Chapter 2: An Opportunity

Cinderella Farmington P.O.V

Few weeks later.......

A few weeks passed and I didn’t have the opportunity to escape my stepmother's careful gaze. it took a while for us to meet again several times, and they were just brief and short meetings. A week went by before I eventually managed to see him in the forest while I was picking some mushrooms and medicinal plants. Although It was brief and after an hour I had to rush back home, knowing that my stepmother would look for me if I was late again.

Tonight, I managed to sneak away unnoticed, and went straight to the forest again, where Conrad liked hanging out alone. I'm currently sitting alone, in the dark woods. A bit afraid to be out late by this time of the night in the woods but is confident, that this part of the woods is Conrad favourite spot.

Trying to distract myself from fear, I thought about Conrad instead, He turned out to be a completely different man than I had originally thought he was. 

With me, he's a gentleman, always asking about my passions, dreams, my stepmother and my dead father. All his perfect moves and behavior just made me develop real feelings for him... 

A few years ago what I had for Conrad was just a crush, a wish but now it's more than that. I now have all this feelings for him that might even be too overwhelming for me to handle, I can literally feel my wants, desire, love, care and affection for him flowing and oozing around me anytime I think of him...

And I think of him all the time since he's literally the best thing that has happened to me in a very long long time.

I sighed loudly, breaking out of my thoughts as I realised that my stepmother will most likely to be furious with me if she ever discovers by now that I had left home without her permission to the forest to meet a man that I've had a serious crush.

This kind of thing or game that am playing right now is quite unacceptable and simply wrong in eyes of high society. I've always been the responsible and kind one. Have never been a troublemaker like my stepsisters. I've always been the practical one, always thought twice about everything I've ever done, but tonight I decided to stop being compliant and restrained...

For the past few minutes I've been telling myself that I made the right decision by sneaking out but now it seems I was wrong. Because it seems Conrad isn't coming after all, and I definitely can't risk staying out any longer.

I definitely don't want to anger my stepmother even further. I left the house after dark to come to the woods and in my defense that part is quite a hell of an effort, because normally I refused to go outside once the sun has gone down.

Chewing my lips I began practising in my head what I would say to him once he showed up and that's how I didn't even notice when someone approached me. A split second later, goosebumps appeared on my arms and I lifted my head.

“Hello, my beautiful Cindy. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw you tonight, sitting here In the woods all alone.”He says with his alluring voice.

I didn’t even need to look up or hear his voice to know that it was my Conrad. He’s now standing right in front of me. Tonight he looked even more handsome than any other time that I've ever seen him. The only reason that I snuck out tonight is because I truly missed him.

That's it, am done sitting around, waiting for my true love to appear out of thin air. I need to take matters into my own hands.

Conrad may very well not be the prince charming my parents preached about but he very fit the criteria!

Conrad is very tall, with broad shoulders and dark, curly hair. I suddenly remembered the way he stole a kiss the second time we met in the forest.

“Darling, you will be angry with me, but I can’t seem to control myself around you,” he told me a few weeks ago when we were in the forest, sitting on a broken tree. 

My palms were damp with sweat and I had felt a sudden warmth spreading throughout my body, causing my heart to pound loudly in my chest. When I looked at him to ask what he meant, he had leaned over and captured my lips in his. My mind screamed at me to react and before I could pull away, Conrad brought me closer and continued kissing me deeply, devouring me completely.

I responded, and we kissed for ages. He kissed me the same way he kissed me that night only hotter this time. My body was on fire, the squeaky noise of a bird from the nearest tree distracted me.

The chemistry between the both of us is fire... We haven't seen each other since and have been going crazy being stuck at home. Everyone in town thinks that am shy and innocent, because have always been so well behaved, but deep down I'd always yearned to be more adventurous.

I've dreamed of having the whole fairy tale romance since I was a little girl thanks to my parents. Over the past several years, I've kept that dream deep inside my heart, thinking that soon someone special would appear and sweep me off of my feet. 

“Well, you don’t have to be alone anymore my darling, because I’m here to keep you company.”Those had been his words the Sunday we met again when I went him in the market”He said.

After our first meeting in the market, stepmother ordered me to do the shopping and come back home as soon as I was done. I guess she must have noticed that gastly happy smile on my face, and my step mother obviously doesn't want to see me smile...

I was only able to sneak out today because my stepmother has been busy with paperwork all day and when she finally retired for the evening, I quickly slipped out through the back door.   

“I've been counting the days, and couldn’t stop thinking about you too,”I finally say, snapping back from the kiss memory and back to reality... 

He stared at my lips again, and a warm buzzing sensation spread through my body. I suddenly feel excited about breaking the rules again. Before I had bumped into Conrad at the market, every day of my life has been the same: it's all just been a fucking ritual, I wake up, cooked, prepared meals, fed the chickens, cleaned, then cooked dinner and by the evening I'll be so fucking exhausted that I'll just drop dead on the bed, falling asleep instantly, And the same Ritual will continue over and over again..

But these past few weeks has been different, it's more than my daily routine. Tonight I'm actually doing something for myself.

Conrad has proven to me he’s a wise man, and tonight am ready to move further and show him that I'm truly ready to commit to him. I don’t want to wait for the right moment , I feel like Conrad is the man for me.

This man here could literally eventually marry me!

“Cinderella … you’re driving me insane, and I know that your stepmother is very strict, but I think you should introduce me to her. She would love me, and then we wouldn’t have to sneak around anymore,” Conrad says, and accidentally or totally on purpose brushed his thighs against mine. I felt a jolt of electricity running down my legs, and suddenly realised that his face is only inches away from mine. I could smell his cologne that fresh musky scent that instantly turns me on.

“I don’t know, maybe it’s too soon. She would hate that I met with you in secret, behind her back,”I explained, remembering the past when I was standing at the window watching my stepsisters going out to parties, while I had to stay at home and clean.

It's quite disheartening and sad that my stepmother tends to make things hard for me. She literally dosen't care about my feelings.

Even with all the madness in my life, I have no idea what has gotten into me, especially considering my fear of the dark. But am here aren't I, in the woods, in the dark with a boy!

And tonight I've decided to become a new Cindy. I even stole a very revealing white dress from my stepmom a few hours earlier and am not the type to steal things. But I can't help myself, I have no pretty dress to impress Conrad with, most of all my jewelries and clothing has been taken by my stepmother ever since my father passed away. Even the dresses that used to belong to my mother were stolen by her....

 My stepmother isn't a very nice person in general.

The exact word to describe her is Evil.

Evil!

Conrad stood up and reached out to take my hand. The forest ranger is only looking at me tonight, and after our secret meeting, am certain that he wants me as much as I want him. 

The truth is my stepmother was never mean or evil. Ever since my father died, my life has never been the same. My stepmother turned into someone completely different as soon as my father’s will was read aloud. She became demanding, sharp, and started ordering me around, making Me clean and cook all day long. Apart from my stepmother, I have two stepsisters who are also very cruel to me most of the time. I hate the way they taunt me with the good and fine clothing they wear, I hate the fact that they feel they have the right to call me names. I hate the fact that they're allowed to slap me if I ever disagreed with them about something and I can't slap them back.

It's just not fair and I intend to use Conrad in getting out of that torment. My luck tonight could finally change. Finding a man who would want to marry me so I can leave that horrid life behind.

“Come on my beauty, let’s go deep into the forest”Conrad says, winking at me. In my head I'm willing and ready to give him my virtue, my mind is reeling with unbidden thoughts of things I've never experienced before.

“I wish that I could stop time somehow, I don’t want to leave you later on,”I whisper to him.

Conrad sighed loudly, like he understood where am coming from. When he glanced at me, and I saw the lust in his eyes. I didn’t even have to overthink this anymore. The forest ranger likes me, and I can already see my happy ending unfolding before my eyes. Him standing in front of my step Mom and asking for my hand.

We walked and talked for a bit. Most of the time Conrad was asking questions about the stories that I liked reading and times spent with my father when he was alive. He always seems very interested in my life.

An hour later, we were moving through the forest, laughing and chasing each other, trying to ease off the sexual tension. For a second, I didn’t really care that it was so dark or that it would normally freak me out to be in the dark. None of it mattered at that particular moment, because I got what I wanted. Am finally alone with Conrad.

He caught up with me after several minutes of playing around. He grabbed me from behind, I screamed and we both fell to the ground. 

It took me several moments to realise that I was lying on top of him; my heart was jackhammering in my chest. I realised I'm now in a position I've only dreamed of and didn’t exactly know how to react.

“You’re so stunning, my Cinderella. I can’t seem to control myself around you any longer. Where the hell have you been all my life?” he asked, staring at me with his intense brown eyes, practically undressing me with his gaze. Desire stirred in the pit of my stomach, and before I could think about a coherent response, Conrad kissed me.

And oh boy the kiss made my toes curl, sending a stream of heat through my entire body. I didn’t waste time, and instinctively grabbed Conrad’s cheeks and pulled him to me harder, then slipped my tongue into his mouth. Heat started ravaging my body as my nipples hardened. 

We were both twisting and turning on the cold ground, out bodies tangled with each other, and I loved every second of it. Suddenly Conrad grabbed my arse, and started moving his hand underneath my dress. 

“Oh yes, my sweet girl, you taste unbelievable,” he whispers into my ears, touching the sensitive parts of my body that no one had ever touched before. I arched my head backwards and gasped when Conrad started sucking along the column of my neck, followed by feather soft kisses across my jaw until he reached my full mouth, while moving his long, thick fingers down my thigh once more.

I've never felt so liberated in my entire life, blood pounded in my ears and I instantly thought that he was the one.

“Cindy Farmington, get off that man and get out here right this instant or I’ll drag you out from the bushes myself!”

The voice of my stepmother startled me and I jumped back to my feet like my arse was on fire. Blood rushed to my ears and I quickly glanced back at Conrad, mortified. 

I have no idea how my stepmother found me. But we're in the middle of the forest, away from the road.

“I have to go,”I muttered, thinking that my stepmother must have followed me all the way out here. It was the only logical explanation. 

She has interrupted my perfect date, making me look like an idiot. My stepmother grabbed my elbow and started dragging me across the forest towards the house.

“I can’t believe you slipped out of the house—right under my nose. Your father would be turning in his grave if he knew that you were kissing some strange man. Anyone could have heard you out there”She screeches..

You stupid, stupid girl. I’ll lock you up in the attic and you can stay there forever!” My stepmother shouted.

The truth is that, strangely enough am not that scared of her. It's like now am awake, sober, and alert, now am out of the dark bondage I was in before. 

In the past when my father was still very much alive, I was always happy and cheerful. Then I lived in a big home with a stunning garden and a few outbuildings. I don't really remember my mother that much, I just know she died when I was young. My father was a very good man, and he looked after me well even after her death.

Several years later, when I turned thirteen my father decided to remarried. Pricilia my step mom was a divorcee with two daughters. Apparently she met my father at the market in another kingdom.

Pricilia has been after my father's money from the beginning and only married him because he was wealthy. She had practically prearranged the perfect plan of seduction and after weeks of seeing him, he finally proposed. No one saw the truth but me; I even overhead Teresa and Susanna talking and laughing about how my father had been so clueless. 

As I grew older, my father felt guilty leaving me alone when he travelled, and he wants me to have company—that’s why he married pricilia.

One day after a month of absence in one of his travels, a telegram arrived and that was when pricilia broke the news about my father death and his heart attack. That had been the worst days of my life.

I was truly devastated.

“You are ruining your reputation, Cindy. No one will ever want you once the rumours spread that you’re making out with strangers in the bushes,”Pricilla continued saying as we were outside the house, I just couldn't listen anymore. 

I could feel the heat of hot shame and humiliation rush into me. The way she embarrassed me Infront of my ranger, I just can't take it. I ran up to my room in the attic, and even if I'd wanted to explain myself to her about me and Conrad.

She wouldn't even give me the chance!

Curse it!

My stepmom just literally ruined my plan of escape and I don't even know when I might see Conrad again. 

Several minutes later, pricilia burst into my room, which didn’t happen very often except when she wants to lock me up as punishment.

“I know what I’m doing. Conrad thinks I’m beautiful, and you can’t keep telling me what to do. I’m an adult now,”I say hastily to her but not daring to look her in the eye as I made that statement.

I then sneaked a glance at her and saw the look of shock in her face!

This is probably the first time have talked back or even be defensive. I mean she should definitely look shocked and surprised because it's about time already. I simply can't allow this woman boss or push me around, she's been doing it for too long now.

I can't let her to continue treating me like some garbage.

“Young lady don’t be stupid, Men will always want obedient wives and you’re a spoiled brat who doesn’t know how to behave. Your father asked me to take care of you, and I’m doing this for your own good,” She said, brushing her forehead like she's going to faint and then barged out the door, muttering something about responsibility and attitude.

I laughed, shaking my head. 

“Is this really the lady I was so afraid to speak up to”I thought to myself, I guess the fear in me has been eradicated...

Although the one thing am afraid of right now is that the forest ranger would never speak to me again. I've always thought about running away or breaking out, but then what?

I'll have nowhere to go and besides pricilia is still my guardian until am finally married...

Taking a deep breath, stopping myself from panicking. I decided to worry about the unknown tomorrow because after a that drama am very tired and weak and my body can't seem to wash off tonight’s events and utter humiliation. 

I changed into my nighty, then slipped under the thin covers. My bed is quite old and not very comfortable, the attic room was once used by the maids of the Manor...

And now it seems have occupied that position but no worries, I need to stay positive, thinking of better days to come.

I close my eyes and started to imagine my first real date with Conrad and him making love to me. 

All of my dreams were suddenly interrupted by the sound of horses outside. I threw back the covers and ran to the window to see who was paying my stepmother a visit so late at night and my heart skipped a beat when I saw a royal carriage with snow white horses. 

Shortly after, the coachman stepped out and greeted my stepmother in front of the house. I watched secretly from my window as the coachman looks regal dressed in a white uniform. Suddenly I remembered that some women at the market were saying that Prince Aldrich father, King Alaric, is planning to organise a ball for his son. Apparently, he's fed up that the prince isn't even considering settling down, and he wants him to find a wife.

The coachman smiled politely towards my stepmother and handed her something that looked like an invitation. That letter could only mean one thing.

King Alaric has finally made up his mind and organised a ball. My eyes begins to sparkle with excitement as I watched how the coachman handed my mother four envelopes. Yes, she couldn’t have been wrong, she saw four letters, which meant one of the letters is meant for me.

Finally!

There’s no way my stepmother would make a decision about me attending the ball or not. And even if she tired I will find a way to sneak out or run. 

Either way this is an opportunity yet again....

My spirits are practically soaring. I'm definitely going to the ball no matter what, because this might be my only chance to meet with the forest ranger, the man I know will love and cherish me.

The man I know I'll eventually love.

The man who will ask for my hand

The man who could be my escape!