The Billionaire’s Fan (The Whispering Oaks Society)

Chapter 17

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Jordyn

I never thought that my life would have taken the turn that it had.

And here I am, sitting in a five-star restaurant with paparazzi standing outside the windows with their cameras aimed in our direction as we eat.

At first, it was a little nerve-racking, but Asher made me forget the outside world as he charmed me.

Once we finished dinner, he held out his hand, and pulled me up and into his arms. He gently kissed my lips and smiled at me.

“This isn’t entirely a show that I’m putting on for them. I’m putting it on for you, too.”

“Why me?”

“I don’t want you to feel like this isn’t real. Everything about us is real. Just because they’re out there taking photos of us, or following us around, I want you to know that I’m yours. No one else’s. So yeah, this show is as much for them as it is for you. And, I’m not acting.”

I place my arms around his neck and pull him closer again.

“I’m not either.” I kiss him.

We walk hand in hand out of the restaurant, past blinding flashes, and into the awaiting car at the curb.

Asher’s hand rests on my thigh as the car moves along the city streets of Empire Bay.

“What’s next?” I ask.

“That, my dear, is a surprise. But we’re going to need to make a quick stop at my place and change,” he says.

“I don’t have anything to change into.”

“I already took care of that.”

Ten minutes later, we’re pulling up to his townhome.

Inside, he ushers me upstairs to his bedroom and points to the box on the bed.

“What’s this?” I step closer and look at the box.

“We’re heading to a show tonight. This is something a little more comfortable to wear.”

“A show?” I turn and look at him.

“One of my good buddies is in town and they have a private show happening tonight.”

“More showing a united front?”

“Is that so bad?”

“No.”

“Is it acting? A lie?” he steps into me, places his hands on my hips, and nuzzles his nose into my neck, sending shivers down my spine.

“Absolutely not.”

“That’s my girl.” His hands move to my cheek, and his thumb caresses my skin. He leans in and our lips brush gently. “Ah man, as much as I want to ravage you right now, we’ve got a schedule. The show starts in an hour.”

I lean my head back and groan. I reluctantly step away from him and open the box on the bed. After getting dressed, I sat and watched Asher do the same with longing as he took his time getting dressed.

I’m standing in the mirror fixing my ponytail when Asher stands beside me. We match. He’s wearing grey jean pants and I’m wearing black with holes at the knees. I’m wearing a red tank top with lace at the hem and along the back, with Asher wearing a black t-shirt with a red pocket.

“I feel like I called you before I came over and asked you what you were wearing.” I grin as he looks at our reflection and returns the smile.

“It doesn’t look too tacky, too matchy-matchy?”

“Matchy-matchy? How old are you ten?” I joke.

“It’s something that Bianca always says. Sometimes we like to go out on stage wearing the same thing. So, do you think we look okay?”

“I think we look good,” I assure him.

“Good. Ready?” he throws his arm over my shoulders.

“As ready as ever.”

We climb into his car in the garage and head back toward the heart of the city.

“Prepare me. Are we going to be bombarded by cameras?” I ask.

“Quite possibly. I was told that there’s going to be a lot of big names at the show. They will have a red carpet, and if the band’s publicist did her job right, there will be a crowd.”

“What kind of show are we going to?”

“It’s an acoustic private show. Invite only for Murphy’s Lawless.”

I swing my head and look at him with my mouth wide open.

“Murphy’s Lawless? You’re friends with them? We’re seeing them tonight?”

He grins and stares at the road straight ahead. “They opened for us a few years ago, when they were just starting. Addison, the frontwoman, had a fling with Mikey during that time period. The guys will most likely be there too tonight. Okay, we’re here. The alley will have the valet, stay in the car and wait for me, and then we’ll walk around the building together.”

“Got it.” I nodded as he maneuvered the Jeep into the alleyway.

It all happens in a blur. Hand-in-hand, we walk to the front of the building and begin walking on the red carpet. Lights flash and questions are thrown left and right. I smile as Asher guides me to look in either direction. A few reporters have captured Asher’s attention, and we step forward to answer their questions.

“Asher. What do you have to say about the photos that surfaced earlier this week?” a reporter asks.

“I have nothing to say. The media blew a conversation out of control.”

“And the woman that you were with?”

“She was just a friend of the bands.”

“Asher, Asher. Who do we have here? You haven’t officially introduced her yet.”

“Hey, Jenny. This is my girlfriend, Jordyn. Jordyn, this is Jenny with Entertainment News Nightly.” Asher introduces me and I shake her hand with a smile.

“And Jordyn, I hate to ask this, but how do you feel about Asher being in the recent news?”

“It’s par for the course. It’s what happens when you are in the public eye. A simple conversation can be morphed by the public into something that it wasn’t.”

“And you are confident that was only what it was?” Jenny asks.

“Absolutely. Asher and I are strong. We have something that rumors can’t touch and that’s not going anywhere, anytime soon.”

“That’s great to hear. And Asher, how do you feel about everything in the news?” Jenny asks.

“Honestly, it’s annoying. But having these kinds of things happen early in a relationship just deepened our relationship.” He looks at me and smiles. “I fall harder for her more and more, every day.”

“Thank you for that, Asher, and it was a pleasure meeting you, Jordyn.” Jenny smiles and turns to her cameraman behind her. That I wasn’t aware of being there. She lowers her microphone as Asher leans across and hugs her.

“I’m sorry. I had to ask those questions. But you both gave the perfect responses.” She apologizes.

“I knew you would do us justice. Thank you for being graceful about it.” Asher says.

“Thank you for calling me and letting me know you guys would be here. I hope that quells any bad press. But honestly, just let that shit roll off your shoulders and keep being you.” Jenny says, then looks at me. “You’ve got yourself a genuine guy here. I’m happy to see him so… happy. And I hope to see more of you, Jordyn.”

“Thank you. And thanks for talking to us.”

“Hey, I do what I gotta do for friends.”

Asher takes my hand and pulls me away from the reporters. We take a few more photos, then head inside.

“So, you planned that with Jenny?” I lean in and ask as we take our seats.

“Jenny owed me a favor. She’s good people, I trust her, and know that she’ll turn everything around that’s going on in the news about us.”

“I’m glad you have people like that in your corner.”

“They’re in your corner now, too.”

Asher pulls my chair so that it’s directly beside his and kisses my cheek as he pulls me against him.

“Hey! Look who it is!” Mikey, Tate, and Davey take seats behind us.

We both turn and look at them and greet them.

“Looks like you two are getting cozy.” Mikey wiggles his eyebrows.

“Where’s the ladies?” Asher asks.

“They didn’t want to come. They wanted a quiet night.”

“How is acoustic not quiet?” Tate says.

“Exactly.” Mikey chimes in.

“And Mikey is looking to hang out later with Addison, if you know what I mean,” Davey adds, with Mikey cutting a look to him to silence him.

The lights go down in the venue and rise on the stage. Murphy’s Lawless is sitting in a row on stage on barstools with microphone stands in front of each of them.

“Good evening, you lavish folks of Empire Bay and beyond. We’re Murphy’s Lawless and we’re going to entertain you tonight.” Addison, a beautiful blonde with red lipstick, speaks into the microphone with her melodic voice.