Good Intentions (Welcome to Paradise) (Volume 2) (36 page)

“
Ahhh
, I see,” he says, all knowing.

I shove my book back into my bag, and stand up, looking back only once before I leave. “Ryan, thank you for the rose. It was very… unnecessary.”

“Gifts aren’t about necessity.”

“I’ve got to go,” I say before walking away, annoyed, and leaving him there in the grass.

Walking into the cafeteria, the smell instantly reminds me why I don’t eat in here and haven’t in years. I walk to the line and grab a small salad. After purchasing it, I sit at a corner table and pull out my phone.

I call Evan, my calls go straight to voicemail, but hearing his voice on his recorded message makes me feel better. I remember he said he has a long day ahead of him, so I leave a message and try not stress.

Will sits down next to me. Reflexively, I turn my back to him.

“Mallory, can we please stop playing this game. I’m sorry. I’m sorry I cheated on you. I’m sorry for calling you names and I’m sorry for hurting you. Honestly, I didn’t know you liked me that much.”

I spin on my chair, hitting him with my best glare. “We dated long enough to be called a couple and I thought couples talked to each other. I expected that you would talk to me if you were unhappy with something, but you didn’t. You went off and had sex with someone else then blamed me for it.”

“I wanted a little sexual adventure and you wanted marriage—”

“Bullshit! I didn’t want marriage.
Not
then
anyway
. I’ll admit I thought you broke my heart, but I’ve learned I wasn’t in love with you. I only thought I was. You aren’t the love of my life, Will. So it’s easy to put our relationship in perspective now.” All this anger toward him feels like wasted energy, remembering that Will cheating on me technically led me to Evan. I stand up, tossing my bag onto my back. “Actually, I’d like to thank you.”

“What?
Why?
”His voice raises an awkward octave higher.

“Because if you hadn’t cheated on me, treating me like you did, I wouldn’t have gone to Hawaii and I wouldn’t have met the person I
am
going to marry. So, I’d like to say thank you, Will,” I say this, meaning every word. “We might even have to invite you to the wedding now.” I laugh and leave him dumbstruck at the table and finish my school day with a smile on my face, forgiveness inside, and love in my heart.

Just before seven that evening, Sarah barges into my bedroom as I’m straightening my hair. She turns down my birthday playlist she created for the occasion and stands there grinning at me. Pulling a robe on over my bra and panties, I wait for her to say whatever she came in here to say because I can tell she has something on her mind.

She finally breaks into a squeal, then says, “You’ve got to come into the living and see this right now, Mallory!”

Picking the iron back up, I reply, “I’m almost done. Let me finish my hair.”

She takes the straightening iron from my hand, sets it down, and says, “Now!” Grabbing my hand, she starts pulling me through my bedroom door into the living room, but stops to ask, “Are you wearing that?”

“I haven’t figured out what I’m wearing to the party yet. I was gonna try on a few things and let you choose. Anyway, what do you care, if this is such an emergency?”

“Fine. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Warn me?” The warning makes me nervous. I round the corner into the living room and see a delivery guy with a huge bouquet of tropical flowers—flowers I remember seeing in Hawaii. The bouquet is so big it actually takes my breath away.

It’s so huge it completely hides the delivery guy until he lowers the flowers, and says, “Happy birthday, baby.”

Continue reading for a Book 3 Sneak Peek

I don’t know what I expected. Maybe I thought this would make sense to her as it would to anyone else in the world… anyone with a heart. But I forgot, Evan’s mother doesn’t have a heart.

“Oh,” she says, her tone remains emotionless. “I didn’t know it was your birthday. I would normally send my best wishes, but alas, this is not a social call, so we won’t waste time with petty occurrences in your life.” I stay silent, forgetting that I have the ability to hang up as she continues her verbal assault. “I’m going to be frank with you, Mallory. I want my son living in New York. He can finish his degree here and continue in the family business. Three generations have worked hard to make Ashford Holdings the success it is, and Evan will one day lead it to greater success.” She sighs as if she’s bored with this conversation. But her words are stern, and I can tell she means every one of them. “With that success, Evan should marry an equal worthy of the Ashford name. Wray is sweet, but pedestrian. It’s entirely unnecessary for him to attach himself to someone that can’t uphold our family ideals. You live in a different world with different traditions and values. Your Mile High City charms won’t work here. I don’t know what he was thinking back in Hawaii, but he’s returned to New York, a place where Evan Theodore Monroe Ashford is revered and respected. He’s a catch not only amongst the best families in Manhattan, but across Europe as well. If you care for him at all, you will cut ties with him and let him live up to his potential. Don’t ruin his destiny. He can own this city if he chooses. He’s
that
talented.”

“Mrs. Ashford—”

“This isn’t a discussion or a request, Miss Wray.”

Studies show that the Pine Industries is a safe investment and a great opportunity to establish presence in the American market. The CFO of the group is Brazilian and has strong ties with the community and latin definitely adds value for potential future opportunities. We have the means to not only meet the financial goals of the company, as well as take it to the next level of growth. I really hope you will consider these factors in decision making.

We will be
 
doing
 
the transfer of
 
6.7 million
 
in
 
the morning to start
 
the ball rolling
.

Very
 
good and
 
thanks
 
again
 
for this opportunity.
 
On behalf
 
of our entire staff
, welcome to
 
Ashford
 
Holdings
.

I’m blessed with such an amazing family and friends who support me in life and on my publishing journey. Thank you for always standing by me.

My family is amazing. You are my heart, my soul, and get all my love—always.

To my best friends, you keep me laughing and make writing books so much fun.

Special hugs, kisses, and tight squeezes to Becca, Flavia, Heather, Irene, Jenn, Lisa, Meire, Marla, Susi, Suzanne, and Vilma. You worked so tirelessly and did so with enthusiasm. Mahalo.

S.L. Scott has a degree in Journalism and is the author of Amazon bestsellers,
Good Vibrations
,
A Prior Engagement
, her debut novel—
Naturally, Charlie
, and several novellas, including Amazon best seller,
Sleeping with Mr. Sexy,
and
Morning
Glory—all currently
available on Amazon. Pursuing her passion for telling stories, she spends her days escaping into her characters, letting them lead her on their adventures. She is a Contributor to Huffington Post as well as writes for her own blog along with several other popular sites.