EllaLogan’s words had me feeling as though the fire that the sales attendant had started had just been stoked.“All done?” he asked, pushing himself off of the wall.“Not even close,” I growled.
EllaLogan pulled up in his sleek, black car, and the moment I opened, I could feel his eyes on me.“You look... wow,” he said, clearly searching for the right word. “Would you mind doing a little spin?”Feeling my cheeks flush, I spun around, the fabric of my blue dress swishing around me. I h
Ella Logan’s grip on my waist tightened as Leonard appeared again, his eyes more calculating than ever. “Ella, your father is coming tonight, correct?” I swallowed hard, my eyes darting around the extravagant room as if it could offer me a way out of this situation. “Yes, they got caught up in traffic, but they’re on their way.” Leonard smirked, sipping his champagne. “And what about your little sister? Will she be gracing us with her presence as well? I’ve heard so much about her, you know.” My jaw clenched. There was something in his tone, something that went beyond a man simply asking about my sister. He was probing, although for what, I couldn’t be sure. “I wouldn’t invite my sister to a gathering like this, Leonard.” I stopped myself short, sensing the edge in my voice. I was about to add something more but bit back the words. The glint in Leonard’s eyes was unmistakable. “I see.” He looked at Logan. “Well, I do hope tonight won't be a disappointment. Edrick and I have s
Ella The moment my eyes found my parents making their entrance into the grand hall, I felt like I could breathe a little easier. Shaking off Logan’s hold on my arm, I weaved through the maze of socialites and mobsters, until I reached them. “Dad, Mom,” I greeted, my arms wrapping around them in a fleeting embrace that made all of my worries melt away, even for just a moment. “Ella, you look beautiful,” Moana, said, pulling away to study me. Her eyes carried a mix of pride and concern. Classic mom. My dad, along with her, gave me that fatherly once-over. “You okay, Ella? You look a bit tense.” Before I could reply, a looming shadow descended upon our intimate circle. Leonard. He was like a vulture circling roadkill on the verge of dying, just waiting and biding his time for it to take its last breath. “Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Morgan, I presume,” he said, stepping in with that air of confidence that only heightened my anxieties. “Leonard Barrett. Very pleased to meet the esteemed
Ella The bathroom door clicked shut behind me, and I felt an immediate shift from chaos to calm. The soft lighting created a gentle glow on the cream-colored marble tiles, soft music played over the speakers, and the air smelled like soap. I let out a soft sigh of relief once I realized that I was alone, and made my way over to the sink. I glanced at myself in the mirror—flawless makeup, perfect hair, a dress that fit like a glove. I looked like the perfect picture of control, but I felt like the exact opposite. My heart was still racing from the dance with Logan, from the way his eyes glinted in the soft light of the ballroom, from the way that he so nonchalantly mentioned that our arrangement was almost over. But most of all, I was still reeling over the fact that I… was actually sad about it. With a sigh, I leaned on the marble countertop, taking in slow breaths. In, out. In, out. Suddenly, the door creaked open. I jerked my head up to see Moana walking in, a
Logan The room was a blend of laughter, chatter, and the soft notes of a violin. Dressed in a tailored tuxedo, I mingled among our guests, pausing to speak with business associates and family friends alike. My mind, however, kept driving back to Ella. She had run from the room so suddenly when our dance ended. Something about it was jarring and rather unlike her. “Did I offend her somehow?” I asked my wolf. My wolf was silent for a moment before responding. “You were awfully casual about the end of your arrangement. I think it hurt her.” I sighed and ran my hand through my hair. “But she didn’t want to be with me. I don’t understand how…” “Don’t be dense, Logan,” my wolf hissed. “She clearly likes you; she’s just scared of your future, of your life. And for good reason.” I was just about to respond when I was suddenly pulled from my internal conversation as my father, seemingly out of nowhere, materialized at my side. With his salt-and-pepper hair neatly c
Ella Emerging from the bathroom with Moana, my shoulders felt a little lighter after our chat. Talking to my mom had always been therapeutic, and I was glad to finally get the truth off of my chest, especially to someone who had experience in the realm of fake relationships for publicity. We made our way to the bar, weaving through the sea of ostentatiously-dressed mobsters and businessmen. I felt like a lamb amongst wolves, like prey waiting to be devoured. “Come on, let’s get a couple of martinis,” my mom suggested. “One for you, one for me. It always helps at events like this.” My mom put in our orders, to which the bartender nodded and began preparing our drinks with swift expertise. While we waited, my mom turned toward me, her eyes twinkling as she scanned the crowd. My father was standing off somewhere, having an animated conversation with someone who I didn’t recognize. One would have thought that they were old friends, though, judging from how my father
Ella Logan glanced at me as though asking for permission. Right now, I wasn’t horribly keen on continuing our conversation about the fake wedding, so I nodded almost imperceptibly, grateful to have a few moments to myself to digest everything. “Very well,” Logan said with an almost inaudible sigh, turning back to face his brother. “Let’s go.” “Excellent,” Harry grinned, draping his arm around Logan’s shoulders. I watched as they walked away, but then my stomach sank. Marina wasn’t going with them. Her eyes assessed me, a smile curling her lips as if she were looking at a puzzle she was intent on solving. “Your dress is… lovely, Ella,” she began, her voice laced with a tinge of something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Was it jealousy? Sarcasm? “It… suits you. Surprisingly.” Surprisingly? I can sense the sarcasm in her voice, and for a moment, I want to ask her what she means. Now, more than ever, I wish I had my wolf in the back of my mind to help me navig
EllaThe reception was in full swing, the air filled with the soft sound of music, the clinking of cutlery and champagne glasses, and the pleasant murmur of guests. It was the perfect night, too; the sun had set, and the air outside had cooled to a pleasant temperature as the crickets and cicadas sang.Walking hand in hand with Logan, we approached the multi-tiered wedding cake. It was unbelievably tall, adorned with carefully piped flowers and leaves. There were two little figures at th
EllaThe reception hall was filled with the soft, warm glow of hundreds of candles, and the sound of gentle music filled the space. It really was everything that we had wanted. The wedding planner had outdone herself.“What do you think?” Logan asked, holding my hand as we meandered around the room. “Quite the party, huh?”
EllaThe doors to the chapel opened, and the soft sound of orchestral music filled my ears. This was it; this was the moment. Everything felt like it was moving so fast, and yet somehow it felt as though time was standing completely still at the same moment.I watched as the wedding planner gestured from the sidelines for the bridesmaids and groomsmen to pair up and walk through the doors, preceded by the flower girl—a family friend’s daughter, who looked absolutely precious
Ella“Are you nervous, Ella?” the makeup artist, Jenna, asked as she selected a palette of soft, natural colors that complemented my skin tone.Nervous would have been an understatement. It was the morning of my wedding; the day had finally come, after what had somehow felt like both an eternity and no time at all at the same time.
LoganI sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the little silver key in the palm of my hand.“I should just go and do it,” I whispered, more to myself than to my wolf. “Get it over with, right?”“What’s the worst that could happen?” my wolf added. “It’s
EllaAs I walked into the bridal boutique with my entourage, the little bell on the door chimed and I was immediately greeted with the scent of lavender and the smile of a bridal assistant.Daisy, Moana, Clara, and Sarah were with me; it was just a couple of days after the housewarming party, and our new house felt full to the brim with my family and Clara staying for a while. Not that I minded, though. It was fun having them here, and I was glad to have them all by my side as I tried on
LoganI was enjoying the party, watching with a smile on my face as Clara, Ella, and Sarah exchanged stories, when the sound of my phone ringing suddenly cut through the lively atmosphere.Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I felt my heart lurch in my chest. It was Hartman; I hadn’t heard from him in months. After Marina and Harry had taken off and Devon had been caught, I had paid Hartman for his help—even though our plan wound up being foiled—and that was the end of t
EllaThe months following Logan’s and my engagement was a whirlwind of change. We sold Logan’s mansion to a wealthy family from out of the area, and before I knew it, we were moving into our new home.It was a 1920s Spanish-style home, with warm stucco walls and breezy windows. The first floor was open concept, and I could already picture all of the wonderful parties we could have here. I fell in love with it immediately.
Ella“Sit down. Both of you.”Sarah and I exchanged wary glances. Her face was just as pale as mine probably was, and I felt a wrench in my stomach.“But Mr. Henderson, Sarah never—”