The Wright Choice

by Kristy Gibs

  Ash

  I could have taken Gabriella home with me, but I was going to court her—show her we were more than a fling. As much as I kept my personal life private, I was known as a bit of a playboy in my circle of friends. Jax trusted me, if he didn’t, he wouldn’t have given me his blessing to take her out, but I still felt like I had something to prove.

  After dropping her off, I went home and sat out on my balcony with a whiskey in hand. My phone vibrated, and I hoped it was Gabriella, but it was Jax.

  Jax: My sister can’t stop smiling. I haven’t seen her this happy in a long time.

  It pleased me to know I was the reason why she was so happy.

  Ashton: What can I say? I am totally likable. Get ready to call me brother.

  I was teasing Jax, but after I looked over what I sent, I realized the thought of being with Ella forever sounded great. Looking out over toward the beach and the water, I thought about what it would be like to relax with her on the beach after a long week of working. Would she draw the ocean? Would she build a castle with a child? Thoughts of Ella being the mother of my children swirled in my head. Until her, I didn’t ever picture myself getting married or having kids, and here I was, after only our first official date, picturing a life that only happened in fairy tales.

  Jax: You and Preston as brother-in-laws? What did I do to deserve that?

  I downed my whiskey in one gulp and walked back into the house. My feelings for Gabriella were deep, deeper than I felt for anyone, but marriage, kids? Could that be our end game? I didn’t have the best role models when it came to marriage. My parents loved each other, that I knew, but because of his lifestyle, my dad wasn’t faithful. I saw what it did to my mom. My aunt and uncle, to the public, looked like the perfect couple, but behind closed doors, it was different. Work was the love of my uncle’s life, not my aunt.

  Deciding I needed to get out of my own head, I pushed all thoughts of marriage and kids out of my mind. One day at a time, I thought. No one could predict what the future held.

  After crawling into bed and debating for several minutes, I decided to tell Ella goodnight.

  Ashton: Good night, Gabriella. I can’t wait to go out again.

  I hit send and didn’t expect a response since it was late, but a few minutes later, my phone dinged.

  Gabriella: Thank you, Ash, for everything. Tonight was perfect.

  My phone started buzzing, and I looked at the screen to see my uncle was calling.

  “Hello.” I was alone in my office with the door shut, so I put him on speaker.

  “Ashton, how are you?”

  “I am doing well. What’s going on?” I had a feeling I knew what it was about.

  “So, I have been thinking… I really want to get the firm working in the music industry too. Since you have made it clear you do not want to work for me, I am going to try and get a meeting with your boss. I wanted to talk to you about it before I do. I didn’t want you to think I was going behind your back.”

  I wasn’t sure where this was going, but I did want to hear him out. “I’m listening.”

  “We want to partner up with RevoltTrax to become their representation. I feel Channing Law can really help get RevoltTrax to the top. I may not have represented many music artists or bands, but you know my clientele list is extensive, and I’m sure I can open doors for the company.” He did have some powerful clients who kept him on retainer. “You are climbing the ladder there, son. Think about what we could do together. Think about what we can accomplish.” I heard him mumble something to someone in the background. “Preston just walked in. Think about what I said. I will talk to you soon.”

  “Yeah, sure. Let me know when your meeting is.” Any partnership between my company and my uncle was far above my paygrade. Yes, I may be climbing the ladder, but I was far off from being anyone who would be involved in that type of decision.

  “See you soon,” he said before the line went dead.

  19

  Ella

  After our date last weekend, the only thing I could think about was when we were going to do it again, and I couldn’t wait to see him tonight. After work, I headed over to Lucy’s house to get ready for a night out in LA. Ash invited us to tag along with him and Jax while they were scouting out a band. Unfortunately, a last-minute scheduling conflict had Jax unable to come, but both guys insisted she still come.

  When I arrived at Lucy’s, she had pizza and wine waiting for me as well as her huge shower to get ready for the night.

  “What are you wearing tonight?” I asked my friend. I followed her to her bedroom, and she had several outfits laid out on her king-sized bed.

  “I think I am going for this one.” She pointed to a pair of faux leather pants, a white crop top with a black skull on it, and chunky black booties. It was her. I looked around at what else she had laid out. None of it was anything I would ever wear. As I looked over my choices, she spoke, “If I may make a suggestion?”

  I nodded.

  “You should wear this.” She held up a pair of denim pants, a black sleeveless rib-knit tee, and black tie-up knee-high boots. I studied the outfit, and although the pants and the shirt were no doubt much tighter than what I normally wore, I liked it. Jumping in the shower, I quickly washed up before Lucy tamed my hair. Because we were just going to a bar to watch a band, we weren’t going for the all-out glam look. She styled my hair in a topknot, which actually looked perfect with my outfit. After grabbing my little backpack, so I didn’t have to worry about a purse and a light grey jacket, Lucy and I waited out-front for Ash to arrive.

  A couple minutes later, he pulled up. As soon as he parked, he jumped out of the driver’s seat and stalked toward me. I stood frozen in place as he approached me, grabbing me by the neck and pulling me into him as he devoured my mouth with his. I was momentarily stunned but caught up quickly.

  When he finally pulled away, he muttered, “I have been wanting to do that for a week.”

  I smiled, and he grabbed my hand. After opening the passenger door for me, I slid in, and Lucy got into the back seat.

  We spent the forty-five-minute car ride listening to Ash talk about the band we were going to check out while he ran his finger up and down my arm the entire ride. His job was straightforward. Not only were we going to listen and make sure the band was good, but he was to observe the crowd. The audience’s reaction told him a lot about the band and if they could make it in this industry. A band was only as good as their following.

  We arrived at Abyss just after nine and were escorted to a table near the stage. We had a perfect view of the band. Lucy and I each took the inside seats of the booth, and Ash slid in next to me. I thought Lucy might find it weird to be the third wheel, but she didn’t seem to mind at all.

  We ordered appetizers and drinks, and the three of us sat around talking until Ash had to meet the band and their manager before they took their set. Once out of sight, Lucy spoke, “Ella, that man is head over heels for you.”

  I couldn’t hide the smile on my face. “No, he isn’t.” As much as I wanted her words to be true, I was still being guarded. Because my feelings for Ash surpassed any feelings I thought I had for Preston. If things turned out the way they did with Preston, devastating wouldn’t even come close to how I would feel. So, I decided to save myself from heartache. I was taking it one night at a time.

  “Girl, you need to open your eyes.”

  Ash returned just as the lead singer took the stage, and the band started to play their first song. If I wasn’t looking at her, I would swear we were listening to Janis Joplin. Her raspy voice was so unique. The singer was a small, dark-haired girl, but she had such a big voice. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her, the way she jumped and danced around on the stage like she owned it. I couldn’t help but envy her confidence. I had no doubt, if given the chance, she would quickly become a rock sensation. As one song bled into the next, I took turns looking at each member of the band. They were so different, yet they worked toge
ther as one.

  “Come on, let's dance.” Ash grabbed my hand. The song playing was about a girl who was waiting on her fairytale after suffering heartbreak. It was kind of ironic, so relatable to me. For a few minutes, we just swayed back and forth with the crowd.

  “What do you think about coming back to my place after this?” he asked.

  “I think that is a fantastic idea.” I leaned up to kiss him.

  “Let me go grab us a couple of drinks. I’ll meet you back at the table.” After kissing me on the cheek, he walked off toward the bar, and I went back to the table where Lucy sat.

  “Damn girl, you to look good together.”

  Smiling, I glanced over at the bar to where Ash stood talking to the busty bartender. He was leaning on the bar laughing at something she said. Her tits were hanging out of her very low-cut crop top. She placed her hand on his, and my pulse began to race. Jealousy boiled up in me.

  “Ella, do you hear me?” I turned to face my friend.

  “Sorry, what did you say?” She looked over in the direction of the bar and shook her head before looking back at me.

  "I said Jax wants to maybe try and do something next weekend, the four of us?”

  “Oh, yeah, sure. That sounds good. If Ash is free.”

  “Free for what?” Ash said as he returned with our drinks.

  “Double date next weekend?” My heart fluttered at the thought of this becoming a regular thing.

  "Sounds good to me. For two beautiful ladies.” He handed us both vodka tonics before sliding in next to me and kissing me on the cheek again, my insecurity of him talking to the bartender subsiding. I was being silly.

  “Ladies, I have to go in the back for a bit and talk to them. I shouldn’t be too long. They only have a half-hour break.”

  “Yeah, of course. Do what you have to. We will be fine.”

  A DJ was set to come on, and Lucy and I would probably end up dancing. “Don’t get into any trouble.”

  Grinning, he slid out of the booth and took off toward the stage.

  “I am going to run to the ladies’ room, dance when I get back?”

  “Hell, yeah.” I could tell Lucy was well on her way to a good buzz.

  “Be right back.” I got up and walked to the other side of the bar toward the bathroom. I happened to glance in the direction of the bartender, who Ash was talking to earlier, and she was looking at me with a smirk on her face. Weird.

  I had just finished doing my business when I heard the bathroom door open. It wasn’t abnormal for other people to be in the ladies’ room, so I didn’t think much of it until the person started talking.

  “Did you see Ash tonight? He is so hot.”

  Did she just say Ash? I strained to listen.

  “He is looking mighty fine, but did you see that chick he’s with? I wonder what that is all about.”

  They were talking about me.

  “Right. Did you see the hearts in her eyes? Pathetic. I bet she has no idea what a player he is. Wonder what she would think if she knew about our little hot tub party last weekend.”

  “Girl, you wouldn’t.”

  “Wouldn’t I?” Both women laughed as tears welled in my eyes. I will not cry, I told myself. I wanted to hide, to wait until they left, but that was the old Ella. I took a deep breath, straightened my shoulders, and walked out of the stall. My eyes connected with the bartender from earlier in the mirror. Her eyes widened in surprise before she twirled around to face me.

  “Shoot, how much did you hear?” She leaned in close to me.

  “Enough.”

  “Word of advice, one woman to another?” The last thing I wanted was advice from her, but I nodded anyway. “He seems like a great guy. I am sure he has told you everything you want to hear. How special you are, how he never felt this way before, but everyone knows Ashton Wright and his lines. He will say anything to get in your pants. I am pretty sure half the women that work here have slept with him.” She looked me up and down, “…including me.”

  My heart shattered into a million pieces. I stood there unmoving while both women left. On autopilot, I washed my hands and made my way back to our table, grateful Ash wasn’t there.

  “I was just about to come in and see if you fell in,” Lucy joked, but I didn’t laugh.

  “We have to go. Now.”

  Her smile immediately faded. “What happened? Should we get Ash?” He was the last person I wanted to see.

  “No. Fuck him.” I picked up my jacket, and Lucy did the same. I turned and walked toward the front of the bar, taking out my phone and pulling up the Uber app, thankful a car was only a few minutes away. Standing on the sidewalk, I felt Lucy’s eyes on me. Our car arrived, and we both got into the back.

  As soon as well pulled away from Abyss, the tears came. I spent the entire ride home telling Lucy about the bathroom incident with the bartender.

  “That bitch…” I held up my hand.

  “She did nothing wrong. If anything, she did me a favor before I got in even deeper,” I hiccupped. I didn’t admit it, but I was already in deep, and this was going to hurt for a long time to come.

  20

  Ash

  Tonight was turning out to be a great night, both professionally and personally. The band was even better than I thought they would be, and they were cool as hell. It wasn’t often I genuinely liked an entire band, but they were all super chill, and after discussing my ideas with them and theirs with me, I knew we would be offering them a deal in no time.

  I got back to the table, and Ella and Lucy were missing. Thinking they were on the dance floor, I made my way through the crowd, but they were nowhere to be found. Where did she go? I looked all over the bar, and there was no sign of her or Lucy. I took out my phone and called her. The phone rang once before going straight to voice-mail. Panic filled me. Did something happen to them? I glanced around the room and noticed the bartender looking my way. I walked over to her.

  “Did you happen to see where the two women I was with went?” I pointed toward the table we sat at.

  She looked around me and her smile faded. “Oh, wow. Um, hate to tell you this, but I saw her and her friend walk out about twenty minutes ago with two guys?” I took a step back. She had to be mistaken.

  “You must have it wrong. Thanks, anyway.” I went to turn away, but she had me stopping.

  “Ella? Isn’t that her name?” I spun back around.

  “How did you know her name?” I didn’t like this woman. When she served me our drinks earlier, something about her didn’t sit well with me. I was used to women hitting on me, but there was something irking me about her.

  “I saw her and her friend in the bathroom. She got a call from some guy. She seemed happy to hear from him, and her friend asked what she was going to do, and she said leave with him. I am so sorry.”

  “Ugh, yeah. Thanks.” Dazed, I headed back to the table and sat down. The band was back, but I couldn’t even pay attention to them. Maybe I didn’t know Ella as well as I thought I did.

  It was near midnight when I walked out of the club into the brisk LA air. My mind was still reeling with thoughts of Ella. Who was the man she left with? Was it the guy she met at Luxe weeks ago? Despite the thought of her being with another man was killing me, I still had to make sure she got home okay. I would never forgive myself if something happened to her. Maybe the bartender was wrong; maybe what she heard was wrong? But if so, then why leave without telling me. Something wasn’t adding up, and I was determined to figure it out. I was having a hard time believing the feelings I thought Ella had for me were all wrong.

  Me: I don’t know what happened tonight, but please, just let me know you made it home okay?

  I sat in the parking lot, hoping she would respond. I didn’t want to be driving when she wrote back or called. I was just about to give up and drive off when I saw the three dots at the bottom of the screen indicating she was writing back. Nerves bubbled within. I wasn’t normally a nervous person, I was pretty l
aid back most of the time, but this woman had me in knots, especially at the idea that she was currently with another man.

  Gabriella: I’m fine.

  Relief flooded through me that she responded, but I was hoping for a bit more than that.

  Me: I was worried. Why did you leave? What happened?

  I hit send and waited for a response that never came. I drove home with an ache in my chest.

  I was sitting in my corner office the following Monday, writing up my final report on the band from Abyss, when Jax walked in.

  “Hey, I never heard from you. How did Friday go?” He sat in one of the brown leather chairs that were adjacent to my desk.

  Did Ella tell him she up and left without so much as a goodbye? Did she tell him she was avoiding me? “I am writing up my report now.” I wasn’t going to bring Ella up unless he did. I went back to typing on my computer, but I felt Jax’s eyes on me.

  “Something going on I need to know about?” my friend asked.

  “Nothing I can think of.” I refused to meet his eyes.

  “I talked to Ella.” That had my head snapping up. “She said the band was good.” I waited to see if he would divulge if she said anything more, but he didn’t.

  “Yeah, they have real talent. I am recommending we sign them as soon as possible before someone else comes along.” I clicked the save button, attached my write-up to an e-mail, and sent it to our boss. After every scouting, part of our job was to write up a detailed report on the band and included our recommendation if they should be signed, and ideas on what they could bring to our company and if they fit into our brand. I had a good feeling they were going to become one of the biggest names for our company.

  “Can’t wait to hear them.” He got up and headed for the door but stopped and turned.

  “Oh, Ella told me you guys have to cancel next weekend. Bummer. Hopefully, we can all go out again another night, soon.” The little hope I was holding onto regarding our relationship fizzled.