Page 39 of Twisted Truth

I sigh. “He got a hold of my social security number and banking and credit card information since we lived together. He drained everything I had to invest in his new business without saying a word to me about it.”

“What a fucking prick,” Declan hisses under his breath.

“Now I want to go back and punch him,” Sterling agrees.

“Where do you bank?” Asher demands.

“I already have all that information for you,” Matthew chimes in. “I was going to give it to you this evening.”

“Send it now.”

Asher spends the next fifteen minutes of the drive barking at the CEO of my banking institution, demanding that mymoney be reinstated immediately. He looks over the details I gave Matthew and absolutely shreds the man over the fact that it’s been a month, and the situation still hasn’t been rectified.

Then he does the same with my two credit cards.

By the time we reach Langford Holdings, my phone pings with notifications from my bank and both credit card companies that my accounts are back in order, with profuse and profound apologies attached. The emails go on to inform me that my credit cards now hold a zero percent interest rate, and the bank deposited a fifty percent bonus into my account balance as an apology.

Holy shit, Asher wasn’t lying. When he wants something, he gets it. And then some.

I kind of want to call the CEO of the bank myself and give him a piece of my mind over the fact that it took a threatening call from Asher to get my things in order, when that should have been something I could have easily rectified myself since they’re my accounts, but . . . I got my money back, and that’s what matters. So, I can’t say I’m upset about Asher swooping in and saving the day, but it’s also just fucked up that he had to. And it’s also maybe atadfucked up that I’m feeling all sorts of butterflies over it.

And I think that’s what’s so surprising about Asher. He’s known to be cold and ruthless, but in just the three days I’ve known him, I’ve seen his generosity and how he fights for the people in his corner. He allowed Matthew to take me shopping when I was just an employee on his PR team. He dropped everything to storm Kyle’s apartment for me. And now he’s completely turned around my financial situation. He didn’t have to do any of these things, and yet he did them without a thought. If this is what it’s like to be under Asher’s protection, I can’t say I hate it.

Sterling’s, Declan’s, and Asher’s words ping through my thoughts.

Asher is possessive of what is his.

He protects those he loves with everything he has.

I take care of the things that are mine. No one fucks with me or mine.

I know that if I accept Asher’s proposal I won’t be his, not really, but he has already shown a loyalty toward me that I never would have believed possible—and with all the uncertainty that this situation will hold, I feel confident that I will be in good hands with him. At least I hope so.

As I click out of my banking emails, I notice another email from my lawyer; he has the final copy of the contract for me to sign. I show the email to Asher.

“Are you ready to sign it?” he asks, quietly.

I take a long breath. I don’t see any other way now. “Yes.”

“Good.”

12

ELLA

I’m once again on the top floor of the Langford Holdings building. But this time, I’m in the large boardroom, and I want to shrivel up and hide. All of the board members are seated, at Asher’s request. On one side of the table sits the Langford family: Asher, his father Harrington, Declan, Sterling, his uncle Conrad, and cousins Gregory and Celeste. I’ve seen all of their pictures many times to know who they are without introductions. And on the other side of the table are the remaining members of the board. I feel everyone’s eyes on me as I take a seat next to Asher.

Mr. Hansen, my lawyer, is here too. Apparently signing this contract is going to be very, very official.

“I thought we had agreed to one of the names on the list,” an older woman says in a scathing tone.

“I didn’t particularly care for any of the women on the list,” Asher snaps at her.

“Your care, or lack of it, is irrelevant. The agreement was to find a woman who would create media buzz. A woman from a well-known and connected family is the best way to do that.”

“I did not sign any agreement that forbade me from pickingsomeone else. This is who I’ve chosen, and this is my final decision. You will respect that decision.”

“Must you always undermine our wishes?” the woman says, heated.