Trouble in Paradise.

4. Google.

Chapter 4: Google.

"Good morning, Miss Stone." Ashton says as I walk into my office. He is sitting on my plush white sofa, a magazine in hand. Naya informed me that Ashton was in here waiting.

"Don't patronize me." I tell him, rolling my eyes.

"You look good." He says, eyeing my custom Versace pantsuit.

"Why are you here?" I ask him, placing my YSL purse on my steel table. I walk around the table and sit in my chair.

"You know why. You've been avoiding my calls." He says, standing up putting his hands in his pockets as he stares at me.

"For a reason. You want to partner up, I don't. Case closed. You can leave now, Ashton." I tell him, placing a strand of my hair behind my ear.

"Oh come on, Vee. This is why our parents wanted us to build that hotel six years ago. They saw what we didn't. They knew that we would make magic and a shit ton of money." He says, taking a cigarette out of his breast pocket and lighting it.

"Don't do that in my office and don't call me Vee. We aren't in Chicago anymore or Langston, so refrain from bringing up the past. Partnering with you isn't wise. McCain Construction plays dirty. I don't want my men mingling with yours." I tell him, bluntly.

"Ouch. Someone's hurt. Who hurt you, Val?" He says, staring at me.

He's so annoying.

"Just leave." I tell him.

"Not until you agree. This building will be the talk of New York for generations to come. It's going to be a head turner. Don't you want to be a part of history?" He asks me and I stare at him.

"Ugh, fine. I'll have Andrew from Architecture meet up with you tomorrow." I tell him, giving in.

"Finally." Ashton says, clapping his hands. "You're not gonna regret this." He says, smiling at me.

"I wasn't planning to. Now, go. I have work to do." I say, shooing him.

"Yes ma'am." He says, before he walks out of my office.

Even though Ashton is a total pest, he is one of the familiar faces I see here in New York. And as annoying as he is, he's like the little brother I never had. Our relationship got stronger sophomore year when I changed my major to his. We spent a lot of time together and became friends.

He's okay.

My office phone rings and I pick it up.

"Ma'am, there's a Mr Henderson on line three. He says it's urgent." Teagan, my receptionist tells me.

Oh, not this.

"Put him on." I tell her, placing the phone down and turning on the speaker.

"What?" I say, leaning in my chair.

"Valarieeeee." He says, excitedly.

"Why are you calling my job, Zach?" I ask him.

"I wanted to say hi to an old friend. Or you don't like that since you're pretending not to know me now." He says.

"I'm not pretending to do anything. I'm leaving the past in the past. Not every guy I'm seeing has to know about you." I tell him.

"Are you sure about that? The guy that took your virginity is a pretty crucial detail for your new boyfriend to know." Zachary says and I groan.

"Goodbye." I say, ending the call.

I can't deal with him.

After having peace and quiet for five years, I'm not about to have a siren of a boy blare through my life.