Hard Flip: A Billionaire Romance (Ridden Hard Book 1)

by Allyson Lindt

Might as well get it over with. Mischa glanced over his shoulder to meet her gaze, then patted the concrete next to him. She sat, keeping enough distance between them he couldn’t feel her, and stared at the empty pool.

  “Talk to me,” he said.

  “If we break up, are you going to fire me?”

  Disappointment jabbed his chest. Expecting her to take things in this direction didn’t make it any easier to hear. “The job and engagement are two different things. I don’t fire people who do good work. So no, if you’re looking for the direct answer.”

  “And would you give us a couple of weeks to find a new place?” Her voice cracked, and she paused. “Just through a paycheck or two.”

  This didn’t make any sense. If she was upset by the idea, and he didn’t care for it either, why was it on the table? He didn’t care for her hypotheticals or that this had yet to sound like he had a choice. “If this is because of tonight, or Ralph—”

  “It is. That’s not all it’s about, but those were catalysts.” She kicked her feet as she talked, watching them instead of him. “You’ve been sweet to put on this show with me, but it’s just a show. It exists for specific purpose, and if it makes things worse for you, it doesn’t serve its purpose.”

  The temperature was dropping as the night dragged on, biting through the thin fabric of his shirt. He didn’t care. At least she’d opted to change into sweats and a long-sleeved shirt. He wanted to smack himself for being worried about her being cold, in the middle of them breaking up, but of course he was concerned.

  “You’re talking about our relationship like it’s a step ladder.” Exhaustion leaked into his words. “But this isn’t something you get to fold up and trade in for a new one because you can’t reach that top shelf.”

  “You do if that’s why you got it in the first place.” Her tone was quiet, but lacked nuance. He couldn’t tell if she was sad. Happy. Angry. If he was forced to guess, she wasn’t feeling. But that wasn’t true. Or she’d look at him.

  “What about Saturday? You said you were as interested as me, in trying to see if there’s more between us. Now that doesn’t matter, because of some country club ladies gossiping like petty high school kids?”

  “It’s the kind of gossip that could cost you your business. And I’m not ignoring what you and I talked about, I’m...” She sighed.

  He waited for her to finish the thought. When she didn’t, he said, “You’re what?”

  She glanced sideways, finally meeting his gaze from under her lashes. “I’m questioning your sincerity.”

  “Excuse me?” Not what he expected at all, and the simple statement gnawed at his senses.

  “I like you. I like spending time with you. Hell, I trust you. I don’t trust anyone except Kelly.” Now there was sadness in her tone. A faint kind of despair that added another layer to the weight pressing in around him.

  “So what’s the problem? Take Ralph out of the equation. This is just about you and me.”

  She shifted to tuck one leg under the other knee, and face him. “But it’s not just about us. Because since you’ve found out who I was, since I told you the story about growing up, you’ve treated me differently. Not just then, though. When I broke my arm. When I lost the apartment. Your attitude toward me shifts a little more each time.”

  “Because we’re getting to know each other. That’s part of a relationship.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “The kind of relationship I want is more of an equal partnership. I don’t want to be coddled or sheltered or placed on a shelf like a fragile, delicate China doll.”

  “You’re projecting. And possibly listening to Victoria more than you should.”

  Ash pursed her lips and raised her brows and stared at him for several second. “At least you’re not above telling me I’m just imagining it.”

  That wasn’t what he meant to do. “I’m sorry you see it that way. Any of it.” His voice didn’t hold the apology he wanted it too.

  “Speaking of Victoria, do you know what she said to me tonight?”

  “Not a clue.” And he wasn’t sure he wanted to know.

  “She told me she didn’t care what those people thought, she was there for their donations.”

  That sounded like Victoria. “And?”

  “If I wasn’t there tonight, would you have stayed longer?”

  “It’s not that simple.” No matter his answer, he was fucked. A yes proved her point, and she’d see no for the lie it was.

  Her thin-lipped smile said she knew it. “You asked me to remove everyone else from the equation earlier.”

  “And you didn’t.”

  “But I told you why not. I didn’t avoid your question.”

  He’d give her the answer she wanted, as much as he hated proving her point, because it was the truth. “I left for you.” Because she hid in the bathroom for half an hour. Because she was obviously bothered by the evening. Because he wasn’t an asshole. “I would have done that for anyone.”

  He wanted to smack himself the moment the words were out. Way to stick the nail in the coffin and drive it in.

  She twisted her mouth. “Exactly. But if you’d rather not look at it that way, if there’s any chance our splitting up will give you an edge to get out from under my dad’s thumb—”

  “You know he won’t actually extend my contract if we’re not engaged anymore, right?” Mischa didn’t want to do this attack on two fronts, because then he couldn’t fight it. If she thought he was sheltering her for whatever reason, that was an entirely different conversation from what to do about the business.

  “I know his associates will take you more seriously if you’re not with me.”

  “They didn’t before. It doesn’t matter what that man drilled into your head. You’re not responsible for everything you come in contact with, if it goes bad.”

  “Pot, meet Kettle,” she said. “You’re not responsible for saving me. From... I don’t know what you think I need protecting from. Dad? I can deal with him.”

  “Can you?” That was the wrong answer, but none of the reasonable ones had worked.

  “That’s not fair.”

  Because any of this was fair? Not a great bar for measuring life by. “What do I need to say to convince you I’m interested in you? Not saving you. Not sheltering you. But that I’m interested in making us work?”

  “What do I have to say to convince you I’m not?”

  The question hit him like a punch to the gut. That wasn’t congenial, lets-talk-this-through conversation. “In other words, when you said you were hoping I’d talk you out of this, you didn’t mean it.”

  “I’m not yours to save.”

  That was getting old. He stood and brushed off his slacks, then offered her a hand up. He ignored any heat that flowed between them at the contact, and tugged her to her feet. Mischa tugged her close enough their noses almost touched. He needed to know he had Ash’s full attention. “You’re right. You’re not. I’m not in the savior business, and if you think that’s all this is, we’re better off apart.”

  With her right here, it was easy to see the red rimming her eyes. The firm set of her jaw that might be to hold things inside as much as out of stubbornness. He told himself he didn’t care. He was happy to listen. To work things through. But he was done playing stupid games and treating life like a yo-yo.

  And he didn’t seek the highs and lows of those emotional rollercoasters anymore.

  Her chin quivered and her nostrils flared, but she held his gaze. “Then it’s settled. We’re done.”

  “It definitely is.” He let go of her and turned toward the house, forcing himself to feel the satisfaction of being the one to walk away. He refused to dive into the same hole he did after Victoria. Even if this was nothing like that. Even if he ached and shook and was furious at how things were ending. Even if the thought of losing Ash gnawed through him from the inside out.

  He’d recover, and until he did, he just had to spill concrete through his veins,
and move on.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  ASH FELT LIKE CRAP in a cup as she headed downstairs the next morning. The email reply from her father echoed in her head.

  I don’t have a lot of time, but I can fit you in around 11:15.

  She was surprised he made room in his schedule for her at all, without putting her off for a week.

  Last night, she stepped outside hoping Mischa could convince her she was wrong. That he wasn’t looking out for her simply because he felt bad for her. That there was more to them than her being a broken toy.

  She was pretty sure he’d tried. Her past and insecurities reared twin heads she thought she’d severed ages ago, and they refused to let her believe him.

  That was the one thing she couldn’t say to him. He didn’t deserve to be stuck with someone like her, who hated herself enough she refused to let anyone else love her.

  She’d never thought of it in those words before, but now that she saw it for what it was, she didn’t know what to do about it. Except let something with amazing potential skate in the other direction.

  She adjusted her purse on her shoulder, smoothed out her work clothes, and prepared herself for the next round of whatever this was. As she walked toward the kitchen, voice drifted to meet her, making her pause. Kelly and Mischa. Right. She still had to break this to her sister. Ash’s gut twisted in on itself.

  “...volunteered you,” Kelly said. “We get extra credit. I hope that’s okay.”

  What was she talking about? Another thing for Ash to feel bad over. Despite her reservations when they moved in, Kelly didn’t spend all her time hiding in the downstairs apartment. She was upstairs a lot, for meals, to skate and play video games, and to hang out.

  But Ash wasn’t spending as much time with her as they used to. Ash was too fixated on her own issues.

  “It’s fine.” Mischa’s voice was kind. Of course. “Especially if you need the extra credit.”

  “I don’t. But I wanted to-show-you-off.” Kelly’s last few, run-together words were so quiet, Ash had to strain to hear them. “I’ve never been able to brag before. Dad’s work is boring. Ash’s is... I don’t really know. I mean, she works hard, but it’s kind of hard to say this is my sister, and she does whatever needs to be done and sometimes it’s cool, I guess.”

  Ash didn’t know what to make of that. She should also stop eavesdropping. She finished walking into the kitchen, unable to look at Mischa. “I didn’t think you did career days in junior high, Kel-Bel.”

  “That’s not quite it. But we get a grade letter bump if we have someone we admire come and talk to everyone. It’s a modern careers thing for US History.”

  Ash grabbed her mug out of the cupboard—it was so odd that this already felt like home, and soon it wouldn’t be—then poured herself coffee. “Sounds fun.” She did her best to avoid Mischa, while not looking like that was what she was doing. She mixed milk and sugar into her drink, and lingered near the fridge, staring at the swirl of coffee around her spoon.

  “Anyway. It’s in a couple days, if you have time.” If Kelly saw anything was up, it didn’t reflect in her voice.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mischa shift his stance, putting him in a position to see both of them. “I’ll make time. Tell me when and where.”

  Of course he would. Because he was just that kind of a good guy. Ash swallowed a gulp of coffee, ignoring the way it seared down her throat. Maybe she should have waited a few seconds for it to cool.

  “Are we really going to do this?” Mischa asked.

  She looked up to see him watching her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Right.” He spoke through clenched teeth. “No room for discussion. Fine.”

  Kelly dropped her spoon, and it clattered against her cereal bowl. “If you two are fighting, I’m not above throwing some kind of tantrum to make you stop.”

  “Kel-Bel.” Ash stared Kelly down, hoping the warning in her voice was enough.

  Kelly was unfazed. “Ashy.” It took several heartbeats before she pouted and turned her attention back to her empty bowl. “Can I get a ride to school?”

  There was plenty of time to catch the bus. Since Ash had been going into work with Mischa, she suspected this was the start of Kelly’s tantrum. “I’ll drop you off. I need to drive myself today anyway.” She glanced at Mischa, waiting for an argument.

  He sipped his coffee, not looking at her, but a faint tremor ran through his hand to his mug.

  Good. She had to believe that, or she’d question everything she was doing... more than she already did. “Grab your stuff when you’re ready.”

  Kelly scowled. She hopped from her stool, rinsed and dropped her bowl in the sink, and headed to her room.

  “I have to take an early lunch today, if that’s all right,” Ash said when she was gone. “Ten thirty or eleven. I won’t be gone more than an hour.”

  “That’s fine. Put in your eight hours and be reasonable about it.” Mischa’s reply was ice sliding along her skin.

  Ash drained the last of her coffee, hiding her wince when it hit her stomach like a rock. Skipping breakfast seemed like a good idea. “Thanks.”

  “Ready.” Kelly was back, and subdued.

  Crap, this was going to be harder than Ash thought, and she’d expected a serious level of resistance. “Let’s go.” She pushed away from the counter.

  Kelly followed her, pausing halfway across the foyer to glance over her shoulder. “Bye, Daddy Mischa.”

  Ash gritted her teeth until her jaw ached, and headed outside, tempted to make Kelly catch the bus after all.

  She slid into the driver’s side of the car, and her sister hopped in as well. It was the first time Ash had driven since breaking her wrist, and adjusting to not gripping the steering wheel with one hand was awkward. Fortunately, the car was an automatic, and she could still brace her bad arm against the wheel for traction.

  “You guys aren’t really fighting, are you?” Kelly asked as they drove toward the school.

  Ash didn’t want to get into the details. She’d have to soon, but one battle at a time. Once she’d talked to Dad, and knew how much this was going to cost her—whatever he demanded, as long as it wasn’t Kelly—she’d have more answers. “You do remember it’s not a real engagement, right?”

  “I remember that’s what you told me. But come on, seriously? You two are always all googley-eyed around each other.”

  “It’s all part of the show.” Ash had to keep saying that. It was the only thing that helped take the sting away. Not that it helped much.

  Kelly sank lower in her seat, arms crossed over her chest. “Whatever, dork.”

  Ash was happy to make the rest of the drive without conversation, though she was hurt when Kelly hopped out at school, without so much as a goodbye.

  When she reached the office, Mischa’s car was already there, though not many others were. It was still early.

  The timing was perfect for Ash. She’d hide in her cubicle and get her work done until it was time for her appointment.

  Focus wasn’t her friend, but she forced the job anyway. Checking on ads, then switching to her DBA tasks. When her email chimed, she felt an unsettling mixture of hope and nausea, wondering if it was from Mischa, and how cold the note would be.

  It was from Tristan, but he’d copied Mischa.

  Whatever you’re doing over there, it’s working. Two new leads this morning, from that form thing you set up.

  Keep up the great work.

  The praise was almost enough to make her smile, but it didn’t take the fog from the cloud surrounding her.

  A little before eleven, she collected her thoughts as best she could, and headed out to make the appointment with her dad.

  She wasn’t surprised he kept her waiting in Reception until nearly twenty minutes after her appointment. He finally had his assistant show her back.

  “Georgia. So many meetings in so few days. It’s wonderful.” His flat tone
didn’t match the words.

  She gave him the sweet smile she’d spent her teenage years perfecting, and took a seat across from him. “It is, isn’t it?”

  “I don’t have a lot of time, but what can I do for you?”

  She could do this. She knew how he operated and what he’d want to hear. Please let her groveling be enough. “I’ve come to ask a favor. And I know, you don’t care for nepotism, but I’m willing to negotiate. Whatever you want, within reason.”

  “What kind of favor?”

  “Give Mischa a break with this contract. It doesn’t even have to be a big one. A grace period. Ten business days.”

  “Hon, I already told him and you were there—I can’t do that for family. It’ll look like I’m playing favorites.”

  “He’s not family. He and I aren’t engaged anymore.”

  She’d expected at least a flicker of surprise, but his expression and posture didn’t shift at all. “I don’t think I can do business, especially something like a contract leniency, with the kind of man who breaks promises. Especially something as sacred as an engagement,” he said.

  “He didn’t. I did.”

  “That doesn’t seem like your wisest move, hon.” He leaned in, forearms on his desk and fingers steepeled. “But if that’s true, why do you care what happens to him?”

  “I don’t.” She forced out the lie, and hoped her hesitation didn’t show. “This impacts my employer. It’s a good job, and I’d hate to see it hurt the firm. I know, they signed the contract, and I understand that by doing this, you’d still be doing family—me—a favor. But...”

  She hadn’t thought this argument through as well as she should have. “What do I need to do?” She let the pleading leak into her voice. If he wanted to humiliate her, fine.

  “Your sympathy bid—this entire conversation—might carry more weight if I thought your relationship with him was anything to begin with.”

  Surprise flickered through Ash, and his smirk said she hadn’t hidden it well. “Of course it was something.” At least that was true. As much as she didn’t want it to be.

  “You stole my baby girl. I don’t keep an eye on you twenty-four seven, but I haven’t let this go unchecked. You weren’t dating anyone.”