Chapter 258
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At the hat. Madeline sat sipping a drink, clearly bored. In just twenty minutes, she had already waved off four men who trie to strike up a conversation.
Well well. that’s rare. You’ve barely had anything.” Ash remarked.
It had been a while since Ash had last seen her best friend. She had turned down their past few meetups due to various anexpected issues. But when Madeline called again today, Ash couldn’t bring herself to say no.
It helped that it was evening and Sofia had already gone to bed, so she made it out.
As soon as she walked into the bar and spotted Madeline at the counter, she noticed just one empty glass on the table. Clicking her tongue teasingly, she joked about the self–proclaimed queen of drinking “nurturing her liver tonight.
Madeline was wearing a rose–pink camisole dress that perfectly hugged her figure. She grinned and replied, “Well, look wh finally showed up. I thought I’d have to wait until next year to see you.”
Ash let out a laugh, “I haven’t been that busy. It’s just been a hectic stretch lately. I’m sure our gorgeous Miss Rivers understands
Til punish myself with a drink–for constantly bailing on you and breaking your pretty little heart.” She sat down beside he and knocked back a glass in one go.
Madeline instantly broke into a radiant smile, clearly pleased. She chuckled, “Well, that’s more like it. You’re still the same old you. I was starting to worry you’d changed.”
“So… how have you been? Life must feel different dating the top guy in Riverstone, huh?”
Though they hadn’t met recently, the two had been chatting almost daily, so Madeline already had a rough idea of what had been happening between Ash and Calvert.
Madeline leaned in with a gossip–hungry look and teased, “I thought your man could hold his liquor. What’s with him passing out drunk? Was that all an act to get some pity cuddles from you?”
Ash scoffed, “Don’t even bring that up. If I didn’t owe him a favor, there’s no way I would’ve stayed that night to take care of him. He got all chatty and nonsensey after a few drinks.”
Madeline let out a long, meaningful “ohhh.” “Just rambling? Nothing else happened? Come on–dark night, just the two of you, alcohol in the mix,” she teased.
“You’ve watched too many dramas,” Ash said flatly, shooting her a look.
The eye roll didn’t faze Madeline. She leaned in further and probed, “So you’re saying nothing happened? He just started rambling for no reason? Not even one sweet word for you?”
Ash’s mind suddenly flashed back to that night, when she had looked at Calvert and asked, “Do you like me?”
He had gazed at her with deep emotion, took her wrist gently, and replied, “My stomach feels awful. I think I’m gonna puke.
The mood had been romantic, but Calvert’s words instantly killed it. Ash had never been so tempted to strangle someone before. It was one of the rare times she’d been sincere, and that was the response she got.
Ash waved her hand, brushing it off, “Nothing happened. If you’re so curious, go ask him yourself.
“Ugh, how boring. You’re both adults–I thought sonicthing would at least happen. Don’t tell me our boss man doesn’t have
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Chapter 258
what it takes? Madeline commented.
That line made Ash choke on her drink, her face turning red as the coughed uncontrollably.
Madeline quickly patted her on the back, half laughing, half worried. She asked, “What’s wrong? I was just joking No need to get so worked up. I wasn’t actually saying he’s you know. lacking
“Wait, hang on. Don’t tell me you’ve already tried it out? If you have, just spill the beans to your bestie. Otherwise, I me really start thinking he’s not up to par, Madeline rambled on, unable to stop once she started.
Despite being mild, Ash, still coughing and throat burning from the fruit cocktail, snapped, Madeline, could you not be so blunt with your mouth?”
Madeline pouted, clearly displeased, and sighed, “Come on, babe. I didn’t even say anything that wild. We’ve always joked like this–why are you suddenly so uptight? Is Calvert that special to you?
“Fine, keep secrets from others, but at least be real with me. What’s going on between you two? How far have you gotten?”
Ash let out a breath and replied, “You already know what’s going on. There’s nothing to guess–we’re just work partners.”
Madeline didn’t buy it one bit. She clicked her tongue. “You’re so full of it. Who gets that involved with a work partner? You wouldn’t look after a drunk guy just out of professional courtesy.
I know you, Ash. You wouldn’t have done it if you didn’t like him–even a little. I’m telling you, he might actually be worth considering
Ash squinted at her suspiciously and asked, “Madeline, did he pay you to say this? Are you his secret spokesperson now?”
“Wow, Just wow, You really think that little of me? Heaven and earth can vouch for my loyalty to you! I’d never betray you for money–I’m not that kind of person. Don’t just throw wild accusations like that,” Madeline said with an exaggeratedly hurt expression.
She added, “You better apologize right now, or I’m not forgiving you. No amount of sweet talk will change my mind.”
“Miss Turner?” A familiar voice suddenly called from not far away, cutting Ash off before she could respond.
The two of them turned at the same time—and there stood Dwayne, dressed in a black button–up shirt with the top two buttons undone and his jacket casually slung over his shoulder. The colorful lights of the bar danced across him, but rather than looking flashy, he gave off a quietly refined, aristocratic air.
Madeline’s eyes lit up instantly. She nudged Ash repeatedly and whispered, “Damn. Who’s this? Why didn’t you introduce this hottie to your girl here?”
“Madeline, maybe it’s time I booked you a brain scan. Might be something wrong in there, Ash replied dryly. She really thought Madeline must’ve been starved–any halfway decent man and she’d be ready to pounce.
Admittedly, Dwayne was very good–looking. He just wasn’t Ash’s type. Plus, he had this lazy, unbothered vibe that she didn’t like in men.
He had the kind of looks that leaned toward the seductive and delicate type, like a charming boy from a classic play.
“Hey there, Madeline greeted brightly. She had a bold, straightforward personality—if she liked someone, she went for it no hesitation or pretending otherwise.
Dwayne raised an eyebrow Madeline was even taller than Ash, and her curvy figure was impossible to ignore. Her long. wavy hair draped over her shoulders. Clearly, this was exactly the type of woman Dwayne was into.
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Chapter 219
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AD
