Chapter 83

The weight of the day's task pressed against Ashleigh's chest as she sat at the dining table, dulling her appetite. Her mind churned with everything she needed to do today-tracking down the perfumer before her panel meeting tomorrow, smoothing things over with Arthur, Fiona, and James. She needed their support now more than ever. Beau on the other hand, was carefree as ever. He hummed under his breath, tapping his fingers idly against his plate as he ate. "Babygirl, you've barely touched your food." He commented, and Ashleigh looked up to find him and Susan both watching her with concern. Ashleigh clenched her fork and stabbed a piece of pancake, exhaling sharply. "I can't eat right now. There's too much on my mind." Susan stepped forward, likely about to insist she eat, but Ashleigh raised a hand to stop her. "Don't bother, Susan. I'm not eating until we get that person." Susan hesitated before stepping back, defeated. Ashleigh turned to Beau, bringing her glass to her lips. "Do you have a plan for finding this perfumer when we get there?" Beau stretched lazily, pushing his empty plate aside. "Well, I discussed it with Adrian last night... though you'd know that if you hadn't stormed off after your little lovers' quarrel." Ashleigh choked mid-sip, coughing as water spilled onto her clothes. Susan rushed to her side, dabbing at the stain, but Ashleigh waved her off. Her hands curled into fists as she turned to Beau, who was watching her with an infuriating smirk. Ashleigh scowled, but before she could retort, a presence behind her sent a cold shiver down her spine. "What's going on here?" Adrian's voice. She didn't need to turn to know he was there. She could feel him. The room shifted, his presence a force she couldn't ignore. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "What happened to your clothes?" he asked. Ashleigh didn't answer, didn't even look at him. The argument from this last night weighed heavily on her. She had slept in her room last night, unable to bear being near Adrian after everything. His arrogance, his control-it gnawed at her, simmering beneath her skin. Beau, ever the instigator, leaned forward on his elbows, grinning. "Oh, nothing serious, Mr. Cagliari. Your wife just gets a little...." he made a vague gesture "....riled up when we talk about her love life." Adrian's chair scraped against the floor as he pulled it out. "Is that so?" Ashleigh's patience snapped. She turned, stepping toward him, her voice low but seething. "I would appreciate it if you both stopped trivializing this." Adrian arched an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "And what exactly is this, Ashleigh?" "You interfering in my friendships. Again." Ashleigh continued, locking eyes with him. "You don't want interference in my friendships, yet you interfere in mine. What's romantic about that?" The words hit harder than she intended, slicing through the air between them. Adrian's eyes darkened, but she refused to back down. "You knew exactly what you were doing when you texted them yesterday," she pressed. "You chose to disrupt that meeting, and I won't take it lightly." Adrian watched her silently , his gaze unreadable. "Not everything is going to go your way, Mr Cagliari " she said, her voice steady but edged with restrained anger, His expression didn't change, but she felt the shift in his mood-like a storm brewing just beneath the surface. "Is that so?" he asked coldly, and Ashleigh stepped forward to Adrian. She leaned forward slightly, her voice dropping to something dangerously smooth. "Four months ago, when we went to get my wedding ring, you were adamant that our relationship stay a secret. You didn't want anyone knowing." Her voice sharpened. "So what happened now? Why do you suddenly feel entitled to be a part of my world when I am nothing but a ghost in yours?" Silence gripped the room. Even Beau, who usually had a comeback for everything, said nothing. Ashleigh turned on her heel and strode toward the door. She had barely taken two steps when Adrian's voice rang out, calm but laced with ice. "You don't have a choice, Ashleigh Cagliari." She stopped. His next words sent a chill down her spine. "You will admit that I am your husband. Publicly." Ashleigh turned slightly, just enough to glance over her shoulder. Her expression was unreadable, but her voice carried quiet defiance. "We'll see about that." ************************** "We're almost at the location ma'am." The driver announced. Ashleigh let out a non-committal grunt, gazing at the blurring city landscape while Beau stole glances at her as he fidgeted in his seat. He had been stealing nervous glances at her since they left the mansion, and had apologized a few times after she changed her wet clothes but she had not responded to him. Ashleigh exhaled through her nose, finally breaking the silence. "What's the plan, Beau?" His head snapped toward her, his expression shifting into something hopeful. "You're willing to talk to me now?" Ashleigh rolled her eyes, looking away. "I need to know the plan. That's all." Beau sighed dramatically but nodded. "Alright. But before that, I just want to apologize again. I thought it was just bickering between you and Adrian." Ashleigh gave a quiet scoff. "If only it were that simple." Beau hesitated before reaching for her hand, squeezing it lightly. "I get it now. These four months weren't just petty fights, were they?" "No, they weren't." Beau hesitated, then took her hand firmly. "I get it now, Ashleigh. And trust me, now that I'm here, things will change." Beau smirked, squeezing her hand before looping his arm through hers. "I'm on your side, always." A genuine smile tugged at her lips. If only things with Adrian were this simple. But that was wishful thinking. "Alright," she said, rubbing her palms together. "Let's get to it." Beau wiggled his eyebrows playfully as he leaned in. "So, here's the deal: this perfumer is exclusive. They don't wait in the store for just anyone. We need to lure them out." Ashleigh's brows knitted together. "And how do we do that?" Beau smirked. "By making them come to you." She stared at him, still confused. He nudged her. "Don't look so stunned, baby girl." "At the store, you're going to rack up an insane bill. That'll force the perfumer to make a move." Ashleigh's stomach twisted. "I don't have money to make extravagant purchases just to get someone's attention." Beau chuckled, pulling out a sleek, gold credit card. The initials CAGLIARI gleamed in the light. "You keep forgetting," he mused, placing it in her palm and folding her fingers around it, "you're the wife of the biggest CEO in various industries." Ashleigh's pulse quickened. The car slowed to a stop, and through the window, the boutique's golden sign shimmered under the afternoon sun. "You will have to act like it now," Beau said smoothly. "And bleed Adrian's card dry while at it. He should at least feel your anger, don't you think?" Ashleigh looked at the card, and a slow smirk formed on her lips. Yes. He absolutely should.