My Despicable Ex - Book 2 Read Free Page B

knew most of that tension was my fault, but I just decided to throw myself into work as a distraction. During the flight and later, at the hotel, I worked on one of my articles. Three were due, and I was hoping I could meet the deadlines. Of course I started with the most pressing one first. I was eager to send it off to my editor, and once I committed to any project, I always finished it.
    Morning came, and my heart was racing. I felt refreshed and energized for our next stop, in France. After a two-hour delay, our plane sped off, and we were heading to France. Paris was the fashion capital of the world, so to fit in, I wore a short skirt with a fashionable top and scarf, dark tights, and flat boots. One of my model friends had told me that Paris was all about knee-high boots, so I created my own interpretation of the trend. My makeup was natural, and I wore my hair long and straight.
    We’d be staying in a five-star hotel where I could catch up on some much-needed sleep. I looked out the plane window and stared at the white clouds in various shapes and fluffy forms. Coming to Paris made my heart beat fast. It was like a dream coming true. Jake leaned back in his chair. “Your mother spared no expense. She booked us at the Hôtel Plaza Athénée. Says here it’s on prestigious Avenue Montaigne, a luxury place featuring a Dior Institute spa, five restaurants, and a cocktail bar. Elegant rooms with marble bathrooms, and it’s only a five-minute walk from Avenue Champs Elysées and—”
    “ I really don’t wanna talk about how wonderful it is, Jake. It breaks my heart to know we’re not coming here as lovers.”
    Our eyes locked, and we stared deeply at each other.
    “ That can be easily changed,” he whispered.
    All I had to do was give him the okay, and we would have the Paris we’d dreamt about, the one we’d talked about, the one we’d hope to kiss in. But that was never going to happen. I didn’t want a fling; I was sure that would only end in more depression when he left me. Then again, I could have just used the opportunity to enjoy his company, but I refused to be used that way.
    He looked up and met my gaze once again.
    “ What we have is so broken that it can never be fixed,” I said. “I’m sorry, but we’ll be nothing more than friends.”
    “ Ashly, why must you always put up this brick wall?”
    “ Do you mind if we don’t talk for a little while? That was part of the agreement before we went on this trip, wasn’t it? That you wouldn’t even talk to me if I didn’t want you to?” I said, the bitter and rejected side of me doing all the talking.
    “ Just trying to politely make conversation.”
    “ Don’t,” I snapped, in full-blown rejection mode. I had sworn to myself that I’d be civil, but the anger I still felt was only fueled by the sound of his voice. I began to wonder why I wasn’t over all of it, as if the therapy hadn’t done me any good at all.
    He let out a huff. “Fine. I won’t talk to you this entire trip.”
    “ It’s just that I’m so tired. I just want to take a nap.”
    “ Right.”
    “ Seriously, Jake.”
    “ All right, but I’ve got one question. What made you change your mind anyway?” he asked. “You were so dead set against this trip.”
    “ I thought you were going to let me sleep.”
    “ Humor me for just a quick moment. What made you change your mind?”
    “ Your good looks and charm,” I said with exaggerated sarcasm.
    He cocked a brow. “Really?”
    “ If you must know, Nadia and I don’t have the rent for our boutique. We’ll be evicted next month if we can’t come up with it. The only reason I’m telling you this is because I want you to know how desperate I am and what extremes I’ll go to to save my business.”
    “ So you’re forced to put up with me?”
    “ I’m done talking, Jake. We’ve made enough useless small talk already. Let’s just get through this vacation from hell and get it over with, then cash our checks and