Chapter 24 Ella
ELLA
“Ihave a surprise for you,” Asher says, opening the curtains in our room. I hiss at the sudden brightness.
“What time is it?” I ask through a yawn.
“Nine, sleepyhead. So, you need to get up and get ready. Your surprise will be here in an hour.”
“It’s your fault I’m sleepy. You kept me up half the night.”
“And I won’t apologize for it.” He tosses a floral summer dress at me. “Wear this, and don’t cut corners on getting ready. There will be photos involved.”
“What kind of surprise is this?”
“It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you. But I promise you’re going to love it. At least one part of it.”
One part of it? This better be worth getting out of this cozy bed for.
“I’m holding you to that, Langford.”
An hour later, Asher and I stand at the edge of the massive patio in the back of his parents’ house. He reaches from behind me and his hands come up to cover my eyes.
“Just walk forward,” Asher says, near my ear.
“What if I trip on something?”
“There’s nothing but grass in front of you, and I’ll turn you when you need to turn.”
“I’m walking blind, in heels, on grass. This may end in catastrophe.”
He sighs. “So dramatic. Keep your eyes closed,” he orders, then I feel his hand on my ankle. “Lift your foot.” He takes both of my heels off and then a moment later, one hand comes back up to cover my eyes. “I promise, I’ve got you. Now walk, and I’ll tell you when to stop. Just trust me.”
I finally relent and do what he says. He promised I’d love the surprise, so I can only hope and take his word for it.
As we make our way along the ridiculous expanse that is the back lawn, butterflies leap in my stomach.
The suspense of whatever this surprise is has been gnawing at me for the last hour.
“Aaaand . . . stop,” Asher says after what feels like a couple of minutes. “You ready?”
“Yes.”
“Surprise!” he says, but the word is also shouted by two female voices.
My eyes adjust to the warm morning sunlight, and I gasp as I see my mother and Maya in front of me, standing next to a gorgeous table in a garden.
I squeal something that is an incoherent string of words and run to them.
My mother wraps me in a hug first. Tears immediately spring to my eyes.
I haven’t seen her in six months, and god, I’ve missed her so much.
I didn’t realize how much until now. The feeling is compounded by the fact that I’ve wanted nothing more than to talk to her about everything that’s happened since I met Asher, but I haven’t been able to.
It was too risky to call or text her with details, because even with a very private phone line, I’m paranoid that those calls or texts could be accessed for the right price.
And since Asher informed me that paparazzi photos of me are going for near a hundred grand a pop, I can’t even begin to think what someone might do or what they might pay to access my calls and texts.
If I’d said anything about Asher and my relationship being a fake arrangement, it could have potentially been leaked.
So, my mother and Maya still have no idea how Asher and my relationship started.
I’ve hated lying to them, but maybe I can come clean now that they’re here in person.
“I’ve missed you so much!” I say, wiping at my tears.
My mom leans back and takes me in. “I’ve missed you too, sweetie. You look stunning. It seems dating Asher suits you.”
Now Maya barrels into me for a hug, and even though we just parted ways a short time ago in London, I’m in tears all over again. I haven’t seen enough of her for the past three years, so this feels like a gift. When Maya finally releases me, I turn and give Asher a hug.
“Thank you,” I whisper. “This is the best surprise in the whole world.”
“You’re very welcome . . . but I hope you still think that in a minute. This is a family brunch, so my whole family will be out here soon.”
“A family brunch?”
“It’s tradition for the entire family to have brunch the morning of the Langford’s annual Memorial Day party. Our family has been doing this for a century.”
Good god. Just a casual century of the tradition of eating brunch in the garden of the summer mansion. Just like all the other families.
He drops down and helps me back into my heels, then leads me around a large hedge bush, and I see that what looked like a normal sized table from my previous vantage point is actually a mammoth table set with at least three dozen place settings of fancy plates and goblets and is decorated with stunning floral arrangements.
My mother and Maya follow us to the table, and they both gasp.
“This is gorgeous,” my mother says.
“Wow,” Maya rasps.
“Welcome to our home,” Catherine says, from behind us. “I’m so glad you could both join us. I know you both traveled quite far to be here.”
“Thank you for having us,” my mother says, gushing. “Your home is incredible.”
“It’s our pleasure.”
A photographer snaps a candid photo of our group and then calls for everyone to stand in for a group photo.
Soon, all of Asher’s extended family gathers, and they are exactly what I expected based on Asher’s descriptions.
There are about thirty men and women of different ages, all dressed in their couture summer linens and hats, and there’s also a handful of children whose parents are trying desperately to keep them grass stain and dirt free while the photographer orders them into a formation.
Many of them glance my way with looks that follow a similar pattern to what I’ve already received at the other engagements this weekend: curiosity that morphs to distaste, and finally, dismissal.
I sigh and move aside with my mother and Maya as the family prepares to take the picture, but Asher grabs me by the elbow and pulls me back.
“I’m not family,” I mutter noting the many eyes watching him while not even attempting to hide their disapproving sneers.
“Nice try. Now smile your pretty smile, this is for posterity.”
Conrad’s eyes meet mine and a clear look of disdain and anger flash in them.
My stomach sinks as his cruel words from weeks ago about Asher marrying a suitable woman from a proper family slither through my mind.
Only Asher and I know how much the dynamic of our relationship has changed.
His immediate family suspects, but Asher hasn’t even divulged to them where his head is at.
My insecurities about our relationship starting as a farce come flooding back, and I worry again about the future.
What if Asher really does regret this one day?
“Why do you want me in a photo for posterity?” I whisper as he pulls me to his side. “What if things change? What if you change your mind one day?”
Asher gives me a stern look and his jaw ticks. “Enough of that. I want you by my side.”
“But—”
“Relax, baby,” Asher whispers in my ear as he pulls me closer. “Don’t overthink this.”
I shake my head and try push the insecurities away. But I can’t totally relax. This arrangement was supposed to be temporary, and even though things have evolved, I can’t help but be reminded that photos are forever.
I want to speak to Asher about it, but as soon as the photo is done, Asher takes my hand and turns us toward an elderly woman walking slowly, if a bit hunched, alongside Declan, who is holding onto her arm to assist her.
She’s wearing a large sun hat, loads of jewelry, and a dated, but very expensive-looking dress.
“Grandmother, it’s so good to see you,” Asher says as Declan walks her to us. Asher bends down quite far to give her a kiss on her cheek. “This is my girlfriend, Ella,” he says, placing his hand on my lower back. “Ella, this is my grandmother, Jane Langford.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I say, smiling. But her face does not match mine. Her eyes narrow, and her lips thin.
“So, this is the common girl.” She eyes me up and down then clucks her tongue. “No family of importance to speak of and no business alliances to bring to the table.”
Asher closes his eyes and sighs through gritted teeth. “No one cares about those things anymore, Grandma.”
Jane cackles. “Don’t play stupid, boy. It doesn’t suit you. And neither does fawning and simpering over a pretty girl. In our world, alliances and families are of the utmost importance. That hasn’t changed. Pretty girls like this are a distraction you should keep on the side.”
My eyes nearly pop out of my head.
“Grandmother,” Asher snaps. “I’ll not have you insulting Ella. She is an amazing woman, and I’m lucky to have her.”
His grandmother eyes me with a look of contempt. “Ha! You must be good in bed; I’ll give you that.”
“Grandma!” Declan groans.
A furious blush warms my cheeks and neck, and I’ve never been more grateful to have olive skin. If I had Maya’s creamy complexion, there would be no masking the embarrassment and shame I’m feeling.
Asher takes a long breath, as if searching for patience. “The world has changed, and old families are not all they once were. Ella brings many things to the table.”
“No money, no connections.”
“And what do I need those for?” he says in a forced calm. “I have more money than almost any person on this planet. And I have the power to connect to almost any person I want to. Any additional money or connections are superfluous.”
“There is no such word as superfluous for our kind of people.”
“I disagree.”
Harrington seems to sense trouble, because he hurriedly ends his conversation and walks toward us with purpose.
“Find a suitable girl, Asher. And if you can’t let this one go, keep her on the side. No one will care if you have a mistress.”
Now my mouth pops open, and I’m grasping at words. I want to tell her to fuck off, but she’s a little old lady and Asher’s grandmother, so I bite my tongue.
“That’s enough,” Asher says firmly.
“Mother,” Harrington says, grasping her shoulders and diffusing the tension. He starts to lead her toward the table. “It’s getting warm; let’s find you a seat before you get heated.”