Page 47 of Twisted Truth

“I told you you’d look incredible in designer,” he says, smug as a cat. “The cream looks beautiful with your olive-gold skin and the gold tones in your hair.”

He slides a dove gray twill overcoat over my shoulders and flips my hair out of the collar. It hangs in loose, beachy curls to my ribs. Overall, I look exactly as I should: professional, high-end, and with a nice hint of sexy. My under-eyes are a bit darker than I would like, even with concealer, but two bad nights of sleep will do that.

“Ready?” Matthew asks.

I take one last look in the mirror and let out a long, anxious breath. “Ready enough.”

The flashesof the paparazzi cameras still flash as I step into the west lobby of the Langford Holdings building, coffee in hand. Holy shit, that little outing was a whirlwind. Dozens of men with cameras were shouting my name, clicking away with their cameras to get the shot, and following so close that it was scary at times. Robert and two other security guards were with me. But it was still intense.

I don’t think that’s something I could ever get used to.

I make my way across the lobby and try not to be obvious as I let out a sigh of relief; the cameras are still clicking photos of me through the glass doors, and too many people inside the lobby are staring. The attention directed my way inside the building is not the same as the frenzy outside, butit’s clear everyone in here knows who I am and who I’m “dating.”

Let the games begin.

Whispers and stares follow me as I head to the elevators with three guards in tow. Luckily, only one will be following me the rest of the day. Robert and the tall one, I need to learn his name, give me a quick nod goodbye before heading for the east lobby on the opposite side of the building.

The elevator doors open, and the remaining security guard and I step inside, along with two men and a woman. Just as the doors close, my phone rings, and Asher’s name flashes across the screen. I hurry to answer it.

“Hello?”

“Are you okay?” he demands.

“Yes . . . why wouldn’t I be?”

“I could see the fucking paparazzi from the conference room windows. I didn’t like it.”

“Oh, well it was crazy, but we made it through just fine. Robert and the other guard should be on their way up to you by now.”

I notice the men and the woman giving me curious glances in the mirrored walls of the elevator.

“Why aren’t you with them?” His tone is still demanding.

“Because my desk is on the opposite side of the building.”

“Is Jenkins with you?”

“Yes?” I pull my mouth away from the phone. “Are you Jenkins?” I ask the older security guard with me. He nods. “Yes, Jenkins is with me.”

“I want you both up in my office, now.”

“I have to prepare for a meeting, Asher.”

Now the others in the elevator are really looking at me.

“That can wait.”

“Why do I need to come to your office?”

“I want to make sure you really are okay.”

“I’m fine, I promise. Nothing happened.”

“I don’t care. Get up here, now.” He hangs up without another word.

I groan. “We have to go to Asher’s office,” I tell Jenkins.

“Yes, ma’am.”