Caught Between the Ashford Brothers

Chapter 19

Julian

My heart was beating loudly in my chest when my car finally came to a stop. The f**k! Who was that? Stepping into the road like that while looking at their phone. I was dazed for a full second right before getting pissed.

I picked up my phone from the dashboard, ready just in case anything came up, like fraud or blackmail, and I stormed out of the car, ready to see who had almost caused that accident—

Oh.

I paused when I saw Iris Sinclair by the curb. Iris Sinclair?! She looked just as surprised to see me – or should I say horrified?

“Oh my God!” She shot up from the floor, her hand going for her items which had fallen to the ground with her just moments ago. I stepped forward to help, unsure how to feel now. I mean, I was still pissed but also concerned.

Why was she stepping into the road while looking at her phone in front of the launch event venue? I can only think it's related to the event and quite important.

“I'm so sorry, sir. I shouldn't have been looking at my phone. I apologise."

I shook my head and pointed at the key she missed just a few feet away from us for her to grab. She did so.

“What is going on?” She hesitated for a bit before muttering. "Nothing, sir. I'm just going to get something.”

“What?”

"Um… something… from the office… a glove for one of the collection pieces," she added when i remained silent.

“Why are you going to grab it? Shouldn't it be here already?” I mean, it's about forty minutes before guests start arriving.

“Uh… yes." She started fidgeting with her hands. “Someone forgot it and everyone is quite busy, so I volunteered to go get it at the atelier.”

“And who forgot it?” She glanced up at me, taken aback, probably by the bite in my tone. Yes, I'm quite pissed.

“I… I don't know.”

Oh, she definitely did know, but I was going to let it go for now.

“Sir…” a man approached us right about then, clearly from the hotel. “I heard about what happened, sir. So sorry for the inconvenience. Shall we go in? I'll have someone take care of this.”

“Yes. I'll be on my way now,” Iris chipped in as two other workers approached us and I stopped her. "Wait, how do you plan on getting to the atelier?”

“Uber. I've already booked a… oh fuck.”

“What?” She glanced up at me from her phone, flustered when I asked.

“Sorry. I… I had a ride, but someone already snagged it. I'll just, I'll get a taxi.”

Yeah, not here. Very unlikely. I glanced down at my watch. “Get in.”

She remained still as I headed back to my car. “Huh?”

“Get in. I'll take you there.”

“No! Uh… I'm fine. I'll find a way.”

“And risk ruining the event?” She hesitated for a few more seconds, looking physically pained for some reason, and then she headed for the passenger’s side. “Okay sir. Thank you, sir.”

Good.

I unlocked the doors and got in with her. I started the car and was about to drive away when I realized she was struggling with the seat belt or lack of one. She looked up at me, flustered when she noticed me staring. “Sorry. I—I can't find the seat belt.”

“Yeah…” I leaned forward slightly. “It’s built a little differently. May I?" She leaned so far back into the chair as I reached over her to tap the button right beside her shoulders and she yelped, obviously startled when a robotic arm reached around her from the back to hand her the seat belt. “What the f**k is that?!”

I chuckled slightly before I could stop myself. “A seat belt presenter. The coupes hide the belt too far back, so…” She still looked horrified, so I reached around her again to take the seat belt, pausing momentarily when our eyes made contact, and then I helped her buckle up.

I cleared my throat and leaned back in my seat, confused as to why I suddenly felt weird. I shifted the car into gear and drove away.

****

The silence was loud throughout the ride, with a few not-so-subtle glances from Iris that I pretended to ignore, and when we got to the atelier, she couldn't get out of the car fast enough. Well, after I helped her take off the seat belt too.

I took a deep breath once I was left alone in the car. Multiple deep breaths, actually, because it suddenly felt like I hadn't been breathing throughout the ride, and I followed her into the workspace after getting out and locking the car.

Huh… I glanced around confused when I stepped into the workshop to find it empty, well, until she shot her head up from behind the long work table at the very center, a worried expression on her face.

“What? Have you found it?”

“No. He said either the finishing drawer or the cabinet behind the pressing station. Let me check…” She swerved her way through the messy space until she got to the large cabinet by the far corner. There was a row of iron boards around the corner and fabrics.

I moved closer to see if there was any way I could help, but I didn't even get to her before she raised up a bag excitedly. “I found it!”

“Oh. Okay. I guess we're good to go then.”

“Yes. Oh my God. How much time do we have left?” She took out her phone to check as she hugged the bag close to her chest and that's when my eyes caught the bruise on her hand.

She exclaimed. “Thirty minutes. We have to be on our way.” I grabbed her hand before she could walk past me. “You have a bruise on your hand.”

“Oh.” She took a second to inspect it. “It's fine. I'll take care of it later.”

"No," I stopped her again before she could move. “It could get infected.”

“Uh… I doubt it. It's just a small bruise.”

Still. I looked around for the restroom. “Pour some water on it at least. You scraped your hand on the ground. A very public space, might I add, with germs and all.” I pointed to the restroom. “I'll be waiting outside.”

“O-okay.” She said after a very short look into my eyes. Then she scurried away.

I felt my lips curve into a small smile… against my will. Nothing about this was funny.