My Turn, Mr. Bully

Chapter 6

"I must say what an honour it is to meet the infamous CEO of Reed Technologies. Ashton Hall. You must have heard about me. I'm not one to be easily impressed but I must commend you, Kara."

His hands extended in front of him towards me but I stared at it—intentionally delaying in response.

"I'm sorry, I must be living under a rock. I've never heard about you." My voice was soft, yet cold.

The falter of his cocky smile sent butterflies erupting in my stomach.

Ashton Hall, seven years after our 'mistake' of a night, and seven years after I left Lakeside High, still looked unfortunately as handsome as ever —only this time, I couldn't give a damn.

He struggled for a split second to regain his smile as he wryly withdrew his hands. "Let's change that, shall we? Dinner? I'm sure we will do a lot of good business together in the near future."

A chuckle escaped my lips as I grabbed my purse from my table, signalling to Lola.

I hadn't planned to stay at this event for so long. I had only come because I was invited for the award and I thought it was finally time that the world got to see the face behind Kara Technologies after years of my name going ahead of me.

I might have left who I was years ago but my introverted nature—it stuck with me like a plague. A plague I enjoyed. It bought me more time with my son. "I'm afraid that might not happen, Mr. Hill—"

"It's Hall. Ashton Hall," he corrected, wearing a smile that ticked me off to no end. "And why can't it happen?"

He probably thought this was high school where every girl dropped dead at his million-bucks smile. Good thing the fan girl in me was long dead.

"I really should leave now, Mr. Ashton. Thank you for your time."

Lola collected my bag from me as we began to move away from the table. For some reason, as much as I detested Ashton, I hated the weird feeling in my stomach as he stared at me with emotions I had longed for years back. That girl was dead, but the way he looked at me threatened to resurrect her somehow. I needed to get home and take a shower—one to reset my brain.

Just as Lola walked in front of me and I was about to follow her, I gasped as I felt a tug on my wrist, stopping me in my tracks.

"Kara, just spare me a minute more. I just want to connect with you," Ashton's voice was softer and more seductive. "Let's get a table. You'll could find that we have a lot in common."

I watched his eyes flicker across my frame and longer a bit—flames of desire dancing in his eyes. How shameless!

That desire would be the fire I would use to ruin him. But for now, he had to pay for ignoring me all those years. He had to know how he felt to be rejected, ignored and belittled.

Before I had the chance to respond, his next words left my words stuck in my throat for a split moment.

"Your eyes... They look quite familiar. Have you met before though?"

One beat. Two beats. I had no clue why my heart raced as much as it did.

"Excuse me?"

He inched closer. "You remind me of someone I used to know, that's all."

My face flamed at his proximity to me. Heads were beginning to turn in our direction and it irked me.

Like that wasn't enough, my phone pinged with a message.

'Kara, where are you?!! He's getting hysterical!'

Typical Tracy—my best friend who I had crossed path with along the years.

Nate was the primary reason I was even in a hurry to leave this place. I couldn't bring him with me because the media were vicious wolves who could swallow him, if they got the chance. Better to keep him a secret.

"I don't think we've met before, Mr. Ashton. You must be mistaken. I really need to get going."

With that, I snatched my wrist from his grip and speed-walked out of the hall before the walls caved in on me.

As I settled into my car, I let out a loud sigh.

Ashton Hall, all over me like an ant to sugar. Who would have thought?

Right now though, I couldn't be bothered with him. He would be dealt with after finding solace in my Nate.

"Miss Kara, Miss Tracy says that Nate is at it again." Lola quipped once I got into the car.

I let out another sigh. Nate was the apple of my eyes, but sometimes, he wore me out. Especially when he brought up the 'daddy topic'.

For years we had gotten by just fine. He didn't care that he didn't have a father because I was both father and mother to him. But since he moved to the third grade, he had been unusually conscious of his 'fatherlessness'.

I suspected he was being bullied in school and it stirred up an inferno of rage within me, but he always denied being bullied.

I had no choice that to believe him. Goodness knows what I'd have done to the school if they dared bully him. I would burn it to the bare ground.

"Can you put him on the phone for me, Lola?" I asked tiredly but excitedly.

The conversation with Ashton had drained me. However, talking to Nate jerked more energy into me.

"Hello, mom," Nate's voice came calmly on the other end of the phone.

My heart melted at the sound of his voice. Somehow, the whole world seemed to fizzle into the air like smoke and it was just me and him.

"Honey, What's wrong? Tracy says you're giving her a hard time. Did something happen?"

He was mute on the other end of the line for a moment before responding, "I miss you, mom. Please come home."

"Oh, darling. I'm almost home already. Hold on for me, baby. Alright?"

He grumbled on the other end of the line, "Alright."

As I brought the call to an end, my eyes widened as we pulled up at the gate.

There, lying at the entrance was a huge wrapped box with a bow on it.

My brows furrowed.

What in the world?