The Love of Lies

'Girlfriend'

Ashton's POV

Cori was in the kitchen just staring at the stove when I came in, or at least that's how it appeared until I realized that she was heating a pot.

She doesn't fry food in oil often, so either I'm in for a treat, or I'll finally find the thing Cori is no good at cooking.

"I'm sorry, beautiful." I turn Cori so that I can hug her, simultaneously walking her away from the hot stove because a freak accident isn't something I want or need for us right now.

"I thought you said you couldn't leave work?" Cori hasn't looked up at my face, but I take it as her being embarrassed about having a red nose or something.

For a woman as tan as she is, it’s extremely obvious when she’s flustered, overheated, or when she’s been crying. Although I don’t like when she cries, I have to admit that her red nose is really cute because she ends up looking like one of those facial tissue commercial characters that make their appearance every winter.

I teased her about it before, which ended badly because, apparently, her d*ck of a father bullied her about it, and at the worst possible time.

He told her that he didn’t want her speaking at her mother's funeral looking like Rudolph, a statement I’m sure was meant to hurt her self-image, and ultimately, it led to her choosing not to speak at all.

Cori’s mother had no living family, so there were only co-workers and her father’s friends in attendance. I was also told that his mistress was there, a tasteless move that probably made the then twelve or thirteen-year-old Cori feel terrible.

That was of course before he found out that he didn't have a son that he was unable to 'bond with' because his wife ‘forbade’ it, and I wonder how much of the man’s hate toward Cori was rooted in his own guilt for how he treated her mother.

I haven't spoken to the man personally, Cori has begged me not to, but Jamal, our property manager has sent me several concerned texts about the safety of her house. Apparently, the man bad-mouthed Cori the entire time Jamal was trying to survey the area, probably thinking she was going to sell it from underneath him.

The manager wants to put the man out, saying that he may damage the property in anger, and while Cori's father might be an as*hole, he's a cunning and smart as*hole, so he isn’t going to do anything that will hurt his bottom line.

He’s on a fixed income, so not having rent to pay is in his best interest, and he knows it works against Cori, who could benefit from the sale of the home.

“Babe?” Cori pushed away from me, and now, I feel like something else is going on.

Cori's POV

Ashton smelled like very stale alcohol when he came in, and it made my stomach flip as images of my father came to mind.

I'm happy he's home, and I'm trying not to push him away as he hugs me, but the nausea is so great that I end up doing it anyway.

"Babe?"

"Ashton, I know it's not fair to you, but when you smell like that, I can't help but to think of my father. Eventually, I'll let go of that past too, but can you please, please shower?"

"Cori sweety, you used to work in a bar." I involuntarily snort with confused laughter, bringing my hand up to my mouth because it's true.

Being around drunk strangers never made me think of my father, and smelling alcohol never brought images of the past to mind, so whatever I'm feeling is based on something else.

"Then, maybe it's because we live together?"

"Or because you think I'll turn into him?" That's what it is, so lying right now would be pointless.

I told Ashton that I loved him, and it made me feel like I was begging him to feel anything for me, something that made me think of the many, many times my mother asked my father why he couldn’t just love her the way she loved him.

“Babe, have I ever hurt you when I was drinking?” I shake my head because the only time Ashton ‘hurt’ me while drunk was the first time we had s*x, and I’m sure that was an accident.

“I don’t know why my mind keeps going there.” I’m being as honest as I can be, but I also just don’t like the smell of alcohol on someone so attractive to me.

“I’ll shower, but I want to hear it from you again.”

“Hear what?” Ashton gives me a cheeky look, and I pull away from the man, laughing when he grabs me and starts snuggling into my neck.

This interaction is perfect, and before my oil overheats, I tell the man what he wants to hear, earning me a smile that melts away all the self-doubt I was feeling.

This is okay. It’s fine for me to be vulnerable, and Ashton deserves all of me, not just the ghosts of the past.

“Now, go take a shower so I can focus on cooking.”

Ashton’s POV

I never really realized how insecure I was until I met Cori, but we’re good at talking about things that bother us, and it’s helped by the fact that we’re having kids together, so we spent a long time bonding over silly things.

Cori was extremely offended that I confronted Troy about their friendship, but she forgave me because I admitted that it was a stupid thing for me to have thought.

Right now, Cori is standing in the doorway, waving me off and wishing me luck at my meeting today. She stayed up with me while I worked on the profile, and she even helped by circling figures and highlighting products, which made it much easier for me to turn the information into a graph.

I love this dynamic, and I hope things stay this way even after the twins are born, but realistically, Cori will have her hands full with two infants, I just hope that I can pull my weight in the relationship.

As it is now, Cori is spoiling me with packed lunches and homemade breakfast, so I feel like it’s my duty to learn to be a light sleeper, that way I can at least help her with night feedings.

When I arrived at the office, the first thing I did was check in with Troy, our ‘tech’ guy. He’s set up the conference room, while my father is treating the client to breakfast. They should be here in the next hour or so, and I’m feeling confident because I’m almost positive that I’ve done an excellent job with my presentation.

“Give me the drive so we can test the slides.” My face pales, and I quickly empty my briefcase, remembering that I didn’t put it inside because when we finished working, Cori started something that I couldn’t ignore. “Don’t tell me you left it at home.”

I’m already calling Cori, who answers the phone in a hazy voice, letting me know that she was napping.

“Babe, can you see if there's a drive anywhere near the bed.” Cori hums into the line, and after about thirty seconds she tells me that she found it.

The file is encrypted, so email won’t work, Julia’s in class, Troy’s already here, my mother is with my father, and the drive back would take too long, but before I can ask, Cori offers to bring it.

She has her own car now, and although I’m conflicted, I answer the woman by repeating yes, yes, yes before ending the call.

“Mom’s going to kick your ass.” She just might, and I will absolutely deserve it.

I leave the conference room and call Judy, my personal secretary, telling her that my girlfriend is coming, and she should be allowed up without calling me.

Cori’s POV

I’ve never been to Ashton’s office, and because I don't want to look bad, I dressed myself up a little, putting on one of my many maternity dresses that can be dressed up with accessories, or dressed down with sneakers.

I styled my hair in a low messy bun, allowing a few strands to dangle loose, and while I don’t wear makeup often, lately, I’ve been putting on mascara and lip-gloss.

I think I look cute, and because the light is perfect for a selfie, I take a cute headshot with my phone before heading out.

The parking garage had many free spaces, so I wasn’t looking for a place for long, but after making my way inside, I’m stopped at the check-in desk.

“Do you have an appointment with Mr. Lewis?”

“Um… not really, but he told me that he made the arrangements for me to be let up.” The woman checks the system, and because I don’t have my updated documents yet, I’m afraid that my ID won’t match the name I gave her.

“I’m sorry miss, but there is no ‘Russo’ on the list. Who did you say you were again?”

“I’m his girlfriend.” That earns me a scowl as the woman turns her monitor and shows me that the only one of Ashton’s ‘girlfriends’ approved to visit is Vanessa Dodson. I really have the urge to leave, but this is Ashton’s career, so I ask the receptionist to call him.

Annoyingly, Ashton’s secretary confirms that only Vanessa Dodson is allowed upstairs unimpeded, and by the looks of the calendar I saw, she’s already here.

“I’ll call him myself.” I pull out my phone and put on the speaker option so the lady at the desk can hear what the man has to say as well. “Ashton, I’ve been in the lobby for about seven minutes now. Apparently, Miss Dodson, your girlfriend, is already checked in, so if you want this drive, you’ll have to come and get it yourself.” I hang up, moving away from the front desk as the phone rings, likely Ashton calling to see what’s happening.

A few minutes later, the man comes running from where the elevators are, and based on his expression, he’s worried.

“I’m over here Mr. Lewis.” Ashton makes eye contact with me and jogs over, but I do not want to be coddled right now.

“Take your drive, I’m ready to leave now.”

“No… you’re ready to come upstairs and wait for me in my office so that we can talk about what just happened and why.”

“Is your girlfriend up there?”

“I only have one girlfriend, and she’s standing right in front of me.” That was a satisfactory answer, but I’m still annoyed, so I pretend to pull away from the man who tightens his grip on my arm. “Babe, this is not a good time for me to argue with you. I will if you want, but I would prefer to wait until after I make this commission.”

“I want half.” Ashton’s entire expression changes, but seeing that I’m not joking, he huffs out a fine that makes me smile.

I don’t actually want the money, I just wanted him to agree to give it to me, that way I can attach a monetary value to our relationship.

"I'll allow this to slide just this once, but if something like this happens again, no amount of money will fix it.

"You wouldn't even take it if I actually gave it to you." It's good that Ashton knows that, but he shouldn't get too comfortable with that assumption.

"You're right, I wouldn't, but my agent will certainly collect on my behalf." My agent is Troy, and knowing that Ashton questioned him about our relationship, my words should have shock value, which they do.

"Babe, I don't have time, but later, we're arguing about that statement."

“That’s fine by me,” I nonchalantly reply.