Tagged & Ashed(32)

“I’m sorry, but yeah. He has gotten a few haircuts since the two of you got into it. He mentioned the fact you changed your number, and he even asked me if I had your new one.”

“You didn’t give it to him, did you?” I worry.

“Of course not. I told him if he wanted your friendship back, I was doing him a favor by not letting him call you like a coward.”

I breathe out a sigh of relief, and my body visibly relaxes.

“Speaking of the reason you changed your number... Jimmy can't get approval to investigate using police resources unless this guy makes a physical appearance of some sort," she says in a huff.

"I wish he’d find someone else to screw with," I grumble, steadying my trembling hands.

Shannon doesn't need to know how crazy scared I really am. She'd never let me stay alone if she did.

“What does his voice sound like?”

“I don’t know.”

“What? I thought you said he makes threatening phone calls.”

“I said he makes phone calls and threats. He just sits on the other line, breathing heavy. A while back, he sent flowers with threats, and random notes would pop up on my door, car, windows… various other places. The notes had the worst of the threats. I gave them all to the police the first time this happened. Eventually this guy will move on or make a mistake. Either way, the punishment for harassment is barely a slap on the wrist.”

“I wish that ass would show himself. I’d give him more than a damn slap on the wrist for fucking with you,” she says with a thug-like attitude that makes me smile.

“I’m sure you would, but until he slips up, it’s on me. For now, I just need to concentrate on work. I’ve got a few clients to meet this afternoon, which is why I’m getting my hair cut.”

“Well, these layers are perfect. I’m sure you’ll land their accounts, and you’ll make their websites look phenomenal.”



***

Tag



“Sir, your one o’clock is here,” Sidney, my assistant, says as I grumble behind my desk.

Loosening my tie, I reply, “Thanks. It’ll be short. Have you pushed back my other appointments as I asked?”

“Yes, sir. Do you need anything else?”

I shake my head to dismiss her, and she scurries out. I can remember when I used to fuck her and enjoy it. Now, my damn cock won’t do anything but stay soft. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.

Is it possible to have erectile dysfunction at twenty-six? I mean, maybe I’ve overused the damn thing. It hasn’t worked since the wedding.

Coming back from the elongated photo shoot to find Ash gone without so much as a goodbye was enough to ruin any ideas I had about us. I’m glad she walked the hell out when she did, instead of letting me make a fool of myself.

“Evening, Tag,” Bity says as he walks in, looking like a professional.

“Hey, Bity,” I murmur very cordially. “Want to tell me why you requested this meeting?"

He frowns, and then he sits down in the chair across from my desk as he stares at his hands.

“So you know... this isn’t easy for me. I was hoping you’ve been in contact with Ash. She moved, changed her number, and now I can’t get a hold of her. It has me worried. Even her work number has changed, and she has never changed it before," he says in a quick rush, his eyes finally coming up to meet mine.

I take a deep breath, and then I pull up her business website on my computer.

“Have you tried emailing her?” I ask while spinning my monitor around to show him the screen.

“I did, and got nothing. It’s possible she didn’t bother reading my email, but I’m still worried.”

I’ve been worried, too. I won’t tell him that though. Melanie called to ask me to keep an eye on Ash since her stalker was back. Until now, Melanie has never asked me to do anything at all.

“You were there when this guy was harassing her before. Did he ever cross any lines in the physical sense?”

His eyes widen and then narrow in confusion.

“No, never physical. She told you about all that?”

“It came up,” I say casually, refraining from disclosing the circumstances.

“Mom and I were the only ones to know. She never even told her parents. I’m surprised she shared it with someone she barely knew.”

I thought it was because she wanted more, but instead, she bolted. I know that maneuver better than anyone. Still, I’m worried about her.

“Did she ever say what he said over the phone?”

“Nothing. He would just breathe heavy. The notes he sent were threatening though. Hell, they scared me. It’s why she spent nights at my place until she found a new apartment. I wouldn’t let her stay alone.”