Ashton Morgan: Apartment 17B (The Wreck Me Series)

by Aly Stiles

  “Lane, I think there’s been a gross misunderstanding. I will be in touch about potential remedies, but we have no intention of pursuing further action on this matter. Please let it go and I’ll get back to you soon.”

  “Of course, Mr. Alexander. I’ll wait for your instructions.”

  Dad hangs up and studies me with the same horror I feel.

  “Shit,” he hisses, pounding his fist onto the desk.

  “Daddy,” I whisper in a choked voice. “He needed that job.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  ASHTON

  I dump the last box of small hard noodles into the boiling water and stir it slowly. These past few weeks have been hell, and honestly, I’m close to giving up. I hid the money from the Alexanders in the end table drawer by my bed, deciding I was only going to use it as a last resort.

  Two weeks later, I’m getting ready to pull it out.

  I’ve now been on a total of seven interviews, applied to everything I could find, and still ended up with just that offer for the overnight shift at a convenience store and, ironically, a grocery store job stocking shelves. Based on hours alone, I started at the grocery store a week ago, and between that and Shelton’s, we’ve been scraping by, but barely.

  I’ve had to stop making payments on the loans in order to keep up payments on the rent. My credit will be shit, but what does it matter anymore? On the plus side, after six months I’ll be eligible for benefits which will help. Six months. As if we have six months. If I don’t figure something out soon, we’ll be on the street well before then. Our only ray of light is that Braydon goes back to school soon which means the childcare issue will become more manageable.

  “Mac and cheese again?” Braydon whines as he enters the kitchen. “Why can’t we get more of that lasagna?”

  He’s referring to one of the frozen meals from Iris. We finished the last of her stock a few days ago, so lasagna isn’t the only thing no longer on the Morgan house menu.

  “This is your favorite,” I remind him.

  “Not anymore,” he mutters.

  I don’t blame him, it’s the third day in a row, but until I get my first check from the grocery store on Friday, we’re kind of stuck.

  “I promise when I go to the store on Saturday I won’t get any mac and cheese. Oh! How about those spiral noodles? You liked those, right?”

  He perks up slightly. “You mean, the ones in the different colors?”

  I nod, relaxing as he settles back in his seat.

  “Yeah, those are cool. Maybe they make them without the green ones.”

  I smirk at the memory of him sorting the noodles by color on his plate. He insists the orange ones taste better than the green ones, so he ate the green ones first to get them out of the way.

  “I don’t think so, but we’ll manage. Hey, I need you to eat fast so we can get over to the Coles. I’m already running late for my shift.”

  I scoop a pile of cheesy noodles into a bowl and slide it over to him. He has the spoon propped up on the table and ready.

  “Maddie got a new game,” he informs me through a mouthful of noodles.

  “Oh yeah? A video game?”

  He nods. “Yeah, for her birthday. You kill bananas.”

  I toss back a skeptical look as I transfer what’s left of the noodles to a container for later. “Kill bananas? How does one kill a banana?”

  He shrugs. “We’re going to play it tonight.”

  I glance up sharply at a knock on the door. Strange. We rarely get visitors. Shit, is this about the rent being a few days late? I still got it in before the penalty period. Hopefully, it’s just one of the Coles trying to find out where we are.

  “Okay. Well you let me know, because now I’m really curious.” I ruffle his hair on my way by, and he fires a glare at me. “Hey, how about you take your bowl into your room and eat there?”

  “Really? You never let me eat in my room.”

  “Yeah, just this once it’s fine. But make sure you eat instead of play because as soon as I’m finished talking to the person at the door, we’re leaving.”

  He nods with excitement, already halfway to his room. Geez, if I’d known it was this easy to make his day, I’d let him eat on his floor more often.

  I move to the door and pull it open, my lungs expelling all remaining air.

  “Mr. Alexander?” It comes out as a haunted whisper.

  “Ashton, good to see you. Do you have a minute?”

  I glance around nervously, my brain spiraling into a tailspin. It’s been weeks since I’ve had any contact with his family. Is he upset about how I treated Iris?

  But when my gaze sinks to the large, thick envelope in his hands, I know what this is about. Oh god. I take a step back.

  My body goes numb through a rush of panic.

  “I… actually, I was just about to leave for work,” I force out. If he isn’t able to tell me why he’s here, he can’t blow up what’s left of my world.

  Something flickers on his face, but I can’t read it. “Okay, well, I’m going to respectfully ask that you call off work to speak with me about a very urgent matter. I will personally compensate you for any wages lost as a result.”

  I swallow, confused. Terrified. Paralyzed as I study the envelope in his hands that’s about to take away everything I have left.

  Is this it? The end? My tragic destiny finally fulfilled?

  Being reduced to ash wasn’t enough for fate. No, I have to be completely obliterated and dispersed into vapors of forgotten history.

  “Mr. Alexander… if this is about Ivy, I swear to you nothing happened. Please, sir, I’m begging you.” Emotion breaks into my voice, choking off my words. I’ve stopped being above begging months ago.

  “I’ll do whatever you want, but I can’t go to jail. There’s Braydon and… I swear, I didn’t do whatever it is she said—” I swat at the tears in my eyes, shaking so hard I can barely stand.

  “Ashton, what I have to say needs to be delivered in a meticulous way. I’m formally asking you to call off work tonight.” But his expression has softened significantly.

  He steps inside and closes the door as I pull out my phone with trembling hands. It doesn’t even matter what’s in that envelope. A civil lawsuit is going to wreck me just as much as a criminal one.

  Tears obscure my vision as I fumble for Stacie’s number. With everything I’ve been through, I thought for sure I’d finally reached rock bottom. Losing our mother wasn’t enough? Hurting Iris and losing her too? Going hungry? Working every damn minute to try to keep a roof over our heads, only to see that slip away as well? No, the universe won’t be satisfied until my virtual prison becomes a real one, apparently.

  My voice shakes as I tell Stacie I need the night off because Braydon is sick. She’s not happy, of course, especially since I’m constantly pleading for more hours, but she says it’s okay. I hang up and rest my absent gaze on Iris’ father.

  “Thank you,” he says, starting toward the kitchen.

  I follow with labored steps, tracking what feels like a death march on the worn carpeting.

  After wiping down the table, I offer him a seat and take the one across from him. I still haven’t said a word since hanging up the phone. I don’t think I could even if I wanted to. My entire body is lost to me now. I have to grip the edge of the chair to stay upright.

  Mr. Alexander opens the envelope and pulls out two folders, both equally thick. Both equally threatening.

  It makes sense. Maybe he’s letting me choose my fate. Bad or worse? It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been in this position. Hell, it’s not the first time today.

  He clears his throat and opens the first folder, sliding it toward me with a severe expression.

  “Ashton, it’s come to my attention that you’ve been wrongfully terminated from your place of employment due to slanderous actions by a member of my family.”

  My gaze snaps to his in shock, but he doesn’t react as he continues.

 
“To mitigate any damages to my family, I’ve come to offer you a pre-emptive settlement in the amount of five hundred thousand dollars in exchange for a waiver not to sue and an executed NDA.”

  Stunned, I stare at him unblinking, certain I misunderstood something. He raises a hand to prevent any response. As if I’d be able to give one right now. Any air left in this apartment was squeezed out the second he started talking.

  “Now I know what you’re thinking. Let me be clear, this is not hush money. I fully recognize your right to pursue legal action should you so choose, and I believe you will see that reflected in the contract. However, I’m hoping as a favor to me, you will agree to settle this injustice outside of the courts. If five hundred doesn’t sound fair to you, please counter with an amount you feel is reasonable for the damages you’ve sustained as a result of my family’s actions.”

  I still can’t talk, and the slightest hint of a smile turns up the corners of his mouth.

  “Okay, well, while you think about that. I’ll present my second proposal.” He shoves that folder aside and opens the other.

  “Now, I’ll be upfront that this one is entirely self-serving. And yes, one could argue I’m taking advantage of a difficult situation, but after a long discussion with Iris, we decided this is probably the only way we have any hope of making this happen. To quote my daughter, you have a reputation for being what she referred to as ‘a stubborn ass-ass.’ So yes, I saw an opportunity to go after something I want and here we are.”

  He flips the folder to me. “Ashton, this is an offer of employment. I would like to hire you as a junior executive in training, with the understanding that as you gain knowledge and experience, you will grow within the organization on a direct path to becoming one of my senior advisors.

  “As part of this package, we are offering a signing bonus of one hundred thousand dollars upon your acceptance of this agreement. We will also cover your educational expenses to finish your bachelor’s degree and pursue an MBA. Switching your major from engineering to business and finance is not a requirement, but of course, we’d love if you’d be willing to consider it.”

  He flips the page as if I’m reading each line item. I still haven’t moved. I’m not even sure I’ve taken a breath since I sat down.

  “You would be eligible for full benefits immediately, along with performance bonuses on top of what I believe is a competitive base salary. Also…” He leans toward me, elbows on the table, and looks me in the eye. “Ashton, in the interest of full disclosure, I need to tell you that, assuming you reach the potential I see in you, my intentions are to groom you to take over operations one day in my place. This is not a guarantee, of course, but I’d like you to be aware of the expectations I have as you make your decision.”

  He pushes the folder closer to me and straightens. “Please review the details of the offer at your leisure and come back with any questions or modifications you’d like to propose.”

  “Mr. Alexander.” It’s all I can get out. I try to force more but nothing comes as my entire world fades into a strange blur that doesn’t make sense.

  This isn’t real.

  This is… no, because this isn’t the world I live in. There must be a mistake.

  He sighs and rests his arms on the table again, folding his hands. “I should be up front about another fact. You were not my first choice as a successor. That would have been my daughter, Iris, but she’s chosen a different path, and I couldn’t be more proud of her. Her departure left a gaping hole in the future of this company, however, and I didn’t think I’d ever find anyone with the character, aptitude, and determination she would have brought to the organization.

  “But Iris saw something in you from the moment you met, and now it’s abundantly clear to me that what she was seeing were reflections of herself. I’ve poured my soul into building this company and I want to make sure it ends up in the hands of someone who shares my goals and values. Teaching someone how to do something is easy. Finding someone who has the character and fortitude you’ve exhibited in the short time I’ve known you is nearly impossible.

  “I got to where I am because when I see something I want, I go after it, and I haven’t seen raw talent like yours in a long time. I need you at my firm, Ashton, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to convince you to join us. Mr. Morgan, I’m not asking you, I’m begging you to consider working with me to grow the future of the Alexander companies.”

  He flips the folder closed with a crafty smile on his face.

  “Of course you have the option to refuse both offers, but I’m warning you, I plan to pursue you openly and aggressively, so it would really save us both a lot of hassle if you just accept.”

  “Sir, I…” My gaze drops back to the folders, emotion now blocking my words instead of shock.

  “Oh, and one more thing.” He pulls open the folder and points to a line item. “As a condition of your employment, I’m going to have to ask you to resign from any other jobs you may currently have. We’ll need your full concentration as you gain experience and finish your education.”

  I look up at him, clenching my jaw as he blurs through a film of tears. Wiping at my eyes, I pull in a ragged breath as I try to comprehend what’s happening.

  “Sir, I… I don’t even know what to say,” I manage finally.

  He reaches over and squeezes my arm. “May I ask one more favor of you?”

  My eyes lift to his, searching in the dim kitchen light.

  “There’s a girl waiting out in the car who’s been a mess since you disappeared from our lives. Would you consider talking this over with her?”

  Not only does Kyle message Iris and tell her to come in, he also offers to take Braydon back to the house to give us privacy to sort things out. I don’t even get to ask Bray his thoughts when he overhears the offer and shows up in the living room with his shoes on and bathing suit rolled up under his arm.

  “Be a good listener,” I warn him, looking him in the eye. “Pleases and thank yous.”

  “I know, I know,” he huffs. “Mr. Alexander, can we look at your pirate sword again?”

  “Of course, kiddo,” Kyle says, tousling his hair. Bray doesn’t even flinch. Wait, how does Kyle get away with that, and I can’t?

  “I’ll get you… his… booster…” My words get lost when the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen appears in the doorway. I swallow, paralyzed again.

  “I’ll get it,” Kyle says, holding out his hand. I drop my keys in his palm, still staring at Iris whose gaze is locked on me. “Can you show me your brother’s car?” he asks Braydon.

  “Yep!”

  “Great. I’ll put your keys back under the mat,” he says to me.

  And then we’re alone.

  Iris still hasn’t moved more than a few steps into the room. I still haven’t moved period.

  I don’t know how to proceed, what to say to the woman who I keep pushing away and yet keeps coming back. Has anything changed since that fateful night outside the restaurant? Maybe everything’s changed.

  “Dad’s cutting Ivy off until she does sixty hours of community service as a punishment for what she did to you,” Iris says softly.

  I nod, barely hearing her. Something about Ivy. I don’t want to talk about Ivy right now.

  “Iris, I…”

  She takes another step toward me, her gaze running from my hair down to my feet. I can’t read her expression. It keeps changing too quickly for me to interpret what she’s thinking.

  “You look tired, Ash,” she says finally. “Good, but tired.”

  She’s a few steps closer now. When did that happen? It’s like we’re in a vacuum. All the laws of physics have stopped. It would explain so much about this past half hour spent in a parallel dimension.

  Soon she’s right in front of me, smelling like fresh air and flower gardens after a summer rain—like an Iris. She reaches out with a tentative touch on my fingers. When I don’t withdraw, she lifts our hands between us, studying our
bond with a tender expression. Our palms instinctively line up in the open space. As usual, mine dwarfs hers but still complements it perfectly. When our hands shift and our fingers weave together, she releases a sigh I can only describe as relief. I know how she feels. It’s like I can breathe again. Like something that was so completely wrong just a second ago, now feels right.

  “I missed you so much, Ashton,” she whispers. “So much.” She takes another step until we’re almost touching, our hands still linked along with our gazes. “I know it’s hard to live as you, but you have no idea how hard it is to live without you.”

  Tears filter into her eyes, the pain I’ve felt for so long reflecting back at me in small glossy mirrors.

  I shake my head, terrified of this moment. That it might be real. That everything I’ve accepted about myself and my life might be wrong.

  “Good things don’t happen to me, Iris,” I say in a broken voice. “I… I don’t know how to trust this.”

  With a choked cry, she launches into me, and I capture her against my chest. Her arms lock behind my neck as she pulls tight with what must be all her strength, everything she is. I close my eyes and let her warmth seep into me, burning away years of pain and scar tissue. Melting chains and freeing something deep inside.

  Even if nothing else is real, maybe this one moment is enough.

  “If that’s true, then I’m stepping into the fire with you,” she says firmly. “I don’t want to do this without you, Ashton. Please say yes.”

  She pulls back so I can see her face and read her plea for everything it is.

  Say yes.

  Yes to hope.

  Yes to love.

  Yes to a future.

  Yes to letting go of all the reasons I’ve said no.

  “Iris…” I whisper her name like it’s the air keeping me alive for one more day.

  “Ash…”

  She molds her palm to my cheek, brushing her thumb lightly over my lips. It suddenly doesn’t feel right that it’s her finger on my mouth and not her own. I lean down and kiss her, weeks of pent-up longing quickly flaring into a roaring blaze. She moans into the contact, threading her hands in my hair to brace firmer against me. She backs us toward the sofa-bed I hadn’t bothered closing this morning and drags me down on top of her. My hips instinctively find hers, her own arching in a silent plea.