The audition had gone well. This was a part Rome had been dreaming of playing for months, since he’d first gotten the script back in the spring. The part was challenging, with lots of emotional dynamics, and he would love to have the challenge placed before him.
Rome couldn’t help but smile as he walked out of the room, his script rolled up in his hand. He thanked the woman behind the desk and was about to head out the door, thinking about how awesome it would be to see Ella, when he almost ran into someone
Ella chose a booth away from the window, even though she really wished she could sit where the sunshine could hit her face. She thought it was safer to sit back in the corner, though, where less people would see them. While she doubted her cousin or her stepsisters would be in this part of town, she didn’t want anyone taking a picture of Rome and posting it someplace where Tim, her stepsisters, stepmother, or her dad would see it.She’d ordered a soda and was sipping it slowly, so glad to have something othe
“As you can see, the view is lovely. Though you can’t see the ocean from here, it is a spectacular sight when you wake up in the morning to see the swaying palm trees and a wide expanse of blue sky.”Veronica, the manager of the apartment complex where Rome lived, was a woman in her mid-forties who spoke like someone who’d been showing real estate properties for at least a few decades.
In his apartment, Rome sat with his phone in his hand, but he wasn’t using it. He was just waiting. He knew that Ella had taken the apartment because she’d sent him a text earlier in the day, but now she was out shopping with Tim. As much as Rome wished it was him out there with her, he knew it couldn’t be. It was bad enough some paparazzi had taken his picture with her at the restaurant. It was hard to see her face in the pictures, so no one had figured out that it was her yet, but if Tim saw it, he would know. Then, Rome would be in trouble, and Ella would have some difficult decisions to make.
Her hands were trembling as Ella went to open the door. She would be alone with Rome for the first time, with no one threatening to break the door down, no one who might rush in and surprise them, and as excited as she was, she was also a little nervous. She fully trusted Rome in every way, but being around him made her distrust herself in ways she’d never considered before. Was she ready to give herself to him completely?“Hi.” His blue eyes twinkled as she pulled the door open. His smile instantly br
Rome was up before her, and when Ella walked into the kitchen, he’d already made her a huge breakfast, including her favorites, blueberry muffins. How he’d known she loved them, she didn’t ask. Instead, she just tore off a piece of muffin top and popped it into her mouth, letting it melt as she said, “Mmm.”“Glad you like it,” Rome said, flipping the bacon and then coming over to kiss her. “What would you like to do today?”
Tim’s smile beamed as Ella got into the car. She was glad he was in such a good mood. Ever since Rome had left her apartment, she’d felt like she was about to be sick to her stomach from nervousness. While she was glad she was on her way to see her dad, she certainly didn’t want to see anyone else who lived in that house.She wondered if she’d get a chance to see Mary, though. The girl had been such a good friend to her, and Ella didn’t even have her phone number. It would be great if she c
One of the servants opened the door. Her face wore an ugly grimace when she glanced at Ella, but when she looked up at Tim, the sneer faded and was replaced by a smile. “Come in,” she said, stepping aside.Ella’s dad strode to the door to embrace her. “There you are, darling. God, how I’ve missed you.” He wrapped her up and hugged her so tightly, Ella felt as if she was a little girl again, and she almost cried. But she didn’t. The sound of Teresa’s heels coming into the living room turned her sadness into anger. “
Ella stared at her father for what seemed like five or even ten minutes, with her mouth hanging open, before she could finally formulate a sentence. “You want me to do... what?”“Henry Caron comes from a good family,” Lloyd continued. “He’s smart, funny, charismatic, and quite good with money. Plus, he knows a lot about technology, just as you do. I feel the two of you will really hit it off.”