Catching Fire: Educating Ellie (Billionaire Romance Series Book 1)

by T. N. King

  Oh, no. Now that was sexier.

  He then seemed to fight himself. He looked intense, like he wanted to say something. Yet, he didn’t speak. He shoved the underwear into his tux jacket. “These are mine,” he whispered.

  Ellie almost nodded in total agreement. Yes, they are and so am I. But she couldn’t seem to move or speak.

  Then, he swung her up into his arms again.

  Yes, he was going to take her to bed and take what was his.

  He smiled at her and laid her down on her princess bed.

  Gazing up at him with her body on fire and her heart hammering, she waited.

  He grabbed her velvet blanket and pulled it over her bare body.

  Ellie gasped. WHAT?

  He saw the look in her eyes and gave her a tense smile. “You have been through a lot tonight. I want you badly… have no doubt of this….” His words drifted away as he clenched his fists at his sides. “I don’t want anything to happen here, tonight. It might be for the wrong reasons.”

  Blinking her eyes, she could not believe what he was saying.

  He lowered his body and gave her a sweet kiss to the forehead. “Sleep well, Princess.” He then stood up and walked out her door.

  Ellie laid still with her heart hammering and her body pulsing in need. What just happened? He could have fucked her till he dropped. He knew she was ready to give all of herself. She just laid there in utter shock as he disappeared through the door.

  Then she gazed up at the ceiling. Didn’t he want her as bad as he wanted him? She remembered the hot gaze, the way he had took in the scent of her panties. Yes, he had wanted her. She wasn’t so dumb that she couldn’t see it. Then why did he…?

  Suddenly, exhaustion hit her. Then all the replays of this glorious night rushed through her mind in a kaleidoscope of surreal images of the magnificent debut of Miss Ellie White into high society. Then the last word she whispered into the haze of sleep was, “Morgan…”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  The next morning, after waking up in her Princes bed, Ellie stretched and felt like a new person. Who wouldn’t after what happened last night? She sighed and stared up at the ceiling. She really needed to have conversation with Morgan. Again, the man had surprised her by doing the opposite of what she expected. He could have had sex with her at his whim. She had been ready and so willing.

  The phone next to her bed rang. Oh, that might be him!

  “Miss White? This is Room Service and we were instructed to bring breakfast up.”

  “Um, yes. Yes do that.” She set the phone back down on the receiver.

  In ten minutes, she was sat in a very plush robe at the kitchen table in her suite and felt so hungry but wondered if she should wait for him to join her. Her phone buzzed. She gasped and looked around. Where did I leave it? She jumped up and searched. The buzzing came from the hallway. She saw it on the floor by her door. What the? I must have dropped it. She raised it up and tapped the screen. Oh, it wasn’t a call it was a text.

  Ellie…I have been called away on Company business and I am sorry. I am unable to accompany you home. The driver will arrive this afternoon and take you to the jet.

  I will call you soon, Morgan

  Raising her head, she blinked. He just had to go? Leaving her here in the suites? She sighed. Well, he did run a multi billion dollar company. Yet, her disappointment was like the opposite of what she felt last night. What do you want Ellie, for him to be with you 24 hours a day? She bit at her lip and gazed around. Well…YES!

  Shrugging it off, she thought about all that he had done for her already. It is just the way it is. Get over it. She then went back to her breakfast. She enjoyed it, despite eating alone. It all unsettled her though and it kept nagging at her. Receiving a text? He didn’t even make a call? Her fears of before took hold. Maybe this was it? Maybe he had his debut of the poor girl and achieved that deal and now the luster had worn off? She shook her head. Then why didn’t he plunder the spoils last night? Then leave her. She sighed. No, that wasn’t it and now you are blaming him, because he has other priorities in his busy life? Remember when he said, ‘I have responsibilities and since I met you, I have neglected them.’ Yes, she needed to realize he did have a business and had to be at the helm sometimes. If you plan to stay with him and you KNOW you do want to...then you will act right about it!

  Full and otherwise calmer now, she stood up, wiped her mouth with a napkin and looked around. Bath! She felt excited. Yes, do that for the last time. What female in her right mind wouldn’t?

  Ellie laughed, pushing her earlier fears and depression down as she rushed to the waiting heaven of the garden pool.

  After she dried off and went to get dressed, she halted. Dressed into what? I suppose in the clothes I wore here. She went into the Princess bedroom and halted. Suitcases were sitting on the footboard part of the bed. Stepping over, she looked down and saw outfits. She rifled through them and pulled different ones up. All her size! She bit at her lip. Morgan. He’d had these placed here. She let out a breath. Should she accept this? It was more buying. She raised up the paisley dress she seemed to hang onto, then glanced down at the shoe bag and the lingerie in the other case. Okay, just make up your mind. Wear what you came in and leave all these beautiful outfits, apparently chosen for you?

  Yeah, I am slow at times, but not completely stupid! She laughed as she grabbed the clothes and shoes that went with the dress.

  After she put all the delicious parts of the outfit on, she wondered about the dress…Um, the Desaunt, she corrected herself. She looked all around for it. Mmm, he must have come and taken it while I slept. Well, it wasn’t hers or his anymore, was it?

  An hour later, the driver called up. “Miss White. I am sending a bell hop retrieve your luggage.”

  Deciding to be wicked about this whole set up, Ellie smiled into the phone. “What luggage?”

  A pause went by and then he replied, “Mr. Hunt said you would have several bags, Ma’am?”

  She now felt like a bitch for messing with the driver. After all, he only was doing his job. “Yes, okay.”

  In a few minutes, she was heading down in the elevator. Then walked through the lobby slowly.

  Many raised their heads and smiled at her and some even waved.

  The doormen bowed to her like she was royalty.

  Ellie smiled at them. “Thank you boys, for all your kindness.”

  They beamed at her. Then one of them spoke, “We cannot wait until you return.” He then straightened up and looked official. “Miss White.” He gave her a nod.

  She wondered if there would be a return, but then she giggled at their expressions and stepped outside.

  The driver stood waiting for her, tipping his cap at her and holing the door of the stretch limo open for her.

  She smiled at him and headed to the car. Yes, it was sad that Morgan wasn’t here and maybe scary that he would not be on the plane, but after her walk of fame last night? She could do this on her own.

  Beaming at the driver, Ellie slipped into the limo.

  It had been four days! Ellie hadn’t heard anything from Morgan. Not even a text. She had tried twice to call him, like he’d instructed her to do when he gave her the damn phone in the first place, and he never answered. After that, she shut the phone off, put it away and went from understanding to panic, then to dejection, and lastly, anger.

  He obviously just dropped her!

  This time, it puzzled her though. They did not sleep together at the suite...like she’d wanted to, and now, she felt relieved that they hadn’t. At least, she did not feel used and slutty this time. Then she would break down crying at night while lying in bed and wonder if something bad had happened. Could it have and she would not know about it? Then she would go back to anger. He had assistants, he could have had that person call her. It would have been a bit impersonal but at least, she would know something.

  She had school to start anyway in two days and tonight, she would be working at the dine
r.

  Yes, from extreme grandeur to the ways of real life. From a diamond dress to her waitress uniform. She had to laugh at this though. It was okay, she still felt proud of herself and reminded herself at least Morgan Hunt had done that much for her.

  She arrived at the diner and Joanna greeted her with that same smile. Please don’t let her ask me again. Had she heard from him yet? Two days ago, when she had come to work, Sue had pulled up pictures online of that charity gala with Ellie strutting on stage in a million dollar dress. Sue had squealed when she brought her phone over.

  Ellie had almost cried, but not out of joy or excitement, she’d wanted to cry because she felt so lost, so confused as to why he’d done this to her…again.

  Now, it was just day to day normalness. Ellie figured she had her day in the sun, on the high side of life and now, she would go to college and make her own way in the world. Could she honestly say that he hadn’t improved her life? No. But she was done with being discarded. She fought back tears now. Ones she had shed every night, all week. No, she refused to cry one more tear over him. He must have had a bet, maybe? Yes, with that suave Chance guy. Maybe it had been that all along. They had acted strange at the ball and she couldn’t figure it out at the time. See if Morgan could get a poor unsophisticated girl from the lower slums and make her into a beauty queen.

  No, it didn’t happen like that and even she knew this. But she floundered for a reason to his disappearance from her life. No goodbye…No, it’s been fun, see ya. But there had been nothing. Just nothing.

  Walking behind the counter, she looked down to tie her apron.

  “Coffee, please?” a deep voice asked from the counter.

  Her head snapped up to meet with a grey gaze. Her breath caught in her throat.

  Morgan smiled at her. “Hello, Ellie.”

  Now, she let the breath out and glared at him. “HELLO ELLIE?” she seethed.

  His smile dropped and he hung his head.

  She huffed and looked around as the regulars and Joanna stared at her. She stared back at them.

  They all looked away, except Joanna—she grinned at her.

  “Hmmph!” Ellie muttered.

  “Ellie?” he called.

  Oh no, she flat out refused to look at him as she slammed a coffee mug onto the counter in front of him, then turned to grab the pot. She swung it around, her eyes shooting daggers at him.

  He placed his hands up. “Not the face, Ellie!”

  Ohh! It was sooo not funny. No, she wasn’t going to throw hot coffee at him. She could control this whole thing. She had to. This man had truly broken her heart this time and she needed to keep it together. She calmly poured him a cup of coffee without looking at him at all then stalked away.

  Sue had come out of the back and stopped in her tracks. “Oh, my god! It’s him. Oh wow, he is so sexy!”

  Ellie huffed again and snapped, “Go get him. He likes to grab up waitresses and take them for a ride!” She stomped back to the locker room.

  Sitting down, she tried to get a hold of herself. She’d just made a total fool of herself out there. Do not cry! Why was he here? She just couldn’t take any of this. Up and down like a yo-yo. She wouldn’t be a yo-yo, not even for him. She’d been better off before. Not knowing how wonderful it could be. How he made her feel. Then only to have it taken away. She thought of the apartment and college. If she had any pride, she would reject it all. Throw it back in his—

  “Ellie,” he spoke from somewhere close.

  She swiped away a tear. “Why are you here, Morgan?” She raised her gaze up to finally take a good look at him. He did look tired. There were rings under those beautiful eyes. Well, good! She didn’t feel so great herself.

  Morgan let out a sigh. “I messed up again,” he admitted.

  “Well, if you are here just because you are bored and want to play with my life again to get your kicks…you can just go find another project.”

  His eyes widened at this statement. “Project?”

  She looked away. She just did not trust herself to really look at him. He was her weakness and her strength…apparently.

  “Has Chance been talking to you?”

  Her head snapped up. Why would he ask that? Oh, my god! She had been a project! He and Chance getting off on—

  “Ellie!”

  She looked up at him. “So, it’s true then?” Ellie decided to play along and see just what the hell was happening.

  Morgan shook his head. “No, not this time.”

  She stood up. “This time?”

  Shaking his head, he stared at her. “You were never in that. Not ever.” He looked into her eyes.

  “In what? In a game with you and him?”

  His eyes widened and he looked pissed suddenly. “Fuck! I am going to kill him.”

  “No!” Ellie stood up as she suddenly realized where this lie of hers might lead. “He never spoke to me, Morgan. I figured it out on my own.”

  His anger seemed to fade as he asked, “Figured what out?”

  Shrugging, she refused to look at him anymore. If she did, she would be lost. “That I was just a pet project. You were bored and once you found me, I was your entertainment, then you would improve me and…”

  “And what?” he asked his voice barely audible.

  She let out a sigh. “It’s okay. You didn’t even have to come and check on me. You don’t owe me anything. But I do owe you.” She reached into her pocket and got out her keys for the car and apartment. “You can have it all back. I won’t be taking anything else from you.”

  He looked from her face to the keys and back up to her face. “What? Oh, no, Ellie! Those are yours. You can’t—?”

  “I CAN!” she yelled at him. “I admit, I was dazzled by all this, by your wealth. But now…Now, I intend to do it on my own. And thank you for that. For making me stronger.”

  “Can I just explain? Please?” he asked.

  Turning back to face him, she glared. “You disappeared again!”

  He nodded. “Yes, and for the same dumbass reason.”

  She shook her head.

  “Just give me this last chance? I will explain it all. I…” His voice faded away.

  No, Ellie do not look into his eyes, don’t do it! She took a deep breath and raised her gaze up to meet his.

  He met her gaze and there was pain in those steely gray eyes. “I will come to your apartment and we will talk. I will try everything and anything to convince you that I had a very good…” He shook his head. “No, there isn’t a god enough reason to have ever hurt you again.” He let out a sigh as if he were defeated.

  She pulled in a breath. Could he really mean to give up? The deal maker. The king of charm? Why did he even come back? She had to know. She couldn’t move on until she knew all of it. Ellie already knew this was yet another bad idea but her mouth opened and she said, “Okay.”

  His head rose up, as he looked surprised. “Okay?”

  She raised her hands. “You can come over tonight while I am packing.”

  He looked upset still but relieved. “At about ten? When do you get off?”

  “Yes, ten would be okay.”

  Morgan took a step forward, then stopped at the look on her face. “Okay, I will be there.” He turned and walked away.

  What are you thinking? That voice warned. Ellie swiped at her leftover tears and released a breath. I am thinking that if he finally tells me all of it, then I—oh, shit! She stomped her foot. I don’t know what I was thinking!

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Morgan

  He felt tore up. As well as he should. The day he wrote the text, it had been true. He actually had flown to Japan for the company. The Yamato-Hitori group had problems that apparently, only he could solve. It was a 100 million dollar contract and Morgan’s brother Des, along with Chance had implored him to go.

  Then after he returned, he realized that all he’d thought about the entire time had been her. Again, with his utter distraction over one, Miss
Ellie White. Then, he didn’t know what happened. He drove to his lake house and got drunk. Then he stayed that way. Caught, Chance had said. He had felt scared for the first time in his life.

  He’d never stepped down from anything before. And he found himself running from little, sweet Ellie. He then tried to call her and couldn’t get through. The phone had been turned off, he figured. Yes, he had gone and done it up good this time, apparently. Then he convinced himself that it was all for the best. Next, he went through stages. Guilt at hurting her all over again. Misery without her face and her sweet body in his life. Denial in facing the fact that he could not live without her. Live normally, that is.

  Then Chance showed up at his house and found him in his utter depth of drunken misery. He took one look at Morgan and laughed. “She dumped you?”

  Uncaring about even this…Morgan refused to be baited. “Get out,” he’d muttered.

  Chance sighed and sat down in the chair across from the couch. “Dammit, Morgan. How could you fuck this up?”

  This did get Morgan’s attention. “What?”

  “Man, I saw her. I saw you. What in the hell did you do that would get you here, to this point?”

  “It’s none of your damn—”

  “It is!” Chance stood up. “You found it, man! That woman was the one for you. And you throw it away?”

  “I wussed out…” Morgan had muttered.

  “What?”

  “She didn’t dump me. I ran.”

  Chance dropped his hands from his chest. “You mean you just sent her home and that was that?”

  Nodding, Morgan groaned and put his head in his hands. “God! She is so beautiful, so pure. With no angle. No conceit. And she made me feel such power, but naturally, you know. Like she fit me.”

  “And you dumped that.” It wasn’t a question.

  Sighing, Morgan grabbed the bottle he’d been drinking out of and lifted it to his lips. “Yep.”

  Chance yanked the bottle out of his hand.

  Attempting to stand up, Morgan tried to grab it back.