“But,” he says through a heavy sigh, “this means things will need to tighten up again. Sergei won’t let this stand.”
“We have the Hamptons coming up this weekend,” I remind him. “And there are several engagements you are required to attend with me.”
“I’ll find a way to make it work, but security will be severe. I’m warning you now. I won’t risk you for some bullshit social outings, I don’t care what the board says.”
I crawl onto Asher’s lap, hiking up my dress to my hips so I can straddle him. I take his face in my hands as he grips my hips.
“As long as we’re in it together, I’ll deal with it. Whatever security needs to do to keep us safe is fine with me. But you’re going to be in it with me, Mr. Langford.”
Asher brushes his nose along mine. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, Ms. Hale.”
Monday morning,we again pull up in a car to a veritable hoard of paparazzi, this time outside the Langford Holdings building.
“Is everything in place?” Asher asks Matthew over speakerphone as the car comes to a stop.
“Yes. All board members except Sterling are here in the conference room, as well as the PR team.”
“Good. See you in five.”
A crowd of paparazzi and bystanders have gathered outside because the family outing to the symphony did exactly what I wanted it to do—it garnered a shitload of attention. The photos are still amassing millions of clicks, and the paparazzi are trying to ride that out for more. And that’s not even taking into account the interaction Asher had with Katrina, which is also breaking headlines.
“Ready?” Asher asks me with a smirk as security steps up to the car.
“I’m ready.”
The shouts hit us the second we’re out of the car, just like they did at the symphony.
“Asher, is Ella the one!”
“Will there be a wedding in the future!”
“Does Catherine approve!”
“What do you plan to do about Katrina’s stalking?”
Asher and I walk hand in hand into the building, ignoring the torrent of questions and shouts hurled our way.
“Are you okay?” I whisper to Asher once we’re in the elevator and have a bit of privacy. “I know we talked about it privately, but I don’t want the public marriage talk to freak you out.”
He taps my nose, and I realize I was scrunching it again. But he’s smiling, so I take it as a good sign.
“It doesn’t freak me out. I knew it would happen.”
I raise my brows. “You did?”
“People have been speculating about my future bride for damn near twenty years, so of course you being photographed with my mother would spark rumors.”
“And you’re not upset?”
“No, I’m used to it.” He leans down to speak in my ear. “And to be honest, I like it.”
Butterflies flip inside me. “You like it?”
“If the rumors and stories are aboutyoubeing my future wife, then I like it.”
My eyes bulge and I want to respond, but I don’t know what the hell to say. The elevator arrives on our floor before I muster a response.
Asher takes me by the hand and leads me into the smaller conference room where the board members are seated around the table and the PR team is sprinkled in chairs along the back wall. Declan and Harrington are the only ones not seated as they stand next to the door as if waiting for Asher and me to arrive.
