Page 142 of Twisted Truth

Fuck.

“Maya always wanted to work in a big museum, and afterour dad died, she wasn’t going to go to school for her masters because of the cost. So, my mom and I filled out all of her applications behind her back, and I wrote her admittance letters and scholarship applications. And when she got into Oxford, we told her there was no way in hell she was passing that opportunity up. My mom and I have been doing whatever we can to get her money while she’s over here, but work is hard to come by while on a student visa, so she’s limited on her income potential.”

“It’s been tight, but I’ve managed,” Maya murmurs, her face still flushed.

“I’m wiring you more money as soon as I’m back at my hotel tonight,” Ella says, heated. “No more scrimping on groceries and skipping meals. You will buy food, and you willeat.”

“I’m not taking any more of your money.”

“You don’t have a choice. I’ll transfer it directly into your account. And while we’re at it, since I’ve gotten such a big pay raise, we’re moving you out of your shit dorm and into a proper apartment, or flat, or whatever it is they call it over here. You’re living with a bunch of undergrads who party all the time. I know you hate it.”

Sterling and I watch their back and forth, and I can feel his shock, the same as mine. Sometimes in our world, we forget how fucking privileged we are. We take for granted how everything is so much easier because we’ve never had to think about money for one goddamn minute of our lives. No life insurance company would have dared to deny writing a policy for a Langford. No university was out of reach for us, and no living expenses were ever in question. No medical treatments would cost us the money set aside for our futures, and we never lived in a dorm, not even in our freshmen year at school.

“I’m not moving, Ella, and I’m not going to let you waste the money you’ve worked so hard for. I have one more year; I’ll be fine.”

“It’s not up for discussion.”

“My, my, you’re starting to sound a lot like Asher,” Sterling says, smiling at Ella.

“I don’t see why that’s a problem,” I say, giving Sterling a warning glare. “She’s right. Maya, I had no idea your situation was like this. I’ll make all the arrangements tomorrow.”

“No, you don’t need?—”

“Yes, I do.”

“I know the Chancellor at Oxford,” Sterling says. “I’ll get your tuition squared away.”

“What?” Maya gasps. “We all just met, why would you go out of your way to do any of this?”

“You’re important to Ella,” I say. “Therefore, you’re important to me. I’ll not have her worrying over you and sending her money over to you when I can easily remedy the situation.”

“Easily remedy,” Maya says in disbelief. “As if my struggles are nothing that can’t be simply erased.”

“They can be easily erased,” Sterling says.

Maya lets out a half laugh. “Not for someone like me. What world do you all live in?”

“A lavish, inconceivable one,” Ella says. “And you won’t even need to buy a work wardrobe. I have just received not one, but two whole new wardrobes. It would take me a year to wear everything. I’ll send you brand new designer clothes. And if you start eating properly, they’ll fit you like a glove and won’t be too big.”

Maya opens her mouth to presumably protest again.What is it with these women protesting when someone wants to help them?Ella’s almost as bad. But Maya doesn’t get far because Aunt Bethany arrives at our table.

Sterling and I stand as the maître d’ takes her coat and pulls out her chair at the end of the booth.

“So this is the beauty that tamed our Asher,” Aunt Bethany says with a cackle in her voice as she eyes Ella up and down.

Ella visibly swallows at Aunt Bethany’s gruff, unfiltered tone. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she says through a blush.

“We’ll see if that remains the case after dinner.”

“Aunt Bethany,” I warn. “Be nice.”

Aunt Bethany clucks her tongue, dismissing my warning, as we all retake our seats.

“Aunt Bethany, this is Ella’s sister, Maya,” I introduce, trying to diffuse the awkwardness of the moment.

Her hawk eyes now roam over Maya. “The two of you look nothing alike.”

I give Bethany a hard look, unamused at her antics.