Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 129110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 646(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 646(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
January
Asher's Mom lives on a huge estate. His grandparents are proud. A bit stiff and formal, but they don't give two shits about this Hollywood stuff. They make him have tea everyday at noon in a room without TVs, computers, or phones. They tell stories. It's amazing.
His Mom is a lot like him. She's doting and wonderful. She absolutely loves me and isn't afraid to tell me so at least ten times a day.
Asher still never has. I was so sure he was about to in my room that night too.
We get into cooking shows. It's so random, yet perfect.
All week we sit cuddled on the couch watching baking competitions. I don't even know what we find so interested about them, but we're enthralled. So much so that we decide to hold a little contest to see who can bake the best chocolate cake.
Two days into the New Year we venture into town to buy ingredients.
It's my first time off the estate. The village is idyllic, like a place you'd expect to find in a movie, quaint and adorable, with thatched roofs and cobble stone streets. It's snowy and picturesque.
Asher wears his usual sunglasses and hat disguise, but almost everyone recognizes him anyway. The townspeople are friendly, and the paparazzi seem to be on a break still.
For today we are ourselves.
Unfortunately we don't even make it until tomorrow before getting caught.
I guess there was a photographer we didn't notice.
Asher spends the evening on the phone dealing with the picture that already sold for half a million dollars.
Finally the world sees him with his Mystery Girl.
We were holding hands and smiling. I was wearing the necklace.
Jess texts, freaking out. She can’t believe my half picture is all over the Internet and on TV.
No one knows who I am. There's not even a name.
I end up baking alone. Our evening is ruined, but deep down I'm hoping this is finally the end of all the hiding.
The next day Sam reaches out. One of the photo editors at work pointed out that the girl in the photo with Asher sort of looks like me. I'm told Amelia shot it down pretty quickly. Apparently she said I’m not that special, or pretty enough, and I guess everyone agreed.
Still, no one has my name. His people work well and fast, although I'm told it's only a matter of time.
It's not even a clear picture. I'm bundled in a hat, my face turned into Asher. The necklace barely sticks out of my scarf, and as the lens zooms it's blurry.
"What about Travis?" I whisper to Asher.
If he's going to strike now is the time.
"Is she still there?" Mona spits.
I roll my eyes.
"It was taken care of," he offers a sad smile.
"How?"
"He was paid a hefty amount and signed something, so if he expects to keep the money it won't be an issue."
My stomach churns.
For some reason I feel like he got exactly what he set out to achieve.
Asher's Mom shoots me an apologetic smile before I leave the room.
I take a small break and end up in the study with his grandfather. He's the sweetest old man. We play a card game and it's just the distraction I need.
By the time I return they've reached a solution. Only I know it's not going to be the good news I had hoped. They all quiet as I enter. For a second I think it's been decided that we're breaking up.
It's not that, but I'm not sure what was decided is much better.
A few days later, I'm back home and Asher is back in LA.
Work is slow, and just after lunch I open an e-mail with a photo of Asher. His arm is draped around some model - a different one than the one he was holding hands with in yesterday's picture.
Apparently this proves to the public that the Mystery Girl is no one, and definitely not anyone of importance.
Asher sticks to that story in all his recently appearances too.
"Did you have a nice holiday?" The over the top television host asks.
"I did!" Asher smiles. "I went home to England. Got to spend time with that side of my family."
"Although it's never quiet for you, even on holiday." The host teases. "You were photographed holding hands with a girl."
"Yes, one of my good friends."
"Well it near broke every heart in america, even mine!"
Asher laughs.
"You literally sent the world into a tailspin."
"I'm sorry!" he laughs.
"She was wearing that special necklace though."
"Holiday gift," Asher nods. "Like a best friend necklace. You ever see those?"
"Of course." The host nods. "You had many worried, and then there was this," he holds up more photographs. "Out and about with not one but two other girls in the last few days."
"All friends!"
"Such a ladies man!" The host laughs. "Now what does Sabrina think of all this?"