The Fine Print Lauren Asher Novels & Stories

My eyes widened and I turned to look at Bart who gave me a knowing look. “Yeah, you were inside your head. How about you spend less time up there huh?” He asked as he walked towards Layla’s gate. I shrugged, my chest squeezing painfully. How does one even do that? You can't tell an overthinker to stop thinking. But he was right, I really should take my mind off Sasha and the elites. I hadn't seen her yet and she already had me this much in a twist. Bart knocked on the gate while we waited. It didn't take long before Layla walked out wearing a bra and panties.

Sexually. I reach the small cabin which is built of glass outside the CEO's massive cabin. I see two telephones, a printer, and a fax machine on the table. I decorate my new table with the Hotwheels car, a dog's photo frame, ashtray, and the playboy swimsuit calendar. Yay! I see a file lying on the desk with the title, "Non-Disclosure Agreement." Which instantly clicks in my head, Christian Grey! Is Ryan into BDSM, wait that's why he chose me as his secretary? Does he know who I am?

I turned a sharp corner and stopped dead. There was a small wooden box on the floor right outside my room door. It wasn’t there when I left this morning. I moved forward one slow step at a time, my heart racing. I knelt down and pushed the lid open. Inside, on a bed of black velvet, sat a single sheet of paper sealed with a fresh drop of red wax. I tore it open. There were five words written in thick, dark ink: They know that you’re a fake.

Then she sat upright and kicked off her shoes and then her socks. "You look like someone who just came back form battle" Monica remarked. Her eyes had been on Ashley since she walked into the room. "You can say that" Ashley sighed. "I found out something about our group assignment" Annabelle said as she searched her backpack for the piece of paper she jotted down some points. "I'm glad I'm in your group Ana. I can as well sit back and do nothing" Claire beamed with excitement which made Ashley more irritated. "Lazy bone" Ashley muttered beneath her breath.

And Lauren was good-looking. "What's she like?" Wyatt asked finally. "The actress. Lauren." Nate pulled up the file, the one with Lauren's headshot and bio. "Twenty-five years old. Tall—about five-ten. Leggy. Long dark hair, whiskey-colored eyes. She's gorgeous, Wyatt. The kind of gorgeous that probably makes men like this Liam think he owns her."

"And maybe a private moment to process the fact that I’m now the most scandalous woman in California." "I have just the place," Asher said, his eyes darkening with a look that promised a heat level well beyond a five. They led me up the iron stairs to the private loft—a glass-walled office that looked out over the entire party. It was dim, lit only by the neon "Reapers" sign outside. The bass of the music below was a dull throb, making the air in the small room feel thick and electric. The door had barely clicked shut before Asher pinned me against the glass.

Behind him, a little mirror put into the wall allowed her to see the reflection of a woman's photograph. " I said you can leave now Miss Trinity." Asher's bold voice stopped Trinity from almost frowning in disdain. She nodded too quickly and left the room in a flash. Asher looked down at the screen of his laptop, displaying a picture of Lena. After reading her résumé she posted, he was really impressed. To him, she did not appear to be a smart lady. With a quick look at her disheveled hair, scanty dressing, peering brown eyes with that innocent face, he concluded she must have been a high school dropout.

A voice came from behind the two. Gael and Leonard turned around in unison and they were both shocked at the sight of Ashton. Ashton was walking over with a woman and the two were holding hands. The woman had fair skin, she was slender with a narrow waist and her legs were long. She looked beautiful as her long hair danced lazily in the wind. Ashton was as dashing as always but his face was a little pale. Gael's mouth was wide open after seeing his grandson. Leonard on the other hand had his eyes fixed on Maya as his eyes flashed with a mysterious light. No one could tell what he was thinking about or what was so interesting about Maya.

Investigative writers would come sniffing. A ripple effect. The damage would be quiet… for now. But the cracks would show. And Luca would have to answer for them. As he watched the file upload bar crawl toward 100%, Reid whispered to himself like a prayer: “This is for you, Ash.” But even he didn’t believe it. Across the city... Asher laughed, barefoot, standing in Luca’s oversized kitchen wearing one of his shirts and nothing else. “Are you seriously burning toast in a smart oven?” he asked.

She took a deep breath, her chest heaving, and slowly handed it over. Lauren hesitated. Her fingers brushed Mia’s, and for a second, she wanted to pull away. She looked down. Her eyes widened as they scanned the bright screen. Her mouth fell open, but no sound came out. “Oh no,” she whispered. “No, no, no.” The headline stared back at her in bold, black letters that seemed to vibrate on the screen: "COLT MOORE AND MADISON BAKER CONFIRM REUNION AND PREGNANCY AFTER BRIEF SEPARATION"