Taming the Billionaire Playboy

e never thought that she had the guts to do that. Thinking that Ashton would fire her just for that made her embarrassed now. She was aware of the fact now that Ashton was interested

n her, and she hoped that she woul

they were; selfish, narcissistic, egocentric, and insensitive. Having left a toxic relationship, there was no way she was going to go back into one. Ashton Maverick was bad for her, and she was glad that she had seen t

ty-five. That was one of the reasons she had moved to California. She had to stand on her feet and struggle, even though she knew that she was one flight aw

ng to make an appointment with Ashton. Most of the appointments, Ashton had declined coldly. She rose from the couch lazily and ambled her way to the kitchen. She swung her fri

the couch with a glass of lemonade and a bowl of chips. The phone rang immediately she took her to sit and she gro

" She g

a female vo

cognized the voice. It

itedly. "I was just

a walked with the receiver and sat back on the couch, f

ia, sweetie?" He

better than I exp

e stared at the TV. The romcom seemed to be getting better with each sc

ng okay, mom

ied. Kristen was always exuberant when talking on the phone. Toda

ce," Kriste

ndle him any longer and so she had left in search of happiness and peace. Leaving Terrace was one of the best decisions she had made. And one of the only positive ones she had made. Terrace had been abusive towards her. He was a cheater a

glass back down, she realized that she was trembling. Perhaps leaving her mother

him, Mom?"

. Annika could feel h

id he do?" A

stuttered. "He came a

and each time, Annika had declined. Terrace had been such a persistent prick that she couldn't take it any longer. Thinking of h

ou?" Annika as

aughed ne

ame by to know where you

er lips and sig

you tell him

away for a while,"

bowl. Her appetite had returned and she

. "Mom. I think you shoul

sed with each passing second her mother kept on laughing. It sounded better when s

at, sweetie. I'll be fi

o act tough every time

in an attempt to divert the topic. "Now t

n she had met, and it was only the third day. He was carefree, narc

e's this..."

n jumped in before she co

olled he

Ashton Maverick

weet!" Her mother exc

ween us," she quickly said. "

led and this mad

She ques

nk you like him," her

o the bowl of chips only to realize that it was emp

nd besides, I told you that I'

ll in love," her mother explain

e who would love her the same way her parents loved each other. Annika had lost her father when she was twelve. He had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and breathed his last six months later. I

with what you had with

she said. "Has he

office earlier today. She wasn't sure it was the right thing to tell her mother, but Kristen wasn't th

she replied st

nd

citement and anticipatio

im," she conf

er mother

huckled

not ready for any of that

other sigh on the ot

ne now. The earlier, the

r eyes went down to the e

y," she assured her. "And I

ell," her mo

rising from the couch.

ourself," she said. "And if Ashton

a chu

id as she walked

ink and rushed upstairs. She felt so tired and decided to have a warm bath. She let the water run in the tub as she

be Ashton, she said to hers

now. Her mind went to Terrace. Why would he look for her at home? After everything he had done to her, why wouldn't he just let her go? Love was a sacrifice, and she had sacrificed her happiness for him

she thought

the tub. She could hear the phone ring from the

at be? Was i

is, she rose out of the water and reached for the towel, wrapping it around her waist. The phone kept on ringing as she made her way to the

he greeted

familiar voi

rom her wet hair as her lips quivered. She could feel her heart pounding in her ears as she tried to pronounce the fa

rra