Page 102 of Twisted Truth

“You’re ignoring me.”

“I’m watching the movie,” she hisses.

“This movie is stupid.”

“And so is this conversation.”

She turns back to the screen.

I lean close to her. “I want to go.”

“The movie isn’t over yet.”

“I don’t care about the movie.”

“Well I do, and it would make a huge scene if we left now. We’ve hopefully had nothing but good press tonight, and we’re not going to throw that away because you’re acting like a toddler who can’t sit through a movie.”

“Is that all you care about? Good press?”

“It’s literally my job to care about it, Asher.”

A few curious glances look our way. I drop the conversationand run my hand up her leg, holding onto her inner thigh. I run my thumb along her skin and take some deep breaths. After a moment, I feel calmer. But then I’m annoyed with myself for that. Because I know what’s calming me, and it isn’t my breathing. It’s the feel of her skin beneath my palm. It’s touching her where no one else gets to touch her. It’s knowing that she’s coming home to my penthouse, and even though I’m headed to London after this, the idea of her in my home comforts me. The knowledge that when I return from London, I won’t be returning to my penthouse to be alone, as I’ve always done, calms me. It shouldn’t. But it does.

I’ve been unsuccessful all night at staying unaffected by Ella’s draw. I want her, there’s no fucking denying it. But it’s driving me crazy because it’s not just sexual. Of course I want her that way, she’s a goddamn siren. But it’s more than that. I want her attention, I want to know her thoughts, and I want the comfort of her presence to be real and not a show for the cameras.

I want it. I can’t have it. I’ve made it clear to Ella that it can’t happen.

But for the first time since we signed our contract, I’m bitter about it. Fuck. I’m in over my goddamn head.

And I have no idea what to do about it.

My phone buzzes, and as I look down at it, I see Declan has called me twice in the last five minutes. Then a text comes through when I miss the call.

Another accident on the research floor. Call me, now!

Fuck.

“I have to make a call,” I whisper to Ella. “If I don’t make it back in before the end of the movie, meet me in the lobby.”

“Is everything okay?”

“I don’t know, but it doesn’t look that way.”

“Do you need me to come with you? Do you need help?”

I want to scoff and dismiss her offer, I never need help with business, but the offer gives me pause. It’s oddly touching. She has no idea what’s going on, and yet she’s willing to jump in and help however she can. It’s not something I’m used to with the women I’ve been with. Most of them were much more concerned with what they could gain from being with me, not what they could contribute to me or my life.

“No, thank you. I’ll see you in a bit.”

I stand and make my way out of the theater, dialing Declan when I’m near the theater exit.

“Finally, where the fuck have you been?” he says as he answers.

“I was in a movie. Ella and I are at a premiere.”

“Yeah, well one of our lead scientists is in the fucking hospital in critical condition. There was an explosion on the research floor.”

“What?”