Page 129 of Twisted Truth

“Asher here has run into a bit of good fortune as of late,” Sterling says, clapping me jovially on the shoulder. I want to punch him. “He met the most extraordinary woman.”

“I heard she was an employee,” one of them says.

“Indeed, she is. Anyway, this employee, Ms. Hale, is now dating Asher, and it’s created quite the media sensation. She’s become a bit of an overnight celebrity.”

“We’re aware. What does this have to do with the deal?”

Sterling directs them to the tablet. “One unexpected aspect of Ms. Hale’s sudden celebrity is the public’s fascination with her.” He pulls up a headline of Ella. “Just six hours ago, Ella was at a charity event at an elementary school in New York. And four hours ago, she was at a product launch for one of our subsidiaries. With those two public appearances, in a matter of hours, Ms. Hale has made a huge impact on an assortment of sales.”

The men look at Sterling now with interest.

“Vericom’s smartwatch has already sold out of its pre-sales. Something they’ve never even come close to achieving. And Asher’s assistant just informed us that Vericom is now planning to release two months earlier than expected because the interest is so much higher than anticipated. Vericom is now scrambling to triple their initial production of the watches. And that’s just the watch.

“The clothes Ms. Hale was wearing? Sold out from Chanel. Her shoes? Sold out at Jimmy Choos. And all retail or knock-off brands that look similar? Sold out or are still flying off the shelves. Within just six hours, every part of Ella’s outfit has been picked over in online sales. Asher couldn’t have known this when he started dating her, but it seems we’ve accidentally stumbled upon our own little marketing miracle with Ms. Hale. You’re afraid your brands will have a hard time breaking into the American market? All we have to do is put Ella in your clothes, have her wear your accessories, and have her photographed buying your perfumes. No ads necessary—the products will sell themselves.”

The men all look impressed as Sterling flips through the pictures Matthew sent him. The screenshots of website after website with “Sold Out” written beneath shoes, shirts, pants, and jackets. Then he shows them two more articles on Vericom.

Holy shit, Matthew wasn’t exaggerating.

The men turn to one another and discuss among themselves again in hushed tones. After a minute, they turn back.

“We’d like to meet Ms. Hale. And if it goes well, I think we’ll have a deal.”

“Done,” Sterling says. “We’ll have her here by our meeting tomorrow afternoon.”

I open my mouth, but Sterling kicks me under the table. “Don’t you fucking dare,” he whispers through clenched teeth.

The meeting ends, and we walk out to Sterling’s waiting car.

“You’ll need to call Ella and tell her to pack.”

“You can’t use my girlfriend as some pawn.”

“She’s not your real girlfriend,” Sterling says in a low voice so that the driver doesn’t hear as he opens the door and we climb in. “She’s your employee, so put her to work.”

“You’re an asshole, you know that?”

“I’m an asshole who’s going to land the fourth biggest deal in Langford Holding’s history.”

“Yeah, using Ella to do it.”

“Who cares if we use Ella to do it as long as we close?”

“I care, and she’s going to care. She’s not a little puppet I can order around.”

“You’re not asking her to perform sexual favors, you’re asking her to wear clothes and be photographed in them when she’s out and about. It’s not like it’s some hardship. We can pay her and give her a sponsorship contract if that makes you feel better. This could be a win for all of us.”

I rub the back of my neck, taking in his words. “I might be okay with it as long as she’s paid.”

“Better get calling. And I’ll call and get the jet squared away.”

I sigh and pull out my phone. But I don’t call Ella.

“I literally just walked off my plane from vacation,” Matthew groans after I explain the situation to him, “and now I have to get on another one?”

“Sorry, Matthew, but I need Ella here by tomorrow for a meeting.”

“What time is the jet set to take off?”