35
ASHER
“Let’s get the fuck out of here,” I say to Robert, knocking back the last of my drink. “This night has been a waste.” Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t get Senator Sanders alone. He’s clearly avoiding me, and if I can’t speak to him, there’s no reason to stay.
I set my glass on a passing waiter’s tray as Robert speaks into his cuff to alert Andrew to pull the car around. I nod at Jenkins across the room, and he mirrors Robert, speaking into his own comms to alert the rest of the security officers that we’re ready to go.
“You’re exhausting so many resources on something so fleeting,” a female voice says behind me. A voice I unfortunately know too well.
I turn. “Charlotte,” I say in a clipped tone.
Charlotte Fucking Edwards. One of the last people I want to see tonight. Especially when all I want to do is get out of here.
She brushes her hair back from her ear, tilting her head and smiling at me.
“It’s good to see you, Asher.”
It’s good to see me? Is this woman for real?
“I was just headed out.”
“So soon?” Her hand darts out, grabbing me by the wrist. “The event organizer still needs to give a speech.”
“I’m not interested in staying for it.”
As I yank my arm away from her, her eyes move away from my face and scan to the corner of the room before she squares her attention back on me.
“I’d love to catch up.”
“Catch up?Are you fucking kidding me, Charlotte?”
“So much has changed in such a short amount of time.” She nods her head in Ella’s direction. “Rumor has it there’s a dozen security officers here tonight. You don’t think that’s a little excessive?”
Ella is speaking to Declan and my mother, and they’re surrounded by four security guards while seven others are scattered throughout the ballroom, patrolling.
“I’m sure you’re privy to what happened to Ella, so no, it’s not even close to excessive.”
Her brows rise, but she quickly hides her surprise behind a smirk. “You’d spend that kind of money and attention on someone who’s merely a PR stunt?”
“Shut your fucking mouth,” I growl.
Now Charlotte can’t hide her surprise. Her eyes widen, and she sucks in a breath.
“I should bring down my legal team and crucify your husband for breaking his NDA. You shouldn’t know a damn thing about Ella except what you read in gossip magazines.”
“You know what pillow talk can wring from someone.” She winks.
I almost shudder.What the fuck did I ever see in this woman?“Then you had better keep it all to yourself if you value your luxurious life. Because if you don’t, I’ll come for both you and Henry, and I won’t hesitate to burn your lives to the ground.”
After a breath of what seems like worry on her face, her coysmile fights for a reappearance. “So threatening, Asher. One would think you actually have feelings for your little employee.”
“Ella is no longer my employee. She’s my girlfriend, and I plan to make her my fiancée soon. And then mywife—as quickly as she and my mother will allow it. Our wedding will be expected to be a big affair, after all.”
She blinks at me. “I thought you weren’t the marrying type.”
“What do you care? You’re married, not that you divulged that little detail with me when we were together. Nor who your husband was.”
Her annoying coy smile is back fully now. I want to tell her it’s nowhere nearly as effective as she thinks it is.How did I ever fall for it?I was an idiot, that’s how. Thank god those days are behind me and that I have Ella now.
