Taylor’s POV
I sashayed through the hallway of Sterling Winery, surrounded by four bodyguards. I didn’t want to be here in the first place, and the lasting needed was people gushing over me, I mean, they could, but from a distance.
My bodyguards cleared the path of curious employees as I walked through, I stopped at the reception desk and flashed the bright–eyed lady one of my killer smiles. “Hello“I stole a quick glance at the name tag on the table, “Valerie, Where’s Asher’s office
It took her a moment to come to. She closed her mouth and bowed her head. “I’m sorry. Do you have an appointment?”
“Well, technically, no
“I’m afraid you have to have an appointment with Mr. Sterling before you can see him
I sighed and folded my arms across my chest. “Do you know who I am,
“Of course,” she stuttered. “You’re
Taylor Martin!” she declared in admiration. “Everyone, I mean, everyone knows you!”
I grinned, “You said it yourself, so do I still need an appointment?” I was already getting tired of the conversation.
She managed a small smile. “Mr. Sterling has quite the sch
“I’m here on important business. Asher would love to hear what i have to say I cut in
She looked like she was deeply contemplating it. “His office is on the last floor.
I tuned out the rest of her words. My bodyguard at the front was taking notes. I peered around, my mind wandering off. The only reason I was here in the first place was because of Max. He had called me the other day, mad on the phone, yelling incoherent words.
inform him of your presence.”
flashed her a wide smile. “That won’t be necessary. I like a surprise entrance,” I said and walked away.
My bodyguards cleared out the elevator and led me in. I smiled as my mind wandered off. Asher was about to have a really bad day.
Flashback Scene:
“I swear, I’m gonna kill him, Taylor,” Max yelled into the phone.
Trolled my eyes to the back of my head, I was really hoping this was going to be a quiet evening all by myself at home. It wasn’t on my schedule to have to listen to another one of Max’s pathetic whining.
“I’m going to shoot the both of them in the fucking head as soon as I find them…”
“Wait, didn’t you just say you saw her earlier at the studio!” Lasked.
“What?”
“You just said d you waited for her at the studio. That would have been a perfect time to kill her. You did find her then, didn’t you?”
There was a long pause, and i could almost see his face tum red. “You know what the fuck I’m talking about, Taylor. Don’t fucking play with m
I shrugged. “I’m bored, Max. What’s the matter
“You’ve got to put an end to their relationship” he spat in disgust
1/3
Chapter 70
Inodded. “Yes, the original plan. We haven’t-
“I mean, right now!” he yelled. “You’re going to confront Asher with all the evidence we love against him. You’re going to threaten. I don’t want him
my woman, or swear-
“Technically, she’s his woman,” I chirped in a small voice, enjoying this way too much.
“If you don’t da as task, I’m going to let everyone know what you did,” he retorted
I didn’t respond immediately. My head was trying to do the math to figure out if he could actually carry out his threat.
know you think I can’t do it, but I can,” Max continued. “The singing to everyone, especially Asher and even ivy. I’ll let them know how you planned something so diabolical. I tell them everything they need to know. Everything that will be enough to brand you a criminal!”
“Max, interjected, “never threaten me again, Isaid to him in a controlled voice.
“Will you do as I say?” he asked in a hopeful voice.
I’ll do as you say, Max, but if you ever threaten me again, you’ll regret it, I warned him. He seemed to have crossed the line again. He had completely forgotten the dynamics of our relationship. I was only doing this because he had come begging me…
1 paused and chuckled inwardly. Who was i kidding? I could lie to everyone else but myself. I was way too invested in this. My goal was slightly different from Max’s, but he didn’t need to know that, nor did he need to know how invested I was in this plan.
I’d give him the illusion of control, make him foot like he was calling the shots, and just when he became slightly comfortable, I’d pull the rug from under
him.
He loudly sniffled. “If you do what you’re supposed to fucking do, I’d never have to threaten you! Never..”
I cut the call on him. I’d have to teach him a lesson later.
Back to the Present:
The elevator doors opened, and we walked out. Here I was, walking toward Asher’s office, with a plan that would either turn out to be genius or ruin my
life completely.
I didn’t want to be here. None of my plans involved confronting Asher face–to–face in his office, but that was what I got for working with an emotional fool. I could think of a thousand and one ways this could go wrong.”
We walked into his secretary’s office.
Her eyes lit up when she saw me, and then she became guarded when she saw my security detail.
“Hello, Miss Martin. I didn’t know you had an appointment with Mr. Sterling.
I sat on the chair across from her and crossed my leg. “Tell Asher I’m here. He’d be more than delighted to see me.”
She stared at me hesitantly,
My brows perked up. “Go on, then! What are you waiting for?”
“Excuse me.”
,” she said, walking out from behind her desk and through a large door.
Thummed and drummed my fingers against the table. In my original plan, Asher was never supposed to find the origin of those pictures and videos. They were supposed to magically appear on my phone just like they would on his, and I’d play the distressed victim.
That was the role i had planned in all of this, I could even gaslight him into thinking he took the pictures. It was genius, it was diabolical Now my plan was derailed.
whole
11:38 Tue, 13UE DI GI
Chapter 70
I looked up at the big burly man by my side. He was the head of my security detail “Scottie, do you think she’s taking i
He turned to look at nie. “Do you want me to check it out?”
longer than exped
Ishook my head. “No, we are in Sterling’s turl Asher is our host, and we must be cordial and kind to our host. After all, we are severaty dutriano here,” I smiled at him. “We’ve got to play it cool. Trust me,
He nodded.
The door opened, and his secretary walked out. She had a flushed expression on her face. “Mr. Sterling said to ask you what the fuck you’re doing t office.” She smiled politely. “His words, not mine. He asked to use the exact words.”
I grinned. There was a plus side to my new plan. It was one of the reasons I had gone along with it, it would make me powerful. I would hold all the cards and give them out as deemed fit.
“Tell Asher he may really need to hear what I have to say,” my lips slowly curled into a smirk.
She went back to his office. This time, she returned quickly.
My smirk deepened as I rose to my feet and walked into his office. Asher looked up at me. I flashed him a sweet smile and glanced around. His office was simply decorated but oozed class. He looked straight past me. “Your security detail will wait outside
They didn’t budge.
Asher’s frown deepened.
I turned to Scott and grabbed his hand. “Don’t worry about a thing, alright? I’ll be fine. Wait for me outside.”
He nodded and exited with the others.
I pulled out a chair and crossed my legs. My eyes were sultry as I stared at him.
He played with the ballpoint pen in his hand, watching me, not saying a word. We stared each other down for a while, and then he broke the silence.” can’t for thee of me figure out why you’re here
A small smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.
He leaned closer toward me, resting his hand on the table. “So, my opinion is this is one of my most unlucky days, where I have to receive visits from the Last people on earth I want to see.”
I chuckled. “You are amusing, Asher. You really are” I shrugged, “Well, I can see you’re a busy man, so I won’t waste your time.” I opened my purse and pulled out an envelope. I pushed it toward him.
His eyes turned on guard. “What is this?”
I leaned backward. “Satisfy your curiosity, Asher. I know it has been eating you up for a while now…”
He hesitated for a while before he picked it up and tore it open. He pulled out the pictures inside. The bland expression on his face slowly turned into a
“What deep
AD
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