Page 15 of Twisted Truths

My stomach tightens, and my breakfast threatens to rush back up. “He’s not?” I assumed when the job was posted it was because Obsidian wanted an assistant.

Anabelle gives me a sympathetic look while Asher shakes his head, mouth turned down in a frown. “No. But he needs an assistant to relieve some of the pressure he’s under, take some things off his plate.”

I nod. “Okay, I appreciate the heads-up.” Hopefully, once Obsidian realizes what an asset I can be to him, he’ll change his attitude.

“If I know my brother, he’s going to attempt to get you to quit. He’ll be a dick and make things difficult for you.”

Wonderful. I’m not sure what to say to that, so I say nothing.

“If it becomes too much for you, come see me, and I’ll deal with him.”

I nod, knowing I’ll handle whatever Obsidian Voss dishes out because I need to remain in this house until I can fence enough stuff to pay back my father’s debt.

“Good. Hopefully what we’re paying you will help take some of the sting off his attitude,” Asher says.

Now it makes sense why this job pays what it does. It’s about three times what anywhere else would pay, and I’d assumed it was because Obsidian works day and night. But it seems like it’s danger pay because he plans to be an asshole. Even with the good money I’m making, it would be decades before I could pay Uma off.

Doesn’t matter. I’ll take whatever he’s going to dish out and smile while I’m doing it. My family’s lives—hell, my life—depend on it.

“I’m sure it won’t be a problem.” I smile at them both, but the wan smile on Anabelle’s face gives me pause.

Before Asher can respond, there’s a knock on the door. I turn to look over my shoulder and spot Obsidian Voss stalking into the room like a predator on the hunt, and I steel myself for his wrath.

Chapter

Seven

OBSIDIAN

Iprowl into Asher’s office, pissed off and not bothering to cover it up with a polished veneer. No sense pretending this will be anything other than what it will be—painful. Painful for her and painful for me. Let whoever this woman Asher hired to be my sidekick get what so few people do—a glimpse behind my façade.

Asher and Anabelle both look away from the woman in front of them as I enter.

“Sid, thanks for joining us,” Asher says, as though he’s given me a choice.

I don’t answer, sliding my hands into my pockets when I reach the opposite side of his desk.

If I’d pressed my brothers on not hiring an assistant, they’d only try to use it as leverage to insist that something is going on with me and then we’d have to talk about our fucking feelings. Talk about what happened so long ago and whether it had anything to do with what happened to me in the ocean.

Yeah, no thanks. I’d rather deal with the assistant and just get rid of her of her own free will. It’s the path of least resistance at this point.

“This is your new assistant, Ariana Clarke.” Asher motions across the desk.

For the first time, I give her my attention. It feels like a blow to the stomach, as if the wind’s been knocked out of me.

She’s gorgeous. Stunning.

I’ve seen a lot of beautiful women in my time. Fucked a lot of them, too. But this woman… something about her… I don’t know. It’s almost as though she’s vaguely familiar, but it’s more than that.

Every one of her features feels tailor-made to draw me in. From her long, brilliant red hair cascading in waves to the wash of innocent freckles over her cheeks and her slightly upturned nose. Those pink, puffy lips of hers are slightly parted, and her big blue eyes stare up at me, assessing. It all comes together in a way that makes her perfect.

“It’s nice to meet you, sir. I look forward to working together,” she says, and fuck me, her voice is so feminine and innocent-sounding that my dick twitches under my tailored suit pants.

“Wish I could say the same.”

I’m impressed when she doesn’t blink at my comment. Asher must have given her the heads-up that I’d be a prick. I suppose that means I’ll have to double my efforts.

“Marcel is going to make sure that all of Miss Clarke’s things are brought to her room. Perhaps you could show her there, and I figured you’d want to show her where she’ll be working. Perhaps give her a tour of the rest of the manor and grounds,” Asher says.

---