by Cidney West
Cedric didn’t understand. She’d told him she was visiting relatives, but it sounded…distant. “What do you mean?”
She hesitated, folding her arms. After another moment, she let out a sigh as if resigning herself to something. If that was because of her family…well, he could relate. “It’s a long story and I’m sure you don’t want to hear it.”
“Why not? I’d like to know Ella Brodie’s origins.”
Ella side-eyed him. “It’s not glamorous.”
“I don’t know about that.” Cedric gazed around them. “If you lived near my father, it must be a little glamorous.”
That drew a tiny smile that dimpled around the corner of her petite mouth. And it made Cedric’s heart thump a million miles a second. “Okay…but I’ve warned you.” Her blue eyes landed on him sharply and Cedric nodded in confirmation. Satisfied, Ella started her story. “My mother passed away when I was very young and several years later when I was about ten, my father remarried.”
She told the story matter-of-factly, though Cedric had to believe it was tough for her.
“At first, it seemed all right, though I had my reservations about Sylvia and her two daughters, Marie and Angie. They’re a little younger than me and while we weren’t best friends, things went along okay for a while. But then, only a couple of years later…” She hesitated, glancing away. “Then my father died from a heart attack.”
Cedric’s lips parted in shock. He had no idea Ella was an…an orphan. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly, unable to find any other words. He’d lost his mother and that was difficult enough. But despite their differences, he would never want his father to die too.
Ella lifted a shoulder, her eyes still far away. “It’s okay, Cedric. It was a long time ago now.”
“Sure…but still…”
She managed to meet his eyes. “I know. And it would have been easier to bear at the time if I’d had someone to run to. If I could have had a safe place with my stepmother at least…but that’s not how it was.”
Cedric quirked an eyebrow. “You don’t get along?”
“I’m not sure that’s how to put it. I don’t know why, but Sylvia never liked me. And while she suppressed that when my father lived, once he was gone, so was any doubt about how she felt about me.” Ella took a breath. “I suppose I should have told someone what things were like at home. But I was scared and alone and I didn’t think anyone would believe me.”
Cedric gulped. “She…she abused you?”
“Not in any way that showed physically.” Again, she wouldn’t look at him. “But she always made it clear I was not part of the family. I was punished for slight infractions and excluded from things I would have been a part of with my father. I had no one to turn to, so I retreated into books and other activities where I could escape mentally. As soon as I graduated high school, though, I left for good.”
Cedric worked to wrap his head around that. This kind, soft woman…how could she relate all this so calmly?
“Anyway,” she said, “that’s my sob story. I still talk to my stepfamily sometimes, but for the most part, I’ve got my own life now.” She forced a smile but it didn’t reach her eyes.
Somehow, Cedric didn’t buy it. Something in the tone of her voice betrayed it wasn’t that simple. And it didn’t answer one question on his mind. “What about what your father left you? He had to be a wealthy man and I can’t imagine he wouldn’t have made provision for you, especially when your mother died.” He knew he sounded very businesslike and while he didn’t like it, it was also the truth.
Ella seemed to search for what to say. “My father was a kind man, Cedric. And trusting. And I think possibly a little naïve.”
Cedric stopped walking. Ella was obviously trying to be nice about how she put it, and he was her father, but still. “You mean he didn’t save something for you, in a trust or anything?”
Ella shook her head. “I’m afraid not.”
“And your stepmother…she’s taken everything?”
Ella just gazed back at him, the answer all over her face. Cedric’s blood boiled. He was ready to drive over there, give that witch a piece of his mind, then sick the Knightley Media lawyers on them until they were out on the street in rags. He could do it–in a heartbeat.
They walked out of the way of other pedestrians, Cedric pacing in a circle, his nostrils flaring. He never cared to use his position or power to take revenge…but right now…that’s exactly what he wanted to do. Ella deserved better. And he could do something to make it right.
“Cedric…” Ella placed a hand on his arm tentatively. “I…I didn’t tell you all this so you’d help me. They can have the money. It doesn’t matter to me.”
She sounded sincere, and Cedric appreciated that. But still…he couldn’t stand the thought that she’d been treated this way. “I don’t know how you can be so chill about it. I understand you can live without the stuff, but…” His mind felt so scrambled, he couldn’t think of any way to describe it.
But Ella’s steady hand still rested on his arm and he couldn’t help but indulge in how that felt for a moment. “I’m not saying it isn’t fair. But I don’t want my life to revolve around it. You don’t need to worry about me. I’m fine.”
“That’s an impossible request.” Cedric spun around to face her. He grasped for words, finally having to settle on the only thing that made sense. “I care what happens to you.” It didn’t come close to capturing what was going on inside him, but it was true. He did care about Ella and her situation, regardless of what she said.
Ella dropped her hand, her blue eyes staring widely back at him. She didn’t seem to know what to say either and after a moment she simply said, “Thank you.”
He didn’t know why, but he felt certain that didn’t convey her thoughts at that moment, either. Then, Ella added, “I care about you as well. And I’m sorry things with your father aren’t easy.”
Cedric shrugged. Maybe she was trying to distract him, but his issues seemed insignificant compared to what Ella had dealt with all these years. “After my mother died when I was a teen, we both had issues adjusting. And it led to a lot of clashes.” He knew the problems were on him too, but it was tough to break the pattern.
Her eyes dropped to the sidewalk again. “I guess family is never simple.”
He half smiled, struggling to regain his composure. He wished he’d known this sooner, though he couldn’t imagine how it would’ve helped. If Ella didn’t want to take action against her stepmother, there was little he could do about it.
After taking a couple of good breaths to get his head cleared, he held out his arm for her. She hesitated, then locked her arm through his, and he guided her back to the main sidewalk. Walking beside her like that felt like the most natural thing in the world. “I guess you’re right. Family isn’t always easy. In that sense, we’re in the same boat.” Though he certainly couldn’t accuse his father of the level of cruelty of her stepfamily. He supposed he should be grateful.
He kept Ella’s arm close, and she didn’t pull out of reach as they returned to his car. They were silent until he dropped her at her door. As they faced each other on her apartment stoop, Cedric felt at a loss as to what to say; he had too many competing emotions.
“Thank you for dinner,” Ella said, her eyes brighter than earlier, though she still looked more washed out than when they left work. “And thank you for…for listening to all that. I…I don’t want you to feel burdened. It’s my problem; no one else’s.”
Cedric couldn’t begin to express how wrong she was. Here he’d been complaining about his responsibilities and dealing with his father and all along, Ella had quietly been bearing the weight of all this. And he knew it wasn’t over the way she tried to make it seem. After all, she’d just had that episode with who he now guessed must be her stepsisters. It was all still very much in her present.
Cedric took her by the shoulders, drawing her closer. Ella’s eyes widened as he hovered there, torn between
what he wanted to do and what he probably should do. After debating several seconds, he finally pressed his lips to her forehead. It wasn’t close to good enough for him, but he didn’t want to risk pushing her away, either.
After lingering like that for too long, he let her go, feeling his way backward down the stairs. If he didn’t leave now, he might ruin everything. “Goodnight, Ella.”
“Goodnight…” She watched him for several rapid heartbeats until finally going inside.
After she slipped out of his reach, he exhaled. He knew he’d see her the next day but that seemed like a long time from now. On the other hand, how was he supposed to see her and keep his distance? He didn’t want to keep his distance from Ella.
After standing there like a lost Romeo until a light came on in a second-story room, Cedric finally tore himself away and drove around the city to work off some energy before going home. Even then, he had trouble calming down enough to sleep.
For the first time in his life, he couldn’t wait to get to work.
CHAPTER 17
Ella woke up the next morning with butterflies in her stomach, but not because of her stepmother or thinking about when her father died or anything like that. It was purely because she woke up out of a dream about Cedric. Cedric Pearce, rogue billionaire, had told her he cared about what happened to her and he kissed…her forehead. That might have been a bit of a letdown. And it did make her worry that she misunderstood him.
Even so, the thought of seeing him that day gave her chills and she just indulged in them for a few minutes before forcing herself up. At least there was a more positive reason to get out of bed that morning.
She’d told very few people about her family circumstances and it was kind of a relief to tell Cedric. Of course, she didn’t want to dump all over him, but he did come across as genuinely concerned and interested. Even angry after she told him what happened after her father passed away. Maybe it meant nothing. But another part of her whispered that it might mean something. Maybe only a small something but still something.
Cedric was already at the office when she got there and throughout the day, she felt like he kept making excuses to interact with her. He’d randomly show up at her desk or say he needed to see her in his office. But the reasons were always on the vague side, or it was something that wasn’t an immediate need. Ella wasn’t complaining though. She was happy to have excuses to see him, regardless of his reasons. And maybe the reasons were valid, and she was reading into it. Still, she’d take what she could get.
Once she was back home and could really take a moment to think about all her time with Cedric that day, she found herself drifting away mentally while Scarlett filled her in on all the gossip at the law firm. Eventually, Scarlett tossed a piece of carrot at her, snapping her back to the present. “Oh, sorry…” Scarlett smirked. “Let me guess. The hot CEO’s son is on your mind.”
Ella examined the carrot piece, then chomped down on it. “He shouldn’t be.”
“Why not?”
Ella stared back at her. “Because he’s the son of the CEO of Knightley.” Scarlett knew what happened the night before, and Ella had a feeling that was about to come back to haunt her.
Scarlett’s butcher knife hovered over a carrot. “I won’t say it because you already know my feelings about your supposed status. But, regardless, I don’t think that matters and I don’t think he cares either. He almost kissed you last night.”
Ella tried to shrug it off, though goose bumps rose up her arms at the thought. “He kissed my forehead, Scar. It was…brotherly, at best.” Though at first, Ella had been convinced he was going to kiss her for real. Then, he didn’t. So, maybe he didn’t feel that way about her. “It doesn’t matter. I’m sure he won’t be babysitting us for long.” That wasn’t much consolation, but it was probably the truth.
Scarlett’s nose wrinkled up and she went back to chopping. “What about the Knightley fundraiser thing coming up? I heard a client of ours talking about it today.”
Ella concentrated on her carrot. She’d never told Scarlett about how she went dress shopping with her stepsisters. “What about it? I’m certainly not invited.”
Scarlett glanced up, her coiffed eyebrows rising in challenge. She might not be a lawyer, but she was just as tenacious as one. “I beg to differ. I’m sure the Usurpers have been invited and that means your name is on the invitation too.”
Ella avoided her eyes. “Even if that’s true–and I don’t know that it is–I’m not equipped for that type of event. And I don’t have much extra money to spend.” She thought of the piddling amount of money she had saved and how she might need it for something much more urgent than a fancy dress. Not that the fancy dress wasn’t tempting…
The gold flecks in Scarlett’s green eyes sparkled. Ella knew that look and it meant Scarlett had some type of plan. “I’ve been thinking about that and I’ve come up with a solution. I know this woman through the firm who owns a consignment shop and she’s always telling us to stop by sometime. Apparently, she sells some pretty nice stuff and it’s all lightly used. Anyway, I’m sure she’d be accommodating since our firm has helped her out of some pickles.”
Though she appreciated Scarlett’s help, Ella knew she should shut Scarlett down. But instead, she heard herself say, “Really?”
Scarlett nodded vehemently, setting the knife down and coming around the bar. “I could probably handle any alterations.” She took Ella’s hands in hers, squeezing them. “I want you to do this, Ella. Even if it’s only for a night, you’d get to dance with Cedric Pearce.” Scarlett hopped up and down on her tiptoes.
Ella knew she should stop all this nonsense right now. She had no business buying a ball gown and attempting to crash a fundraiser to dance with some billionaire. But her heart thumped louder in her chest and thoughts of holding onto Cedric on the motorcycle flashed through her mind. What would it be like to have him lead her around a dancefloor? “I do like the sounds of that.”
“Of course you do!”
“What about…what about them? What if they see me?” Her stepfamily would be there and there was no use ignoring that fact.
Scarlett huffed. “You have every right to be there. I doubt they’ll even notice you, anyway. They won’t expect you to be there.”
Ella nodded slowly. She could keep a lookout and just avoid them. It was sure to be packed with people, so she wouldn’t stand out too much. “Maybe you’re right.”
“I am.” She dropped Ella’s hands, racing into her bedroom. “Let’s get over there before it closes! We only have until Saturday!”
Ella got her feet moving and they hurried to another part of the city, getting there just in time. But, as promised, the woman knew Scarlett and was happy to let them stay a little beyond closing time. Ella had never spent that much on a single piece of clothing and her hand shook a little as she offered up her card. She imagined dancing with Cedric and told herself it would be worth it.
They got dinner on the way home since they’d abandoned Scarlett’s meal to go buy a dress. The simple, blush-colored, floor-length gown wasn’t in perfect shape, which is why she was able to get a better deal on it, but Scarlett promised she could polish it up.
The next day, Ella tried on the dress again and they bought supplies and Scarlett got to work on it that night. Meantime, Ella hunted up the least expensive pair of heels she could find and a clutch. She wouldn’t be the most glamorous person there, but she’d look presentable.
She might not impress Cedric, but she’d get the opportunity to dance with him. And that beat sitting at home eating ice cream, knowing Angie and Marie were twirling around a ballroom with him. It might be the end of all this daydreaming. But at least she wouldn’t be on the sidelines.
CHAPTER 18
Cedric stared at the newly pressed black suit, which had just been delivered to his apartment. He was fine with attending the fundraiser the next night, but dancing with a bunch of women he’d never met…that wasn’t as appealing a
s it would have sounded a while ago. In fact, what he was really waiting for was Monday and work–and Ella.
He knew that was the crux of it. Saying good-bye to her for the entire weekend earlier had hurt. Especially the way her blue eyes sparkled back at him like she had a secret. Cedric hated not knowing what she’d do all weekend, or who she’d be with. Especially that part. Ella could be going on a date and that’s why she was so happy. And that thought made him miserable. Especially since he had the chance to kiss her and he passed, thinking it might turn her off. Now he felt like he’d blown it and wouldn’t blame her for friend-zoning him and going out with someone else.
The doorbell rang, stopping that line of thought and preventing him from whining. He strolled to the door to find his father, which only elicited a groan. “I’m going to the fundraiser,” he said as soon as he opened the door.
His father walked by, crooking an eyebrow. “I wasn’t even going to ask.”
“You weren’t?” Cedric closed the door. If there was one thing he knew about their interaction, it was usually predictable.
“I know you’ll be there.” His father surveyed the open living room and kitchen, wandering to the kitchen island. “You ever use this thing?”
Cedric glanced at the black granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances. “I use the fridge.”
His father grinned, then rapped his knuckles against the granite. “You know, the way you’re tackling the transition with Vannoy…you’ve surprised a lot of people. Some of them are eating a lot of crow right now.” He strolled over, clapping his hand on Cedric’s shoulder. “I’m proud of you, son. I knew once you put your mind to something, you’d be great at it.”
He did? Cedric thought. That was funny because, for most of his life, Cedric thought his father knew he’d fail. A really strange but nice feeling bloomed in his gut. This was possibly the first time he could remember in a very long time that his father had expressed any sort of approval. And he didn’t know how to respond. “Thanks, Dad. I’m surprising myself too.”
