Ashley stood at the yacht's railing, staring at the horizon as the crew busied themselves with docking. The air smelled of salt and sun, but all she could think about was the perfect and idyllic two days she'd just had with a man she barely knew.
Behind her, Julian finished a call, his tone clipped, his jaw tense. He glanced at her once, unreadable as ever. He smirked, sliding his phone into his pocket.
"Miss me already? Is that why you've been staring at the water like it just broke your heart." He said in a casual tone , she'd come to know these past few days.
Ashley folded her arms. "Don't flatter yourself. I'm mostly thinking about my liver."
He chuckled, stepping close enough that she could smell his cologne, mix of notes and trouble. "Good. Because as soon as we're docked, we can finalize this divorce and you'll never have to suffer with my company again." He was smiling
"Perfect," she said, ignoring the part of her that twisted at the word. "Don't forget to brief your lawyer."
"Already did," he replied absent mindedly. Then his phone buzzed again. His smirk faltered when he glanced at the screen.
Ashley tilted her head. "Business?"
Julian's jaw tightened. "Something like that." He swiped to answer and turned slightly away, his tone sharp and commanding. "Talk."
Ashley caught only fragments, something about a board meeting moved up, an urgent deal, New York. His voice shifted from annoyed to clipped, efficient, his back straightening the way it always did when he slipped into CEO mode.
Finally, he hung up, slipping the phone back into his pocket. His expression was unreadable, which irritated her more than she cared to admit.
"Well," she said lightly, hiding the strange tightness in her chest. "This is the part where we go our separate ways and pretend it never happened." in a feeble attempt to keep a light tone.
Julian smirked, slipping his phone into his pocket. "Sounds like the perfect ending, to an unforgettable experience doesn't it?"
She tilted her chin. "Absolutely."
Julian studied her for a moment, his gaze unsettlingly direct. Then he smiled, the kind of smile that could sell headlines and sink ships. "Change of plans tho, I'll have to fly out immediately. Divorce proceedings will have to wait till I get back."
Ashley blinked. "You're kidding?"
"Do I look like a man who jokes about contracts?"
She pouted . "So what now? I'm just… supposed to wait?"
He reached into his jacket and pulled out a sleek black card, pressing it into her hand before she could protest. "Here. My direct number. I'll call you tonight, if you'll give me your digits" She typed in her phone number quietly like an obedient child.
"I… okay," she finally admitted, voice soft and breathless. "I guess I can live with an extra day or two of a guilty secret. But you better behave." She teased
Julian laughed, the deep, playful sound echoing across the deck. He loved when she bantered playfully with him, returning his energy.
"Behave? I'm married, Ashley. That's already enough permission for fun, don't you think?"
She rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress her grin. "You're insufferable ."
He walked her into a waiting car, and leaned against the door with maddening calm, she caught a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.
"I'll… call you," he said at last.
Her laugh was sharp, meant to cover the way her heart jumped. "Don't stress yourself."
He shut the door properly and bid her farewell, no kisses no display of emotion, turned back and left.Just like that, the boat, the champagne, the stolen kisses, all of it, was gone, as the car zoomed away. All of it gone forever, only to exist in her memory she thought with a hint of nostalgia for the things that could have been and would never be.
Back in her apartment, in Los Angeles, California, Ashley tossed her purse and bag full of clothes he had shopped for her last minute before heading to the yacht on the couch and collapsed beside it, staring at her silent phone.
It didn't ring yet.
Not after an hour. Not after two.
By the third, she was pacing, arms folded tight across her chest. Of course he wouldn't call. Why would he? He probably forgot about her, the second they docked.
But the tiny, humiliating truth was that she wanted him to call her first.
She grabbed her phone, thumb hovering over his sleek black card tucked in her purse. She could call him. She could…
"No," she muttered, dropping the phone like it burned. "Nope. Absolutely not."
Instead, she scrolled to Brooke's contact and hit dial.
"Finally," her best friend answered after two rings. "I was starting to think you drowned out there." She'd only managed to send her friend a message before the network went bad.
Ashley snorted, flopping back onto her couch. "I almost wish I had. Less complicated."
Brooke laughed. "Oh, this is going to be good. Spill."
Ashley hesitated, then blurted, "Remember how you pushed me to take this vacation? Told me I needed to "live a little'?"
"Yeah, and you actually listened for once. You went without me, even after I bailed. Which, may I remind you, was because someone had to deal with three clients breathing down my neck." She quickly added before she activated the blame game.
Ashley groaned. "Well, congratulations, Brooke. I lived. Maybe a little too much."
Her best friend's voice sharpened with curiosity. "What did you do?"
Ashley pressed the heel of her hand to her forehead. "I may or may not have gotten married in Vegas."
The line went dead silent.
"Brooke?"
Then came a screech so loud Ashley yanked the phone from her ear. "YOU DID WHAT?!"
Ashley winced. "Keep your voice down! The neighbors don't need to know!"
"You married a stranger in Vegas? Who is he? Could you get anymore cliche? There was a hint of disappointment in her voice.
"Julian," Ashley said reluctantly.
Another gasp. "The same tall dark and handsome guy you followed to the sea? The same one you referred to as a necessary distraction? You married your distraction, what? when did this happen" she was struggling to pace her words.
Ashley frowned. "Dont remind me, yes him?"
Brooke's voice dropped to a whisper, like she was narrating a conspiracy theory. "Ashley , you dont just marry a stranger. What happened to flirting , may be sleep with him once and you keep it moving?"
"Dont be this way, your judgment isn't helping matters Brooke" she responded getting frustrated
Brooke cut her off, "Oh im judging you hard girl, this is so, not you. You're kidding right? What sort of man goes along with that?"
Ashley scoffed. "The kind who makes you forget the world exists for three days."
Brooke's voice softened into concern, " Ash…"
Ashley," Don't pity me, it was all fun when it lasted, you'll be pleased to know, we divorcing soon.
Brooke responded surprised, " Already?
"What did you expect? We barely knew each other, it was fun and sunshine while it lasted, but we're back to reality now."
Brooke laughed, wicked and gleeful, snapping out of her boring and responsible phase. " Damn! This is officially the juiciest and craziest thing you've ever done. Who would have thought you had it in you."
Ashley shook her head. "Promise me you won't tell anyone. I need to figure this out before it becomes…"
"Relax," Brooke interrupted. "My lips are sealed. But you know what else is sealed? My schedule. I'm clearing it. I'm coming over."
Ashley blinked. "Now?"
"Immediately," Brooke said with smug finality. "Because there's no way I'm missing front row seats to this drama."
Ashley groaned, but despite herself, she was smiling when she hung up.
Her phone stayed stubbornly silent. But at least she wouldn't be alone waiting anymore. Marrying him felt like the sweetest secret, till she remembered he still had not called. Her pulse still raced anyways and her stomach fluttered in anticipation of what it would be like to see him again..