Page 75 of Don't Fall for the Billionaire
He didn’t have a reply. He just stood there, staring at me. I held his gaze longer than I should have, continued down the stairs, and out the front door. If he wanted distance, I’d give it to him. But he was going to feel every inch of it.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Charlotte
The leaves were at its peak—golden, amber, and orange had taken over, dissipating all the green until next spring. It was crazy cool this autumn, and a perfect day to spend in Central Park. I passed by a cart, the smell of roasted chestnuts filling the autumn air. A gust of wind swept over me, sending leaves spiraling from the trees onto the pavement.
As I walked, holding my pumpkin spice latte, I picked up on the way, children’s laughter emerged from the playground, reminding me of Eloise. I stopped in front of the lake and watched a couple row their boat across the water, smiling, laughing, in love. I was jealous. I craved that kind of love from Ashton.
I sat down on a bench. The same bench where I threw a cupcake and met Ashton. There was a calmness here, and I let myself wallow in self-pity alone until I pulled out my phone and called Melissa.
“Hey, you. What’s up?” she answered.
“Can you meet me in Central Park? I need to talk to you.”
“It sounds serious. Are you okay? Did something happen with Ashton?”
“I’ll tell you everything. Can you come?”
“Yeah. I was just heading out to pick up some cleaning supplies for the new house, but I’ll stop by the park first.”
“Thanks, Melissa. I’ll send you my location.”
Thirty minutes later, Melissa walked over carrying a square white box.
“Cupcakes make everything better.” Her lips formed a sympathetic smile. “I even grabbed napkins.”
“Thanks.” I lay my head on her shoulder.
“So, are you going to tell me why you look like someone just kicked a puppy or threw a kitten out the window?”
“I’m not really sure. Before I get into it, I won the bake-off yesterday.”
“Oh my God, Charlotte! I knew you would. Congrats.”
“Thanks. Ashton’s mom took Eloise yesterday for the night, so it was just Ashton and me. We were supposed to go out to dinner to celebrate my win, but we never made it out of the bedroom. It was the most incredible night, Mel. God, I can’t even tell you how happy I was. Then this morning, Ashton ended things. After semi-letting me in, he just cut it off. He said it couldn’t go any further because he woke up.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“He suddenly remembered that I was just the nanny and he was my employer. But I know that was just an excuse. I know the real reason.”
“Because he’s an idiot?” Melissa said, taking a cupcake from the box and handing it to me.
“He’s terrified. He watched his parents destroy each other. The cheating, the fighting, it’s all he knows. He thinks if he lets himself fall, it’ll end the same way. So he shuts it down before it can even start.”
Melissa stayed quiet for a moment and then reached over and gripped my hand. “It sounds to me like he’s not afraid of you. He’s afraid of himself.”
“I already know that. But knowing doesn’t make it hurt any less.”
A crimson leaf fell onto my lap. I picked it up and studied it.
“Then the question is, how long are you willing to let fear make the decisions for him?”
“It’s out of my hands now. My heart is broken, and I’m feeling the lowest I have ever felt.”
“Then quit and leave. You don’t deserve to be treated like that, Char. Ashton’s issues are his, not yours. He’s not the only one who gets to make a choice. You have choices too.”
“I can’t leave. I won’t do that to Eloise.”
