Chapter 8 Trapped in the Bathroom
Julio's POV
Three in the afternoon. I dragged myself downstairs in my cotton slippers, exhaustion weighing down every step. Sleep had been impossible with all that noise echoing through the house.
Since returning to the country, I'd moved back into the house Ashley and I shared three years ago. Every room held memories of us together. This place was our sanctuary, our love nest. Just that the soundproofing here was terrible.
Those damn cops downstairs had been talking for hours, their voices drifting up through the hardwood floors. Their constant chatter made sleep impossible.
I made them wait four or five hours, and they couldn't even stay quiet! Every year I paid more taxes than most people made in salary to support their worthless jobs. You'd think they could show some basic respect. The incompetence of public servants never ceased to amaze me.
"Julio Adam, we suspect you're connected to a homicide. You need to come with us for questioning." That's how these two officers greeted me the moment I appeared.
They placed a photo of the dead man on my mahogany coffee table, the same table where Ashley used to spread out case files. They were trying to get me to look, to react with guilt or fear.
I didn't even glance their way. Instead, I reached for the iced coffee Kerr had prepared for me.
The bitter taste spread across my tongue, clearing my foggy brain. I still didn't understand why Ashley loved this miserable drink. Coffee was supposed to be hot, warming, comforting. But since she preferred it cold and bitter, I'd learned to love it too. Everything about her had become part of me.
"I didn't kill anyone. You can leave now." I had zero patience for these idiots interrupting my day.
My gaze drifted to the green lawn outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. The grass was getting thick and wild, growing faster in this LA heat. Maybe when Ashley came by, we could mow it together like we used to.
Then we'd make love on the lawnmower afterward, right there in the sunshine. Cramped quarters, sure, but that would let me go deeper inside Ashley. Feel every inch of her wrapped around me.
She always got wilder in situations like that. More uninhibited. Screamed louder and clawed at my back until she drew blood.
"Julio Adam, what were you doing between 2 and 3 AM this morning?"
One of the cops interrupted my fantasy, his voice sharp and demanding. This pissed me off beyond measure!
How dare he pull me away from thoughts of Ashley!
I looked at his badge with deliberate slowness. Morrison. I'd remember that name. And his face.
I glanced at Kerr, my faithful butler who'd served our family for two decades. He immediately understood my silent command and stepped forward to block the two officers.
"Gentlemen, my employer needs to rest. If you have questions, please contact his lawyer. I'll provide you with the contact information immediately."
Morrison kept pushing. He raised his voice.
"Julio Adam, Ms. Ashley stated that you were with the deceased last night. She said you injured him!"
Those words hit me like a physical blow. I finally looked directly at both officers, studying their faces with new intensity.
"You're saying Ashley accused me?" My voice came out quieter than I'd intended, almost wounded.
That's when I actually noticed the photo on the coffee table. The mangled corpse of the killer who'd chased Ashley last night.
"Yes! So please cooperate with our investigation!"
The words echoed in my head like a death sentence. I felt hurt and furious at the same time!
Ashley had turned on me! I saved her life last night, protected her from that animal, and she accused me of murder!
I didn't give a damn about that assassin's worthless life. But I knew Ashley didn't like it when I killed people.
So I'd only told George to teach the bastard a lesson, rough him up a bit. I was trying so hard to become someone Ashley could love again. A normal person who didn't solve every problem with violence.
But she misunderstood me completely! After everything I'd done to change for her!
Ashley! I was going to fuck her to death when I got my hands on her! Make sure she never treated me this way again!
Ashley's POV
A little after three, Susan knocked on my office door and brought me a thick manila envelope. Someone had mailed it directly to me with no return address.
I opened it and found evidence of Hunter's father Isaac's company engaging in tax evasion and illegal transactions!
"Ashley, with this, we can completely destroy Isaac's reputation! He won't be able to protect Hunter anymore!" Susan practically bounced with excitement as she flipped through the papers.
I couldn't help laughing, a sound of pure vindication. "This evil father and son duo will finally get exactly what they deserve!"
"Susan, quick! Prepare the materials! We need to work overtime and get everything organized tonight!" I was already pulling out file folders and legal pads. "I can't wait to see Isaac and Hunter crying their eyes out when this hits the news!"
I urged Susan on enthusiastically. She complained about me overworking her, muttering about labor laws and overtime pay, but her hands never stopped moving. She was just as eager as I was to see justice served.
By seven PM, we had comprehensive packages ready for the IRS, FBI, and district attorney's office.
To thank Susan for her dedication and hard work, I took her to Bella Vista, my favorite Italian restaurant downtown.
Susan and I talked about everything over our meal. Family gossip, her dating life, workplace drama, future career plans.
The wine made us both chatty and relaxed. It felt good to celebrate a victory, even a small one.
Before leaving, I excused myself to the restroom to freshen up.
Solving the Isaac problem made me genuinely happy for the first time in weeks. It meant Gordon, that heartbroken father, could finally get real justice for his murdered son. Money wouldn't bring the boy back, but at least his killer wouldn't walk free.
I found myself humming a little tune while I washed my hands, looking at myself in the ornate mirror. Nothing you could call a real song, just random melodies that bubbled up from my good mood.
That's when I saw Julio's face reflected behind mine in the mirror. The same devastating face that had tortured my thoughts and dreams all night long.
I started trembling uncontrollably. Fear mixed with complete disbelief.
"How did you get in here? This is the women's restroom!" My voice came out higher than I intended, panic making it shake.
Julio shrugged carelessly, like breaking into women's bathrooms was perfectly normal behavior. He didn't answer my question, just stepped closer with that predatory grace I remembered too well.
"Ashley, I waited for you all day. But you didn't come. You never came!" Julio's voice mixed raw anger with genuine hurt, like I was some heartless betrayer who'd stood him up for a date.