Jilted (7 page)

Owen seemed unbothered by Ashley’s assessment. “Well, it was either come as I was or leave you waiting here for another hour. I’m here now, so what did you want to talk about?”

“I’ll wait for your sister to show up. Where is she, by the way?”

“Who knows? Out spending money and rubbing elbows with D-list celebrities, I imagine.” He raised his hand to signal a waiter who appeared out of nowhere.

“Yes, sir, what can I get you?”

“Whiskey, the top shelf stuff, and for my lovely lady get her some champagne. She likes the bubbly stuff.”

The blonde giggled. “You know how to treat a lady.”

Owen nuzzled the woman’s neck. “Anything for you, babe.”

It took every ounce of Ashley’s fast dwindling patience to not lose his temper. It was typical of his brother to treat this lunch meeting as a joke. It seemed as if nothing was serious to Owen.

“Anything for you, sir?” The waiter directed toward him.

“I’m fine, thank you.” He tapped his still full glass of club soda.

“I’m Muffin by the way.” The blonde turned her attention to Ashley and held out her hand across the table.

Ashley glared at it and then her. She was an unwelcome guest and he saw no reason to be cordial. Muffin immediately yanked her hand away and pouted.

Owen draped his arm around her. “Don’t worry about him, babe. He’s a bit of a grouch.”

A retort was on the tip of Ashley’s tongue when his sister Colleen came sailing toward them, her arms full of bags from expensive boutiques. Her outfit was nearly as skimpy as Muffin’s and her normally brown locks were now a platinum blonde. She placed her bags down and took the seat next to him. “Sorry I’m late but I always lose track of time when I’m shopping. I can’t really stay long. I have a 1:30 mani-pedi appointment.”

The waiter returned with the drinks. “Miss, can I get you something to drink?”

“Just sparkling water for me, please. I’ll just go ahead and put my order in if that’s fine with everyone.” Colleen didn’t wait for anyone’s consent before she continued. “I’d like a small garden salad with oil and vinegar dressing on the side, no olives please.”

“Still eating that rabbit food I see,” Owen taunted his sister.

“Well unlike you apparently, I actually care about what I look like. And who’s the skank?”

“Hey!” Muffin interjected.

Ashley had finally reached his limit. “Enough!” He pounded his fist on the table. “You,” he pointed at Muffin, “leave.”

The blonde scrunched up her face and looked at Owen. “But I was invited. Are you going to let him talk to me like that, Owey?” She brushed her breasts against Owen’s arms.

Owen turned to Ashley. “Come on man, give us a break. I promised her lunch.”

“Then do it on your own dime at another time. Besides, what I have to say to you and Colleen may not be something you want your friend to hear.”

“Well, I guess I’m out of here then.” Owen stood up defiantly.

“If he gets to go, I don’t see why I should be here either,” Colleen added.

“Sit down. Because if either of you walk out of this restaurant I will make sure neither one of see a penny of your trust funds until you’re both members of the AARP.”

Owen’s face turned bright red. “You can’t fucking do that!”

Ashley raised a brow. “Have you ever known me to bluff?”

Owen crossed his arms across his chest looking every bit like a petulant teenager rather than a man of 26. He was fucking pathetic. Ashley stared his brother down knowing the younger man would relent. Finally, before throwing Ashley a glare, he turned to his date. “Babe, I’ll give you a call, okay? I guess we have some important family business to discuss.”

Muffin’s mouth popped open as if she couldn’t believe that she’d been cast aside.

Colleen laughed out loud, not bothering to show any decorum.

Muffin stood up. “Well, you can just lose my number. I could have gone out with someone much richer than you. And with a bigger dick. Fuck all of you.” She stormed off in a huff, leaving a trail of overpowering perfume in her wake.

Colleen swatted the air. “Sheesh, it smelled like she bathed in whatever it was she was wearing.”

“Shut the fuck up, Colleen,” Owen, muttered before sinking into his seat and slouching to the point where it looked as if he’d fall out of his seat.

Ashley stared at his sullen brother who looked like a first class slob, and then his sister, who was painfully thin. He remembered a time when she carried a few extra pounds, but they’d suited her. Now, he was wondering if she’d taken her weight loss too far. He could see the bones on her torso. What the hell happened to the twins? They had both been bright children who had done exceptionally well in school.

After their father died, with Ashley being 11 years older than his siblings, he took the role of father figure. He looked out for them and took care of them: financially and emotionally. Neither twin had interest in pursuing a law career which was fine with Ashley as long as they were productive. Owen had a passion for computers and all things technology. Owen was the one he’d called whenever he had an issue with one of his devices. Colleen on the other hand was more artistic. She was into graphic design in particular but she used to produce the most incredible paintings. They were both gifted but somehow they’d squandered their talents and had become a couple of lazy bums, never lifting a finger to do things for themselves and always expecting others to take care of them.

He blamed his mother for that. She’d coddled them to the point where she made them believe that they didn’t have to do anything with their lives because just being a Hollingsworth was enough. Their father would turn in his grave if he could see them now. They were a disappointment, and in some ways he blamed himself for not doing something about this sooner.

After he’d ended things with Skylar, his work had become his life and somewhere along the way, he’d lost sight of the twins. But now he was determined to change the situation.

“What the hell has gotten into you to?” Ashley pointed to his brother, “You show up looking like a disgusting pig with some cheap hooker on your arm—”

“The politically correct term is exotic dancer,” Owen cut in.

“I don’t give a fuck what you call her. It was in poor taste of you to bring her here.” He then turned to his sister. “And you. I couldn’t tell the difference between you and Muffin. Do you always leave the house dressed like a cheap slut?”

Colleen gasped. “I’ll have you know that this dress is very expensive. And where the hell do you get off judging me or either of us when every time we see you, you’re with a different woman. You’ve become quite the womanizer but yet you have the nerve to look down on us? Get over yourself. You’re our brother not our father.”

“You’re right, our father is dead and if he were still alive he’d be ashamed to see what you two have become. You’re a couple of lazy ingrates who either loaf around the house or spend your time partying, drinking and getting high.” He focused on his sister. ”That’s right, the maid found the vial of cocaine in your room Colleen.”

“Are you kidding me? That bitch is so fired!” Colleen screamed drawing stares of other patrons to their table.

“Lower your damn voice, and considering I pay her wages, she’s not going anywhere. Anything going on in that house is my concern because I pay the bills. I want you two to get your shit together because the way things are now is not acceptable.”

“And exactly what are you going to do about it?” Owen taunted.

“Exactly what I should have done a long time ago. I’m cutting the two of you off.” When his father had died, he’d left the bulk of his fortune and property to Ashley and a lump sum for his wife. But he had also set aside generous trust funds for the twins to be managed by the estate’s executor. William had been appointed temporary executor of the estate until Ashley turned 30. By the time Ashley had taken over the finances for his family, he saw that Colleen and Owen were receiving quarterly payouts that most Americans wouldn’t see doing a year’s worth of work. It was no wonder they had turned so lazy; they had no incentive to work, and under the influence of their mother’s example Ashley understood why.

“Cut us off? What are you talking about? We have our own money,” Colleen whined.

“Money that I have control over.”

Owen shrugged. “So what? We get control of our trust funds when we turn 30.”

Ashley leaned forward so he could stare his brother in the eyes. “Perhaps you should take a peek at our father’s will again. You’ll only get full control of your inheritance when you turn 30 at the discretion of the executor. And at the rate you two are going, I don’t think you’ll be mature enough to handle that money until you’re at least 60.”

Owen turned bright red, his eyes flashed blue fire. “Fuck you, man. We’ll fucking sue you for it.”

“And how well do you think that will turn out when the judge hears about your antics and the countless favors I’ve had to call in to keep your ass out of jail, the DUI’s, the fights, the payouts, your run-ins with the cops. Do you think any judge will view you responsible enough to handle the kind of money coming your way? Just try me.”

“What do you expect us to do? How are we supposed to live?”

“You do what regular people do and get jobs. If you have to go back to school to finish your degrees, then I’ll finance it but you two need to start pulling your weight and become responsible members of society. Otherwise…good luck getting a dime from our father’s estate.”

Colleen stood up then, tears streaming down her face. “You’re a cold bastard, do you know that?”

Ashley shrugged. “I’m a lawyer; I’ve been called a lot worst.”

“You’ve changed Ashley. I was once proud to call you my big brother. You used to actually care about us but now you’re just a mean bully and it’s all because of that woman!” She screamed.

Ashley stiffened. “You’re making a scene.”

“I don’t give a fuck. We thought we’d lose you if you married her that you’d stop being our big brother, but then you broke up and we lost you anyway. I hate you Ashley and I hope you stay miserable and alone for the rest of your life.” She grabbed her bags and left the restaurant.

Owen sat up in his chair and gave him an ironic slow clap. “Congratulations Ashley, just when we thought you couldn’t become a bigger asshole you’ve managed to outdo yourself.” He picked up his drink and downed it in one gulp. Thanks for lunch. I’d like to say it was a pleasure but then I’d be lying.” Owen vacated that table and exited the restaurant.

“Is everything all right, sir?” The manager appeared.

“Yes, I just need the check.”

“Very good, sir.”

After he paid the bill and left the restaurant Ashley drove back to his office. He didn’t want to dwell on his disastrous lunch with the twins. They’d get over it. He was fed up with their antics and someone needed to get them under control. They had accused him of changing before but Ashley didn’t think that he’d changed; his eyes were just open to the truth.

He saw people for who they were and now that he knew everyone had an angle, he treated them accordingly. Two women had tried to pull the wool over his eyes, one who’d actually had him fooled and one he didn’t care too much for but had been willing to pay the consequences of his actions for. Thankfully, he’d managed to elude their clutches but it was still that first woman’s betrayal that stung the most. He refused to think about her even though her name had come up a few times in courtroom talk.

With Philadelphia being such a large city, he’d never had the misfortune of running into her and that’s was fine with him.

On the way to his office, he was halted when William stepped off the elevator as he was about to get on.

“Ashley, my boy. You’re back from lunch sooner than I thought you’d be.”

He sighed. “Let’s just say things didn’t turn out as planned.”

“Oh, so they put up a fuss when you gave them that ultimatum?”

“Well, I didn’t actually get around to setting the terms. Those two pissed me off so much that I just told them that they’ll need to get their act together or else.”

William frowned. “Are you sure that’s the best approach? Maybe I should talk to them. Or I can have a word with Katherine.”

Ashley snorted. “Good luck with that. I’m sure when my mother hears what I’ve done to her precious babies she’ll be calling me to tell me what a disappointment I am as a son.”

William patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, it’ll get better. My boys went through a wild stage and it took them a while to settle down. The twins will come around as well.

“That remains to be seen.”

“Oh, I have those tickets for you to the charity banquet next Thursday. I left them with your assistant.”

“Thanks. I’m going to head up to my office now.”

“All right. I’m taking the rest of the day off to go to the golf course, but if you need me, just call my cell.”

“Will do.”

Ashley was glad to get back to his desk and to his work. It seemed to be the one thing in his life that he had complete handle on and that’s the way he liked it.

Chapter Six

“Wow, Sis, you look hot!” Izzy accented her words with a whistle.

Skylar whirled around in the full length mirror to inspect herself. “You really think so?”

“Oh, yeah. You’re going to knock your date’s socks off.”

Skylar could hardly believe it was her staring back in the mirror. She and Monica had picked out this dress on a shopping excursion. It was a white floor-length halter gown that skimmed her curves like a second skin. The dress’s straps were made with a string of faux pearls, and small crystals were embroidered along the seam. The gown had a slit that went to the top of her thigh, making it easy for Skylar to move. She felt guilty for paying so much for an outfit that she would probably never wear again, but she had to admit that it looked good on her.

Her short curls glistened and Izzy, who was a wiz at applying make-up, had done her face. “You did a great job fixing me up, although I don’t know why I can’t wear my glasses. Contacts make my eyes feel itchy.”