She's Out of Control Read Online Free PDF

flight.”
    Hans flags down the waiter. “We’ll start with two Caesar salads.”
    My skin immediately feels clammy. All I can think about is Doris Day with Cary Grant in That Touch of Mink, when he carries her off to be his mistress. It doesn’t matter if nothing happens. Everyone will think something has happened anyway. And as one who has worked hard, both for my job and my good-girl reputation, I can’t afford this.
    Cary Grant had nothing on Hans. Cary Grant was an image, Hans is the real thing—suave, debonair, and all those things that create a good movie icon. It’s been one month since I got this job, and my world already feels like it’s spinning out of control.
    â€œTuesday?” I shake my head, willing any excuse to come into my mind. Any excuse . “My fiancé and I are meeting with our minister next Tuesday for our premarital counseling.” I close my eyes, and clamp my teeth onto my lower lip. Not only did I lie, I lied about a minister meeting with me. That’s like double jeopardy: the lightning round, literally .
    Hans sits back in his chair. “You’re getting married?”
    I smile rather than lie again. I’m remembering that Bible story where Abraham tells everyone Sarah is his sister. Didn’t work for him, but I’m still hoping for better results. Maybe God will have mercy on me.
    â€œWell, I’ll have to meet the lucky fellow. Why don’t you bring him over to the house this weekend? Sophia makes a mean lasagna, and she’s always saying we never do anything socially. It will give her a chance to show off her talents.” At the word talents , my eyebrows shoot up, but I can’t say why exactly.
    The rest of dinner is a blur. I know I looked at the schematics. I know I thought out the patent process, but I can’t remember anything else except that by the time I leave the restaurant I have a fake fiancé and a dinner date for Saturday night. I think about explaining my situation calmly to Seth, and having him play along. But how Christian would that be, getting him to lie too?
    Seth didn’t like the fact that Hans and I were having dinner in the first place. Not to mention that marriage is a sticky subject at the moment. Now if I ask him to lie to save me humiliation, which I caused for myself, it’s more than over. The last nine months are probably regrettable to him. The question is, do I care?
    I make my way up the busy street to a coffee shop and dial my cell phone. “Brea?” I can hardly hear the sound of my voice over the noise of burring espresso machines and the chattering patrons.
    â€œWhat’s the matter, Ashley? Brea sounds groggy, probably from going to sleep at eight, which is what she’s been doing since Miles and his two o’clock feedings have entered her life. “What time is it?”
    â€œIt’s ten o’clock.”
    â€œWhat’s the matter? Are you okay? You didn’t get arrested again, did you?” she asks, making reference to one particular afternoon of my life that I’d just as soon forget.
    â€œHans wants me to go to Taipei with him on Tuesday.”
    Brea’s grogginess disappears. “Well, you’re not going, Ashley. He’s a German Colin Farrell, and I think we both know what that means!” I can hear Miles begin to sputter, and it dawns on me that I’ve woken him up too. Great.
    â€œOh Brea, I’m sorry! I didn’t even think about the time.” I sigh and continue. “Anyway, no, I’m not going. But I needed an excuse so I kinda told him I was meeting with my fiancé and the preacher Tuesday.”
    She’s quiet for a while, but now Miles is crying. Then I hear John. “Brea, who are you talking to?”
    She muffles the phone. “It’s Ashley.”
    He groans.
    â€œBrea, did you hear me?” I ask.
    â€œI heard you,” Brea sighs. “Ashley, no job is worth this.