Chapter 23 THERE HAS NEVER BEEN AN US
"Dashiell?" I frowned, stepping out of my house so he wouldn't look in. With the door closed, I folded my arms, narrowing my eyes at him as I demanded, "What are you doing here?" Instead of being offended by my question, he presented the bouquet in his hand to me, tilting his head partially to the side as a small smile played on his lips.
I glared at the flowers, the silence dragging on as my stare became hard on him. The subtle breeze blowing on the leaves of the trees outside my property was the only noise to be heard. "Why don't you take it?" He demanded once more, stepping close, only to stop short when my scowl became deep. Not even the sweet fragrance from the flowers could dampen my emotions. "What are you doing here? How did you know my address?"
I made certain to ask Brion to get a building far from the company, and one that couldn't be easily traced. I knew why I did that, but it seemed the damned bastard I was trying to hide from discovered it faster than I thought.
"Getting it wasn't difficult, Nova." He smirked, still with his hand stretched towards me with the bouquet, expecting me to take
from him.
Like I would?
Scoffing, I checked the time on my wristwatch. "If you will excuse me, I have a meet and greet to attend. I'm almost late -"
"I'm here to take you there." He smirked, his lips widening into a grin when I glared at him. "Come on, you don't have to make it seem like I'm the bad guy with the way you kept treating me. This is me extending an olive tree to you, Nova."
"I don't fucking need it." Pushing him out of my way, I climbed down the short flights of stairs and headed towards my car, trying to get as far away from him as I could.
"Nova," he called, walking behind me, his steps silent. Before I could open the car, he was already by my side, pushing against the door. "Please grant me the pleasure to take you there. That's why I came," he pleaded, still reaching out to me with the bouquet. "I don't need you to speak to me. All you have to do is take the flowers and allow me to drive you to the venue. That's all."
"I don't fucking need your damned help," I gritted out through clenched teeth, my anger almost at the yielding point. "Are you hard on the ears, or just trying to be fucking ignorant?" My patience was wearing thin, but I tried to control it.
We were still on my property, with my kids a few doors away from us. The last thing I wanted to do was wake them up with the noise, and have them running out so they could know what was
happening with their mum.
"Nova-"
"What of Lilith? Don't tell me you have gotten tired of fucking her pussy and that you need a fresh one?" I sneered at him, thinking he would flip like he normally did each time I pissed him off years
ago, but he didn't. Sighing, he placed the bouquet on the hood of my car. "Why are you talking about Lilith when this is about us?"
"About us?" I leaned closer, so we were almost nose to nose. "There has never been an 'us' and never will be. You were the one who severed that connection years ago, Dashiell." Pushing him out of the way, I unlocked my door and got in, shutting it before he could stop me.
He knocked on the window as I started the car, but I ignored him and drove out of my property, reminding myself to ask Brion to set up a gate and fortify the fences. Had there been a gate and guards in the house like some private properties next to ours, he wouldn't have stepped to my front door.
I didn't immediately drive towards the venue. I stopped a few streets from mine, and parked my car, waiting for him to pass, and he did. It only took three minutes for me to see his car racing down the
street.
Huffing out a sigh of relief, I started my car and drove to the venue for the meet and greet. It was in the new hotel Dashiell opened a month ago, one of the trending ones in the city.
I gave my key to the valet when I arrived at the hotel, located strategically in the heart of the city. It was an inviting sight, the reason it was listed as the most visited place this month. Walking in, I got the direction of the room where the meet and greet was happening, after showing my card to the receptionist.
This meeting was being held by Dashiell, to welcome the new workers and also introduce everyone. The major shareholders of the company were attending, something I didn't like a bit until I was told his mum wouldn't be attending. Her secretary will be the one representing her.
Walking down the hall, my heels clicked on the marble floor as my gaze took in the beauty. Everything screamed luxury, but none prepared me for the beauty of the room I was stepping into. The moment I stepped in, I was frozen, not only by the beauty but sophistication.
As I walked into the room, I was enveloped in a warm, inviting atmosphere. The primary colour, peach, dominated the space, creating a soothing ambience. The walls, furniture, and accents all feature various shades of peach, from soft pastel hues to richer, more vibrant tones.
Gold accents added a touch of luxury and sophistication, elevating the space to a new level of elegance. Dashiell surprisingly took my advice, something that made me smile a bit.
A stunning chandelier hung from the ceiling, its gold framework and delicate crystals refracting light and casting a warm glow across the room. Comfortable seating areas, upholstered in plush peach- coloured fabrics were filled with guests conversing as they sipped from their drinks.
However, all the beauty diminished when I saw him. Dashiell James. He was sitting on a couch farther from the others, sipping his drink as his gaze appraised mine, a cocky smile on his lips as he
pointed to the new purple tie on his neck.
Fucking bastard!