Page 35 of Twisted Truth

“But if you do agree,” Emily says, “we’ll need to go to press probably tomorrow instead of Friday. There are already stories about Asher being with Charlotte Edwards and now with you. We can spin the timeline and make it seem like he ended things with Charlotte weeks ago, but again, that will all be determined by your decision.”

I shift in my seat and try to calm my racing heart. This is allhappening so fast. Up until late last night this was supposed to be someone else. This was never something that crossed my mind. I was attracted to Asher, sure. He’s so ridiculously good looking that it’s hard not to be. But that was something I planned to ignore while I got on with my job. I was supposed to be the support behind the scenes, not the woman center stage.

My phone vibrates, and I look down at it. It’s a text from Kyle.

You cheating fucking whore.

I groan.This piece of shit is the last thing I want to deal with. Another text appears.

You didn’t break up with me because of anything I did wrong. You wanted to sleep your way to more money. I can’t believe I ever loved you. You’re a lying piece of trash. I was willing to forgive you, but that’s not gonna happen now. My meetings were postponed so I came back early. I’m back in my apartment, and I think it’s time for another bonfire. Say goodbye to all your things. Whores don’t deserve forgiveness.

“Shit,”I whisper under my breath.

“What?” Emily asks.

I show her my phone. Her eyes nearly pop out of her head.

“What is it?” Asher asks.

“My asshole of an ex-boyfriend.”

“What is going on with this asshole of an ex-boyfriend?”

“Nothing, I’ll deal with it.”

“No, you won’t,” Emily snaps. I start a little at her tone. She never snaps at me. “That is too big of a risk. I saw the videos and texts he sent you, and I know he was violent the night you broke up with him.”

“Ella, explain to me,right now, what is going on,” Asher demands, his voice low and menacing.

I let out a sigh and show him my phone. He reads the messages, then scrolls up through the other texts and videos.

“He burned your clothes after you broke up with him?”

I nod.

“And he was violent?”

I nod. His eyes burn with a cold, calculating rage. He grabs the phone off his desk.

“Matthew,” he says in a clipped tone. “Cancel my morning. All of it. And tell Robert, the security team, and Declan and Sterling to get in here, now.”

He sets the receiver down with more force than necessary. Declan and Sterling are Asher’s brothers, but Sterling heads up Langford Holdings’ London division, so he must have flown in for something. But what does Asher want with them right now? I look at Emily, silently questioning her. She shrugs. A few minutes later, ten men have filed into Asher’s office. It’s easy to spot his brothers, not just because I’ve seen photos of them, but because of their resemblance to one another. Declan’s hair is light brown, whereas Asher and Sterling both have darker brown hair, and Sterling has dark brown eyes, but they’re both tall and broad like Asher, and all three of them have strong likenesses to their father.

The rest of the men are an assortment in suits or security gear.

“We’re going to Ella’s ex-boyfriend’s apartment right now,” Asher announces. “He’s been holding her things against herwill for a month, and now he’s threatened to burn them. Ella will need to be there to make sure we don’t miss anything, but she is to be surrounded at all times, am I clear? We will work as a team to pack her things and get out of there.”

“He won’t let you in,” I say in disbelief.

“Who said I was asking to be let in?”

My brows raise.

He looks at the men. “You will need to bring ram gear, just in case. I’ll have Olsen on the line with me to make sure everything is on the up-and-up. And then I’ll donate some cars or something.”

“What is going on?” I ask Matthew, who is standing close to me.

“Asher’s going to break into your boyfriend’s apartment to get your things back.”