That sparks my interest. “Do you have a list of all the names?”
“You know I do.”
I scan the list, recognizing many of them. “Seems suspect that those surgeries also came from this group of women. Some kind of catty revenge?”
“Women can be bitches. Especially rich ones. Who the hell knows what happened to piss Manda off, but I’d say she got them back with fucked-up boob jobs and shit.” He points at another paper in the file. “And there’s this. Thought it might prove to be useful.”
Meredith’s social calendar. And she has an upcoming appointment labeled “lunch to discuss Paris.” Interesting.
Not that I would give a fuck before, but now that I know she’s involved this deeply with Manda, I have a more vested interest. The mention of Paris has the wheels turning in my head.
“This is good,” I commend. “Find out the details on where Manda met Baron Elliott. I want all the specifics on how that union came to be.”
He winks at me. “Don’t worry, my man. Your momma has me already looking into it.”
Ash’s life was always going to be up for scrutiny simply by being involved with me. I knew Mother would eventually start shredding it to bits. Considering the way she behaved at my birthday ball inviting Meredith and feigning shock when she’d been offered the introduction to Manda, I’d say Mother has been sniffing out this bone long before me.
“Let me know what you find out. I’d rather just get what I need from you rather than cross-referencing notes with my mother.”
“You got it, boss.” He tips his head at me. “If they’re hiding something, I’ll find it. It’s what I’m good at.”
I’m counting on it.
I can’t be the king of the whole goddamn city if there are snakes slithering around with secrets I don’t know about. The thing with snakes, though, is they always strike. You just have to be ready to grab them by the throat when they do.
And then you cut off their heads.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Ash
Three days.
Winston has gotten away with ignoring me for three days because he’s been slammed busy with meetings with his attorneys, some creepy tall guy, and Nate. The last one bothers me the most for some reason.
He’s the reason, after all, Win bailed on me.
I’m still mad that he’d do such a thing. Since when does he ever back down from a challenge?
Since you became too much of one…
I let the self-doubt trickle through me for only a second before I push it away. Nate was clearly a touchy subject which makes me want to poke at it more. I’m tempted to go snooping around in his office again, but the last time I peeked into his drawer, the look of pure hatred he gave me chilled me to my bones.
Don’t touch my things.
Not eager to get myself locked away in his office with him. Luckily, despite Win’s ignoring me, he’s put me back with Perry. At least Perry’s my friend, not counting when he was being a dick at lunch with Tate. The workday isn’t so horrible when I spend it with Perry.
“When will Win be back?” I ask Deborah, though it kills me to have to do so.
A smug grin teases her lips. “He’s out with Mr. Lambruski. Taking care of…” She trails off, her lip curling up as she flitters her fingers my way. “You know what.”
The scandal that keeps growing with each passing day rather than going away. Just this morning, I was horrified to find a journalist outside my apartment. Daniel had to practically manhandle me into the car to keep me protected from the guy.
Whore apartment, I correct.
It’s hard to think of it as a whore apartment though. Especially since I spent my lunch hour yesterday buying new plants and décor for it. I even got a pretty new bedspread and a matching rug. It’s feeling a lot more like home.
“Can you tell him to come see me after?” I grit out since he’s not been responding to my texts either.
More ammunition for this hag.
“Oh,” she says, making a fake sad face, “I’m afraid he can’t do that. He has a lunch date with Layla Reynard.” She lowers her voice. “Between us, I think this is exactly what he needs to take the heat off him. She’s his age and of his same caliber. It really is for the best. I hope you understand.”
I blink at her, unimpressed with her attempt to run me off. Winston can be an asshole of epic proportions, but when he’s truly done with me, he’ll have the balls to say it to my face. No, this thing is something else entirely. I’m curious what he’s up to.
“Right,” I throw back, “I guess I should just grab the next best thing. You know, someone closer to my age. Have you seen Perry around?” I flash her a sly grin that promises deviant behavior with him as well.