by Mia Ford
Alice rested her head against the window and whistled. “Wow,” she said. “That must have hurt.”
“Can we push past the fact that you think I’m in the middle of some high school crush?” I asked. “I met Ashlyn, liked her a lot, asked her to move back with me, and she refused. End of story. There’s nothing more there.”
“Then why are you acting like a child who can’t get to the cookie jar?”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“I mean, it explains a lot,” Alice said. “The way you looked when I picked you up, the outbursts, the fact that you punched Dennis as if you’d caught him sleeping with your wife.”
“He did worse than that.”
“Be that as it may,” Alice countered, “you are definitely not yourself. And it’s pretty clear why.”
I didn’t answer her, but a part of me knew she had a point. I had believed I could somehow bottle my feelings until I solved things in the company. I had convinced myself that I could push Ashlyn back to the darkest recesses of my mind, handle my business, and then circle back to her, if I wanted to. But she had been on my mind all through the drive back, last night and even this morning. I couldn’t stop thinking about her, and in a way, I didn’t feel like that was so bad.
It was definitely throwing me off my game, but it wasn’t bad.
I rapped my knuckles on the thick glass, watching the lights of Austin and wondering if the stars outside Ashlyn’s house were this beautiful tonight.
“Well, it’s all under the rug now. No use talking about it.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean, why?” I asked. “I just told you, she doesn’t want to come to Austin.”
“And when has that ever stopped you?” Alice asked. “For as long as I’ve known you, the one thing I could always bet my money on was if Chance Ridder wanted something, he would go through hell or high storm to get it.”
“You can force someone to move from their home, Alice.”
“Then bring home to her.”
I frowned at her, wondering what the hell she was talking about. The look on my face must have been amusing, because Alice laughed and shook her head at me.
“You saved your company today, Chance,” she said. “And did away with the guy who was trying to screw you over. If anybody can convince some silly country girl to move to Austin to live with a billionaire, it’s you.”
“Again, it’s not that easy.”
“Then you’re a fool,” she said.
“Not helping.”
“If she doesn’t want to leave Ludwig, then why don’t you go there?” Alice asked.
“Are you out of your mind?” I scoffed. “Look what happened when I left for a couple of days. You want me to relocate?”
“Not relocate,” she said. “Commute. You don’t have to be here every day, and you don’t have to be there every day. In a couple of weeks, everything here will be back to normal, and you can plan it all better. Maybe even set up an operational branch out of Ludwig.”
“Business advice, Alice? Really?”
“Relationship advice,” she replied, “because you sound like you have no idea what to do beyond the skimpy brunette or the bimbo blonde you’re used to screwing around with.”
I smiled.
“Think about it,” she said. “We already have a unit in Houston. Open a smaller one in Ludwig. Better yet, build a company retreat there so you can write it all off. I doubt the cost would even put a dent into the company’s finances.”
No, it wouldn’t, and she wasn’t too far off. The only problem was, I had no idea if Ashlyn would want to pursue anything even if I did return to Ludwig. She had made it pretty clear that she was angry at me, and for some reason, she seemed like the kind of girl who didn’t easily forgive and forget. No matter how she felt about me.
Then call her and find out.
“I’ll think about it,” I said.
“Sure you will,” Alice said. “Just call her tomorrow, okay? You’ve been through enough today, and your mood doesn’t necessarily promise affection.”
“I said, I’ll think about it, that’s all,” I lied, and I could tell she knew. “Let’s just get this Dennis thing out of the way.”
“You’re the boss,” Alice said, placing an encouraging hand on my arm and squeezing gently. “Just don’t screw this up because you’re scared to take a chance, okay? Worst case scenario, a little heartbreak might actually bring out your humane side.” I laughed, and she rubbed my shoulder and turned to leave. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
She was almost out of the office when I remembered something. “By the way, we might need to meet with the lawyers in the morning again.”
“Why?”
“I may have to deal with another lawsuit,” I said. “I kinda went to town on a guy in Ludwig, and he’s probably going to sue.”
“No lack of excitement for you,” Alice said. “What happened?”
“He started it,” I smiled. “I finished it.”
“Chance?”
“Ashlyn’s ex-husband wasn’t too fond of the two of us hanging out together,” I explained. “He tried to show me how displeased he was, and I showed him how much I didn’t care.”
Alice smiled. “And you said you don’t fall for anyone?”
“Good night, Alice,” I said, turning to look back at the skyline. “Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.”
“Good night, Chance. I’m glad you’re home.”
* * *
I woke up the next morning to a message from Alice saying that the lawyers thought it would be in my best interest if I did not show up in the office today. Followed by a promise that everything was under control, she ended the message with a little reminder that I had some calls to make and plans to think about in regard to future business expansion in Ludwig, Texas.
I knew what she was talking about, and honestly felt like I could use a day of solitude, but the mere fact that I would be alone with my thoughts for hours until she came back to me with an update worried me. I eyed my bar, contemplated whether or not to make myself a drink, then decided that it was a little too early for that.
I spent most of the day lounging around on the couch. My phone was on silent, the constant notifications bothering me, and I had decided to ignore calls from numbers I didn’t know after the first two proved to be reporters bombarding me with questions. Around midday, Alice sent me a message about preparing a statement for the press, and I gratefully took to the task with vigor.
The truth was, since the moment I had gotten out of bed, I could not stop thinking of Ashlyn.
I finished my press statement a lot faster than I had anticipated and emailed it in, knowing well that Alice would probably hack away at it until it was ‘press appropriate’. With that I made my way into the kitchen, rummaged through the refrigerator and pantry, and began to cook. I had given Pauline the day off, and even though it was nice to not have anyone bothering me, I felt odd having to do things for myself for once. I had always loved to cook, but with how much time the company took from me, that little hobby had died away with most of everything else. I slowly began to get into the rhythm of things, humming as I worked.
I ate my lunch alone, every now and then checking my phone and convincing myself that I just wanted to make sure I didn’t miss anything important. The reality, of course, was that a part of me was hoping Ashlyn would contact me, a message, maybe a call, anything to let me know that I wasn’t the only one wondering if there was still a chance to make whatever it was we had work. I brought up her contact two or three times, but never could bring myself to do anything more than stare at her picture before swiping back to the main menu.
You’re going to give yourself a heart attack just by thinking about it.
Which was true. I had never been this flustered in my life, never this unsure as to whether or not I should do something. What was the worst that could happen? That she wouldn’t answer? And what if sh
e did? Wouldn’t that at least give me some closure, one way or the other?
It was driving me crazy.
Fighting the urge to pour myself another drink, I decided I’d take a walk around the block to get my mind off things. Besides, it was a good start to what should have been the beginning of my exercise regimen. I got dressed in running gear I had not used in forever, took the elevator downstairs, and stepped out into the warm breeze of the late afternoon.
The walk proved fruitless, though. No matter how much I tried to busy myself with my surroundings, staring at products I didn’t need in store windows or making small talk with the barista while ordering coffee, I still couldn’t get my mind off Ashlyn. I imagined her in her green house, checking off orders on her pad, driving that truck of hers to the motel and other stops to deliver flowers, arranging lilies in rooms where I no longer stayed in. I pictured her at the diner, eating a burger by herself, maybe having a cup of coffee before making the drive back home and calling it a day.
And I imagined her smile. Her eyes, looking at me from over her shoulder. Her blonde locks framing her face and glowing in the morning sun. I imagined her touch on my arm, the way her head fit perfectly against my shoulder, and her entire body seemed like a puzzle piece that connected seamlessly with mine. I imagined her kissing me, sighing against my lips, melting in my grip. I imagined what it would be like to wake up next to her every day.
My phone ringing brought me back from my reverie, and I balanced my coffee cup on a park fence while I answered.
“Where are you?” Alice asked, sounding tired yet cheerful enough to give me hope.
“Out for a run, well, a walk,” I said. “Needed to stretch my legs.”
“You do know that every news channel in Texas is trying to get a hold of you, right?”
“I can handle them,” I said.
“Just don’t punch anyone, okay?” Alice warned. “We have enough on our plates as is.”
“I thought we could use a few more challenges,” I joked.
“We definitely cannot.”
I smiled. “What’s the update?”
“Well, in so far, your girlfriend’s been very helpful,” Alice said. “Her ex-husband is definitely suing, but with him breaking his restraining order and a bunch of other issues, that should be resolved pretty quickly. Actually, I’m surprised he even decided to sue.”
Because no one’s ever said no to them before, that’s why.
“And Dennis?”
“A little more complicated,” Alice remarked, but her voice said otherwise. “We offered him a settlement, but he still wants to go to court. Which the lawyers think is great.”
“Why?”
“Well, let’s just say some digging’s been going on, and there’s enough dirt on Dennis, including shady business deals under the umbrella of Ridder Technology, that will put him behind bars for quite a while. We let him sue, then fire back with our guns.”
I paused. “Bring him in tomorrow morning, and we’ll have a chat,” I said. “When he knows what we have on him, he’ll drop his case and do whatever we ask him to. There’s no need to drag him through the mud.”
“Are you serious? You’re willing to let him get away with trying to steal the company from you? I thought you would have Miles out digging his grave somewhere about now.”
I clicked my tongue and considered what I had just said. “Life’s too short. I don’t need the stress of an ugly trial, even if it meant burying Dennis in the dirt for good.”
“You really have changed, haven’t you?”
“Is that all?” I asked, unwilling to go through another round of Ludwig’s effects on my personality.
“Just one more thing,” Alice said. “Have you called Ashlyn Carter?”
“Alice, not the time, really,” I protested.
“Are you going to call her?”
I sighed and dropped my head. I had been wrestling with that all day, and still hadn’t made up my mind. “Please. Seriously.”
“Okay, I’ll stop nagging,” Alice said.
“Thank you.”
“Just don’t keep pushing it until it’s too late.”
“Good bye, Alice,” I said and hung up.
I walked back to my building, Alice’s words ringing in the back of my head. She had a point. If I kept putting this off for too long, whatever advantage I would have had with Ashlyn would be gone. I rode the elevator to the penthouse, my phone in my hand and Ashlyn’s number ready under my thumb, just waiting for me to press down on the call button. I didn’t manage to gather up enough courage to do it until I was inside my penthouse with a cold bottle of water in my hand and the setting sun in my face.
The phone rang for what seemed like forever, and eventually I got her voice mail. It felt nice to hear her voice, even if it was a recorded message, and when it ended with that annoying beep tone, I hung and dialed again. She didn’t answer then either, and I hung up before the voice mail picked up, frustrated and, in a way, embarrassed.
You just have to come to terms with the fact that she’s trying to move on. It’s over.
Only, I didn’t feel like it was. I didn’t want to accept it. I had a feeling that if I could somehow manage to talk to her, maybe even drive down to Ludwig and see her, I’d be able to fix this. I could convince her to give this a shot, whatever this was. She didn’t need to come to Austin; I’d figure something out.
Alice’s idea popped up in my head, and I mulled it over for a few minutes before picking up my phone again and dialing.
“Hank’s Garage,” came a familiar voice on the other end of the line.
“Hank, hi, it’s Chance Ridder.”
“Mr. Ridder,” Hank greeted with a chuckle. “My, my, didn’t expect to be hearin’ from you so soon. What can I do for you?”
“I’m interested in commercial real estate,” I replied. “Can you recommend a commercial realtor in Ludwig?”
“Hell, Mr. Ridder, there ain’t no such thing as a commercial realtor in Ludwig,” Hank said. “Hell, we ain’t even got a non-commercial one.”
“Well then, maybe you can help me out,” I said with a smile. “I’m looking for a space where I can locate a field office for my company.”
“A field office? In Ludwig?”
“Yes, something large enough to accommodate say, a dozen people or so,” I said, talking right out of my ass because I hadn’t given it that much thought. “Something on the main road with good visibility, one the ground floor.”
Hank went silent for a second, and I could almost see him leaning back on his heels with his eyes closed, deep in thought. “Only two places come to mind, but they’re pretty bent out of shape, need heavy renovations,” he finally said. “But they’re more shops than office spaces. That’s really all you can find on the ground level on Main Street. Nothing big enough for an office for a dozen people though.”
“That’s fine,” I said, my mind racing with the possibilities. “Could you find out what’s available, the cost, that sort of thing, and get back to me? I’ll make it worth your while. And it’s important that no one in Ludwig know that I’m looking.”
“Sure, my lips are sealed,” Hank said. There was a short silence before he continued, “If you don’t mind me askin’, Mr. Ridder, but why would you want to open an office in a town like Ludwig?”
I smiled to myself.
“Let’s just say Ludwig left a lasting impression on me.”
Chapter 16: Ashlyn
Life was slow in Ludwig during the fall. There was a lot less to do, and people were just generally lazy, with the urgency levels hovering dangerously low. And in this town, that meant something. It was almost as if life had come to a complete stand still.
My business always took a hit during the winter months, and every year around this time, I usually tried to get all possible repairs and renovations done while I still had the cash for it. The boiler at home was in dire need for replacement, and the truck was groaning with all sorts of ailments. I
had to run my numbers this weekend at the latest, or risk having to find a part time job to help me push through December and January.
I pulled up into my regular parking space at the motel, climbed out of my truck and made a quick dash for the office. The winds had begun to slightly pick up, and they had this way of finding their way through every layer of clothing I wore, sending chills up and down my spine.
The office was empty, and I immediately made my way to the coffee pot and turned it on. I waited patiently for the pot to fill, placing my hands against the glass in an effort to warm them a bit, closing my eyes to the pleasurable feeling of heat snaking up my arms and spreading through me.
I looked to the couch on my left, and immediately pictured Chance sitting there, smile on his face while he flipped through decades old magazines strewn across the coffee table.
I shook my head, trying to get rid of the image. It had been almost eight weeks since I had watched that limo drive out of the motel, taking Chance with it. In the time between then and the last time we actually spoke, I had spent more time in bed than I had in my entire life. His absence hurt, and the fact that I had let him go had hurt even more. I had tried my best to act nonchalant about it all, to wear the perfect fake smile that I knew wasn’t fooling anyone, especially Martha, every time I came to the motel. I had tried to ignore the voice inside my head that was begging me to call him, or answer his calls, or at the very least text him back. It had taken a will of steel, and had ripped me from inside like my soul had been put through a shredder.