“It will just be Mum again telling me to get over there, and talk to the guests that she invited. Dad had the best plan; he flew out of the country this afternoon. There’s probably going to be about five people that I actually want to talk to at this thing.” He grumbled, and Lucy smiled softly, as he pouted again.
“The sooner we get over there, the sooner it can be finished.” Lucy told him encouragingly.
“Yeah, I guess, let’s go.”
They got to their feet, and Ash reluctantly led Lucy back to the mansion that he hated. Lights blazed brightly from every window, while music seemed loud enough to set the windows at a shudder. Lucy sent Ash a look laced with humour at the raucous noise coming from the pool.
He rolled his eyes at her, his fingers tightening in hers, as they walked back through the elaborate doors that led to the inside. People were everywhere, seeming to crowd every inch of space. Nobody noticed their entrance, except for Farrah. She rushed over to them, shoving Lucy out of the way, as she grabbed Ash’s arm possessively.
“What took you so long? What is with this outfit? You look like a hick,” Farrah exclaimed, and Lucy let out a snort of laughter at her overly dramatic words.
“I’m not changing,” he told her, reaching for Lucy’s hand, but Farrah stood between them.
“Yes, you are. Sally dear…” Farrah turned away to wave at the stylist, who had been watching them closely.
“Stop it, Mum, I’m eighteen, and you know what? I can dress myself.” Ash hissed under his breath to his mother who just ignored him.
He quickly grabbed Lucy’s hand, and pulled her out of the room, while Farrah wandered over to talk to Sally. He marched them out by the pool area, and stood fuming beneath one of the canopies. His face cleared suddenly, and Lucy noticed that he was staring at a group of people crowded around the spa. He let out a sigh, a smile appearing on his face, as he walked towards them while towing Lucy with him.
“Familiar faces at last,” he muttered to himself. “Hey, you guys!” He called out to the group of five, who turned to him with broad grins and greetings of their own.
Lucy recognised them straight away; they were quite a popular band. She strained her mind to try to think of their names, and failed miserably. Ash traded high fives with all of them, including the girl of the group, as they watched Lucy with keen interest.
“And this is?” One of them gestured to Lucy.
“This is my girlfriend, Lucy,” Ash turned to her with a smile, which she tried to return.
“So singer, dancer, or actor?” The same guy asked Lucy with a friendly grin.
“Hate to disappoint you, but none of the above. Horse rider extraordinaire better suits me,” she sent a smirk to Ash, who just let out a groan.
“You are never going to let me live that down are you?” Ash rolled his eyes at her.
“Hell, no, I should’ve recorded it.” She said with an evil little chuckle. She noticed the stares intensified at her words, and she couldn’t figure it out.
“So care to introduce me?” Lucy asked pointedly to Ash.
“Now I get it, you’re the girl he wrote that latest number one hit about.” One of them piped up, and Lucy nodded, there was no use denying an obvious truth.
“Okay, enough leave her alone,” Ash said gruffly before pointing to the first guy that had spoken. “That’s Daniel.” He was what Lucy would call a pretty boy, all smooth skin and freshly tousled hair.
“Pleased to meet the elusive, Lucy.” Daniel sent her a cheeky wink.
“Quinn.” Ash pointed to the tough looking guy with dark hair and eyes, which came complete with a scowl.
“Hey.” Quinn muttered.
“Mike,” this guy smiled at her and waved enthusiastically, as he shouted out a greeting “Lee.” He quirked an eyebrow at her, but offered his hand to shake, which she gratefully accepted.
“Nice to finally meet that girl that inspired that song.” Lee said with a hint of humour in his eyes.
“And lastly Miranda.” The girl was tall and stunning with wavy dark hair and big brown eyes. She looked at Lucy only briefly, before turning her eyes straight to Ash.
“I’ve missed you, Martin. I sent you those concert tickets and you never turned up,” Miranda sent Ash a sexy pout, while he shifted uncomfortably.
“I have a girlfriend now, Miranda. I can’t just drop things and come running to you.” Ash told the other girl firmly.
Miranda tapped her long, brightly painted fingernails against the spa edge, and sent Ash an incredibly intimate look. It looked like Lucy knew who the other ex-girlfriend was besides Yolanda now.
“So, Miss Lucy, I want to hear all about you.” Lee asked, as he propped his hand under his chin, and smiled at her with avid interest.
She talked and grew to know Ash’s friends more. All the guys had been immensely friendly and funny, but Miranda had stormed off a lot earlier. Lucy learnt that Ash used to have singing lessons with the four guys a couple of years ago, and they had been rather close friends since.
She watched a much more relaxed Ash engage with his friends. She realised that he had the kind of relationship with them that she had with Ren and Col. The only thing she found odd, was that they only knew him as Martin not Ash at all, from what she could see.
It wasn’t until a commotion by the large doors distracted them, when Lucy realised they had been sitting out there talking for ages. Everyone looked over at the fuming brunette, who sent a death glare straight to Lucy. Mindy Taylor stood, in all her sequined glory, keeping everyone silent, as they watched expectantly to see what would happen.
“Boyfriend stealer!” The girl’s icy blue eyes glared at Lucy, who could only smirk in response.
“How could it be stealing if he was never your boyfriend?” Lucy said with a chuckle, which only seemed to infuriate the other girl.
“He was!” Mindy stated furiously.
“No. you just made up some stories to make it seem like he was. It doesn’t mean that they were true,” Lucy said simply, as the girl stalked closer to her.
“Mindy, you are being ridiculous. Stop embarrassing yourself when you know we have only ever been friends,” Ash told her sharply.
“She stole you from me! You took me to the charity gala, and then she stole you,” Mindy insisted, which made Lucy laugh aloud.
“Actually, I already had him long before that.” Lucy replied smugly.
Lucy knew it was coming; she had been waiting for the other girl to make the first move. When the hand went to slap her, Lucy quickly deflected it away. She grabbed the girls arm, and twisted it up behind her back. Mindy squealed crazily, as she struggled, but Lucy kept a tight grip.
The only noises in the room, over Mindy's squeals were two female voices. Lucy turned her head in the direction of the sound and gasped. Her mother stood there dressed immaculately, with a superior expression on her face. The evil glint in her eye sent a shaft of dread along Lucy’s spine. When Farrah walked up to her mother, and greeted her with a hug, Lucy knew that she was in big trouble.
Chapter 25 – Giant cakes and stupid people
"It's okay, Belle, let Mindy go, and then we can get out of here," Lucy heard the words from a distance, but couldn't respond. A hand reached out to touch her gently, but she could only whimper.
"Martin, wouldn't you like to meet our new guest?" Farrah’s voice sounded above all the others.
Lucy turned to look at her. She took in a harsh breath, and snapped back to where she was. She sent a disgusted look towards her mother, before releasing the still protesting Mindy.
"Come here, Belle," she turned at Ash's words, and let him pull her back into his embrace. His arms wrapped around her tightly, and she realised that he was shaking with anger "Hello Crystal, I bet you're proud of yourself," Ash said sharply, looking towards the two older women.
"I did figure out your little secret, although what you see in my daughter is beyond me," gasps filled the air, when Crystal's words spewed from her mouth,
and Ash let out a little growl. Lucy reached up, and tightened her fingers around his.
"I can't believe you, Mum! This is the lowest thing that you have ever done," Ash looked towards his mother, who appeared slightly guilty. "Then again, I did something even lower today that you haven't even realised yet." He let out a sardonic laugh, and Farrah looked worried, before straightening back up and sending him a haughty look.
"And what would that be?" Farrah asked, sweeping her hair back from her face elegantly.
"You once told me to not trust lawyers, and yet, you walked in and signed those papers today without question. That was a stupid move, mother of mine." Ash sent her a grim smile.
"What have you done?" Farrah's voice went cold, edged with nerves.
"I've cut you off. You have nothing, but this house. No more handouts for your crazy spending, no more living off my money." Ash said sternly, and his mother gasped.
"No!" Farrah sounded aghast.
"Yes," Ash sent her a fierce look. "Now, I'm glad that I did. I've debated it for a long time, but the fact that you let this woman into my house, anywhere near Lucy is the most appalling thing that you could have done." Ash shouted at his mother, who cringed away from him. Crystal meanwhile sent a grimace towards Lucy.
"It seems that you've been telling tales?" Crystal said snidely, but Lucy could see a glimmer of fear at the back of her mother’s eyes.
"No, she told me the truth. Don't think that I haven't heard about the accident or the video for that matter. My question is, if her family think it wasn't an accident, then how did you get away with it?" Ash sent the question straight to Crystal, and she flinched.
"It's just a story that she made up." Crystal said airily.
"I might believe that, if I hadn't seen the way Lucy reacts to you. Get out of my house, and believe me, you will never be welcome here." He pointed fiercely towards the front door.
Crystal looked around at all the eyes watching her, none of which seemed welcoming. She stood at her tallest, and looked with hatred at her daughter. How was she wrapped up snugly in the arms of a celebrity? That should be her! Her stupid daughter didn't deserve such luck!
"Ah, but I know who you are now, and that’s something I'm pretty sure you don't want the world to know about." Crystal said defiantly.
"Are you really threatening me? In my own home? With this many witnesses?" He asked with a sly chuckle, and Crystal looked shocked. "You see, I no longer care what the whole world knows about me. As long as Lucy knows the truth, that’s all I need." He told her smugly.
Crystal’s mouth gaped open in shock at his words, she had lost her fear factor with this one celebrity, and it seemed that she had no advantage here. She sent another fierce glare to her daughter, before she marched from the room, and out of the house. She would get her revenge, she wasn’t sure how just yet, but there was no way Lucy McConnell would win over her.
Silence surrounded the pool area after Crystal’s hasty departure. Ash pulled Lucy even closer to him, cradling her in his warmth. Everyone else stared at them, not knowing how to respond.
The people that knew Ash well felt shocked at the intensity of the anger he had just displayed. Even after the rehab debacle, he had never seemed this full of rage. The others, mostly who Farrah had invited, didn’t have a clue as to what was going on, but continued watching the drama unfolding.
“Are you okay, Belle?” Ash asked, and for the longest time, there was no response.
“I guess I’ll be alright,” She finally spoke. “Thank you for that, but you know it won’t stop her,”
“It doesn’t matter, I meant every word,” he whispered in her ear, and she felt tears at the edge of her vision at the support he always gave her.
“I’m waiting, Martin,” Farrah’s voice intruded on their quiet moment, and Ash steeled himself to face his own mother.
“For what?” Ash snarled at her.
“The truth.” She replied firmly.
“Did you really think that that was an act for Crystal’s benefit? I already told you the truth.” He stared down at his mother who twitched her fingers together nervously.
“You really wouldn’t do that… would you?” Her eyes went wide, as Ash nodded his head.
“You invited a child abuser here. It makes me think that I shouldn’t even give you this house.” He spat the words at her confused face.
“I don’t understand.” She stammered out.
“Do you remember calling Lucy a thief earlier today?” He snapped, and she nodded at his words, her face paling even further. “That’s because Crystal made her steal, or she would beat Lucy up. You more than anyone else should know how false rumours can be.”
Ash sent a sly look to a tall man in the crowd, his mother's lover. No papers had caught hold of it, because Ash had kept paying them off. Farrah looked away from her son, her face flushing, while her expression flooded with guilt.
“I didn’t know that about Crystal.” She whispered regretfully.
“No, very few do,” Lucy said with a shake of her head. “I don’t want to talk about her anymore. Can we please go?” She turned to Ash, who nodded decisively.
“No, don’t go yet. C'mon, we haven’t even had cake,” Daniel said, trying to add some cheerfulness into what had become a rather dire situation. He sent Lucy a pleading look that was up there with Ash’s, as being ridiculously hard to say no to.
“Oh, alright. Quit giving me that look.” Lucy swatted a hand towards the other guy, who just grinned cheekily.
“Are you sure?” Ash asked quietly.
“Yeah, you haven’t seen them for ages; our night shouldn’t be spoiled by her, again.” Lucy insisted.
“You don’t think you’ll… you know.” He sent her a worried look.
“I can’t promise anything, Ash, but to be honest, I’m not really that worried about her. That’s the first time I’ve ever seen anyone send her away like that, except my Dad.” She said with her voice tinged with pride for him.
“C'mon, it’s cake time.” One of the guys teased from behind them, as people started making their way inside.
“In a minute,” Ash pointed at his mother to stay. “I have something that needs dealing with first.” Lucy sent Ash a puzzled look, but stayed where she was with him.
People walked past, sending them peculiar glances. Lucy could almost feel them judging her, against everything that they had heard tonight. She stiffened her spine, and stared them down, not willing to admit defeat to any of them.
Nick, who had been hanging back in the crowd, walked over to them with an incredibly worried expression on his face. Lucy had to commend him for how different he was, to the guy that she had first met. He always seemed to look out for both of them now, and she had started to appreciate him immensely.
“Are you two alright?” He asked, looking between them.
“Fine, thanks,” Lucy replied sending him the best smile that she could produce. He nodded at them, and went to walk away.
“Nick, have you been to my place recently?” Ash asked, gesturing towards his cottage. Nick sent him a puzzled look, and shook his head.
“I guess you and Josh have been using my place as your getaway?” Ash turned his head back to his mother, who blushed bright red at the mention of her lover’s name.
“It was empty,” Farrah answered defensively.
“I’m done here,” Ash snarled, before following Nick inside. Lucy chased after him, feeling the fury rolling off him. “Get rid of the people in that house that I don’t know.” He muttered to Sam his bodyguard, who had been watching him carefully.
“Will do,” Sam concurred, as he marched into the room.
“Ashton, please, give me one moment.” Farrah called out, but Ash ignored her.
His mates stood around the elaborate cake expectantly. They began cheering, and he found his temper easing. With the room slowly emptying, Ash felt relief gush through him. He watched Lucy carefully, but she seemed to be coping with things fine. He al
ways worried that she would have a black out whenever she saw that hideous woman.
“Come to the cake, birthday boy,” Lee taunted with a waggle of his eyebrows, and a real smile filled Ash’s face.
“Remember the last cake we had?” Lucy chortled, and Ash let out a laugh.
“Yeah, how about we just have a slice of this one,” Ash teased.
“I’m hoping its chocolate,” She showed him her crossed fingers, which he couldn’t help but laugh at, as he gave her a hug.
“You are so obsessed.” He muttered into her hair, as he leaned down to kiss the top of her head.
“Yep, you know it.” She threw back at him, feeling glad that this time her mother’s normal escapades were not worrying her. In fact, she felt surprisingly free and liberated at the way she had left.
One of the waitresses had begun walking around the room, and handing out drinks to the remaining people. Lucy accepted her flute of champagne with a puzzled look and a shrug.
“Well looks like it's speech time first!” Daniel shouted, as he stood up and faced everyone. “To the youngest of us to bloom, welcome to the real world.”
Everybody clinked their glasses, before someone else stood up. All of his mates made a big joke of their speeches, getting more elaborate as they went along. By the end of it, everyone was howling with laughter, while Ash appeared completely embarrassed. Lucy finally stood up, and everyone went quiet.
“To the guy I love that will never be able to ride a horse,” she tipped her glass at Ash, who let out a groan at her cheeky smirk. All the guys sent him questioning looks, but he just shook his head. “Can we please have cake now?” She pleaded, as warmth spread through her at the sip of champagne she had.
“Nope, for that comment, there is no cake for you,” Ash crossed his arm, and sent her a fake hurt look, while Lucy stared at him affronted.
“Alright, I will make a better one.” She said determinedly, as she stood back up and tipped her glass.
I Met Her On the Balcony Page 26