I know he wanted to talk. We could not stay outside, in case they were reporters around, nor did I think it was smart to stay anywhere close to my father, that left one possible choice.“Come with me” I said and pointed a thumb towards the stairs. He gave a curt nod and followed silently behind me as I led him to my room.If I thought Ethan in the living room was an invasion, then him, in my bedroom was so much worse. I couldn’t help but be hyper aware of all his movements. The way his eyes roamed over the contents on my dressing table before he leaned on it, the colorful fashion designs I had pinned on my walls and the general disorder that was my bedroom.“You didn’t use the card.” He said gruffly, his face set in a scowl.“I needed a break today. You said the gala is not till the weekend so, I reckon I still have time to find something to wear.“He nodded. “And the documents?”“I’ll send them to your email this evening.” I began to feel mild irritation. He could easily ask me those
A driver was outside the door early the next morning just as Ethan promised, but so were a few reporters. I don’t know if they were there of their own accord or if Ethan had dropped an anonymous tip. Either way they were outside when I left the house, and they took several photos of me in my red waistcoat and matching pleated skirt before the driver opened the car door. Contrary to Ethan’s believe I had good looking clothes, I had spent the most part of my high school, making outfits I dreamt I could wear to a fashion school.I greeted the driver politely just as I slipped into the back seat. Only when he had turned , gotten into his side of the car and pulled away from my home, did he answer me,“Good morning miss Ricci. My name is Gideon and I was instructed to take you wherever you need.” He finished looking at me in the rearview mirror.“It’s nice to meet you, Gideon.”“Would you like some recommendations? I’ve driven lots of celebrities to fashion stores before I started wor
“…so I told her that if she wanted Anchovy’s in her salad, she could just fucking buy em instead of screaming like a toddler. Let’s just say the whole dinner went smoothly after that.”I doubled over, laughing my head off. Wynona was the easiest person to be around.“Did you get the contract after that?”“What do you think?” she smirked as she pulled a blue sequined dress from a hanger and pressed to her body. So far, we had hit three stores.“What do you think about this one?”“I think it takes away from you, rather than compliment your tone.” Since she learned that I was passionate about fashion, she would constantly ask my opinion.“You don’t let people walk over you especially now that you’ll soon be Mrs. Crowe. They didn’t get their reputation from being softies. The black or the green?”“Black’s better, but we can do better.”“Just find a dress for me!”I lay the dress in my hand gently on the lounge. “I think your color should be purple. “ I rooted around for deep colo
I was disappointed by Ethan’s reaction to my dress when he picked me up in the evening. He took a hard look at me and then frowned as if my very presence was going to ruin his entire evening. I mean I didn’t expect him to fall head over heels in love with me, but the dress…It deserved a little bit of attention. I would have settled for a backhanded compliment too but none was forthcoming. He remained silent the entire drive, making me more nervous.When the driver stepped out to open the door for us, he spoke for the first time.“They will be more than a dozen eyes on us tonight. There won’t be any cameras on the inside so we can relax a little. But people will be watching. A few of them will report to my grandfather by dawn tomorrow.We have to give them a good show.”“Nice pep talk. I don’t feel nervous anymore.” I answered, sarcastically.“Then it’s a good thing we’re not here to please you.”He got out first, and then extended a hand to me in the car. Here goes nothing, I si
Ethan leaned back in his seat while I remained frozen in mine.“Ethan.” She said coolly. “Can we talk?”“I’m occupied right now”“Surely, you can make time for an ‘old friend’, just a few minutes.” He watched her quietly like he was considering it, and then to my dismay, he stood up. I felt the spindly claws of jealousy wrapping its fingers around me.“I’ll be back, beautiful. “ He told me, brushing a strand of hair out of my face. Ava’s eyes darkened at the gesture but she said nothing.I watched them walk away before I realized how alone I was at the gala. I was grateful the room was dark around me, so no one could see me or my embarrassed face. I emptied my glass of wine and looked around for Cartwright and Wynona. I could not find them anywhere on the floor. That was just great.Maybe they were hidden among the other dancers. As I contemplated leaving the comfort of my chair in search of them, a waiter approached me with a bottle and fresh glass in his hand.“Gift from Mr E
He wasn’t joking about taking me home. We pulled into the drive of a house secluded in the forest, while I watched in amazement. I was staring wide eyed at the dark building when he stepped out and rounded to my side of the car.“Can you walk, Mae.” Of course, I could. I might have enjoyed the ride in the wheelchair at the hospital but it did not mean my legs were incapable of movement.I stepped out, still wearing my dress from the gala, my heels were in Ethan’s hand. After he closed the door to his car, he watched me take a few steps to the marble doors of his home. The first steps were easy, but then the world slipped under my feet and in a split second, I was falling forward. My hands shot out to catch my weight.I never made contact with the floor because I was swept up by Ethan and crushed into his hard chest. I sighed in relief. That could have been a nasty fall.“Thanks.” I muttered, calculating my path again.He let out an exasperated sigh before he lifted me, bridal sty
While I’m sitting there sipping the rest of my soup slowly, A young woman walks in, in shorts and a baggy shirt. She paused when she saw me sitting by the counter.“Oh hi! I’m sorry, I heard the car leave, so I assumed it was both of you.” “Are you Gladice?” I asked cautiously. She gave me a toothy grin.“No, that’s my mum. I help out here a few times, to take the load off her. I’m Cecelia.” She extended a hand towards me, which I shook lightly. “how’s the soup? The boss said you were feeling under the weather last night.”That was an understatement, I could not recall a good chunk of the evening. This brought me to a question I had been avoiding, something I was too shy to ask Ethan.“Did you…help me out of my clothes last night?” “Oh no, we came this morning. I guess your fiancé did.”Of course. Or maybe I changed myself but didn’t remember it.“Miss Ricci.” An older woman announced as she walked into the kitchen, a small duster in her hand. She shared similar feature with Cec
His eyebrows drew together in a scowl as he took in the sight.“Ethan! I would say ‘what a surprise’ but it really isn’t anymore. You seem to materialize whenever Mae’s in the house.”I looked down at my cleavage spilling out of the ill-fitting dress, hoping my red cheeks were properly hidden. He cleared his throat.“Some tsked in disapproval. “Your grandfather needs to take a break. Sometimes I feel likeEvelyn’s enabling his actions.”“I’ll look into that.”He took a final look at me before he made his way up the stairs, unaware of the four pairs of eyes that tracked his exit. I gave the women, Emma and Olivia the stink eye. Fake marriage or not, Ethan was off the market, they did not need to stare at another woman’s husband like that.“He’s absolutely smitten with her,” Grace told the girls with a grin “He’s constantly looking for a reason to be here, whenever she’s around.”They looked disappointed by the information and I tried to overlook the delight their reactions stir