“Did one of your ways involve inviting my ex-girlfriend?” I ask, coolly. “Imagine my surprise seeing Meredith at my birthday party.”
Mother shakes her head and waves a dismissive hand my way. “Honestly, Son, it was nothing you need to worry about. I’ve taken care of you before regarding that woman, and I’d do it again.”
The conversation shifts back to Perry’s orange abomination of a car. Keaton leans toward me, chuckling. “Five bucks says Mother has a fleet of hitmen at her disposal.”
“Who do you think pays them?” I ask, arching a brow at him.
“Touché.” His eyes meet mine. “Where’s your girlfriend?”
Not my girlfriend. Just mine.
“Naked and worn out in my bed. And she’s not my girlfriend.”
My little brother just laughs. Fucker.
“Get dressed,” I bark out in greeting as I enter my room at the Constantine compound. “We have errands to run today.”
Ash pauses mid-bite on the piece of buttered toast she’s eating, and her brow arches. Then, she chomps down on the food, messily eating it as she rolls her eyes. After she swallows, she says, “Good morning to you too.”
“You can play games when you can afford it. Right now, you’re back to being the poor, unfortunate maid who needs the rich guy to save her. Get up, get dressed, and let’s go.”
I expect more argument, but all I get is the middle finger before she abandons the breakfast I had sent up by one of the kitchen staff. My gaze travels down the length of her curvaceous body, settling on her ass as it bounces with each step. I’m half hard and aching to fuck the sassy girl, but we have too much to do today. It’ll have to wait. Leaning against the wall, I take to browsing through some pictures on my phone she’d sent me. The filthy ones do the job of making my dick completely hard, but it’s the bratty ones that do something else.
That bitchy smile makes me smile.
“Planning world domination over there?” Ash asks around her toothbrush from the bathroom doorway.
“Just domination over you.”
“Weirdo.” She disappears back into the bathroom. After spitting and the water starts to run again, she says, “We have to check on Shrimp.”
“I’ve taken care of it. Francis says the bird is fine.”
She walks out of the bathroom dressed in holey capris and a white tank that’s transparent, revealing a black bra underneath. It’s borderline trashy but for some reason, I find it really fucking hot.
“This is all I brought with me,” she says, frowning as I drink her in. “We can stop by your place if we need to and I can change.”
“It’ll be fine for the errands we need to run.” I gesture at her messy hair. “Do something about that.”
She narrows her eyes at me but doesn’t snap back. Instead, she pulls a hair tie from her pocket and smooths her hair back into a high ponytail. Her hazel eyes drop to the way my dick strains in my slacks. “Maybe you should do something about that.”
“That’ll get taken care of later,” I assure her. “Let’s go.”
Within ten minutes, we’re walking through the expansive estate to the garage bays. Once inside the garage, I walk over to one of my cars I leave at the compound. My pearl-white Bugatti Chiron. Earlier, I’d retrieved the keys from the safe in my room, so as we approach, I press the button on the fob making the doors lift up.
“Boys and their expensive toys,” she teases, though I can tell she’s impressed.
“You’re one of my toys.” I smirk at her. “Much cheaper than this one.”
It’s a good reminder for the both of us.
Constantines grow tired of their toys rather quickly if I’m being honest.
She’ll learn that soon.
Liar.
“I’ve upped my price, Constantine. Don’t worry. I’m worth it.”
Her dazzling smile has my chest tightening. Ignoring the rush that floods my veins, I climb into the Bugatti. Once we’re settled and buckled in, I fire up the engine. The car vibrates from the power of it. I back out of the garage and then peel out of the driveway, no doubt leaving tire marks that Perry will get blamed for. Ash is quiet, silently taking in all the sights as we make the drive back into the city.
“What kind of cars do the triplets have?” I ask, speeding past a row of slow drivers.
“Matching black Audis. Cute, huh?”
“Adorable.” I glance over at her. “Their mommy bought them?”
“Yep.”
“Aren’t you a part of the family? How come you don’t have a matching Audi in pink?”
“Because I’m not a part of that family,” she huffs. “Plus, I don’t want to owe her anything.”
“But you’ll gladly owe me?”
“It’s different with you. I feel like we’re on equal footing.”
I scoff at this. “I’m a billionaire, Ash. We’re nowhere near equal footing.”
“A billionaire who, for the right price, will happily spend his money on me. The strings attached are the ones on my terms. Ones I agree to. With Manda, it’s the forever kind of strings. I hate owing her.”