EuropeNovelMy CEO 173
173 It Is What It Is (Jayden)
The flight back his uneventful, but my mind is anything but. I can't stop thinking about Winona and what
she's dealing with. But even more than that, | can't stop thinking about Ashlyn's message.
There's no denying it was from her-the safe word confirmed that. But why now? Why after everything?! can't be
certain she's being honest about still being pregnant. That could be a ploy to conback into being with her.
| know one thing for sure. I'm not going to see her without Winona. If Ashlyn can't accept that, then | won't be
seeing her at all.
| head straight to my office as soon as I land, the familiar surroundings doing little to ease my tension. | need
answers, and | need them fast. | need a shower. | need sfood.
But first, | need to know if there's anything legal stoppingfrom seeing Ashlyn.
| call Daniel, my lawyer, and he picks up on the second ring. "Jayden, what can | do for you?"
"Is it okay forto visit Ashlyn?" | say, cutting straight to the point. "I mean legally. Winona and I?"
There's a pause on the other end, and | can almost hear him weighing his words. "Legally there are no
restrictions on you both visiting her. She's been convicted, so the usual visitation rules apply. I'm not sure you
both can together. I'll check. But..." "But what?"
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
"Is this something you really want to do? Given everything that's happened?"
| let out a long breath, running a hand through my hair. I'm not sure. | haven't told Winona yet, and | don't want
to go there until | do. But | need to know my options."
"I understand," Daniel says, his voice calm and professional. "Take your time. There's no rush. But whatever you
decide, make sure it's something you can both live with." "Thanks, Daniel," | say before ending the call.
I lean back in my chair, staring at the ceiling. | can't make stirred up how much | detest her and what she did to
me, to us.
decision lightly. Ashlyn's message has
| thought I'd buried those feelings, and now I'm caught between wanting to face her and wanting to protect
Winona from whatever gAshlyn might be playing.
But | also know Winona wantsto at least try and understand how Ashlyn got to the point of no return.
She will want to go and see Ashlyn. If there really is a baby... God, | don't really know. | can't think that far ahead
right now.
Before | can dwell on it any longer, my phone rings. It's Mother,
I'd been deliberately screening her calls. I'm not interested in shooting the breeze with her. But | guess have to
answer sometime, or she might end up coming back. No one wants that. | hesitate for a moment before
answering. "Mother."
+25 BONUS
173 itis What it is
"Jayden," she says, her voice smooth. "How are you?"
"Fine," | say, keeping my tone neutral. I'm not in the mood for whatever she's about to start.
"I've been trying to reach you," she says, a hint of irritation creeping into her voice. "I wanted to check in, How's
everything going?"
"Busy," | said shortly. "I've got a lot on my plate with the business right now."
There's a pause on the other end, and |
Con almost see the wheels turning in her mind. "You're not telling
"Nothing you need to worry about," | say, my patience wearing thin. "I've got it handled."
"Jayden-
"Mom, I'm not discussing my life with you. I've got to go." | hang up before she can say anything else. feeling a
surge of relief the moment the call ends.
Who am | kidding? She and Gus probably already know exactly what's going on.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
Mother has poked her nose into Winona's past. She likely already knows about everything. I'm not giving Mother
the satisfaction of thinking | care about what she knows at this point.
| don't trust her. Not anymore. Whatever she's up to, I'm not letting her into my head again. Not after everything
she's done. | wonder how much she already knows anyway. She could be behind Ashlyn contacting me.
| damn-well bet she's behind Ashlyn having a phone.
She could be behind Steve coming back to see Winona and sending her back to her past. Trying to unhinge
Winona. Trying to set the doubt into both of us
| can't rule anything out at this point. If Ashlyn has contacted Winona, she hasn't said anything to me. Winona
would tell me. Even if only during therapy. I'm sure of that."
No one is controlling my life and my decisions ever again. Mother and Ashlyn will never have influence over me
directly. Now | need to be very careful they don't have it indirectly as well.
I'm not stupid. Mother never went to Europe with Gus to rekindle strue love. She's there with a reason. She
has a motive. But she isn't here, in our face and manipulating the board of directors. She can never do that in
Brennan Industries again.
She can never makebelieve her again. It hurts to think my own mother can't just lovewithout having
ulterior motives. But it is what it is.
I'll get over it.
+25 BONUS
174 Desperate Measures
Visit our social media platform to read fascinating stories every day and connect with the community!
