Page 19 of Ruled By Rivalry

“We’ve got work tomorrow, Allegra. We can’t just—” But he didn’t sound sure.

His we was just as unexpected. Clearly, she’d asked him to go, not us. And yet his eyes flicked to mine again like he was asking, silently, Should we?

No, but he should. I shrugged in the most noncommittal way I could.

The plan had been for me to jump in at this point of the conversation. To convince and push and make him think, Fuck it. But Allegra did all the work for me. Talked and talked, smiled sweetly, played with her hair and batted her eyes until he finally gave in.

I should’ve been ecstatic about it; she was making this thing a whole lot easier for me. I wasn’t, though.

Elliot turned to me, an almost hopeful look on his face right as I lied, “Ugh, I wish I could go.”

But I wasn’t quite sure if it was still a lie, or if Allegra’s presence had changed something. Because she seemed cool and I think we could actually be friends. Not because she was his ex.

“You’re not coming?” The barely there tilt of her lips was sheer politeness. Or maybe a silent Thank God that slipped past her mask of good manners at the prospect of some alone time with Elliot.

Okay, maybe we wouldn’t be good friends, then.

“It’s late.” I sighed theatrically.

Allegra was completely oblivious to the suspicion sneaking onto his face, but I noticed his brows creasing, eyes getting smaller. “You asked,” he noted.

“For nightlife tips. So that I can maybe, one day, utilize them on the weekend.” I shook my head in apology and regret and a serious case of fake FOMO. “Next time, though?”

There was no way for Elliot to backtrack now. He’d agreed to go, so all he could do was watch me leave.

By then, Allegra was at the bar ordering shots, laughing with the bartender who’d gotten her another drink, while Elliot, eyes still on me, spoke into his phone. All it did was remind me of mine, and as the elevator doors closed between us, I sent off an anonymous tip to The New York Goss.

Elliot Ashwood and Allegra Amato at Avenue in NYC tonight.

THE NEW YORK GOSS

Ashwood Heir’s Wild Night Out: Where the Elite Party and Why Ashwood and Amato Can’t Seem to Let the Past Go

Steamy kisses. Filthy whispers. Sexy table dances.

AVENUE in Manhattan has seen it all—and then some. Known for its strict no-phone policy, the high-end club remains a favorite among the city’s elite. Singers, actors, models . . . they’ve all got at least one wild story set beneath its velvet-draped ceilings.

Including our favorite on-again, off-again couple: Elliot Ashwood and Allegra Amato.

Ever since a leaked video caused Ashwood’s stock to plummet, the billionaire heir has been doing his best to stay out of the spotlight. A charity brunch with the Ashwood Foundation here, a carefully worded apology there—and a series of interviews and late-night talk show appearances, all aimed at convincing us of one thing:

He’s not the drunk, defiant teen trashing his family’s legacy anymore. He’s grown. He’s better.

No more parties. No more reckless nights. No more forbidden steamy rendezvous with his favorite ex-girlfriend.

. . . Or so we were told.

Because the way Elliot and Allegra stumbled out of AVENUE arm in arm on a Monday night? It’s giving old patterns.

And honestly? We can’t pretend we didn’t miss it.

Chapter 8

When I didn’t spot Elliot in his office on Tuesday morning (after inconspicuously walking past it three times), I was giddy. When he still wasn’t in by noon, I was over the moon. And when that NYG article hit two hours later, I couldn’t believe I’d actually pulled it off.

Peterson 1; Ashwood 0.

My eyes were still flickering across the words when a head popped into our studio, almost making me throw my phone across the room to convince Camila that No, I wasn’t on it. I’m working!