Page 61 of Ruthless Heir

My blood stills in my veins. “What do you mean by that?”

“I mean fake date.”

I clench my jaw and glare at her. “Layla…”

“Just listen to me. Your father just needs a name, right?”

“That is correct.”

“He also said that you would have three months to date but if things went wrong you could find someone else within the same time frame. What if Harper could buy you that time?”

My God…

Why am I considering this?

Because it’s a fucking good idea. But I can’t do it. It would cross the line I’ve tried so hard to keep up and…temptme.

Josh would also skin me alive. It would be a disaster.

“No. I can’t do it.” My voice sounds fragile, like glass about to shatter.

“Asher. You need to think about it. For a start, she would be perfect for several reasons.”

“Name one reason, Layla.”

“Did you see your father’s face yesterday? I don’t know if you realized that he thought she was one of your potentials.”

“Yes, I did.” Of course I knew that. When we met later in the evening my father wouldn’t stop talking about her. It was like he was trying to sell me the idea of her.

“There you go. Who better to pick than a woman he adores? He even hugged her.Your fatherdoes not hug.”

“My parents have always adored her.”

“Great, but what about you?”

“What about me?”

“You like her.” She gives me a sincere smile. The kind that stops me from telling her she’s wrong.

“She’s my best friend's little sister. Of course I like her.”

“You know what I mean, Asher. Youlike herlike her. I saw the way you looked at her. In any event, even if you don’t want to go that way, I feel like she would be perfect to help you in the interim.”

“Josh would kill me.”

“From all the way over yonder deep in the sea? Come on now, Asher. The man is in a submarine. He won’t know.”

“But the press. They’ll run wild with a story about me dating.”

“The press, my ass. Of course they’re going to run wild with the story. They always do.”

“What would I say to Josh?”

“Josh is away for nine months. He left his sister with you, the guy who’s always in the press for one thing or another. All you have to say if he sees any of the articles is that the press werebeing the press. By then you’d be married and you wouldn’t have to care. The stories would be old news.”

Jesus… sheisgood. “Layla, that’s a really good idea but I … this is a tough one for me. It’s not that simple.” I don’t know if I can cross that line even if it is fake.

“Think about it. Go on your date with Alexis tomorrow. Of course I’m still rooting for her, but this idea is better. It means you don’t have to rush.”

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