“Ash,” she said breathlessly.
“Kallie, you have to talk to me. What’s going on?” Eris asked.
This would be her life with Ash. People would be constantly following him and taking pictures of their time together. Even when she didn’t realize it. Kallie’s life was now news, especially when she was wrapped up in the wealthiest man on the East Coast.
At least, the article called Ash that.
When had that picture been taken? Of her and Ash? And how in the world did she stop it from happening again?
“Kallie!”
“I’m sorry!” she exclaimed. “It’s just ... I didn’t know people were—”
“The picture of Ash. Where were you?”
“It was the day after the club. We spent the day together walking in Central Park and getting food.”
“So when the hell was this picture of James taken? Please tell me that’s from before you guys split up,” Eris said.
“No, it’s not,” Kallie said with a sigh.
“So you’re just serial-dating rich men now?”
“What? You know me better than that. No,” Kallie said. “Look, James sent me a necklace at work, and I told him I couldn't accept the gift. He said if I returned it to him, he had the receipt and he would take it back for me. I returned the gift. I didn’t even stay to eat dinner with him. He followed me out of the restaurant and tried to keep me from getting away, and then he just kissed me.”
“So he set you up.”
“I don’t know. I know there was a possibility photos were taken. Some idiot guys standing in the parking lot,” Kallie said. “But I didn’t think they’d gotten anything because it happened so quickly. I mean, I shoved him away, Eris. He grabbed my wrist so hard and wouldn’t let me leave and then he followed me all the way out to the sidewalk and he almost didn’t let me get into the cab.”
“That son of a bitch. If the tabloids come at you, that's exactly what you tell them, okay?” Eris asked. “You paint that son of a bitch in the limelight he fucking deserves.”
“They’ll come after me?” she asked.
“They’ll want a quote or something. That’s why I asked you where you were. For all I know, they’re at your office or something.”
Kallie slammed her chair back and got up before peering out the window. It didn’t look like anyone was outside, but her window was on the side of the building. Not at the front. Her hands were shaking and her heart was racing.
Dinner.
She had to cancel her dinner plans with Ash.
“I have to go,” she said.
“Kallie, wait—”
But she hung up on Eris before she could get in another word.
Kallie pulled up a text message to Ash and quickly typed him a note. She was in no condition to talk with him on the phone. Tears were seeping from her eyes and, for all she knew, he’d already seen the articles and was ready to unleash on her. She sent off a quick message telling him she couldn't get together tonight, and he called her phone.
He called and he called, and he called some more.
“Ash, I’m at work. I can’t talk right now,” she said.
“What’s going on?” Ash asked. “Talk to me.”
“I can’t. I have quotes to send out and a meeting to get to soon.”
“Kallie, don’t do this. Something’s wrong. I can hear it in your voice.”
“I’m in my office, Ash! It doesn’t matter if I’m my own boss, my hours are my hours!”
Then she hung up the phone and placed her shaking hands in her lap.
Kallie rushed down to the Post Office drop box in the front of the building. She peered out the front doors and didn’t see anyone congregating in front of the building, but she could see some of the looks people were giving her. Snickering at her. Shaking their heads at her. Looking upon her in disgust.
She rushed back up to her office and closed the door behind her, but she should’ve known Ash wouldn’t have left it alone.
Kallie put her head in her hands just as her office door opened. She whipped her red gaze up to whoever was coming in and she saw him slip into her office. Ash, with his comforting stare and his freckles that made him look as boyish as he acted somedays. He had a scowl on his face as he locked the door behind him, and Kallie leaned back into her seat.