y." those deep-seated insecurities burned through my mind.

Why would he cheat? I offer it all the time. He just... won't take me. Says virginity shouldn't be wasted before marriage. He told me he regretted not waiting for me.

No... He isn't cheating, and I don't have time to waste thinking about things like that. I knew two people who would be excited for me. One of which had clothes I could borrow for Pike Industries until I could buy my own.

I ran back inside and ordered pizza, then I called Lex.

"What up, b.i.t.c.h?" she chuckled.

"Would you and Syd wanna come over for pizza and wine? I got a new job, and Benjamin went out with friends. I want to celebrate." I pouted, knowing her mother's senses would tingle.

"Be there in fifteen, lover." I laughed when she hung up on me. I knew if I pouted, I would get my way with her. She hates Benjamin anyway.

I texted Syd and told her about my situation and needing secretary-type clothing and shoes, to which she replied their fifteen minutes would now be thirty but that she had just what I needed.

For once, it felt like everything was falling into place.

"Good things don't last."

With that thought, trying to kill my third buzz of the night, I went to the kitchen, grabbed one of Benjamin's cheap bottles of white wine, and cracked it open. I soaked one glass before pouring another and set up the living room with cozy throws and fluffy pillows. Just as that was done, the knock on the door and the smell of greasy carbs had me floating to the door.

"Thirty-five seventy." The acne-riddled teenager with greasy hair grumbled. I've been there. I delivered pizzas for two years when I was seventeen. It can suck.

I gave him a fifty and told him to keep the change, then made my way with the pizzas to the coffee table. Everything was perfect once I started our favorite playlists. In ten minutes, my best friends will be here, and the buzz over my new job can be shared with people who will actually give a c.r.a.p. about me.

They burst through the door with armloads of clothes on racks and in garment bags.

"Holy Jesus, Syd. I only needed a few things until I got my first check."

I rumbled, looking at the silk blouses and expensive heels.

"Oh please, girl. My fancy goth secretary phase is so over. I don't wear any of these anymore. You need it, and I don't." She plopped her armload down on the recliner.

"This isn't all. Come help us grab the rest." Lex huffed.

We made our way out to Lex's car, just chatting, catching up from the few days it had been since we saw each other. The sun was setting, and something in the pinks of the evening sky soothed my soul. With the way things were going this morning, I had no dreams of the evening feeling this good.

"Holy crow," I rumbled, seeing Lex's back seat stuffed full.

"I told you I had everything you needed," Syd shrugged. There had to be thousands of dollars worth of clothes and accessories back here, and they both acted like it was no big deal. Money wasn't a big deal for them. They had been together for three years now, and both of their families were loaded.

"I love you," I told her, picking up a pair of studded Louboutins

"I love you more," She tossed an armload on me, kissed my cheek, and smacked me on the a.s.s as I walked back toward the apartment.

I could cry.

This is what I needed. They are what I needed.

Arden:

I was looking at the empty desk that would have a small, clumsy young woman sitting at it Monday morning. Flashes of her bright blue eyes fighting away tears and her pale cheeks and nose flushing red in my presence kept running through my mind.

The others I had hired were well-kept, sophisticated hookers who wanted to stay in my face with their t.i.t.s out.

My son knocked and walked through the door with a brunette on his arm, reminding me of the secretaries I had fired over the last three months.

"Who's your friend, son?" I asked quietly.

"A friend... Mom sent me."

"Sure, no problem. I was wondering if you would want to have dinner with me tomorrow night? My treat." I said, hopeful he would agree, as I pulled my checkbook out to write the alimony check for my ex-wife.

"Can't. I'm busy." I almost broke the tip of the pen with his answer.

"You know your mother was the one who cheated, right? It wasn't me, Benjamin." I rumbled low to avoid embarrassing him in front of his girlfriend.

"You know I don't give a s.h.i.t who done what? You didn't try to work on things, which is on you." I took a deep breath, so I wouldn't explode on him. I tried so hard to work things out with his mother, but truth be told, her cheating on me was the best thing that ever happened to me.

As soon as the check was in his hand, he swiveled, threw his arm around the girl, and stepped toward the door.

"I love you son." That was all that was said as he slammed the door in my face.

My back hit the leather chair where I spend most of my time. I sat silently before Reed burst through the door to drag me to dinner and a drink with him and two of our friends. Despite my urge to have one of those friends send one of his girls to my home to release some of my frustrations, another flash of her bright blue eyes dancing across my memory encouraged me to settle for dinner and a drink.