The Love of Lies

Cori?

Ashton's POV

I’m celebrating my brother's twenty-fourth birthday on the private level of some nightclub I have never heard of or been to before.

Troy is an extremely popular man, and he has a lot of acquaintances, so the place is full. I told him about the unnamed place I like, hoping that he would settle for something small, but that is not who he is.

My brother likes to go all out on two occasions; his birthday, and his girlfriend's birthday. They were best friends growing up, but they didn't become a couple until just before Julia graduated from high school.

I remember my brother moping around our family home, completely depressed that Julia had another year before she could join him in college, and when he found out she was dating someone, he almost became a shut-in.

Troy’s mental state at that time was worrying, and I remember asking him if Julia knew how he felt, thinking it would help him confront the fact that she wasn’t interested. I can still vividly recall his uncertain expression as he told me that she ‘had’ to know.

We ended up testing the theory, and let's just say that Julia was shocked. She believed that Troy only saw her as a friend, but his confession was taken well, and they have been inseparable ever since.

The only reason they aren’t already married is because Julia still has a year left of college, and Troy insists that she complete her education, even though we all know she does not need it. Our parents love Julia, so they have already created a position specifically for her within our company, one I know she will do well in because she has great people skills and the confidence to match.

Julia is a very secure woman, and even though sixty percent of the women who have come to celebrate want to snatch my brother from her, she doesn’t even give them a second thought; neither does Troy.

I feel a hand caress my back, and I look down at a woman who is smiling up at me lustfully. With Vanessa out of the country, it’s been a while since I’ve had s*x, so I don’t send her away.

I buy us both a drink, not wanting to just take the girl back to my place to f**k before at least finding out a little about her. I had a terrible experience with that in the past and I don’t want a repeat.

It is extremely awkward asking someone you just screwed to leave, but it’s even worse when the person doesn’t take the hint, and you end up having to call the police.

Since then, I have made it a point to make sure that whoever I’m with is on the same page as me. She needs to know that I’m in this for a nut, and nothing more. I don’t want to exchange numbers, and I don’t want to wake up next to her.

While I’m still feeling the girl out, Julia grabs and pulls me toward the table where my brother is waiting for us. She has gotten him a cake, and some of our mutual friends are already hanging around.

I shake hands with a few of the guys who I feel like I haven't seen in forever. They tease me about being a bad friend, and I agree with their words, knowing they are true.

“I’m here now,” I say and Chris, who is as close to me as my brother, gets the guys off my back telling them that work is my priority.

Chris is married, and his wife is expecting their second child. I’m actually shocked to see him, and he reads my expression, telling me that his wife told him that if he didn’t get out of her face, she was going to go crazy.

I laugh because I know that is exactly what Pauline said. She and Chris have only been together for three years, but he fell head over heels for her in a short period, and before they were married, they popped out a little girl.

I remember him smiling proudly at his wedding when his toddler walked the aisle, throwing the flowers she was supposed to be elegantly dropping, and I remember his tear-streaked face when his wife said her vows.

I also remember a few of the guys telling him that he was moving too quickly, and the honeymoon phase would end, but so far, Chris and Pauline haven’t changed; unless you consider her pregnancy mood swings.

Pauline has called me several times and begged me to take Chris out to relax because the man is a worry wart. She had a high-risk pregnancy with their first born, and he doesn’t want to take any chances with the second, especially since they know it's a boy. He told me that he needs his son healthy so that they can beat up any boy who tries to date his daughter.

Julia starts everyone on the happy birthday song, and Chris starts rubbing his temples at the end.

“We are getting old,” he says, and I chuckle before responding.

“You are getting old. Thirty next month, right?” Chris lands a solid punch on my arm before reminding me that he is turning twenty-eight.

“Where is Vanessa?” Chris asks, and I flare my nostrils at him as the girl, who I didn’t realize followed me, pretends not to hear.

“She is still in Paris. You know how she feels about her career.” Chris makes a face that I ignore. He isn’t a fan of Vanessa, never has been, but there are not many people who can deal with her in general.

Even Julia can’t stand being around her, which is why I’m glad she isn’t around for Troy’s party.

I notice the expressions of the guys around us change, and even my brother and his girlfriend are staring curiously. I turn to see a f*****g goddess walking toward the bar, and I start to regret having entertained the woman who is now clinging to my arm.

The woman has blondish, curly hair that I would love to run my hands through, but it's her body that has captured and held my attention.

Her curves are amazing, her ass is round, plump, and perfect for her frame; her breasts look great for cupping and her hips are nothing short of tempting.

The woman I bought a drink for tugs on my belt buckle seductively, trying to win back my attention, but I’m completely fixated on the lady in pink.

“Who is that?” Julia asks, also taken aback by the woman, who seems to be glowing in the darkened room.

“Maybe she is one of Mark's friends?” Troy adds, and Mark lets out a humph.

“If she were, she wouldn’t have shown up here alone,” he says. I watch Mark down his drink before smoothing his clothing and heading toward the woman's direction.

I find myself growing jealous. If I had waited ten freaking minutes, I’m almost positive I would have had that woman bent over in my bed.

I steal a glance at the ass of the woman who is standing beside me, and while it isn’t bad, it's no longer doing it for me. I secretly hope that Mark strikes out because I plan to swoop in and try my luck if he does.

It’s been a long time since I’ve screwed anyone with a body like that, and I badly want to. Women who are that sexy tend to be kinky in bed, and I’m pent up enough to want a real freak tonight.

Cori’s POV

As soon as I make it up the stairs, I feel eyes land on me. I’m technically not on the guest list, so I’m sure everyone is trying to figure out who I am.

I head to the bar, flashing my phone to the bartender who makes me a drink. It's a mixture of coke and lemonade, but he puts it in a fancy glass, and it gives the impression that it’s an alcoholic beverage.

I turn around with the glass in my hand, looking to see if there are any dead spots, or secluded areas that I need to check out, but a tall man in a white silk shirt with the buttons messily aligned steps into my field of view and distracts me.

“How are you here alone?” he asks, and I feel my face go red. The man is handsome, and with the way he is dressed he looks like a fashion model.

“I’m waiting for my friends,” I lie, and the man asks what I’m drinking. I can’t say it’s a fuzzy navel because it obviously isn’t, so I go with a rum and coke, and he orders one for himself.

“One of my good friends is celebrating his birthday tonight. Join me at his table and make me look good?” I internally sigh because I can’t say no; I mean I could, but I don’t want to make anyone from the VIP section angry.

I really need the money that I will make tonight. It will help me pay for repairs to my car and leave me a little cushion that will keep me until next month's rent is due.

Syd pays well, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t live paycheck to paycheck. An extra six hundred dollars is much needed and if I do a decent job tonight, the owner may keep me on call, which will further aid me in my struggle.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I say, not wanting to seem like I will agree to anything. I have to be respectful, not a yes woman.

“Oh, come on. There are other women around and truthfully, I just want to make my friends jealous.” I scrunch my face up at the guy, thinking he must have made some sort of bet with someone.

I start to ignore him, but he is persistent, and when I get the feeling that he is about to become annoyed, I reluctantly agree. His face beams, and I'm taken aback by it.

He offers me his arm, but I look at him like he’s crazy, which makes him laugh. He takes the hint, and I follow him over to where his friends are. I realize that I don’t even know the man’s name, and he hasn’t made an attempt to ask for mine, which tells me he is either drunk or such a playboy that it doesn’t matter to him.

“Cori?” I hear a male voice say excitedly, and I look up to see someone I don’t at first recognize. I scrutinize his face for a while, and when he smiles at my reaction, my heart beats wildly.

“Glasses guy!” I say without thinking, and Ashton laughs.

I have never seen him without his ‘disguise,’ and I’m pleasantly surprised. He has dark hair and while I can’t tell for certain, I think his eyes are blue.

“Glasses guy? Please tell me that isn’t how you refer to me.” I look down in embarrassment. Glasses guy is how my mind processed who he was; I remember his name, but it isn’t as fun as the one I gave him.

“Sorry,” I say guiltily.

“You two know each other?” The guy I walked over with asks, and Ashton answers in a way that seems suggestive, but I’m not entirely sure if I’m misreading.

I notice a woman hovering around Ashton, and I extend my hand to her, thinking she is his girlfriend, but she just rolls her eyes at me and walks away.

“I think your girlfriend is angry,” I say, feeling a bit bitter that he’s taken because my crush on a hat and glasses just got a face, and I would be lying if I said I didn’t like it.

Ashton reminds me of an actor in looks. I could always see that he was tall, had broad shoulders and a perfect smile, but now I know he is gorgeous, and the deep purple shirt he is wearing is so fitted that I can tell his body is as chiseled as his jawline.