Chapter 18 Ella #2
We go through the most flattering ways for me to stand, to pose, and generally how to “work a carpet” for the next hour.
Every feature and body part of mine is ruthlessly broken down as to how it will look under certain lighting and from certain angles.
Rhonda isn’t unkind, she’s just incredibly honest. Which I appreciate, even if it cuts me at times.
I’ve learned quickly that I’d rather hear it from her in the comfort of Asher’s penthouse than from nasty headlines and internet trolls on Sunday morning.
At last, Asher arrives home, and I’m weirdly relieved to see him.
We were both in a rush this morning and didn’t exchange more than a quick greeting and a “have a good day”; before he was out the door.
And we didn’t text or call at all today because he had back-to-back meetings to make up for the fact that he spent so much unexpected time on this new “girlfriend” project this week.
“What’s this?” he asks, taking in Matthew, Emily, Rhonda, and the photography backdrop.
“Posing session,” Matthew says without looking at him. “We need Ella to be perfect tomorrow.”
“We also need the two of you to be perfect tomorrow,” Emily adds.
Asher raises his brows, not understanding her meaning.
“Let’s discuss it in private,” I say, walking toward Asher. I grab his hand as I pass and pull him after me into his bedroom.
“What’s going on?” he asks, still confused.
“Emily is concerned that tomorrow on the red carpet we won’t have . . . chemistry like we would if we were an actual couple. She’s worried we’ll look awkward when we’re supposed to look in love because of our lack of intimacy.” My cheeks flush as I say the last part.
“She’s taking her job seriously, I’ll give her that.”
“That’s why Rhonda is here; to help us pose together.”
“She doesn’t know the truth about us though, right?”
“No. I just had an individual session with her. Now we have to do the couple session.”
Asher groans. “Just what I wanted to do when I got home.”
“I know, I’m sorry. It was Matthew’s idea.”
“Well, we don’t say ‘no’ to Matthew, do we?”
“We most certainly do not.”
“Step closer,” Rhonda commands Asher. “Pull her all the way into your side; we don’t want a gaping hole between the two of you.
” She snaps photos and issues directives and commands as she bends and moves about, photographing us from every angle.
“Ella, remember to keep that shoulder down, you tend to lift it when you’re uncomfortable.
Mr. Langford, turn this way more. Now look at each other.
Not like that, with love in your eyes. Now, look like you’re whispering something into her ear. Ella! Don’t flinch!”
“Sorry, it tickled my ear.”
“Explain that to the Sunday morning headline that says, ‘Asher Langford’s New Girlfriend Flinches Away From Him at Gala.’ People will assume you are upset with him, and there’s no way to explain that he simply tickled your ear while speaking to you.
Honestly, you two are too stiff. And you’re not moving in sync.
It’s almost like we need an intimacy session, not a posing session. ”
“What’s an intimacy session?” I ask, horrified.
“It’s where we work on being more comfortable in each other’s presence and finding chemistry with one another. I typically only do it with actors or models who need to work together but are having a hard time finding a spark.”
My cheeks heat. Asher clears his throat but doesn’t say anything. Matthew and Emily are both tapping their feet and clucking their tongues at Asher and I, as if they could will some chemistry into the room with their frustration alone.
“Will you excuse us for one moment?” Matthew asks Rhonda. He snaps his finger for Asher and me to follow him to the bedroom, and Emily follows as well, her heels clacking impatiently on the floor.
Once we’re all in the bedroom, Matthew and Emily give us looks that say they want to scold us like we’re uncooperative school children.
“This is a big problem that needs to be fixed immediately,” Matthew says, pointing his finger between the two of us.
“Do you want this to fall apart before it’s really even begun?
” Emily adds. “If you two are photographed tomorrow night looking like you just did, you’ll be a laughing stock in the press.
How is it that the two of you looked to have a thousand percent more chemistry on Tuesday, the day after you met, than you do today? ”
I’ve been wondering the same thing since Asher got home. And I feel like an idiot. Have I imagined the connection, the heat between us this whole time? Am I so stupidly attracted to Asher that I invented a spark between us in my mind that isn’t really there?
Matthew sighs dramatically. “Asher, we may have to forgo the no sex rule if you two are going to be as hot as cold fish together.”
I twitch like I’ve been shocked.
“That’s a tricky line in the contract, though,” Emily chimes in.
“Enough, both of you,” Asher growls. “Leave us alone for a bit. Have the chef put out dinner, and you two eat with Rhonda while we figure out what to do. But bring us some drinks first.”
They both give us lingering, “you’d better figure it out” looks as they leave.
I let out a long breath once they’re gone, and Asher and I remain in an awkward silence as we wait for Matthew to return. A moment later, he brings a bottle of whiskey for Asher and a bottle of wine for me and sets our glasses on the small table in the corner of Asher’s bedroom.
“So, what do you have in mind?” I ask Asher when Matthew leaves again.
He knocks back his drink in one go and refills it. “I don’t really know.”
I sip my wine. “What if the photographers shout out for us to kiss or something?”
“This isn’t high school. I’m not going to kiss you on the spot because some photographers shout at me to.”
“I know that,” I snap. “But like Emily and Matthew said, if we look uncomfortable at the thought or suggestion of it, we’re going to be in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.”
“So, what do you suggest?”
“The obvious answer is that we need to get comfortable with it,” I say, my cheeks heating for the ten-thousandth time this evening.
I’m trying to keep all emotion out of this and just look at it from a logical, unbiased position, but that means expressing things that are super uncomfortable and that I would never voice otherwise.
He slips out of his suit jacket, then undoes his tie and unbuttons his collar.
I sip my wine and try not to ogle him. I force my eyes away from the tanned skin beneath his throat that hints at the sculpted chest and abs beneath his shirt.
Good lord, here I am undressing him with my eyes when the thought of him getting comfortable with me, physically, seems to have put him on edge.
He knocks back another drink of whiskey.
I take another gulp of wine and set my glass down on the table.
The silence that still lingers between us is sharp, cutting.
Asher sits down on the edge of his bed, holding his head in his hands.
I sit down in the chair next to the table and stare out the window, feeling more awkward and uncomfortable by the second.
After a minute, I can’t take the silence anymore.
“Look, I get that you’re not into me that way, so this must be hard for you.
But my reputation is on the line as well, and I don’t want to look like a fool tomorrow night.
So, we either need to figure out how to fake some chemistry, or we need to forgo the gala until we’ve known each other longer. ”
“I can’t forgo the gala.”
“Then maybe I sit this one out.”
“Can’t do that either. I’ve had several people reach out to me today who are looking forward to meeting you tomorrow night.”
“Then can you stop sulking and at least pretend that you’re attracted to me so we can move on with this photo session?”
“What are you talking about? Pretend I’m attracted to you?”
“Yes! You need to act like you aren’t wholly disgusted at the thought of looking like you’re actually in a relationship with me.”
“You think I’m not attracted to you?”
“It’s clear that you aren’t. The idea of trying to pose with me has you drinking whiskey like you’re about to walk to your own death.”
He lets out an unamused laugh. “That’s not why I’m drinking. And attraction isn’t the problem.”
“Then what is?”
“It’s this entire situation.” He takes another drink.
“Asher, you’re going to need to elaborate. I’m not in the mood for guessing games.”
He twirls his tumbler in his hands for a moment before he answers. “I’m afraid. I’m afraid of being on a red carpet with you, looking in love, and having the world see it.”
“That’s what this whole situation is about!” My voice raises, my frustration and temper slipping.
“I know that. But it isn’t what I wanted. And it isn’t what I would ever have done if I’d had the choice myself.”
“I know this isn’t what either of us asked for, but it doesn’t change the fact that we’re here. Why are you so skittish all of a sudden?”
Asher sets his tumbler down with more force than necessary. “Because it’s getting more real, and it scares the shit out of me.”
“Why?!” I shout.
“Because it isn’t safe! This entire situation is a nightmare I’ve been avoiding my entire life! Now that the media knows who you are, all the psychos will start to come out of the woodwork, and it puts you in danger.”
“We’ve already talked about this. That’s why I’m living in your penthouse, and being guarded by Jenkins, and driven around by your drivers.”
“Yes, but tomorrow night is going to make it all worse.”
“How?”
“Because right now, people only have flashes of us together. But tomorrow when we’re photographed and video recorded looking in love, that makes the picture clearer.
That takes you from being a prospective target to an actual target.
The more in love we look, the more people will be inclined to use you to get to me or use you against me. ”