Emmaline's blood ran cold.
Did the girl know her?
Could the girl guess that Emmaline was in disguise?
What was it?
She searched her memory but couldn't remember if she had met this woman as Emmaline before.
If she was exposed now, not only would it ruin her chances to help her mother, it would totally ruin the Wrights' anniversary celebration.
Emmaline held her breath.
"Ashton!" The girl turned and grabbed Ashton by the collar, dragging him to Emmaline, "Explain yourself!"
Ashton looked at Emmaline, who stared back at him helplessly.
"Sorry about her," He patted Emmaline on the head, "I tried to send her for professional help but she just gets worse."
"Oi! My therapist says I'm making great improvements," The girl whacked Ashton over the head and grinned sunnily at Emmaline, "I'm just like this, it's my charm."
Emmaline was still waiting for the come down, partially in shock and also very surprised that someone could treat Ashton like this.
She had been sure that apart from his family, everyone treated Ashton like he was a prince.
Yet, this girl was roughhousing with him and not scared for her life at all!
Who was she?
"Idiot," She smacked Ashton on the head, "Look at this guy."
She gestured at Emmaline, "How did you get such a gorgeous person to go out with you?"
Emmaline felt weak with relief.
Her cover hadn't been blown yet.
"I'll have you know that I have all manner of attractive people lining up to date me," Ashton boasted with a playful grin.
"They all look fake," The girl punched Ashton in the arm as if to make her point, "Why is it that you date gold digging plastic women but then when you bring a guy back, he's more perfect than all of them put together?"
Emmaline looked between the two of them, feeling like she was at a tennis match.
"I'm Layla Cross," The girl smiled brightly at Emmaline, "If you ever get sick of this doofus, I'm more than willing to show you how a guy like you should be treated."
Words failed Emmaline.
Was this girl hitting on Ashton's date in front of Ashton?!
"Don't steal my boyfriend!" Ashton put himself between them, bodily blocking Emmaline from Layla's view. But he didn't sound pissed or offended.
"Scared cause you know I can do it?" Layla batted her eyes at Ashton who stuck his tongue out at her.
"I'm Em," Emmaline managed, hoping to find some normalcy here.
Nothing was making sense. Everyone at this party was from the upper echelons of society.
In fact, she had just seen the mayor!
Somehow, these two were bickering like children over who was dating her?
"Em, it's so nice to finally meet you!" Layla threw herself into a hug that was only slightly less violent than the one she had with Ashton.
Emmaline stiffly hugged back, trying to make sure their bodies had as little contact as possible.
Layla pulled back and Emmaline thought she looked like Audrey Hepburn, with long dark lashes framing huge Bambi eyes.
"You're seriously the most good looking guy I've ever met," Layla told Emmaline with a straight face.
"You're the most beautiful person I've ever met and I work with actresses," Emmaline countered.
Layla grinned and slung an arm around Emmaline, turning to face Ashton, "Despite dating you, I see that he's not blind."
Ashton shot Emmaline a small smile and then pried Layla's arm off, replacing it with his own arm slung loosely across Emmaline's lower back.
His arm was warm and a comforting, grounding weight. Emmaline relaxed a little at the touch.
"Sorry," He apologized again, "We've known each other since we were babies so we're always like this. I'm told that it's very strange."
Emmaline thought about it.
To people at work, Ashton was known as the ruthless prince of Wright Enterprises.
To his social circle, he was the cheeky playboy who dated airheads and who joked around.
To her… He was kind and sincere. A hard-working man and a good son.
But with Layla, he was truly having fun, being himself with no worries about anything.
"It's nice, actually," She gave them both a small smile, "I think what you both have is really nice."
"Okay, that's it," Layla interlocked arms with Emmaline on the other side so that she was sandwiched between the two rich kids, "If you ever leave Ashton, I'll marry you instead."
By now, Emmaline had caught on to their brand of banter and was so used to the two of them that she just nodded solemnly before looking at Ashton.
"Better treat me well or I'll run off with Layla," She teased.
Ashton had a glint in his eyes as he opened his mouth to respond.
"The young Mr Wright finally proves he's not perfect," Someone drawled, interrupting them.
A handsome young man in what looked like an expensive shirt walked up to the three of them.
His gaze caught on Emmaline for a while as a smirk slowly pulled up the corner of his lips.
"No one's perfect," Ashton agreed easily, but there was an undercurrent of iciness in his tone.
It was a diplomatic answer but when Ashton said it, it somehow sounded like a warning.
The nicely made up girl that the handsome man was with tried to whisper something in his ear, pulling at his arm. But he shook her off and continued.
"Wonder what Wright Enterprises and their partners will do once they find out their heir is defective?" He sneered.
Layla crossed her arms, "I think you're going to have to define what you mean by defective."
Her tone was light but poisonous and she stared daggers at the man.
The handsome man gave Emmaline a pointed look and then laughed caustically.
"Ashton Wright, the gay heir to Wright Enterprises," He turned his gaze to Ashton, "Now that your preferences are made known, everyone will know just how big of a problem you are!"