Page 41 of Obsession on Repeat
"I wanted to check on you after last night. Eric’s been updating me on all of the articles. We’re tracking down the journalists and their publishing houses. It’s possible we may have grounds for a lawsuit, or at least threaten them with legal action. Maybe it’ll slow things down for a bit."
I ventured into the kitchen. I needed coffee, something for my nerves, or at least something comforting and familiar. "It was a rough night, but I made it." I moved around the kitchen. "I almost had a panic attack, but I had help working through it."
He hesitated, a brief pause filling the line. "What kind of help?"
"Asher Lark, he’s a silent partner with Vanessa; he caught me in the hallway mid-spiral. I think I would have passed out if he hadn’t been there."
"Why is this the first time I’m hearing about him? I didn’t know he co-owned the club."
"It never came up in our conversations. To be honest, I didn’t think anything of it." Pulling a mug down from the cabinet, I frowned. "It wasn’t a big deal. He’s nice."
He grunted into the phone. "You were falling apart, and you didn’t call me. He’s practically a stranger."
"He’s my boss, and he was there. I was freaking out. He understood."
"Of course he was. Did you talk to him about us?"
I sat the mug down on the counter with a dull thud. "He saw the headlines."
"I bet he did." His voice hardened, and beneath the anger, I could sense something. It was fear. "You don’t think it’s convenient how he was suddenly there when you were vulnerable?"
My frown deepened. "He knows I’m with you. He respects it."
"You honestly think he cares about boundaries? I know guys like him. I’ve worked with guys like him. He’s known for being a playboy."
"I trust him." Immediately, I knew I’d chosen the wrong words.
The silence stretched, sharp and painful.
"Do you trust him more than you trust me?"
"Of course not, but things feel fragile right now, and he was there."
He sighed, suddenly sounding exhausted. "Maybe this was always going to happen. Maybe I was naive thinking I could have this, have you, and keep my life the way it was."
"You do have me," I insisted, voice cracking.
"I don’t want Asher Lark of all people comforting you. That’s my job."
The possessiveness was raw, an unfamiliar feeling invading my thoughts. "Then I need you here, not on another continent."
"I already told Eric that I’m taking the next flight out. Rory?" His voice lowered. "If he crosses the line again, there’s going to be a problem."
The call ended, and I sat frozen, heart pounding.
13
ThemomentSullivansteppedinto the club, the air changed. He was jet-lagged, unshaven, and clearly running on a mixture of coffee and sheer determination. His gaze immediately found Asher across the room, and I knew there was nothing I could do to stop what was coming. He crossed the room, tension radiating off him in waves.
Asher turned around, catching sight of Sullivan approaching, and his expression tightened.
"I think we need to talk."
"Alright. Let’s talk."
"You need to stay away from Rory. Whatever game you’re playing, I’m telling you, it stops now."
Asher raised an eyebrow. "There’s no game. Rory’s a grown woman. She can choose who she talks to."
