Page 92 of Mail Order Valentine (Hawthorne Billionaire 2)

Now that’s an interesting boil over!

Chapter 70

AUGUST

When she said she had some things to take care of, I was only too happy to agree. I needed to meet with Asher and Mom. They dropped me at the hotel with a promise to be back soon. I’d decided, as I stood there looking at her sweet smile in my limo, that it was time to tell her the truth about everything.

“When you get back, I think it’s time for you to see the other penthouse,” I said, to see how she would react. “We need to talk about some important stuff, so don’t be too long.”

I hated seeing the worry back on her face, but if I had any chance of having her for my wife, I had to tell her myself before the truth got out. I sent Mom a text that I was on my way up to Asher’s penthouse, but first I had to meet with Asher who was waiting, or should I say hiding, in my office.

“August, I was afraid you weren’t coming,” Asher said with a big hug. “You ready to take on Mom with me?”

“Yes, I’m ready, and I need to do it before Imogen gets back. I want to be able to explain this whole thing to her before the truth gets to her from someone else.”

We rode the elevator up, trying to make small talk. When we reached penthouse two, we found Mom and Sawyer sharing a bottle of wine, laughing, and having a good time. We looked at them, then to each other.

“This might be easier than we thought,” Asher said with a shrug. “Well, look at the two of you in my place drinking all of my alcohol.”

“Don’t try smooth talking me, young man,” Victoria said, sitting her glass down. “Give me a hug, then sit down and tell me how this came about and what you plan to do to fix it.”

“Fix what, Mom?” Asher couldn’t help himself. “All is well, everyone is happy, the press got what they needed.”

“August. How could you do this?” my mother asked, holding a finger up to quiet Asher. “Him, I understand. But you?”

I put my head down, just like when I was a little guy getting scolded by her. Most of the time, she wasn’t wrong, so I always knew better than to push my luck.

“Aunt Victoria, let me see if I can help.” Sawyer stood between myself and Asher. “These two are two peas in a pod. They’re always going to be there to help the other and feel each other’s sorrows and happiness.”

“Sit down, Sawyer. I want to hear from my sons. Not that I don’t appreciate you trying to help...” Mom said, pointing to a chair across the room. “August, how?”

“It’s pretty simple. Asher was in trouble again. You told me to handle him. I took him with me to Australia and it was going pretty well,” I explained. “Then he ran into his old college flame and begged me to switch, for just a week.”

“I did beg, Mom. I pulled out everything I could think of to use on him. It was very unfair of me,” Asher tried to intervene.

“Asher, you will get your turn next,” Mom said, turning back to me. “Go ahead, August. He couldn’t possibly have any blackmail on you, so what did it?”

“Truthfully, he promised if I helped him get a third chance with his old flame that he would leave the partnership,” I said, looking to Asher for confirmation. “I want my own company without worrying about what he’s going to do to mess it up.”

“Whoa, August. That’s not exactly how you put it. Is that how you feel?” Asher jumped up to stand next to me. “You said…”

“I know what I said, Ash, and I meant all of it, but I do want you out of my work, unless you can commit one hundred percent,” I said, facing him, looking him in the eyes. “You’re not happy in the partnership anyways. You want to build one-of-a-kind designer estates.”

“Is this true, Asher?” Mom asked, pouring herself more wine. “Why have I never heard about this?”

The elevator chimed its arrival. We all turned to look as the doors opened.

Chapter 71

IMOGEN

Now that’s an interesting boil over.

I looked back down at my cell to double check that I’d read the text correctly. Victoria had sent me a text to meet her in Asher’s penthouse in ten minutes. That’s what the text said upon re-reading it. I looked back up to find four sets of eyes looking back at me.

“I’m sorry, I think I hit the wrong penthouse button.” I dove at the buttons to go down and get away. A pair of hands jabbed through the doors before they closed. I jumped and backed up until my back hit the wall.

“Imogen, don’t run away. Come inside so we can talk about what you’re seeing,” August begged, putting his hand out to her. “It’s okay, it’s me.”

---