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Chapter Sixteen
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2022-05-15 03:40:42Related chapters
An American Cinderella Chapter Seventeen
Two hours later and I’d managed to get through at least a couple of boxes. I’d managed to convince myself that they weren’t of any use to my stepmother. I had her list of wants memorized, but I hadn’t seen anything come up with the information she was looking for yet.I knew it was only a matter of time, though.I didn’t know what I was going to do.I still hadn’t figured out a way out of our deal. I’d thought about going to Jaqui several times, but I knew how that would end up. If I were fired or let go, my stepmother would release the information on my father. If I were transferred, she would just have me transferred back.Audrey had me in a bind. If I did anything to compromise her, she would ruin my father and my reputation.I scanned in another document and bit my lip. This one was on her list. It had to do with the mineral availability in the country. My stomach twisted. I finished the document and set it on the table next to my phone. All I had to do was take a picture of it. T
Last Updated : 2022-05-15An American Cinderella Chapter Eighteen
Audrey walked in a stately manner to the coffee shop with my umbrella while I ran ahead. I knew she wouldn’t share with me, and I didn’t really want to be that close to her anyway. She took her sweet time, knowing that every moment she kept me out of the office was a moment that I could get in trouble for.She really was a sweet woman.I waited for her in the shop feeling like a hunted animal. I wished I had something on her. Something that I could use to free myself. An idea came to me. One that I should have thought of from the beginning, especially considering I worked in politics.She was still halfway down the sidewalk as I downloaded a recording app. It would record all sounds once I turned it on, but would look like a calculator app if anyone checked my phone. I knew that DC law allowed single-party consent for recording, so I could legally record without her permission.It wasn’t much, but it at least felt like I was fighting back. I hit start on the app and held my phone in m
Last Updated : 2022-05-15An American Cinderella Chapter Nineteen
“I’m not going to make it to lunch today,” Henry said over the phone.A little of the light inside of me died. It was the one thing that I was looking forward to today. Between the rain, my stepmother, and now the extra workload, lunch with my boyfriend was supposed to be the high point of my day.If he even was my boyfriend. I wasn’t quite sure what we were yet.“I understand,” I told him, trying to keep my voice bright. “It’s okay. I’m totally swamped today anyway.”“No. I promised you lunch and you’ll get lunch,” he replied. I could hear people talking in the background behind him. “It’s just that I won’t be there.”I frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”“I’m having some food delivered,” he explained. “It should be there soon. I wish I could be there in person, but things are a little crazy here right now.”“Tell me about it,” I replied, putting another document on the scanner. I had a file up on my computer that I tried to save to my research folder for Anastasia while the comput
Last Updated : 2022-05-15An American Cinderella Chapter Twenty
I worked until I couldn't keep my eyes open. There was just too much for me to do and not nearly enough time to do two jobs. I managed to grab five hours of sleep at home before returning to the office the next day. I was coming up short with my research and behind on my scanning all at the same time. It was like doing two full time jobs at the same time and my brain hurt with the effort it took.I worked the entire day, juggling research and my real job. Luckily, Henry kept texting me and making me smile as I worked. Yet again, he had found a way to bring sunshine into my day.I ate leftovers from the day before for lunch. Henry had brought enough food to feed the office twice over. I just munched on amazing macaroni and cheese instead of worrying about finding an actual lunch. It was obviously made from scratch and probably going to clog my arteries, but it was free and tasted good.Five o'clock came and went. I watched from my window as the worker bees filed out of the various buil
Last Updated : 2022-05-15An American Cinderella Chapter Twenty-One
His eyes focused on my chest as I pulled my shirt away and tossed it to the side. I went to my knees beside him, and he grabbed my waist, putting me back in the straddle position over him.“Somewhere around here,” he replied, his voice husky with desire. He thrust his hips up and I groaned. Once again, we had too many clothes on.Henry reached behind me and fumbled with the bra strap. It took him a moment, but finally it came free. He growled in approval, making something deep inside of me heat.His hands came up and caressed the swells of my breasts, his fingertips working the pale skin before coming to the taut nipples. The simple graze of his thumb over the erect flesh had me moaning and writhing against his lap.He pushed back on my shoulders, gently lowering me to the floor. I lay, bare chested with my hair spilling around my head as he knelt before me. With careful fingers, he undid my pants and I raised my hips to help him pull them off.I tried not to blush as I lay on the bla
Last Updated : 2022-05-15An American Cinderella Chapter Twenty-Two
“How was your weekend?” Jaqui asked, poking her head in my office early Monday morning. “Any more dates with your handsome suitor?”I grinned. “I had a wonderful night with him Friday,” I told her, thinking of what we had done in this very room and grinning. “But then he had to work all weekend, so I didn’t get to see him much.”But, we did get to chat through text messages and phone calls. Those were still pretty amazing ways to get to hear from him.“That’s too bad,” Jaqui replied. “He’s easy on the eyes. I still haven’t figured out where I know him from, though. When do you see him again?”“I get to see him Tuesday. We have a fun date planned. I can’t wait. He’s going to work on my cooking skills.”“He is a brave man to put you in the kitchen.” She grinned as she leaned against the door frame.“Yeah, someone has to teach me eventually, right?” I said with a chuckle. “Hopefully I don’t burn down the place. Or poison him. At least the odds are good I’ll only do one or the other.”“Yo
Last Updated : 2022-05-15An American Cinderella Chapter Twenty-Three
I left work feeling hopeful, but exhausted. I’d worked hard all day. I didn’t take any more pictures of documents for my stepmother. I was done with that. It felt rather liberating. I would record a few more of our conversations and I could go to the authorities with what I had.I was going to win. I wouldn’t end up like that congressman.I talked to Henry on the phone while I rode the train home. It wasn’t very private, but it was good to hear his voice. He was busy with work, but made sure to take time to call me. He was excited to see me on Tuesday.He was tired of hearing me eating out all the time, so he wanted to see if he could teach me how to cook something more than ramen noodles and chicken nuggets. As such, I was responsible for picking up groceries. He’d sent me a list of things I needed to buy for our meal. I had my grocery list ready for tomorrow’s shopping.I had no idea what panko breadcrumbs were, but I was going to find them and buy them.The sky was still light pink
Last Updated : 2022-05-15An American Cinderella Chapter Twenty-Four
I didn’t take a shower.Instead, I pulled up my phone contact information, wrote them all down on a piece of paper along with any other information that I thought was important in my phone. Then I checked my recording app. It hadn’t taken a thing. All that remained was two recordings of static. If I had given this to the authorities, they would have laughed me out of the room.I had been used. Hacked. Tricked.I thought about just throwing my phone in the garbage. I thought about smashing it with a brick or throwing it in the bathtub or possibly the garbage disposal. Although, I just bought a new garbage disposal and I didn’t want to wreck it.Besides, if I did that, my stepmother would have more power over me. She would ask for my new number so she could contact me. She would be able to find access to me. I shivered at the thought.Better I keep this phone with nothing important on it. It was better to know my weak points and defend them than just make more. So, I put a piece of tape
Last Updated : 2022-05-15
Latest chapter
An American Cinderella Chapter Forty
One year later, in the Kingdom of Paradisa“You look beautiful,” Gus told me.“Thanks,” I whispered, making sure I had a good grip on his arm. The last thing I wanted was to trip wearing this dress.Organ music filled the hallway, echoing in from the main chapel. The sound of a full choir mixed in after a moment, giving me the signal that it was time for my entrance.The queen mother, King Liam, Prince Freddrick, and my Prince Henry were already inside. Jaqui and the rest of my bridesmaids had already gone ahead. It was time for me to walk down the aisle to my beloved.Gus was to give me away. He and Jaqui traveled all the way out to Paradisa to be part of the ceremony. I loved them for it.Gus squeezed my arm and we began to walk through the ancient church. I’d been told it had been around for fifteen hundred years and was where nearly every Paradisian monarch had been married. As far as I knew, none of them had tripped on their lace gown.I was determined not to be the first.The ma
An American Cinderella Chapter Thirty-Nine
I didn’t watch the news for the next week. I was told that my stepmother was on quite frequently. Well, the video of her being arrested was on quite frequently. They didn’t show much more than that as my name was to be kept out of the press entirely. I was absolved of all wrong doing as my stepmother obviously coerced me.I didn’t want to watch the news of my stepmother. Instead, I enjoyed my time off of work and spent it with Henry. For two weeks, we either stayed at my place or with his family. I ate meals with him and his brothers and even managed to make the older one smile a time or two.His mother accepted me like a long lost daughter. For the first time since my father died, I knew what it felt like to have a family around me again.For two weeks, Henry and I did nothing that required us to be regal. We were just a normal couple that went out for dinner and stayed in a nice hotel. There were some perks to him being royal, but we spent many of our evenings holed up in my tiny ap
An American Cinderella Chapter Thirty-Eight
“There you are, darling. I was beginning to think you might be late,” Audrey purred, holding open the door.She looked resplendent in a boxy-cut tea-length white dress. Her dark hair was up on the top of her head and her green eyes shone from under long lashes. She wore white heels that clicked on the marble floors as she walked to the kitchen.“Take your coat off,” she commanded. I didn’t, keeping it buttoned up. I wasn’t about to take it off.She sighed and shrugged. “Suit yourself.”“I’d like to get this over with.” She just ignored me and walked into the kitchen.“I believe this deserves some champagne to celebrate,” she said. She picked up a bottle from an ice bucket and popped the cork, making me jump. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves.“Before I give this information to you, I want to make sure it’s what you really want.” I stepped into the kitchen to face her. “It’s not too late to stop this.”“Stop this?” Audrey laughed. “There’s nothing to stop. This is how it’s
An American Cinderella Chapter Thirty-Seven
I confessed everything. I confessed to taking the picture, to not telling anyone just how much trouble I was in, and to what my stepmother was expecting of me. I told him all of it without keeping anything back.And while it felt good to tell someone, I felt miserable at the same time. I was giving him this burden in addition to the ones he already carried. If he had fallen in love with just about anyone else, there would be no trouble.Instead, he fell in love with a girl who was going to be convicted for selling secrets because her stepmother would stop at nothing to destroy her.“So, that’s why I ran,” I concluded lamely. “I panicked when you told me who you were. I’m selling your country’s secrets and my stepmother will use you like she uses everyone. You’ll never be safe around me.”I was sure he was going to hate me. I was sure that he was going to sigh, tell me that this was too much, and walk out the door.Henry was silent. I could hear my neighbor’s TV on a commercial and som
An American Cinderella Chapter Thirty-Six
I woke just before dawn with a dry mouth and itchy eyes. It was never a good idea to fall asleep with a ton of makeup on and without brushing my teeth.I groaned and rolled out of bed. I wasn’t sure if I wanted coffee or a shower more, so I started them both. I took my coffee to the bathroom and I set my cup on the sink so I could reach out and grab a sip while still getting a shower at the same time. There were perks to having a small bathroom.The shower and coffee helped wake me up, but did nothing for the feeling of dark dread that hung around my head.Henry was a prince. A freaking prince.And he loved me.What did that mean for us? Even if I wasn’t going to be convicted of selling secrets, or my stepmother wasn’t making my life a living nightmare, what would we do? I couldn’t just move into the castle with him in Paradisa. My life was here. My dreams were here.I loved him, but I didn’t see how we were going to make it work. He was a prince and I was about as far from royalty as
An American Cinderella Chapter Thirty-Five
I ran through the streets of downtown Washington DC ducking cars and twisting between buildings. My beautiful blue dress trailed out behind me like a flag. Tears streamed down my face and I could barely see.How in the world had my wonderful night ended up like this?How was Henry a freaking prince?He loved me and I had to run from him. I had to protect him from me and what my stepmother was forcing me to do. I would ruin him.I ducked around into an alley to try and catch my breath. It had been a few minutes since I’d last heard anyone call my name. I didn’t want Henry to chase me. I would only end up hurting him if he did.I leaned against a brick wall, my chest heaving and hurting. I just wanted to go home and hide. I wished I had never met Henry, because then I wouldn’t have this hurt in my chest. I wouldn’t put him at risk that way. If he had never run into me, I wouldn’t have to worry about him. The last thing I wanted was to hurt him, but I seemed destined to.My feet hurt. Ru
An American Cinderella Chapter Thirty-Four
We ran through the halls of the club, giggling and laughing as we went. My skirt flew behind me as I followed Henry up a flight of stairs.He checked down the long hallway and, seeing it empty, turned and put his hand to the side of my neck and pressed me against the wall for a kiss. My body melted into his, his hands hot on my skin. His face was smooth with a recent shave. He smelled like clean soap and something masculine and musky.I couldn’t get enough. I loved the way his hands felt on me. I loved the way the uniform fit his broad shoulders and trim waist as he kept me close to him. I loved being pressed into the wall and caught in his arms.I couldn’t stop kissing him. He was the breath in my lungs and the song in my heart.He paused, his smile lighting up the dark hallway.“How did I get so lucky?” he asked, pressing a soft kiss to my jaw. He reached up and carefully took my mask from my face.“I’m the lucky one,” I replied. I took the mask from his face, revealing his bright s
An American Cinderella Chapter Thirty-Three
The limo pulled up alongside one of the older buildings downtown. The building was a private club, so I’d never been inside, although I’d heard of the extravagant parties that were often thrown here.The building took up the entire corner. Rich tan stone with large windows glimmered in the fading light. A red carpet lined the sidewalk on the corner, and the police had the intersection completely blocked off.I took a deep breath and stepped out of the limo and onto the red carpet, clutching my invitation and a small purse with my ID and phone.Act like you belong here, act like you belong here, I whispered to myself. I was positive that one of the police officers was going to call me out. This was a party for high society, not some low-level government employee. They would see right through me.I held my head high as I walked along the red carpet, keeping my eyes open for any sign of Henry. He was supposed to meet me inside, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t run into him outside of the
An American Cinderella Chapter Thirty-Two
Two people sat outside the entrance of my apartment looking completely out of place. One was a tall, thin man with stylish silver hair wearing a tweed jacket. A young woman, with the most amazing eyeliner I have ever seen, sat on a large trunk next to him. She wore a simple red dress that fluttered in the early evening breeze.“There she is,” the man said to the woman, his British accent deep and strong. It was similar to the Paradisian accent, but I definitely liked Henry’s better. The man held out his hand. “You must be Aria. The senator sent us.”“I am,” I told him. He squeezed my hand rather than shaking it.“Excellent. I’m Gunner,” the man introduced himself. “This is my associate, Lydia.”“Hi,” the woman said, jumping down from the large trunk. “I’m going to be doing your hair and makeup once Gunner gets you dressed.” She motioned to the trunk behind her and I realized there was a second as well.I stood there blinking for a moment, not quite comprehending what they were saying.
