Skip to content
Novel Catalog
Chapter 10: We Don’t Need Your Ride
The barbecue stretched on for more than three hours, filled with toasts and laughter. Everyone was having a good time, the rich wine flowing freely, the atmosphere light and carefree.
Amid the merrymaking, Ainsley quietly slipped away from the crowd. With the help of the staff, she made her way to the area where the gifts were kept. According to Manuel’s rules, she was allowed to choose a gift: either a pony or one of the other animals raised on the grounds. Though Ainsley had a special love for horses, she ultimately decided on a deer.
The horse, she thought, didn’t quite feel like something that should be kept as a pet. The deer, however, felt like a more appropriate choice for her. Once she was done, she made her way back out, only to be stopped by one of the bodyguards.
“Ms. Easton, Mr. Gage wants to meet you. Please,” the bodyguard said, his voice polite and respectful.
There was no mistaking who “Mr. Gage” was. It could only be Manuel.
Ainsley followed the bodyguard to the second floor. When she entered, she found Manuel sitting leisurely by the window, looking out at the night sky. Roman, ever attentive, was mixing a drink, the ice in the purple wine creating a mesmerizing shimmer.
As Ainsley approached, Roman’s eyes lit up, a playful smile crossing his face. “Well, there’s really something between you and Mr. Gage. He doesn’t invite just anyone to drink,” he teased, his words provoking Ainsley to look at him more closely.
She was momentarily caught off guard by his beauty, a wave of enchantment washing over her as she took in Manuel’s effortless charm. When he finally spoke, Ainsley snapped back to reality.
“Ms. Easton, I want to ask you for a favor,” Manuel said with his usual calm.
Half an hour later, after the conversation was over, Ainsley descended from the second floor to find that the others had already begun to disperse. Lainey was waiting for her, sitting casually in a chair. When she saw Ainsley, she leaned forward, curiosity written all over her face.
“Aisy, who was that?” Lainey asked, a little too eagerly.
Ainsley hesitated for a moment, her mind still on Manuel’s request. Then, shaking off her thoughts, she smiled and replied, “Nothing, just a friend.”
Lainey blinked, clearly confused, but nodded along.
The evening was winding down, and it was getting late. Ainsley, realizing how much they’d all drunk, knew they couldn’t drive. She pulled out her phone to call a taxi, but before she could press the button, a soft, sweet voice interrupted her.
“Ms. Easton, Ms. Salter, why don’t you come with us? It’s so late, and it’s hard to get a taxi.”
Ainsley looked up to see Kaliyah standing in front of her, with Cason right beside her. Kaliyah gave Cason a sweet smile, almost as if she were making a suggestion, but there was a subtle possessiveness in the way she looked at him.
“Cason, let’s give them a ride,” Kaliyah said, her voice honeyed and friendly.
Cason’s gaze was steady and deep as he looked at Ainsley. After a long pause, he spoke, his tone calm but commanding. “Get in the car.”
Behind him, a few of Cason’s friends were watching eagerly, clearly interested in the unfolding drama.
Ainsley frowned, immediately rejecting the offer. “No thanks. We can go back ourselves,” she said, her voice firm.
Lainey, not one to back down, also chimed in. “Right. We don’t need your ride. We can get a car ourselves.”
The refusal was blunt, and Kaliyah’s demeanor shifted, though she tried to remain polite. “Ms. Easton, I don’t mean anything by it. It’s just late, and it’s not safe out here. You’re both girls…”
Cason, ever the gentleman in Kaliyah’s presence, silently took her hand, his gaze softening as he looked at Ainsley. “Get in the car. She’s just trying to do something good. Don’t make things difficult, and don’t risk your lives.”
Ainsley’s irritation flared. She felt her patience thinning, and her tone turned icy. “Mr. Baldry, I said no,” she snapped, her gaze locking with his.
Cason’s face darkened at her refusal, the anger simmering beneath his calm exterior. The tension between them was palpable. Kaliyah, standing beside him, looked down, her innocent expression seemingly untouched by the growing conflict. Her friends, who had been watching the exchange, now wore serious expressions, and it was clear that the atmosphere was becoming increasingly tense.
Lainey, never one to back down from a confrontation, rolled up her sleeves, ready to face off with them. But just as things were about to escalate, they heard a voice.
“Hey, what are you girls doing here?” Roman’s teasing voice rang out, breaking the tension.
He was standing nearby, waving a set of car keys in his hand, his grin mocking as he glanced at the group. “If you’re done with your little drama, I’ve got a ride for you,” he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Ainsley couldn’t help but feel a little relieved. Roman’s interruption was just what they needed to diffuse the tension, even if it came with a side of humor.
