Secret Cinderella (The House of Morgan Book 16)

by Victoria Pinder

Money. That was what this conversation was about. He loosened her hold on his jacket. “Linda, you’ve never been remotely nice to me until you found out my birth father’s name.”

  Linda let go without a struggle and lifted her wine glass. “That’s not true. I was always nice to you. I never once posted on my blog or said anything about you at all.”

  The worst she’d mentioned had been in passing about how he’d hung out with her stepsister. This act of hers was too much. His heart began to pound. “I read every mean thing you ever did to Charlotte.”

  Linda took a step as if to follow him. “So what? Do you think she deserves you?”

  Charlotte deserved better. Tension tightened the muscles in his back. “Look Linda, find someone else. I’m not the guy for you.”

  “Your loss.” She turned away. He hustled down the small hall toward the lobby as Linda went inside to the party.

  Once he found Charlotte, he’d tell her what he’d seen and warn her from Linda.

  He made his way to the elevator banks and the blonde, blue-eyed girl with those big fake eye lashes he’d once been fascinated with walked over to him. Her heels clinked against the tile floor. “Donna.”

  Donna jumped and made it clear she’d forgotten her bra as she said, “Jack, thank you for inviting me.”

  Goosebumps grew on his body, warning him to leave. “I didn’t.”

  She reached out to show him an invite. “But it’s your name on my invitation.”

  He glanced at the paper envelope and then back at her. “That’s not my handwriting.”

  Donna squeezed his palm until he extracted it while she said, “True, but I thought maybe you had a secretary now.”

  Seconds ticked past and he needed to find Charlotte. He pressed the button to go upstairs to his room. “You set me up and took me by surprise at the gas station. Why?”

  Donna leaned against the wall and pouted. “I kissed you because I miss you, a lot.”

  Until the news broke about his inheritance she hadn’t cared about him at all. He shook his head. “You broke up with me and said at the time it was because I was really in love with Charlotte.”

  Her lips opened like he’d shocked her at remembering her words. The bell rang signaling the arrival of one of the elevators. Donna waved the invite. “You denied it.”

  The door opened but guests must have packed into the car so it took a minute for it to empty. “You knew then what I didn’t. I have to go now.”

  The path was clear. He stepped in, alone, and swiped his card to access his floor. Donna called, “If she breaks your heart, Jack, then I’m here for you.”

  He ignored her and was able to breathe once the doors closed. The only person in the world he needed was Charlotte. Hopefully she was upstairs.

  Hurrying down the hall, he went inside his suite and his shoulders relaxed when he heard the shower.

  Good. She’d come here rather than bolt. Charlotte hadn’t just disappeared on him. He knocked on the bathroom door. “Be out in a minute,” she answered.

  Her voice sent a warm rush through him. He opened the blinds of the room so they could see the moon peeking from behind a cloud.

  No one could see into their room anyhow.

  The bathroom door opened and she was dressed in a white robe. Adrenaline and the need to hold her flooded his veins. Her ashen face wasn’t shower-refreshed but instead shadows beneath her eyes made her seem troubled. He hugged her, hoping he could help. “Charlotte, I was looking for you.”

  She held him tighter and sniffled. He didn’t move or care that her wet hair soaked into his new clothes. He’d get more.

  Once she wasn’t trembling, and stood on her own, she wiped her face. “I’m sorry. I wanted to return to the party but….”

  He pointed toward the bed to sit. They both did and he patted her back. “You’re sad—I get it. I didn’t know about Aurelia's department store moving into your father's space.”

  Her head shot up. “I believe you, Jack.”

  Good. He’d never harm or upset her. He took her hand and once again sparks rocketed through him. “I set up a meeting with Aurelia to discuss moving her store elsewhere and I wanted you to be there. Early tomorrow morning.”

  Her lips pressed thin and she said, “Cancel it.”

  Her dreams were tied to the store. It was something they could handle so he kept his voice low when he said, “You don’t have to let your father’s store die.”

  She stared at the oak floor boards of the room. “It’s okay. It’s better for the employees to make Aurelia’s plans happen.”

  There had to be a way to make both parts of his life fit together without destroying her happiness. He quietly said, “It’s not better for you.”

  She took her hand away and patted her knees. “I’m a big girl. In life you don’t always get what you want.”

  Charlotte rose and headed to the window, closing the blinds again.

  He stood and waited for her to turn around. “You don’t have to do this. We can buy the store; you can have whatever money you need to rebuild the store the way you want in order to honor your father.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t deserve that. I don’t deserve you.”

  What? His heart thrummed in his ears. “Love isn’t about deserving, Charlotte. It’s about accepting each other, flaws and all.”

  She patted his face and her eyes filled with water like she’d cry again. “Jack, you’re amazing and don’t have any flaws.”

  Last week, before he had money, she’d told him flat-out that he was hiding from his potential and for him to quit the store. He’d continued to work there, mostly because of her. It was their connection. “That’s not true.”

  She snorted. “Yeah it is. You’re sweet and kind and for some reason you think you love me.”

  Think? He froze and his hair stood on end. “Charlotte, you’re the only girl I’ve ever trusted.”

  She sighed and said, “I stopped you from finding love because I was always hanging around.”

  How could she believe that? She was the only one that mattered. “I never wanted anyone else.”

  Stepping back, she rocked on her heels. “Yes, you did, and you will again.”

  If he lost her now, he’d lose his compass in life. “Charlotte, no I won’t. We’re getting married.”

  She wiped her eyes. “Just give me a minute to get dressed. We need to talk.”

  That didn’t sound good. His stomach was in knots. What would he do if she cancelled their engagement? She was the one truly good thing he wanted in life right now. Charlotte Masters was the one he’d always loved. She had to know that she would break his heart if she left.

  Chapter 15

  Charlotte went into the bathroom to change. Even the marble tub was out of her price range. She'd borrowed Jack's band shirt from a country festival they’d gone to together, as this was more her style, and a pair of jeans that were way too fancy, but better than the dress she’d worn earlier.

  He could keep the rest.

  Charlotte left the bathroom, her hand heavy from the gorgeous solitaire band around her finger. If she ever really did get married, she should wear a fake diamond set in silver.

  Yes, her father had wanted her to marry and have children and be happy, but she shouldn’t just get to have the wonderful guy…she’d lost everything that had mattered.

  Eventually Jack would see that she didn’t fit in his new rich world or life and then he’d hate her for dragging him down. It was impossible for them to live happily ever after. The truth was that dreams die and Jack deserved better.

  He was the only good thing in her life…and she'd never be able to twist herself into his glamourous world. She'd destroy him if she stayed.

  She grabbed her parents’ picture and shoved it into a complimentary hotel bag for the room as she wouldn’t take anything else. Jack sat quietly on the bed, watching her, and it broke her heart. Charlotte walked over to him and kissed his cheeks. He hugged her waist. “Jack
, I love you.”

  He glanced up at her and the pain in his blue eyes would haunt her for years. “Good, because I love you.”

  If only that was enough. Earlier she’d hoped it would be…now, she wasn't sure. She let him go and patted his back as she sat beside him. “But-”

  “Don’t do that, Charlotte.” His leg against hers was familiar. “We can fix whatever the problem is.”

  The mess was all hers. It wasn’t his fault. She shook her head. “No, no we can’t. You can’t just buy happiness.”

  He massaged her lower back like he always had for years and a tremble raced through her. She sat back to stop him from touching her. “We’re not," he said. "We’re fixing your dad's store.”

  Dreams never come true. And believing in happily-ever-after with Jack would be too big of a dose of reality when it burned around her leaving her dead inside. She stood and took the ring off her finger. This was it. She placed the diamond in his hand and closed it. “No. You told me that in order to be happy I should just walk out the door of the store and live my life.”

  He jumped up from the edge of the mattress. “I always intended to go with you, even then.”

  No—that couldn’t be true. Jack had one year left for college and then he’d have left. That was always his plan, not to run away with her. She stepped back and picked up her small bag. “That’s not true. It couldn’t be. I would have known.”

  He ran his hand through his hair like he was frazzled and needed to find his words, like he'd done a few times before. “It is. Look, I worked there, not for the paycheck, but so I could spend time with you.”

  Jack was making this very hard. Her body squeezed together like she might shrink into the floor boards. “You needed the money.”

  He came closer. She smelled his woodsy cologne mixed with his essence and her toes curled. “It's college. I could have taken a job on campus but I chose to be with you.”

  Goosebumps grew on her body. If that was true, maybe she was making another bad choice. Or she wasn’t. She’d save him if she left. He deserved someone capable of love and right now all she saw was how her dreams always died and she’d hurt him if she stayed and let that happen. Or something awful happened like when her mother and father died. Who knew what disaster waited. She couldn’t let that happen to how she felt about Jack too. It was better to just go. She adjusted the bag over her shoulder. “'Cause you could pick up more hours.”

  He reached for her shoulders. “Because I wanted to be with you.”

  If only that was enough. But if she stayed, and lived in his fairy tale, eventually he'd see the truth about her, and leave her. Once again she'd be alone, like she'd been after her father died.

  She was cursed to forever rely only on herself because she was unlovable, as Nancy said. “Jack, you have so much to offer a girl, but I can’t accept any of this.”

  Jack’s voice was quiet, but it shot right through her like a bullet. “Charlotte, we can fix the store situation or I can walk away from being a Morgan. Whatever it is, don’t go.”

  Then she’d absolutely ruin his life. She kissed his cheek and wished it was easier to leave. “Jack, you deserve better than me. If I stay with you, I’ll make you miserable.”

  His lips pressed together. “That’s not true.”

  “Yes, it is.” She stepped back afraid if she stayed, he’d see how unloveable she was.

  He held out the ring she’d been wearing. “Charlotte, you’re the one.”

  If only she was worth that. But she’d ruin him if she married him. She turned to go with her body slumped as she said, “Jack, take the ring. Return the clothes or give them to someone who deserves you.”

  He squeezed her from behind as he said, “That’s you.”

  A tremble washed through her, something she did when upset or happy. She moved away and hoped he hadn’t noticed. “No. It’s time for me to let you live your wonderful new life… and for me to find mine.”

  He widened his stance, his arms crossed. “I thought you loved me too.”

  If she said yes, she’d lose the inner battle and fold into his arms. Nancy always said crying made her ugly, and who would help her then? A tear washed down her face and she couldn’t look back when she said, “Jack...”

  She didn’t need to see him to feel the warmth he stirred inside her when he said, “Stay with me or let me go with you, wherever you intend.”

  This was terrible. Leaving wasn’t supposed to hurt him, but she couldn’t stay and steal his chance to shine in a lifestyle she couldn’t even fathom. She wiped her face and turned around as she said, “I can’t. Jack your life is amazing and now things are about to be perfect. I’ll just bring you down.”

  He reached for her but she stepped back. “Charlotte, I will find you and set out to prove to you that we’re both better together.”

  Jack would never hurt her, but he’d hurt himself when he realized she’d never be good enough for him, if he didn’t let her go. She lifted her chin and hoped he understood someday. “You can’t. I can’t let you. I love you enough to let you go.”

  She pressed against the door and reached for the handle behind her. Jack said, “I don’t want that.”

  This was goodbye. It had to be. She’s save him from eventually seeing how unlovable she was. She swallowed back her sniffles and said, “Not now, but you’ll eventually see I’m right.”

  She reached for the door as he said softly, “You leaving breaks my heart.”

  She’d cry unstoppable tears soon. She couldn’t face him when she opened the door. “Please let me go.”

  And then as she took her first step out, he said, “Charlotte, you’re my girl. There is no me without you.”

  Her heart tore out of her chest and she ached to just run into his arms and never let go.

  But he deserved more. She shook her head and said, “There will be.”

  And then she ran.

  If she didn’t, she’d go weak in the knee like in all those old movies, and hold him.

  Luckily the elevator came right away so she didn’t have to wait and she paced the four corners of the car as she was alone.

  Of course she wondered if she was making a mistake, but the bigger mistake was staying.

  The elevator opened and she exited, aware of the guests milling around for the cocktail party as she headed toward the front door. Mickey was in the marble lobby at one of the oak desks.

  Charlotte stopped and looked for Linda and Nancy specifically but Mickey was alone. Mickey eyed her up and down. “Charlotte, what are you wearing?”

  Nicer versions of what she normally wore—jeans and a t-shirt. She gestured toward the entrance. “I’m leaving the hotel.”

  Mickey’s eyes widened with surprise. “Where’s Jack?”

  Her face felt hot as she glanced behind her. Elevators opened and a well-dressed older couple walked out—not Jack. She met her stepsister’s gaze and said, “In ou… his room.”

  Mickey crossed her arms. “Are you sure that’s wise?”

  She raised her eyebrow. Wise wasn’t a word for anyone in her family. “What do you mean?”

  Mickey lowered her voice and spoke fast like she’d be interrupted at any moment. “Linda and Donna have been putting their heads together. I swear it’s about breaking you and Jack up.”

  Of course. Linda had always hated her. “Well, they won’t win on that one.”

  Mickey dropped her arms and shoulders and asked, “Charlotte, is everything okay?”

  In losing Jack and the store, she now had nothing. Charlotte nodded and said, “Yeah. Your mother selling the store is freeing, really.”

  “Yeah?” Mickey’s gaze narrowed.

  Charlotte refused to admit that living with Nancy had broken something inside her and stopped her from believing in happiness for herself. “My father’s dreams will never come true and all my hopes for the past few years have been stupid.”

  She moved to go but her stepsister said, “No, they weren’t.” Charlo
tte stopped as Mickey continued, “I’m sorry I couldn’t help you more with Linda or my mother. I was half afraid I’d be next in line if I did.”

  Outside the glass doors and windows of the hotel, the moon rose high in the sky. Charlotte had no idea of the time, but it was the end of the line for her. She’d hit the bank, take out her feeble savings she’d socked away, and leave Pittsburgh to a place Jack would never find her. That new life he'd recommended she would chase, alone, starting now. She squeezed her stepsister’s hand. “It’s okay, Mickey. Good luck.”

  She shuffled out the door with her head high.

  Charlotte was out of here, but as she passed the cars to reach the street her stepmother stood in her way.

  Nancy, in a black cocktail dress, should be inside for the party, not out in the cold. Charlotte met her stepmother's unblinking dark eyes that had once bore into her soul. No more. “Goodbye, Nancy.”

  Her eyebrow shot up like she’d caught Charlotte mislabeling an aisle. “Goodbye? Are you leaving?”

  Linda and Donna clearly had plans. Jack would see through their machinations as he was smarter than they believed, but she rubbed the back of her neck and said, just to be polite, “Yeah. Have fun tonight.”

  Charlotte flung her small hotel bag behind her and hoped Nancy couldn't see through the flimsy material to her father’s picture. She let out a ‘pfft’ and shook her head as she said, “You always were a fool. I didn’t realize how big a one until just now. Jack will eventually see you’re worthless.”

  Nancy’s opinion didn’t matter. She’d already more than proven her opinion though that comment still stung.

  Charlotte brushed by her, walking to the main street that was covered on both sides with leafy trees and waited at the local bus stop.

  Pittsburgh had a big bus depot that could take her out of town. How far could she get with her little savings? She paid her fare in cash and asked the driver, “How long till the bus station?”

  He closed the doors. “Ten more minutes.”

  “Okay.” She found a plastic seat.

  No one talked or questioned her though everyone else had a jacket on.