Page 68 of One Night in Hawaii

She jerked her hand away. “I don’t think so.”

“Fine, my family will sue you,” I said. “I honestly couldn’t give a shit. I don’t want the ring, but my dad is attached to it.”

“You’re going to pay through the nose,” she hissed. “You’ve just made me a very wealthy woman. I can’t wait to sit in that boardroom across from you. I’m going to ruin your world.”

“Have fun with that. You’re going to have a lot of time on your hands to worry about me.”

“I’ve already won,” she said, smiling. “You may as well write the check. I’ll let you keep your apartment.”

“Let me?” I laughed.

“You know I could claim I’ve been living here,” she said and trailed her finger across the arm of a chair. “I know I could get this place, but it’s not my style. It’s far too masculine. The cost to renovate it would—”

“Would eat into the cash you think you’re going to get from me?” I finished for her. “You have to save that cash for your boyfriend. You need to use my money to bail out your boyfriend’s failing company, right?”

She cleared her throat. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, you do.” I got to my feet and took a step toward her. I wanted her to feel like she was two inches tall. That’s how I saw her. She was nothing to me. “Matthew.”

“What?” she said, frowning. “What are you talking about?”

“You’ve been fucking my sister’s fiancé,” I said, staring into her eyes and watching them fill with guilt. “How long has this been going on? How long have you been fucking him?”

“I’ll deny it,” she said. “You can’t prove it.”

“I don’t need to prove it. All I have to do is hint that I know something. Penelope doesn’t know it was you, but I do. Idohave the proof. Walk away Ashley or I will expose you and Matthew. He’s going to be broke soon. You’re going to be ousted from society. Walk away and I’ll keep your secret.”

“You can’t prove it,” she said, but there was no conviction in her voice. She was already thinking about how to get out of the mess she’d created for herself.

“I can and I will,” I said. “Don’t force me to do it. I don’t want to hurt you, but I can.”

“You won’t do it. You’re a good man. You don’t want to hurt me. You want to take care of me. That’s what you want.”

“That’s what I want?” I said, laughing. “I don’t even want to know you. I don’t care what happens to you. Penelope and Matthew are over. I’ll make damn sure my parents leave that alone. She’s way too good for him and I’m going to tell her to stay the hell away from that piece of shit. The two of you deserve each other. I hope you get everything you deserve in life.”

“Don’t do this!”

“I didn’t do anything. You did. You chose to fuck with me. Tell me something. Did you and Matthew come up with this plan together or was it just you?”

“There is no plan,” she shot back.

“Get your shit and get out. I’m changing the locks and I will let building security know you are not welcome here. If you come back, you will be hauled out.”

“Archer, you’re being ridiculous.”

“Leave, Ashley. Leave or I will humiliate you.”

“What about that woman you’ve been seeing?” she snarled. “The woman you say you’re going to marry?”

“What woman?” I smiled. “You don’t know that there is a woman. I know for a fact you can’t prove anything.”

“You know I can’t just leave,” she whined. “My parents are going to be devastated.”

“Actually, you can and you will,” I said, taking out my phone and taking a picture of her. “You’re no longer my concern. Get out of my apartment.”

“If I go, I’ll ruin you.”

“No, you won’t,” I said. “There’s nothing you can say or do. Smear me to your friends but the truth will come out. Honestly, I don’t care what you or anyone else thinks. I’m going to be happy. You’re the one that’s forever going to be miserable.”

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