Page 113 of On One Condition

“Does anyone have anything to say for or against The Retreat or Sharpe International that you want on the official record?”

Are we going to do this? Let the townspeople speak or rally together with a mob mentality?

I glance back over to Asher again. I can’t help it. And she meets my gaze with equal confusion and hurt that I don’t understand.

A throat clears in the microphone, and with a shake of my head, I force myself to pay attention to business instead of personal. “Mr. Mayor. While I understand about profit and tourism, I still feel that Mr. Sharpe and his company, are going to plant the seeds of ruin in our town,” the dowdy woman at the microphone says with a definitive nod. “He says he’s going to do all these things, but once he gets his permit, he’ll do whatever he wants.” There are a few murmured agreements from the audience.

She has a point. We’re beholden to no one once we have our occupancy permit, but I don’t exactly think that’s the best thing to say at this juncture.

I look around and am about to take a step to the microphone to defend myself when Tootie walks to the lectern.

“For the record, I just want to say that Ledger will do what he says he’s going to do. I cursed in front of him, and he said he wouldn’t tell my momma and he hasn’t yet.” She puts her hands on her hips and clears her throat. “Also, he hired me to tell him everything we wanted and needed in our school library. He wouldn’t back out and let me down.” Tootie looks over at me and smiles. “That’s all.”

As she walks back to her seat, the dowdy woman steps back up. “She’s a child. She can be easily manipulated.”

“I believe him,” Asher says, rising from her seat and making her way to the podium once all eyes are on hers. “He’s come here to adhere to your ridiculous requests, Mayor Grossman. He’s done what you’ve asked for and then some. He’s contributed to the community. He’s brought in local talent. He’s tried to create residual income for others. What more is it that you want from him?”

Grossman emits a condescending chortle that has me gritting my teeth. “Of course, you’d say that since you’re sleeping with him.”

“Excuse me?” she says, holding her finger up at me when I rise to my feet in her defense.

“Honey—”

“Asher,” she corrects him. “My name is Asher. Not Honey.”

He clears his throat. “While I’m sure your um . . . friend appreciates your unwavering support, I think the city council shouldn’t take business advice from someone who can’t even secure a bank loan to keep their farm afloat.”

There is a hushed silence that falls across the crowd. The kind that says they’re digging in for the gossip that’s unfolding.

But all I hear from Grossman is can’t secure a bank loan to keep their farm afloat.

My hands fist. A myriad of emotions flickers over Asher’s face as the mayor just denigrated her in front of the town. Humiliated her, just as my father once did.

I start to move toward her, to defend her, to . . . I don’t fucking know, but Asher levels me with a look and mouths the word No. I never stood up for her all those years ago. I sure as fuck am going to now.

“You want to come at me,” I say, my voice loud enough I don’t need a microphone. Everyone’s heads swivel to look my way. “Then come at me. That’s fine. But leave Asher out of it.”

“I can handle myself, Ledger,” Asher says, her voice steely, her expression stoic. “Mayor Grossman here is simply trying to put me in my place where he thinks all good little women should be. He’d rather I keep quiet because he’s terribly afraid that I might be the result of an affair he had with my mother some thirty-odd years ago.” That sends a ripple of murmurs through the audience and causes the mayor’s face to turn red and his sputters to become incoherent. “For the record, even if you were my father, I’d refuse to claim you. I’ve been shamed enough in my life over things I had no control over . . . but I could control that. And I sure as hell would.”

And without another word, Asher strides out of the auditorium with the entire town staring at the door she just left through.

It takes everything I have not to chase after her. To remain here in a professional capacity and do the job I’m here to do . . . and not put my personal matters first. Not put her first.

The gavel strikes several times as the mayor tries to gain back control of the meeting despite his own ashen pallor. Serves the fucker right.

“Settle down, everyone. Settle down.” He clears his throat and tugs on the tie tight over his throat. “We clearly have other things to do than to deal with nonsense and fodder that is unneeded. Are we ready to vote on whether or not The Retreat has met our demands and can now have its final inspection to receive its occupancy permit?”

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

Asher

I can’t breathe.

My chest burns as I gulp in huge breaths. My tears sting as I fight them back. I have to get as far away from City Hall and that prick of a man as I can. The ends of the earth wouldn’t be far enough.

It doesn’t matter that he showed his true colors or that he humiliated me or that I successfully stood up for myself. Those are all things I’ve learned to deal with being Asher Wells.

It’s that I didn’t get the loan.