Page 26 of Twisted Truth

I scan my eyes over the crowd again as I answer. “The women I’ve met so far just aren’t working.” I spot several members of the team here and there, dancing and laughing and having a good time.

“You’ve met two,” Matthew says, rolling his eyes.

“Yes, well, I don’t want to meet any more. I forgot how much I hate the dating scene.”

I look over the club again, and within seconds I spot Ella down on the first floor, as if my eyes are somehow trained to find her. She’s surrounded by a group of women she seems to know, and they’re all hugging and greeting one another.

“If I may, Asher. I think there is a very obvious answer right in front of us.”

I look back at Matthew, not sure what he means.

“I’ve been thinking this through, and we have two big challenges. One, finding a woman to fit the bill in all the ways we need her to as far as image goes. And two, finding someone who can keep the lines clear and professional while, at the same time, remaining loyal to you. We can make a woman sign an NDA, but what if she goes rogue? What if after a few months she gets angry that your relationship isn’t more? This is a sticky situation. We need to keep emotion out of it except when cameras are around. To me, that sounds like a job more than a role.”

“What are you getting at?”

“I think the answer is that you need to look at this woman as an employee instead of a fake girlfriend. And she needs to see you as an employer instead of a fake boyfriend, or she will undoubtedly want to make you her real boyfriend over time. Your lifestyle is too appealing for most women to stay detached. So, we need a professional.”

“What, like a prostitute?”

“Of course not!” Matthew snaps. “Like anemployee.” Hejerks his head toward the first floor. “An employee who fits all of your needs.”

“Ella?” I gasp, surprise jolting through me.

He nods. “She’s stunningly beautiful.”

My knee-jerk response is to say no, she’s part of the team. She already has a job. I can’t ask this of her.

But Matthew goes on before I can say any of that. “She’s also intelligent and successful, and she understands exactly what this assignment is, so there wouldn’t be fear of her blurring the lines. And she’s already loyal to you because she’s loyal to the company. She’s worked at Langford Holdings for five years. You may not have known her for long, but your company has years of history with her. I looked over each team member’s file. Hers is impeccable. She’s an exemplary employee. I think she’s our answer.”

I mull over his words. Ella Hale. I would have laughed if Matthew had suggested such a thing yesterday. But I’ll admit, since that meeting, shehasbeen impeccable and exemplary. And fuck me, I can’t deny how attracted to her I am.

“I’ve noticed the way you look at her and the way the two of you interact,” Matthew continues. “Why do you think I insisted on picking her up tonight? I wanted to see the two of you together, and what I saw is exactly what we need. There’s enough chemistry to make it work, to make it believable. If you’ve got to go through with this, it will be much easier to do it with someone who can make it bearable.”

Declan said almost the exact same thing last night.

As I run it through my mind, I can’t deny Matthew’s logic. Maybe Ella could be the solution to all our problems. I look back down over the railing, studying her, trying to see the vision Matthew has presented me.

She’s dancing with her friends, and . . .fuck. They’re like a group of sirens. They move effortlessly, fluidly, and soon I can’ttake my eyes off her. She moves like a temptress in that little black dress. My cock twitches.

Goddamn, maybe Matthew has a point.

I stifle a laugh. I clearly haven’t been as discreet as I thought when it comes to my reactions to her. Matthew’s obviously sensed it.And now?Now that I allow myself, I can see the picture Matthew has painted.

It just might work.

I sit back and mull it over as I nurse my scotch, and within a few minutes, it’s clear I’m not the only man to notice how fucking sexy Ella and her friends look when they dance. Men start to close in around them and within seconds, two of her friends have men wrapped around them, and another man slinks in behind Ella. He puts his hand on her hips and pulls her close. A flash of anger burns through me, but I swallow it down.

Until his hands roam up her body.

Before I think about what I’m doing, I’m halfway down the stairs, knocking people out of my way. Robert hurries after me, but I ignore him. I focus solely on Ella and the bastard getting way too friendly with her.

With every step, the anger in me burns hotter and is soon replaced with rage. Because the asshole behind her is not just content to dance with her. His hands are aggressive, sloppy, and practically groping her on the damn floor. Which would be fine if she was into it, but I’ve watched as she’s tried to pull away several times, and he just keeps closing in.

“Get the fuck off her,” I snarl as soon as I reach them. I pull Ella out his filthy hands, and she practically darts away from him and into my arms.

“Dude, what the fuck?” the man yells. He’s drunk, and swaying slightly on his feet.

I take a few steps back, pulling Ella with me, to put some distance between us and the drunk asshole, then Robert stepsbetween us, effectively defusing the situation. Ella’s green eyes are wide as they meet mine. Not from surprise. But from fear. I see red and the urge to gut this piece of shit for putting that fear there overwhelms me.