“A nice touch. Monogrammed? What does ALB stand for?”
“Ashton Lin Blackthorne,” I smiled at her. She was truly stunning. Her blonde hair was silky and long spilling down her back. Her lips were full, sensual, and wet with a touch of red gloss. Her body was phenomenal as evidenced in her tight blue sweater and slim black skirt. She was wearing very high heels showing off perfectly long slim legs.
She smiled briefly. Sadness colored her pretty eyes which were lined expertly with black liner.
“Nice to meet you, Ashton.”
“You can call me Ash. And you are?”
“Brooke.” I saw a spark of interest in her eyes, but then she turned her attention back to her corsets.
“Why were you crying, Brooke?”
She handed me back my handkerchief appearing disinterested.
“Keep it. I have a million of them.” I shrugged turning away. If that’s the way she wanted to play it….
As I walked away, I heard her heels clicking behind me.
That always worked.
“Ash, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ignore you. It’s just…I broke up with my boyfriend a few days. He was cheating on me with another girl. I thought that by coming here and picking something out it would make me feel better. It’s just…not…”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Men can be such assholes. How long were you two together?”
She laid her corset selections on the rack in front of us.
“About two years. I dated him throughout college. Turns out he’d been fucking my former sorority sister for six months!”
I shook my head with sympathy.
“It’s his loss. You’re gorgeous. I’m sure you’ll have guys lining up to take his place.”
She sighed and shrugged.
“That’s why I’m here. I actually have a blind date tonight and I want to look fabulous, but I’m not sure what to wear, you know, underneath my clothes.”
From where I was standing she looked phenomenal. Lucky guy.
But from my experience luck isn’t given it’s taken.
Casually, I picked up a few of the corsets she’d been looking at. One was a black satin one with a bra attached. Black garters hung from the corset. I could envision her bent over pulling silky sheer black stockings over her long legs one leg perched on a chair her tits hanging lushly….
She carefully studied my face as I ran my hand over the silky material.
“I know this is probably a stupid question, but you’re handsome and sexy. You know what men like. Could you maybe…no, it’s stupid…forget it.”
Brooke blushed furiously as she turned her face from me. I grinned inwardly. I knew exactly what she wanted.
And what I wanted.
“No, it’s fine. What is it you wanted to ask me?” I handed her the corset back.
Glancing down at the corset in her hands, she smiled.
“Would you mind giving me your opinion on this?”
I stiffened up a bit feeling my cock lurch at the thought.
“Certainly. Do you mean--?”
“Follow me into the dressing room. Watch me try it on.”
She shook out her blonde hair as she awaited my reply.
“Of course, I’d be happy to help.” I winked at her.
As we walked towards the dressing room together, she stopped.
“Wait a second, I don’t even know you! You must think I’m some sort of depraved slut. I just met you I can’t do this.”
I reached for arm.
“Brooke, we’re just talking about me giving you a male opinion of your lingerie selection not anything else, right?”
A tiny smile played on her lips and she nodded.
“Okay then. Follow me.” She curled her forefinger at me.
I loved this store for several reasons. For one, it had an amazing selection of sexy lingerie. Secondly, it had a spacious dressing room.
Walking into the dimly lit dressing room, I patiently sat down on the velvet backed chair. Brooke smiled nervously as she slipped her clothes off. As I watched her undress, I felt my cock pressing hard against my pants. She reached behind her back to unclasp her bra. It fell away from her breasts sliding down her arms. They were magnificent. I smiled broadly crossing my legs to disguise my erection.
Suddenly, I caught a glimpse of a white gold chain around her neck. There was something dangling from it between her breasts. As I peered closer, my heart caught in my throat.
It was an antique rose gold locket nearly identical to the one I’d given Veronica on our first anniversary.
The one I’d had inscribed with the word, ‘Mine’.
My mouth felt dry as I attempted to speak. Brooke continued undressing until she noticed my expression.
“What’s wrong, Ash?”
My focus remained on the necklace.
“Nothing. Where did you get that necklace?”
She looked down at the locket and held it between her fingers.
“My father gave it to me. It belonged to my mother.”
The room seemed to be closing in on me. Just the words my mother sent chills down my spine.
I loosened my tie in an attempt to breathe better. Suddenly, all I wanted to do was escape from that dressing room.
Brooke leaned over to caress my hair.
“Ash, are you okay? Is it me?”
I shook my head. She continued to run her hands down my chest over my shirt. When she reached my cock, I pushed her away.
Her face reddened and she looked hurt.
“I’m sorry. I thought that…”
Abruptly, I stood up. Now when I looked at her all I could think of was Veronica.
Brushing her cheek with a light kiss, I opened the door.
“Don’t be sorry, it’s not you. I just can’t. All I can think of my is ex-girlfriend. That necklace…it looks exactly like the one I gave her.” The words tumbled from my mouth before I could stop them.
She nodded clutching her clothes to her chest.
“I have to go. Good luck on your date tonight. He’s a lucky guy.” With that, I raced from the store.
As usual, Fifth Avenue was teeming with people. I hardly glanced at anyone as I made my way back to my car. Why was this happening now? I hadn’t seen or spoken to Veronica in nearly four years, but after seeing Brooke in that necklace all I could think of was her. Every blonde I saw looked like Veronica.
Jumping into my car, I pushed the ignition button. I had to get out of the city. Driving aimlessly for hours, I finally reached my destination, the beach house in Hyannis.
I got out of the car and walked down to the beach. It was a clear night with the stars glittering in the sky. Without a thought to my expensive suit, I knelt down in the sand. This was where Veronica and I shared our first kiss. Picking up the sand I let it fall through my fingertips like I let Veronica fall from my grasp.
Was it always going to be this way for me? Would I never be able to feel love? All because of the way my mother left me?
I pounded the sand with my fists. I screamed out over the roar of the ocean.
Fuck!
I couldn’t stand this terrible war raging within me. I wanted to see Veronica again. To feel her in my arms once more. Maybe then it would be different.
As I turned to go into the house, I glanced once more up at the sky. Maybe wherever Veronica was in the world tonight she too was looking up at the same sky. If wishes do come true, maybe we would find ourselves together again on this beach.
And this time I would never let her go.
5
S
traightening my tie, I headed to the office of Ronald James. It was pretty clever for them to purchase the stocks under the name RJ Investments. The real name of Ronald James’ company was Peterman, Vogel, and James. Now that I knew Veronica was behind this I prepared myself to go head to head with her father.
Ronald James was another old slick bastard. He never liked me much even before Veronica and I broke up. He was old money and resent
ed ‘nouveau riche ’ as he’d called my father. He’d always wanted Veronica to marry a Vanderbilt or a Kennedy, in other words anyone who wasn’t me.
I pulled my Aston Martin up to the valet and tossed him the key. I ducked into the men’s room and ran my hands through my hair. It had been six years since my last encounter with Veronica which had ended just as badly as our break up. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to face her again.
I had been named a partner with Harold and Jeremy Goldstein. Taking my new assistant, Amber out for a drink seemed appropriate. As Amber and I walked into the lobby of the Core Club, all eyes were on us. This wasn’t unusual as I always seemed to turn heads. I thought perhaps this time it was Amber as she was absolutely stunning, but as a hush fell over the crowded bar I realized it wasn’t because Amber was with me.
It was because the Wall Street Journal had made my partnership with Goldstein front page news.
“Ash, everyone is staring at us,” Amber whispered holding my arm.
“That’s because you’re breathtakingly beautiful,” I whispered back.
Amber rolled her eyes. She glanced down at a neighboring table and saw the cover of the Journal.
“Look, Ash. Have you seen this?”
I shrugged. I looked at the Journal every day.
“No, look at the bottom right. It’s you.”
I snatched the paper from her and right there on the front cover was my picture next to Harold and Jeremy Goldstein.
I sat back stunned. It was another one of my dreams coming true. Sadly, it was too late. I had always wanted my father to share this day with me, but he had passed away last year after a brutal battle with pancreatic cancer.
“I only wish my father could’ve seen this.” The words escaped my lips before I could stop them.
Amber’s full lips turned downward.
“I’m so sorry for your loss.” She squeezed my hand.
I waved my other hand dismissively.
“It was last year. Pancreatic cancer. I’m all right now.” I signaled the waitress to bring us drinks.
When the waitress returned instead of bringing us the champagne I’d ordered, she placed a bottle of Macallan 25 on the table along with some glasses.
“Excuse me, miss, but I didn’t order this. I asked for a bottle of your finest champagne.”
She smiled and winked.
“Compliments of the lovely woman at the end of the bar.” She gestured to the figure of a petite, shapely woman clad in a deep blue dress.
As the woman turned in profile, I nearly fell out of my chair. That exquisite profile, the mass of spun gold hair, the hair that could only belong to one woman.
Veronica.
“Who is that?” Amber asked following my gaze. “She’s beautiful.”
I nodded and gulped down a glass of the fine scotch. I knew Veronica would be coming over to our table. I had no idea what I would say to her or what she might say to me. It had been four years since our breakup and I hadn’t heard a word from her.
As I finished my second glass, I looked up to meet Veronica’s incredible blue eyes. She was as gorgeous as ever. Her long hair was swept back from her face and caught high at the crown with a cluster of curls tumbling down to brush her bare shoulders. Her dress matched her eyes perfectly. It was strapless and daring, revealing a great deal of her cleavage. Sparkling diamond earrings swung from her lobes.
“Veronica, how wonderful to see you. Thank you for the scotch.” I extended my hand towards her.
She flashed her eyebrows up at me for a moment. Then she smiled taking my hand.
“Ash, I’m surprised to see you this evening. I would’ve thought you’d have been celebrating with your date in a quiet, intimate setting.” She looked at Amber.
I shook my head.
“Veronica, this is Amber, my assistant. Amber, this is Veronica, my ex-girlfriend.”
Amber’s eyes widened briefly when I mentioned “ex-girlfriend”, but she shook hands with Amber.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Veronica. I’ve just had the good fortune to begin working with Ash recently.”
Veronica nodded sweeping her eyes over Amber’s petite, busty frame. Perhaps she was thinking what I always did: how much the two of them looked alike.
“Veronica, why don’t you join us?” I pulled a chair out for her.
“I’ve only got a minute. I’ve got an early flight in the morning. So, I hear you’ve been made a named partner at Goldstein. You’ve gotten what you always wanted.”
I looked down and bit my lip. I didn’t know seeing her would be this hard. Looking at her all I could think of was how amazing she was in bed and how much I missed her.
“It’s been fantastic, but a long hard road to climb. Working 80 to 90 hours a week is grueling. It doesn’t leave time for much else.”
Amber sat quietly next to me sipping her scotch. She looked distinctly uncomfortable.
Veronica took an empty glass and poured a bit of scotch into it.
“No, I guess it doesn’t. You were right about that.”
“So, how is London? I see your firm is doing quite well.”
“Yes, it is. I’m being considered for a senior level position.”
“Doesn’t surprise me. You were one of the top students in our class.”
Veronica’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears. She blinked several times to keep them from spilling out smearing her eye makeup.
“Ash, I’m going to slip out and use the ladies’ room. It was nice meeting you, Veronica.” Amber took her evening bag and hurried off.
“So, how has your life really been? Cold and miserable, I hope.” Veronica’s words turned bitter.
I reached across the table to brush her hand. She snatched it away.
“Ronnie, please. It’s so good to see you. I’ve missed you.”
Veronica laughed.
“I’m sure you have in between fucking your new assistant and all the other beauties who come your way.”
I shook my head sadness filled me as I heard the anger in her voice.
“It hasn’t been like that. Besides, no matter how many women I’ve been with they’re nothing compared to you.”
Veronica held up her hand.
“Oh please, I read the New York society columns. You’re the talk of the town. A handsome, wealthy, eligible bachelor living in a Manhattan penthouse and the newest partner at the biggest investment bank in New York. Every woman must be dying to get you in her bed. I’ve seen the pictures of you in those gossip rags. You always have some gorgeous girl at your side.”
I sighed. It was true. The fucking press wouldn’t leave me alone. Only last week I caught TMZ following me and a date home.
“What does it matter, Ronnie? I wanted to be with you.”
Veronica slammed her hands down on the table.
“No, Ash, you don’t get to do that to me! Not now, not ever. You only wanted me if all I wanted was to be your submissive little fuck buddy!” Her voice was rising and several people turned to look.
“Calm down. That’s not true. I had a lot of feelings for you.”
Veronica shot up from her seat.
“Feelings? That’s what you call them. You’re the coldest, most uncaring man I’ve ever met! The only thing you care about is yourself and your money! Don’t you dare try to placate me by telling me you have feelings for me. The only feeling you have for me is a fucking hard on!”
With that, Veronica tossed the rest of her scotch in my face.
Quickly, I wiped the burning alcohol from my eyes. By now everyone was watching us and several people were snapping pictures with their phones. Veronica scanned the room full of people staring and she ran for the door.
Racing after her, I barely had time to nod at Amber who was standing near the front door with her mouth agape.
Veronica was standing on the sidewalk trying to hail a cab tears streaming down her face.
“Ronnie!” I grabbed her shoulder.
“You kno
w, I thought I could do this. I thought I could see you and congratulate you and treat you like nothing more than an old boyfriend. But it’s not over. It never will be,” she sobbed.
Pulling her to me, I cradled her in my arms. She sobbed against me for a moment before collecting herself.
“Why don’t I give you a ride back to your hotel?”
She pulled back and waved her hand.
“No, I’m fine. I just want to go back to my hotel. I’m leaving New York tomorrow to fly back to London.” She brought a tissue to her eyes.
“Are you, Ronnie? Couldn’t we go somewhere else and get a drink? I don’t want you to leave like this.”
“Don’t you need to get back to Amber?”
“She’ll understand.”
Veronica gave me a look I’ll never forget. Her heart was so clearly in her eyes. She still loved me.
But I...I didn’t feel anything like that for her.
I reached down again and it just wasn’t there. I cared about her more than anyone but I couldn’t call it love no matter how much I wanted to.
My lips brushed her forehead. She still smelled amazing.
“I see things haven’t changed for you.”
I closed my eyes and shook my head.
She nodded as the cab pulled up to the curb.
“Then I guess this is goodbye, Ash.”
The wind whipped her blonde hair into her face. Tears slid down her face in muddy black streams from her mascara.
“Please let’s have a drink. We can go anywhere you want.” I reached out to brush the tears from her face.
She stood still for a moment allowing my fingertips to brush her soft cheek. Then she grabbed my hand and threw it down.
“I can’t, Ash. If things haven’t changed then there’s no point in me staying.” Veronica pulled open the cab door and jumped in.
The cab pulled away from the curb as I watched it until it disappeared into the sea of traffic.
Remembering the last time I saw Veronica I actually began to feel nervous about seeing her father. Normally, I never feel nervous. I’m always cool, calm, and collected, but knowing about our breakup his reception of me would surely be chilly to say the least.
I stepped off the elevator and paused in front of the heavy glass doors leading into Ronald James’ offices. They were quite lavish. A set of exquisite original Rodin statues stood in the lobby. As I stopped to admire them, my eyes rested on a set of red Prada heels. My eyes travelled up the luscious lean legs of Ronald James’ secretary.
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