by Cidney West
A twinkle lit up his father’s eyes. “You’ll get used to it. And so will everyone else.” He glanced away a second. “I am sorry for selling you out tomorrow night. I did try and overturn the idea…”
Cedric shrugged. “I think I’ll survive.”
“You sure? You really think you can live with dancing with dozens of beautiful young women fawning all over you?”
Cedric rolled his eyes. “Would they fawn all over me if they didn’t know I was loaded?”
His father let out a sigh. “Point taken.” He slapped Cedric on the shoulder again. “I’ll let you get back to bacherloring it up.”
Cedric hesitated, then said, “I don’t have anything going on tonight. If you wanted to get something to eat…though we’ll have to eat out.” He waved at the kitchen, picturing the bare cabinets.
His father half smiled. “That’s because you take after me.” He motioned with his head. “Come on. I’m driving.”
“I can drive.” Cedric grabbed his keys and wallet off the table by the door.
His father only side-eyed him. “I’m driving.”
Cedric frowned. “It was only that one time…” he said as they left the apartment.
“So you’ve told me.”
“Seriously, that was years ago.”
His father only laughed. “Some things are hard to forget.”
Cedric couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a normal conversation with his father or seen him smile or laugh that much as he did during dinner. He wasn’t sure what to do about it. A part of him still yelled that he needed to get out of there. But a larger part now was liking the idea of sticking around. After all, work was actually kind of enjoyable and he was getting along better with his father. And then…then there was Ella.
As he put on his suit and tie for the ball the next day, the only person on his mind was her. He’d trade all the other women if he could be there with Ella that night. Cedric straightened his tie, staring into his own eyes in the bathroom mirror. That night wouldn’t last forever. And then there was just one more day until he could see her again.
Just one more day.
Ella never would have finished getting ready without Scarlett’s help. She’d never done anything like this and the pressure not to look totally out of place started caving in around her as soon as she got up Saturday morning and looked in the mirror. She’d never spent so much time on her hair and makeup and even after all that, she still felt it could be better. But it would have to do because she was running out of time.
“You don’t think I’ll look too out of place?” Ella said, her fingers running up and down the satin dress.
Scarlett gripped her shoulders. “I promise you won’t look out of place. Now we have to go.” They’d decided the only way she’d get across town to the fundraiser in one piece was if Scarlett drove her.
Ella took one last look in the mirror, admitting it was as good as it was going to get, and grabbed her clutch. She might regret this at some point, but she was still going. Scarlett dropped her off a little ways from the building and gave her an encouraging squeeze before she got out.
“Just scoot out before the crowds and you should be fine,” Scarlett said.
Ella nodded and stepped out before she could talk herself out of it.
“And Ella…” Ella turned to see her friend leaning across the seat. “You look gorgeous. He won’t be able to resist.” Scarlett winked.
Ella smiled though her stomach still roiled, and her hands shook as she approached the entrance and was let in by a man outside. She’d apparently missed the crush of guests entering and only waited behind two couples before reaching the woman with the guest list.
She took a steadying breath before it was her turn and said, “Ella Brodie” with as clear and stable a voice as she could manage. As the woman glanced over the list, Ella was convinced she’d be turned away. But after a moment, the woman looked up, smiled, and ushered her inside.
Nothing but surprise and relief filled Ella’s whole being at that moment. She was on the list. Scarlett had been right, which Ella knew she’d never live down, but that didn’t matter. The first hurdle overcome, Ella breathed in again and entered the ballroom. A jumble of voices filled the air. She refused champagne offered by a server in a starched suit and skirted the edge of the crowd at first. She wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do or how this whole dancing with Cedric thing worked. Would she need to hunt him up in all these people?
Realizing she wouldn’t get anywhere clinging to the wall, Ella tentatively wove through and around people talking and eating. Finally, in a crack between guests, she caught of glimpse of twirling.
Stretching up on her toes, she saw a blonde head and broad shoulders waltzing in the center of the room. Facing him was a young woman who tossed her head back and laughed, though Ella couldn’t hear it over the conversations around her. Cedric spun around into full view and Ella’s breath left her. He was so handsome, she thought, possibly for the first time. She’d been so careful even about what she thought about him until then. But watching his smile and the way he looked in his suit, all Ella’s worries fled. Whatever happened, she wanted to dance with Cedric.
“Ella!” she heard pierce through the din. At first, she didn’t realize the person was calling her until two more tries. Finally, Ella turned around to spot Maggie beckoning her over. Ella was shocked to see her boss there, but then she realized Maggie was president of a new division of Knightley, so it probably made sense she was invited. Ella swallowed, glancing around. So far, there was no sign of her stepfamily. She made her way over and Maggie appraised her. Ella tried not to shift under her gaze, worried she didn’t look up to snuff. “You didn’t tell me you were coming.”
Ella lifted a shoulder. “It was a last-minute decision.” Wanting to turn attention elsewhere, Ella swiped over Maggie, wearing an elegant black gown. “You look wonderful.”
Maggie’s eyes sparkled. “I do clean up pretty well if I do say so myself. And so do you I might add.”
Ella glanced at the floor shyly. She still felt out of place, though Maggie didn’t seem to notice. As Ella looked back up, a man slid in next to Maggie. Her heart raced until she realized it wasn’t Cedric. Maggie’s shoulders, however, tensed as soon as she saw him. She loosened immediately, but it was possibly the only time Ella had ever seen her react like that.
After exchanging courtesies, the man set his dark brown eyes firmly on Ella and she had to resist the urge to look away. His eyes didn’t glimmer or twinkle but emanated a raw intensity she’d never seen before as if he could know all her secrets. She supposed he was handsome with his slick brown hair and chiseled features, but all she really noticed was that he set her teeth on edge.
“You must introduce your lovely friend,” he said, never taking his eyes off hers. It wasn’t slimy or passionate. In fact, it almost sounded rehearsed. Like it was something you were supposed to say but didn’t mean.
Maggie introduced Ella, albeit with a slight hesitation beforehand, then held a hand toward him. “This is Max Wolfe,” she said. “He’s a developer.” Ella forced a smile as she shook his hand. He gave a toothless smile back and a chill ran up her spine.
“We were colleagues,” he added by way of explanation.
Maggie nodded. “In another lifetime.” Neither elaborated and after his eyes finally shifted from Ella, he gave another humorless smile and excused himself.
Ella thought that was the strangest encounter she’d ever had as she watched his head disappear between guests. Maggie let out an audible breath and leaned toward Ella’s ear. “If you dance with him, be very careful what you say.”
Ella’s eyebrows arched and she was about to ask why when she saw them.
Maybe they’d heard her name or her voice or just saw her when she came back to talk to Maggie. Regardless, all three sets of eyes gaped at her and Ella’s stomach dropped. Sylvia slunk over, taking her time so reality could set in with Angie and Marie in tow. Angie’
s big eyes still looked shocked, but Marie smiled wickedly.
“Ella,” Sylvia drawled, “what a surprise to see you here.” She stretched her swan neck to its full height, so she could look down at Ella.
Maggie glanced at Ella for an explanation and she introduced them, fighting to control her shaky voice. “This is Maggie Evans, the president of Vannoy Travel.”
Maggie smiled and shook hands, but once Sylvia turned her cold eyes on Ella again, something crossed Maggie’s face that she couldn’t pin down. Maybe suspicion, maybe understanding. Whatever it was, Ella couldn’t think about it. Especially as Marie slid in next to her, placing her cold hand on Ella’s bare shoulder. “What a beautiful dress,” she said, her breath laced with garlic and alcohol.
Ella didn’t smile back. Marie never got close to her. Never. While Ella focused on Marie, wondering what was going to happen, Angie threw her arms around her from the other side. As Ella got knocked off balance, Marie and Angie tipped their champagne glasses over simultaneously–all down the front of Ella’s dress.
Ella jumped as the chilled liquid hit her skin and ran down to the floor. “Oops,” both girls said in unison.
Ella’s eyes snapped to Sylvia. She wanted to ask why. Why do you treat me like this? What did I do to make you hate me this much? But the words wouldn’t come. She was paralyzed like always.
As if she could read Ella’s thoughts, Sylvia gave her a satisfied smile. Then, she nodded to Maggie whose eyes narrowed to slits. “Come along, girls. It seems Ella needs to go get cleaned up.” Sylvia brushed by her, chin up and eyes filled with conceit and disgust. The girls followed obediently, snickering and smirking as they walked past.
Ella mechanically made her way toward the entrance, not feeling anything, even as the crisp night air hit her damp body. This was the worst idea she’d ever had. Now she knew why she’d taken off and made a different life for herself. This wasn’t worth it. She was better off in her own world where the likes of Sylvia and company never appeared.
Not knowing what to do, Ella kept walking. She couldn’t afford a taxi and she couldn’t bear to call Scarlett. She would rather walk home even if it took all night. Before she made it very far, she jumped as a hand grabbed her shoulder from behind. She spun around, relieved when it was Maggie. Ella tried to swallow but her mouth and throat were pasty. Humiliation was the name of the game with Sylvia, but Ella still hated that her boss witnessed that. She hugged her body, shivering.
Maggie’s eyes were warm but firm. “I don’t know who those people are,” she said, pointing behind her, “but they’re clearly not family.”
“I know,” Ella said in a small voice. She’d never admitted that even to herself. She wasn’t completely ignorant about what a real family should be. And it wasn’t that. Even how Sylvia and her daughters treated each other…it wasn’t right.
Maggie’s face softened and she stepped closer. “You and Cedric…you like each other, don’t you?” Ella’s mouth dropped open, her cheeks deepening in color. Maggie only smiled. “I may seem like I’m only focused on business, but I do notice these things.”
“I…” Ella closed her eyes tight, shaking her head. “It’s foolish.”
“But you like him?”
Ella hesitated, then nodded. It was pathetic, she knew that. The champagne gluing the dress to her torso was proof enough of that. Imagining that she and Cedric might…well, it was a daydream. Nothing more.
“Then we need to get you cleaned up and back in that ballroom before Cedric leaves.” Maggie pulled out her phone.
Ella blinked. “I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but are you crazy?” She motioned toward her ruined dress. “This was it. I don’t have another gown and I certainly don’t want a repeat of that.” She flung her hand in the direction of the ballroom. She would go back to her apartment and happily never leave her social circle again.
Maggie paused, gazing at her thoughtfully for what felt like minutes before answering. “I’m going to tell you something that a friend told me a long time ago after a manager basically told me I was a loser. People are welcome to their opinions. It doesn’t mean you have to agree with them. And you certainly don’t have to be controlled by them.”
Ella knew that. And she knew she didn’t have to take the bullying and controlling anymore. Knowing and doing, though, were not the same.
But Ella’s name was on the guest list. Sylvia couldn’t have her kicked out in any legitimate way. All she could do was what she’d always done–manipulate and intimidate. Ella didn’t know why her stepmother and sisters still had this power over her. She did know she didn’t like it and that maybe it was time to move forward–for real.
Ella took a shaky breath, nodding. “You’re absolutely right. But I still can’t go back in there looking like this.” She peeled the dress away from her body.
“I agree.” Then, with a twinkle in her eyes, Maggie added, “And that’s why I’ve got someone waiting for us.” Just then, a black sedan pulled alongside them, and the valet opened the back door. Maggie waved her toward it. “Hop in. We’ve got a fashion emergency.”
Shocked, and a little confused, Ella obeyed, sliding over to let Maggie inside. They were let out soon after at a store Ella would never have dared walk into. Someone let them inside since they were closed and led them to the poshest dressing room area Ella had ever set eyes on. The woman explained they would normally show her everything first but because of the time constraints, they needed to just try it on her.
After the initial surprise and apprehension over letting other people dress her, Ella had to get over it and marveled at the fabrics brushing against her skin. Maggie stood just outside the cream dressing room and vetoed every option until Ella finally emerged in a light blue gown with a fitted bodice that cascaded out and down to the floor. Normally, Ella might have passed on something like that, afraid it was too much. But she couldn’t help it that night as she stepped onto the circular podium in the waiting area and examined the gown under the chandelier light.
“I feel like a princess,” she said softly as the women helping adjusted the skirt. Another one held out a white, glittery peep toe heel that she slid her foot into.
Maggie beamed, stepping closer and gently lifting Ella’s chin. “My dear, it’s because you are.” She laughed, the sound reverberating around the room. “All those poor girls. Cedric will forget all of them when he sees you.”
Ella smiled wide, even if she had trouble believing it.
“Let’s polish you up,” Maggie said. “You have a ball to go to.”
CHAPTER 19
Cedric lost count of the number of women he’d danced with. At first, keeping track seemed like a great way to pass the time. But somewhere around the twenty or thirty mark, he lost track. His face ached from the smile plastered on his face and he wondered if it could actually freeze that way. He thought his Italian leather shoes were comfortable until the hundredth time around the dancefloor. And the label on his brand new white shirt scratched his neck.
He knew that sounded whiny. And he’d had short breaks to swallow some food and drink. But the almost rabid looks on some of the women’s faces…he knew who he wouldn’t be asking on a date. Not that he wanted to date any of them, because only one woman kept coming to mind with each partner switch: Ella. He wondered what she was up to and if he was on her mind at all. Though he couldn’t blame her if she hadn’t thought about him once. Compared to her, he had a lot to learn.
And to be fair, not all his partners were gold diggers or uninteresting. But in Cedric’s mind and heart now, no one held a candle to Ella.
Cedric gave a short bow to his latest partner as the dance ended–a pattern he’d accidentally started early on and then felt obligated to continue–and turned around to wait for the next woman to step forward. Someone on the staff had been rounding them up and putting them forward in an orderly fashion, which was nice. Also, a little weird.
He blinked, suppressing a yawn, and the desire
to run for an exit. When he thought he might have finally danced with the last person, another woman stepped beyond the audience surrounding the perimeter. Several people paused to look her direction and Cedric found himself gawping for the first time that night. Especially when she raised her thoughtful blue eyes to his and he realized who it was–Ella. His Ella.
Was he imagining this? Had he somehow fallen asleep standing up? Well, if he had, he might as well roll with it. He stretched a hand out for her. Smiling and her shoulders relaxing, she stepped closer and slid her small hand into his. Cedric exhaled, and it sounded shaky. “Is this a dream?”
She stood before him in a light blue sleeveless gown with a skirt that billowed out around her like a silky meringue. She was nothing short of exquisite. “I hope not,” Ella said quietly, still looking unsure of herself.
“You look like a princess.” He swallowed, his mouth going dry and any coherent idea fleeing his mind. “I mean…you’re beautiful. So, so beautiful.”
A genuine smile lit up her face. He couldn’t believe she was there. Had she been in that room the whole time?
“The music’s starting,” Ella whispered, waking him up from all his amazement, and he slid his palm along the small of her waist and took her hand, feeling taller than he had all night. His feet didn’t ache, his shirt didn’t itch, and he smiled and meant it for the first time that evening. She felt perfectly real. And the detail he saw and heard…this couldn’t just be a dream.
Cedric led her in the waltz, and they danced in perfect harmony. Ella was light on her toes and made him feel less clunky. She could be dancing on a cloud and not the waxed floor beneath them. And though she’d whispered she didn’t really remember how to waltz he certainly couldn’t tell. Based on the raptured gazes of the other guests, they didn’t notice, either.
