Secret Cinderella (The House of Morgan Book 16)

by Victoria Pinder

  Charlotte was already outside and waiting by his car when he clicked it to open. He wanted to ask about why she didn’t look at the picture, but she opened her own side and hopped in. He quickly joined her and drove to the nearby hotel.

  She jumped out of her seat the second he stopped and he handed the keys to the valet.

  He sped up to join her in the hotel lobby where she linked arms with him. “Now, which Morgan are you going to talk to?”

  At breakfast Peter had seemed like the one with money answers and he’d said not to spend his own money without talking to him. Jack had the freedom to help Charlotte no matter what. He led her to the elevator banks. “Peter, he has the Presidential Suite.”

  “Great.” She pressed the button to call the glass car for them.

  When it arrived, they let other guests get on and he hesitated before swiping his card. Then he did, but pressed his own floor, two stories down from Peter's. “I don’t want to storm his suite. He’s going to be at the family cocktail party at four. Can we wait until then and go to our room?”

  She nodded but patted his arm. “Okay. Are you nervous? Is it too much?”

  The ride down was fast. "No." The doors opened. “I could just give you the money right now.”

  Her face went white. They walked beside each other down the hall. “Why didn’t you just say that?”

  They went inside and there were more bags from the House of Morgan placed on the table. Someone in the extended family must have thought of them. Jack picked up the card. The money in his account was because of the Morgan family and he owed it to them to follow their rules. He'd give Charlotte the twelve million but he needed to talk it over first. Morgans not fighting Morgans seemed a sensible rule. “I promised to talk to the Morgans before making a large purchase…and they are family. I owe them that courtesy.”

  The card was from Victoria and Caro both and read engagement party scheduled tomorrow night at eight--we hope you and your Charlotte enjoy our clothes.

  He showed her the card and she pressed her lips together. “And if they are the ones buying my store?”

  Doubtful, as they were into design. Antonio had mentioned another sister who owned a retail clothes store, and they’d met her at breakfast though her name escaped him right now. He shrugged. “Then we’ll straighten it out, together.”

  Charlotte put the card down and didn’t touch one bag as she said, “I’m sorry I’m not relaxed about this.”

  Now that was the truth. She’d hopefully seen Nancy for the last time as her stepmother always messed with Charlotte’s mind. “It’s okay. I know you loved your father.”

  She took out some old photos from her plastic bag. “Always. These two pictures are all I have left.”

  The frame had lost its glass and the photos were fading. He remembered how devastated she’d been when her father had died.

  When Charlotte was sleeping later he’d snap a picture of them and have the photos restored to their old brightness. He imagined how vivid the green trees behind her pig-tailed head must have once been. “And you have them.”

  “And you?” She put the pictures down on the table near her.

  He reached for her and held her sides. “You already had me, Charlotte, always.”

  She stared at his lips and his mouth tingled as she said, “I still wanted to hear it.”

  “Good, now kiss me.” He pressed his lips against hers.

  Today had been hard for her. With Nancy out of their lives, she’d never have to stress again. He’d ensure she was happy. It would be his job, for the rest of their lives.

  Chapter 13

  Charlotte studied her image in the bathroom mirror to make sure that her gold jewelry with diamonds matched the pear-shaped diamond everyone was sure to want to see. Her white dress fit like a dream.

  Tomorrow might be the engagement party but she wasn’t entirely devoid of being a girl. Tonight everyone would want to admire her ring at the cocktail party downstairs.

  Their room was large enough for a small family to stay in for a week it was rapidly getting filled with House of Morgan boxes.

  Room service had been in and made the bed though so everything was clean.

  Happiness was so close. Once she had her father’s store, everything would be fine.

  She turned from the mirror and saw Jack already dressed in a suit, though his tie was a bit too long. He asked, “Are you ready?”

  “Jack, let’s fix your tie.” She undid the knot and loosened the silk.

  A few years ago his mother had given her some lessons for their business class trip to ensure Jack looked perfect for the competition. Luckily Charlotte remembered how to make the knot. Being this close to Jack sent a tremble through her.

  A good one.

  “Was it too long or too short?”

  “Long, but I got this.” It was nice to be needed. When she finished she directed him to the bathroom mirror she’d just abandoned and leaned against the door. “I’m happy your mom showed me how to do that.”

  He joined her in the frame of the door and took her hand. “Part of me doesn’t want to leave the room.”

  Agreed. Charlotte worried that his family might say no—then what would she do? But she needed to have faith. She squeezed his hand. “Jack, it will be okay.”

  He gave her that new, confident wink he’d developed. “You’re right. Let’s go.”

  The ride down to the ballroom cocktail party was easy. They crossed the threshold and hundreds of people were gathered, far more than breakfast that had just been family.

  She glanced around for signs of Nancy, Linda, or Mickey but saw none.

  Charlotte stopped stressing when Lucy hugged her and said, “Congrats, you two.”

  Patricia trotted behind her daughter and hugged her son as his mother said, “Tomorrow’s party is going to be great.”

  Patricia then hugged Charlotte. “I’m so happy for you both. Charlotte, you’re exactly who I wanted for a daughter-in-law.”

  Perfect, because she’d rather be like Patricia than her stepmother any day of the week. Charlotte eyed Patricia’s silver gown that made her skin sparkle. “You’re my model for being a good wife and mother.”

  Laughing, Patricia said, “I was never a wife, but I knew you were the one for Jack when he went to college but still came home to see you. My older sons never bothered as college was more interesting for them. So if Jack is giving you a hard time, we’ll talk.”

  Right. She’d been so scared when she thought she’d never see him, but he came to see her every day.

  She’d entirely forgotten those fears of that summer between high school and college.

  Jack took her hand. “I never could say no when both of you team up against me.”

  His mother let them go and they wandered the party.

  Charlotte hoped she and Jack were on the same page, as in, finding Peter, and then he guided her to the other corner where his older brother stood with his wife, near a bar.

  They walked next to the couple who ordered two glasses of red wine. Jack said, “Hi, Peter. Belle. Can we talk to you for a second?”

  Peter nodded. “Of course. Let’s get our drinks. Can we get you anything?”

  “No, thanks.” Charlotte met the brunette’s friendly gaze. The news articles about Belle were completely wrong. She absolutely didn’t seem like the devil. Charlotte asked, “Where's your son?”

  Belle took her red wine. “Napping, so he's with the nanny.”

  Peter walked next to Jack. “So what’s going on?”

  They went outside onto the patio of the ballroom that overlooked a garden lit by late afternoon sun and found a small table. Once they were seated, Jack said, “Charlotte wants to turn around her father’s store but the bank offered her stepmother an overnight price Nancy is considering.”

  Peter and his wife exchanged a look then he said, “Well, that’s good to hear. I hope she signs in the morning.”

  Charlotte stilled. They knew. This means
they’d planned it. Her blood hummed through her body.

  Jack sat forward and asked, “You know about the offer?”

  Peter nodded. “It was from my bank.”

  Jack glanced at her and then back at his half-brother. “Okay, yeah.”

  No. No. No. Her body shivered with cold while his brother said, “Aurelia realized our family’s history in the area and wants to grow her brand in a place that might be accepting of the Morgans. She had her people scouting around for a new department store here.”

  Charlotte tried to get her hand away from Jack. He was letting this happen. How could he?

  Belle sipped her wine, then added, “Aurelia considered the location at the abandoned toy store near Nordstrom’s but Charlotte’s family store has better parking.”

  Jack squared his shoulders but said nothing. Peter finished in a business tone, “The commissioner verbally promised us a permit to make the road wider.”

  Despite how her stomach churned and her throat was parched, Charlotte said calmly, “This is my father’s store. Our customers aren’t exactly the demographic to fit Aurelia’s chain.”

  Belle must have noticed tears in Charlotte’s eyes as she was quick to say, “But many in the area are flush with cash and they want more choices.”

  Jack leaned in. “The same commissioner can also give you permission to expand the parking lot of the abandoned toy store.”

  Right. Yes. Thank you, Jack. Charlotte needed this store. The Morgan power-family had to understand. She swallowed and blinked her eyes clear.

  “What’s going on?” Peter asked.

  Jack folded his hands in front of him. “Charlotte wants control of her father’s store and I want to help her.”

  Peter tapped on the table like it was a calculator, his brow furrowed. “Belle ran the numbers. The store is already overvalued at the offered price as sales have declined significantly in the past five years.”

  Tears slipped down her cheeks. Her face was hot and she couldn’t look at any of them as she said, “My stepmother was not a good manager but my father told me before he died that he intended to leave me the store.”

  Peter’s voice was like a teacher in a cartoon where she couldn’t quite make everything out but it sounded like he said, “I see. The Morgans have a policy of not fighting with each other.”

  And then her dreams were dashed. In marrying Jack, her father’s store died. Her heart was stuck in a blender and set to bleed. She jumped out of her chair before she lost total control and embarrassed herself and Jack. “I have to go.”

  “Charlotte, wait,” Jack said.

  She couldn’t stop the sting in her eyes or how she’d let this all happen when she called behind her, “I’ll be back. I promise.”

  Without another word she rushed into the bathroom and grabbed tissues.

  The lights above her head at the mirror reflected the trail of her tears. She wiped her face with a tissue from the box and struggled to get a grip.

  Jack had tried to help. He’d been on her side and that counted, but his family came first.

  His mother always insisted that the family mattered above all else. Then his half-brother had basically said that family doesn’t fight with family.

  If only that was true with all families.

  Hers hadn’t felt that way.

  Her stepmother always kept her in fear that she was about to be kicked to the curb if she didn’t do everything correctly.

  One of the bathroom stalls opened. Charlotte cleared her nose and tossed the tissue, hoping to be done crying when she met the dark-haired woman from this morning at breakfast. The one with the stores if she remembered, but she asked the brunette with wide brown eyes, “Are you Aurelia?”

  “Si.” Aurelia washed up, peering at Charlotte from behind her brown bangs, then she hooked their arms together. “Let’s get you a flute of champagne.”

  They walked out of the restroom together as if they were friends.

  Her heart thundered as she needed to talk business, but Aurelia smiled and flagged down the wait staff. Charlotte shook her head. “I don’t need…”

  “Sure you do.” Aurelia glanced at Charlotte's engagement ring, then slipped a flute of champagne in her hand and took one for herself. “You’re engaged. The ring is beautiful.”

  She gazed at it again and Charlotte did the same. Jack had promised to help if he could. “Jack picked it out this morning.”

  “He clearly loves you.” Aurelia sipped her champagne.

  Charlotte couldn’t destroy his happiness because of her own dreams to turn the store around. That wouldn’t be very loving or caring. She ignored the jitter that grew inside her as she said, “And I love him, but I wanted to talk to you… about my father’s store.”

  Aurelia broke into a fast-pitched talk and her smile clearly indicated she was excited while she said, “It’s going to be so much fun transforming it into an upscale store for women. I’m hoping you can come on board and help make the whole thing seamless. We can even ensure the good employees all stay with us if you help me helm this.”

  Her stomach turned. This wasn’t good. If she pushed Jack to help her keep the store the same, then he could sour his relations with his newfound family. And she couldn’t do that to him. Her shoulders fell. “My father wanted the place to be an "everything" store.”

  Aurelia tipped her head like she was explaining the obvious as she said, “The everything stores are being assaulted with online shopping. My stores offer an experience of refinement and culture. We even have a nursery and play area where children can be left for an hour so the mother can shop.”

  Insisting on her way meant she’d put Jack in a horrible situation. She couldn’t hurt his relationship with his family. They would ensure he had everything he ever needed in life. She’d just bring him down. Charlotte refused to be his burden. She met his half-sister’s gaze and said, “I’ve never been to one of your stores.”

  Aurelia waved off the comment like they were on the same team. “We’ll make that part of the training. You and the staff you deem good enough to transition will all be shipped to New York for a week to see for yourself.”

  No one losing a job would be great. Talia would blossom in Aurelia’s kind of store. Maybe Charlotte could even barter to get them raises and better benefits than her stepmother offered.

  She’d just have to forget her father’s dreams and not freak out. Her future was bright too—so long as she just forgot everything she’d wanted before. Charlotte lowered her glass to put it down, but there was no nearby surface. “You've given me a lot to think about. Look, I have to go.”

  Aurelia continued to bounce like she was excited as she said, “We can discuss details later. I’m happy to have you on the team, Charlotte.”

  “Right. Okay.” She turned on her heels.

  Charlotte found a bar counter to leave the champagne and then hightailed it out of the party. She wasn’t in the mood to be festive. She needed to breathe and then she’d find Jack. She had to protect her heart and just focus on the future. Problem was she didn’t know how to do that and her body began to tremble.

  Chapter 14

  Jack picked up his glass of beer the waiter brought for him while he waited for Charlotte and finished his drink with Peter. Aurelia had joined them for a few minutes and told him the plans she had for the store and how Charlotte had left fast.

  He worried that something was wrong so he quickly set up a time to meet Aurelia in the morning, before any papers were signed, and then rushed to find Charlotte.

  He shoved his hands in his pockets and scanned the hotel conference room.

  She wasn’t there. She wasn’t in the lobby. Not in the bathroom. Not anywhere that he could find.

  His shoulders tensed and he decided to go upstairs to see if she’d returned to their room.

  If she'd left the hotel entirely, he’d drive to her store to see if he could find her. He had to find her. She’d never returned and Charlotte usually did exactly
what she said she’d to so something might be up.

  But as he made his way out of the hotel ballroom, he swung the door open and bumped into her stepsister, Linda, who carried a glass of white wine.

  She almost dropped it but caught herself as she batted her eyes like she had something stuck in her contacts, or maybe she was flirting when she said, “Jack, hi.”

  He took his hands out of his pockets and stepped back to let others in and out of the conference room. “Linda, what are you doing here?”

  Linda jumped to stand in front of him so he couldn’t pass without bumping into her. “We were all invited to the cocktail party. It seems the Morgans are buying out the superstore. Why did Charlotte leave you all alone?”

  The last person she’d want to know about her troubles was Linda. He held still and glanced above Linda’s head down the lobby. “She needed a few minutes.”

  Linda pressed into him and traced his open suit jacket. “Well, she shouldn’t leave you too long. You might get in trouble.”

  With Linda? Unlikely. In high school she might have been queen bee, but he wasn’t a kid and he’d never cared about popularity. He stepped away from her and asked the one question that bothered him, “Did you and Donna plan to show Charlotte that video so she’d leave me?”

  Linda’s perfectly white teeth glistened and her eyes seemed to do the same, though he wasn’t sure if it was to laugh or a cry. “Donna just wanted you back in her bed.”

  The thought left him cold and he tried to pass Linda without touching her. “That’s not going to happen.”

  Linda took a step to the side and ensured she stayed in front of him while she said, “I figured, but Donna wanted to try. You need a more balanced, smart woman who can give you everything you need.”

  Minutes had already ticked by. He tried to hold her arm in place to leave. “I need Charlotte.”

  She held his jacket with one hand as she tugged him closer. “Do you? What happens if she doesn’t want your family to sell to us? You can’t walk away from the Morgans.”