Chapter 22 Ella
ELLA
“Mr. Langford, it’s so nice to have you here,” Mrs. Dalton greets as we make our way into the ballroom of her mansion.
She gives Asher a peck on both cheeks before turning her assessing gaze to me.
Her eyes roam up and down my figure dismissively, but she gives me a brief, and very fake smile before turning back to Asher.
“Eugene is here somewhere. I know he’s looking forward to speaking to you. ”
Asher barely nods and pushes past her, tugging me along behind him.
“Like that’s fucking happening,” Asher mutters under his breath.
“Who is Eugene?”
“Her husband, and if she thinks I’ll give him one second of my time when she dismissed you like that, she’s delusional.”
“Asher, we’ve already been through this. You don’t need to burn bridges because of me.”
He scoffs. “Anyone who insults you is insulting me, and I won’t accept that for a moment. If someone wants my time or my business, they’ll learn quickly to treat you with respect.”
I sigh, not really knowing where to go with this.
On the one hand, I get it. Asher is protective and possessive, so I’m not at all surprised by his reaction.
But on the other hand, he has a life outside of me, he has a gigantic business to run, and he can’t be making enemies left and right.
With the way people are staring at me, it’s clear the article and the video have made their rounds, and the people here have cast their judgement.
I want to scream out loud to the room that I’m not a freaking stripper, but a lot of good that will do me.
Now I not only have to worry about the board and what their reaction will be to the story, but I have to try and ignore the current of disdain and disgust being directed at me from everyone in the room that’s so strong it’s palpable.
I lower my eyes to avoid the haughty, judgmental stares and let Asher lead me through the room.
I feel like a bit of a coward, shrinking in on myself, but it’s intimidating as hell to keep my chin up with an entire ballroom of people judging me.
Luckily, we come to stand next to Asher’s parents and brothers, and I let out a sigh of relief.
At least I have a safe space in this little corner of the room.
A few minutes later, a woman who looks to be in her fifties waltzes up to Asher with three younger women in tow.
“Asher, it’s been too long,” she says in a saccharine voice. She nods and casts her toothy smile to the others. “Declan, Sterling. It’s so nice to see you all.”
“A pleasure,” Sterling says in a low tone.
Asher and Declan both nod, but don’t speak.
“And Catherine, it’s so lovely to have you back in the Hamptons. You missed the festivities last year.”
“A family engagement back in London,” Catherine says.
“Yes, the aristocratic duties call from time to time. What fun.” She motions to the three younger women beside her who look to be in their mid to late twenties.
“You all remember my daughters, Sophie, Kate, and Rose.” They’re striking women, dressed to the nines, and they all smile and simper toward the Langford men.
None of the men respond, and again, just nod their heads in the women’s general direction, looking bored.
“I was just speaking to my husband about his excitement in your potential investment in his newest endeavor, Asher, and my girls are also over the moon about the prospect of an alliance between our families. They’re such good girls,” her gaze flickers over me for a second before dismissing me, “with high morals and good breeding. It would be such a great thing if our families spent more time together.”
Asher’s jaw clenches and his eyes narrow. He pulls me tighter into his side and presses a kiss to my temple, then he gives the woman a hard glare.
“That’s the thing, our family has so many alliances it’s hard to know which ones to prioritize. As of now, I’m not sure we could even manage another. Perhaps there are other families you could network with tonight who might meet your needs.”
The woman flinches and pales. “M-meet our needs?”
“Yes. Whatever this investment is, I’m no longer interested. And as for the daughters you are so clearly trying to marry off, I for one am taken, and I’m certain my brothers are not interested.”
“Asher,” Catherine hisses in exasperation.
“No, Asher is right, Mother,” Declan says through a roguish smile. “Someone has to uphold the illusive forever bachelor persona now that Asher’s off the market, and I’ll happily take up that mantle. Sorry ladies.”
Sterling says nothing, but his standoffish demeanor turns arctic, and the three daughters now shrink in on themselves just like their mother.
“It was lovely speaking to you, Anna,” Catherine says, trying to both salvage the moment and let the woman know that the conversation is over and to retreat before it gets worse.
The woman lets out a shaky and contemptuous huff before turning and stomping away, her three daughters scurrying behind her.
“Have I taught you two no manners?” Catherine grumbles to Asher and Declan under her breath. “At least Sterling had the good sense to stay silent if he had nothing nice to say.”
“The woman insulted Ella in front of me,” Asher growls. “I don’t care how she tries to spin or veil it, the insult was clear enough to me, and I won’t put up with it.”
“I wasn’t about to spend the night having those three trailing me,” Declan says. “Better to let them know it’s not an option out of the gate.”
“Subtlety, Declan,” Catherine sighs.
“I’ve never been subtle a day in my life. You should have given up on that a long time ago.”
Catherine turns to me. “Thank god for you or I’d fear that none of my boys would ever find happiness.
I can only hope both my raging bull, she nods at Declan, and my ice-hearted boy, she nods at Sterling, will be so lucky.
I’ve spent a decade trying to find them matches, and it’s clearly going abysmally.
” She rolls her eyes and clucks her tongue.
“And their manners are only getting worse with age.”
“Thank you,” I say it like a question, taken aback at the unexpected compliment. “I’m not sure what to say to that.”
Catherine pulls me into a hug. “You don’t have to say anything. I see the way my son looks at you, and I see how happy you make him. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for my boys, and now at least one of them has found it.”
“You’re not upset about the article today?” I can’t help but ask. “Everyone here seems to be reacting quite negatively toward me.”
“Oh darling, they’d be reacting negatively toward you with or without that article.
All of them want Asher for themselves. The fact that he’s off the market is a huge blow to many of these families, and they’re not happy about it.
The article only gave them an excuse to be outwardly terrible instead of somewhat masking their contempt. ”
“That’s both scary and comforting.”
She releases me from the hug and looks me in the eye.
“Don’t let these people get to you. You’re well aware by now that the tide of public opinion can sway at the drop of a hat, so it’s best to learn to ignore it. Your relationship with Asher is all that matters, and we Langfords do not let the opinions of others affect us.”
“But I-I’m not a Langford.”
“Not yet.”
My brows shoot up.
“I’m aware of how this situation and relationship began, but I have eyes, Ella darling, and I know my son.
I told you before, I can see where this is headed.
Asher would not be putting you out into the public arena like this if this was still just a publicity stunt.
He wouldn’t insist on you wearing jewelry associated with me, and he wouldn’t be this outwardly affectionate.
You are his person, Ella. Don’t doubt that. ”
I open my mouth to respond but nothing comes out. Catherine smirks then gives me a pat on my arm before Harrington leads her off to speak to some guests.
“My mother adores you,” Asher says, sidling back up to me and placing his hand on my lower back.
My stomach flutters at both Catherine’s and Asher’s words. And for what feels like the hundredth time already this weekend, I realize how different the Langfords are and how lucky I am to be a part of them.
“I’m pretty fond of her too.”
“Good. That makes things much easier.”
I want to ask him what he means by that, but a man and his wife stop in front of Asher to make small talk.
The rest of the night continues in the same fashion.
People bombard Asher, Declan, and Sterling, while Harrington and Catherine work the room.
I stand quietly by Asher’s side, stuck in the middle of the social warfare quietly raging throughout the room.
This is like the other events we’ve attended in the past, but on steroids.
Only the very elite of the elite are here, and the preening assholes are masters of propping each other up while simultaneously tearing each other down.
I realize this is a big reason why the board wanted a high-society woman for Asher.
Not just for their inherent notoriety and connections, but because a woman from this background would be much more likely to engage with the people in the room—while I don’t really care to be a part of it.
I’m fine to stand and stay mostly silent.
Maybe that makes me a coward, but I don’t care.
I’ll stand by Asher’s side, I’ll go to bat with him against the board, and I’ll be his partner in crime, but in this scenario, I’m more than happy to be a semi-silent partner.
At least I’m not the only one. Sterling hardly speaks as well, letting his glares and “fuck you” vibe keep people away.