Do You Still Love Me When We Meet Again? (Aubrey and Damon) novel Chapter 227

Response

Aubrey felt a sharp pang of discomfort in her chest.

She knew exactly what Lily was doing–trying to provoke her and drive a wedge between her and her client so she’d turn on Ryan. To Aubrey, this was amateur hour. It was petty and desperate. She offered a calm, effortless smile. “Ryan has a point, and he’s clearly been paying attention. But so what? He can say whatever he wants, but talk is cheap. It doesn’t change the fact that Damon is my boyfriend right now, while Serena is nothing more than a coworker.”

Faced with Aubrey’s unshakable composure, Lily felt a wave of pure frustration. Her face darkened with rage. She snatched her phone and bag off the table and stormed out without another word.

After she left.

Aubrey felt a heavy gaze from across the room. She looked up and locked eyes with the person watching her.

Before she could get an answer, she saw a woman standing nearby. She looked to be about Aubrey’s age, dressed with an effortless, expensive elegance. She was a total stranger, but the look in her eyes suggested she knew Aubrey. She held a faint, thin smile.

Aubrey couldn’t remember her at all.

While she was still trying to place the face, the woman stood up and walked over to her. “Miss Hayes, long time no see.”

Aubrey stood up, meeting her gaze. “I’m sorry, I’ve had some memory issues. Have we met before?”

A few times.” The woman extended a hand, her voice perfectly polite. “I’m Veronica Pierce. Your boyfriend and I dated for a while.”

Aubrey gave her a brief handshake and a thin smile. “Nice to meet you,” she said, nodding. She looked calm on the surface, but a wave of discomfort hit her hard.

Tracy had mentioned this before–that Aunt Hannah had once tried to set Damon up with a distant relative as a potential wife.

But they actually dated? What was that about?

No one had ever mentioned this to her.

So, Damon had been with another woman before?

Can I sit down? I’d like to talk,” Veronica asked.

Aubrey frowned. “Are we even close like that?”

ust acquaintances,” Veronica admitted.

Then there’s no point.” Aubrey grabbed her phone and bag, ready to leave. “Sorry, I’m busy. I don’t have time for small talk.”

Veronica stood there, a frozen, awkward smile plastered on her face as Aubrey brushed past her. As soon as Aubrey was out of sight, Veronica’s gaze went cold, her fists clenching until her knuckles turned white.

Aubrey didn’t look back. She got in her car and drove straight back to the office.

Her mood was in the gutter the entire way.

Thinking about all the women circling Damon like vultures made her skin crawl. The sense of insecurity was only getting stronger. Usually, a former blind date would be embarrassed to see the current girlfriend. They’d keep their distance.

Only someone bitter–someone looking for an opening or plotting something–would try to force an interaction like that.

Veronica wasn’t just being friendly. She had an agenda.

That was exactly why Aubrey had shut her down, but it didn’t mean she wasn’t bothered.

Back at the firm, she buried herself in work for the rest of the afternoon.

<Chapter 227…

Claim 50 Coins By Check in

Menu

Around sunset, a notification popped up on the Grid. It was Damon: [Bree, coming home for dinner?]

Aubrey typed back instantly: [Is Veronica Pierce your ex?]

[No.]

[Liar.]

[I’ll explain when you get home.]

I’m not coming back.]

She fired off the text in a fit of spite and shoved her phone into her bag. She didn’t want to look at it. She grabbed her things and walked out of the office.

A second later, her phone started buzzing in her hand. It was Damon calling.

Aubrey sat in the driver’s seat, rummaging through her bag for her Bluetooth earbuds. When she couldn’t find them, she just apped the screen and declined Damon’s call.

She started the engine and pulled out.

t was peak rush hour. As she merged into the heavy flow of traffic, her phone buzzed again. Damon.

he swiped left. Declined.

After that, he didn’t try again.

The sky was turning a dark navy by the time Aubrey pulled into Blackwood Crescent. She drove into the garage and parked.

Grabbing her purse, she pushed open the front door and stepped into the living room.

The lights were soft and bright, and the heater was running at a perfect, cozy temperature. Her eyes immediately landed on the ofa. Damon was sitting there, his long legs sprawled out. He was slumped back, his head resting against the top of the sofa, with ne arm draped over his eyes.

There was a profound sense of exhaustion and loneliness radiating off him. Hearing her come in, he slowly lowered his arm and orced his heavy body upright. His eyes locked onto hers, his voice sounding drained. “You’re back?”

Aubrey stared at him, caught off guard.

He’d been home resting for the past two days, so why did he look so rough? He looked totally worn out, almost desolate.

Aubrey had been stewing over the whole thing with Veronica, but seeing him like this, her heart sank. Her anger instantly gave way o a sharp pang of sympathy.

he dropped her bag and stepped right between Damon’s knees. She cupped his face in her hands, looking down at him with oncern. “What’s wrong?”

Damon’s eyes were rimmed with red. His large hands gripped her slim waist as he looked up at her, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his hroat. “I’m fine,” he whispered.

After he spoke, he lowered his head and pressed his face against her chest. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her ight, like a hurt child seeking comfort in his older sister’s arms.

He didn’t look fine at all.

Aubrey tried to push his shoulders, but his grip was too strong. His powerful arms squeezed her waist tight, pinning her to him. He buried his face in her chest, his breathing heavy and ragged.

Aubrey couldn’t push him away, so she gave up and calmed down. She ran her hand over his short, dark hair, her voice soft. “What’s really going on? Is it work?”

“No,” he murmured. “Just let me hold you for a second.”

< Chapter 227…

Claim 50 Coins By Check in

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify