Chapter 20 Ella #2
“I would love to spend time with her. She’s amazing, Asher.”
All three Langford men smile widely, and Harrington practically beams at me. “She’d love that, Ella. Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. I’m honored she wants to spend time with me.”
Harrington pats me gently on the shoulder, blinking rapidly, and I swear I see a faint sheen of tears in his eyes.
Asher told me once that Catherine had miscarried a fourth child, a girl, and she was never able to have another child after that.
She loves her boys, but there was always a little bit of grief in her heart for the daughter she never got to have.
And now, Declan is casually talking about me joining their family and becoming like a daughter to her.
The thought is as amazing as it is overwhelming.
“If you are all about done,” Janet snaps, pulling us out of our little Langford bubble. “We have a meeting to get to.”
Just like that, the good vibes fizzle away and the four of us take our seats.
“We’re going to make this short and to the point,” Asher says before anyone else can speak.
“You wanted more publicity, and you got it. We don’t have official numbers yet since the story is still traveling, but there have been millions of clicks on every social media platform, hundreds of news outlets both online and traditional have reported on the story, it’s been covered by entertainment news outlets, and it’s traveled to almost every corner of the globe.
I am no longer being written about as the womanizing playboy, and your love story has boosted both sales and the opinions of the Langford family as well as Langford Holdings.
Our PR director, Emily, will have more concrete metrics for you after we return from our Memorial Day vacation to the Hamptons, as per previously agreed upon, but suffice it to say, your goal has been achieved. ”
“And what of the marriage rumors?” Janet asks.
“What about them?”
“Is there any truth to them? There is a possible marriage clause in the contract. Are you interested in pursuing it?”
“As of now that is a private matter. If it becomes a possibility, I’ll let you all know.”
“It would make for more great publicity for the company,” a man whose name I don’t know says. “Perhaps it’s worth pursuing.”
“Well, we don’t want to overwhelm the public,” Janet inserts quickly before Asher can respond. “As Mr. Langford said, we’ll address that if it comes to it.”
I furrow my brows. Overwhelm the public? Janet wanted this. She even pushed for an engagement to be part of the contract and not an additional amendment to it. Why does it feel like she’s suddenly trying to pump the breaks?
“And what about the articles about Ms. Antonov?” a man asks. “Is there truth to them?”
Asher smirks. “To a degree, yes. She cornered me in Singapore to try to convince me to accept TDC’s deal. She also tried to convince me to get back together with her.”
“Well, that would have benefited us in both ways. Exactly what we wanted in the beginning,” Janet says, scathingly.
“In your glaring short-sightedness, you forget that selling Greenspan doesn’t help Langford Holdings in the long run.
The sell only benefits TDC. Any money we lose now will be recouped by record-breaking margins in the future.
And I’d rather castrate myself than get back together with Katrina Antonov. ”
Janet lets out a huff but has nothing to say to that.
“As we just explained, the barrage of positive news because of my relationship with Ella is more than any of you could have hoped for. So I want talks of me losing my shares to halt.” Asher’s tone is low and menacing.
“I know this isn’t finalized, but I have done all you’ve asked and more.
Any more threats without sufficient evidence to back them will be treated as insubordination, and I will start making threats of my own. ”
Asher stands without another word, and Declan, Harrington, and I follow suit. The four of us leave the conference room without a backward glance.
“I think that went well,” Declan muses as we all step into Asher’s office. “But you still need to keep your nose clean, Asher.”
“I’m aware. Trust me, I have no plans for any scandals. What happened with Katrina won’t happen again.”
“How do you plan to avoid it?”
“I’ll glue Ella to my fucking side if I have to. I can’t be accused of cheating or even having a wandering eye if she’s always with me.”
“Always with you?” I cough out.
“Yeah. I already told you I don’t want to travel for so long without you. If you’re with me, it kills two birds with one stone.”
“And if I can’t be with you?”
Asher’s eyes narrow. “Why couldn’t you be with me?”
“Work? Other obligations?”
“Everything can be adjusted or rearranged.”
“As easy as that?”
Asher smirks. “As easy as that.”
Declan barks out a laugh. “I knew it! I’m totally going to be your best man.”
“All right, Dec,” Harrington says, clapping him on the back. “Let’s give these two some privacy.” He tugs a grinning Declan out of the office just as Asher pulls me onto his lap as he sits behind his massive desk.
“Some people might call it codependent if I were to be by your side at all times.”
“I don’t give a fuck what some people might say.” He pinches the inside of my thigh playfully, then frowns. “Why are you wearing pants?”
I snort. “Why shouldn’t I be wearing pants?”
“Because I can’t get to my pussy as easily with pants on.”
I raise a brow. “Your pussy?”
He cups me through my pants, and his blue eyes light as he gives me a searing look. “My pussy.”
“Your very greedy today, Mr. Langford.”
“I’m greedy every day; especially when it comes to you.”
A knock on the door is followed quickly by the door opening.
“Your morning meeting is ready and waiting,” Matthew says, sauntering in. “You’ll have to save this for later.”
I laugh as Asher shoots Matthew a glare. I lean down. “I’ll make it up to you, Mr. Langford,” I whisper in his ear.
He turns his attention back to me and gives me a playful nip on my neck. “I expect nothing less than excellence, Ms. Hale,” he growls in my ear.
“You’ll get it.”
He plants a quick but heated kiss on my lips. “I can’t fucking wait.”