CHAPTER 289: CHAPTER 289 CONFRONTATION AT THE CAFÉ

The receptionist gave me a rehearsed smile, polite and immovable.

‘I’m sorry, Miss Vance, but you’re not on Mr Laurent’s schedule today. Do you have an appointment?’

The words nearly slipped out, ‘I’m his wife.’

Then reality caught up with me. I wasn’t. Not anymore.

I was still fumbling for an answer when another voice cut across the lobby.

‘It’s all right, I’ll take care of it. Miss Vance, why don’t we step this way?’

The hairs prickled at the back of my neck. I turned and found myself face to face with Lea.

Blonde hair falling sleek around her shoulders, a fitted dress in some shade designed to command attention without looking like it tried, makeup immaculate. She looked as though she had stepped out of one of those glossy magazines featuring formidable businesswomen.

‘Ash is in a meeting,’ she said smoothly, already heading for the glass doors. ‘I don’t think he wants to be disturbed. Let’s take this to the café opposite, shall we?’

Ash. The way she said it grated. As if the name belonged to her alone, as if she had the right to toss it out so lightly, like a private nickname only old friends shared. And they were old friends, but still.

I considered brushing past her, heading straight for the lifts, daring the receptionist to stop me. But then I thought better of it. If Lea wanted to talk, I might as well find out what game she was playing.

I followed her out of the lobby.

The café was busy, filled with the clink of cups and the low hum of conversation. Lea chose a table near the window, sat down with unhurried grace, and ordered a flat white as if she had all the time in the world. I ordered coffee too, though my appetite for it was gone.

When the drinks arrived, she stirred hers leisurely, then lifted it to her lips. Not a rush in her movements.

I leaned forward. ‘Why did you want to talk to me?’

Her lips curved. ‘I thought I made my point clear enough on the cruise ship.’

‘You want Ashton.’

‘I thought that was obvious.’

‘Yet when he was missing at sea, when his life was uncertain, you tried to steal his company. Hardly the kind of thing someone does if they love him.’

Lea’s expression barely shifted. ‘You see, that’s the difference between you and me. Ashton would understand. If you want something, you go all in. You spare no effort. And the only way to win is if you hold all the cards. If Ashton had died at sea, I would have made sure LGH continued to prosper. That’s his legacy. He trusted me with Titanova, the first company he built. That shows how much faith he has in me. And if Ashton returned safely, wouldn’t he be glad to find his company in capable hands during his absence? Either way, I made the right call.’

Her smile grew wider. ‘And Ashton said the same.’

My throat tightened with the urge to ask, did he? But I bit the question back.

Instead, I said, ‘You’re using the company as leverage to threaten him now.’

Lea lifted one shoulder. ‘It’s just a tactic. Like you said, it’s leverage.’

‘Do you really think it will work? Ashton’s a proud man. He doesn’t cave. Even if he marries you to keep the company safe, do you imagine he would love you after being forced into it? You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink.’

‘Who cares? At least I’ve got the horse.’

The words made my stomach clench. ‘If you’re so confident you’ll get him, why talk to me at all?’

She took another slow sip of her coffee, then set it down with the faintest clink. ‘To pass the time. I’ve already played my cards. It’s Ashton’s turn now. All I need to do is wait. Either I get the man of my dreams, or I leave Skyline and never return. I’m fine with either outcome.’

She leaned back. ‘And I wanted to see the competition. You are the woman Ashton gave up his old life for. After meeting you a second time, I realise I needn’t have bothered. You’re no threat.’

Heat rose in my face, blood hammering at my temples. I had never wanted to punch another woman so badly in my life.

Lea leaned closer. Her voice dropped to a whisper.

‘You’re no threat because you’re a coward. I’m willing to put my company, my fortune, everything I own on the line to get Ashton. Even my life. I would do anything for him.’ She tilted her head, eyes gleaming. ‘I’d kill for him. In fact, I once did.’

My pupils contracted. I couldn’t tell if she was joking or deadly serious.

She stood smoothly, chair legs scraping against the floor.

‘Anyway,’ she said lightly, ‘stick around. Maybe you’ll be invited to our wedding.’