An American Cinderella:A Royal Love Story(35)

But, then I stalled. I couldn't find what I needed. With every passing  hour, I felt the minutes slipping by with no results to speak of. I  needed more time. I needed more resources.

I wasn't going to make it.

I checked my watch. The dress place was supposed to call me when my  dress was ready, but there was no message. It was past the time the  saleswoman had said they would call. Dread washed over me like a cold  shower. I called the dress shop.

"Hi, this is Aria Ritter. I was supposed to get a phone call when my  dress was ready and I haven't gotten one. I just wanted to check and  make sure everything was okay," I said to the woman who answered the  store phone.

"Aria Ritter? It says that you returned your dress. We don't have it anymore."

My stomach lurched. "What do you mean you don't have my dress?"

"You called last night and said you wouldn't be needing it anymore," the clerk explained. "We refunded your card."

"I never called. That wasn't me," I told her, trying to keep the panic out of my voice.

"They used your name and knew your information," the clerk replied. "On  the phone, we don't have any other way to verify. They had the correct  card information and knew the color and cut of the dress."

Audrey. It had to have been her. If she could hack my phone, figuring  out my credit card numbers would be a cake walk for her. I should have  known she would sabotage me somehow.

"I'll just come and pick it up as is," I said. I would figure out  something with the hem. I could duct tape the hem up. I'd done it before  for pants. A dress wouldn't be too much different. It would work.

"I'm really sorry, miss, but the dress is sold. Someone bought it this morning. We don't have it anymore," she explained.

"My dress is gone? Do you have another? Maybe in a different color?"

"I'm very sorry, but no. We don't have another. Maybe you can find another dress..."

I thought of how long it took me to find that dress. How I had matched my mask to the purple of the dress. I was out of luck.

"Thank you for your time." I clicked off the phone and stared at it in my hands.

Not only did I not have the research finished, but I didn't have a dress  anymore. My plan for an evening of freedom was quickly spiraling away.  My dress was gone and I didn't have time to find a new one. A tear  trickled down my cheek and I angrily wiped at it. I didn't want to cry. I  was so much stronger than this.

But I didn't know what to do. I'd finished the document scanning, but  didn't have anything to give to Audrey for it. I had some research, but  not enough to make her happy.

I didn't have a dress. If I tried to shop for one now, I wouldn't have time to finish the research.         

     



 

I put my head in my hands. I found myself wishing for my father. He  would know what to do. He would have helped me pick up the pieces to my  life. I needed him right now.

"So this is where you've been hiding out."

I nearly knocked over my chair in surprise as I turned to look at the  door. Standing in the doorway was Senator Glenn. She was probably old  enough to be my grandmother with short white hair and bright pale blue  eyes.

"Senator Glenn... what are you doing here?" I asked, moving away from my desk.

"I came to check on you," she replied. She stepped into the room, her  eyes traveling to the various boxes before resting on my computer. "I  assume that's the research you're working on for me."

I wasn't sure what the deal between the senator and my stepmother was when Anastasia took my place, so I didn't say anything.

"I thought so," Senator Glenn said with a shake of her head. "I should have known better than to trust Audrey Verna."

She sat down on one of the boxes and looked at me. She wore a pale blue pant suit that complimented her features nicely.

"What are you doing here?" I asked again, still unsure why my former employer was in this office.

"You emailed me the research instead of sending it through your  stepsister. I have to think it was as simple as hitting reply-all  instead of just reply. I can't tell you how many emails I get where it  happens," Senator Glenn explained.

"Oh." I swallowed hard. I was usually really careful about checking the  to: section of an email, but with everything going on in my life, I must  have not double checked like usual.

"I rather suspected it was you and not Anastasia. The work was too good. When you emailed me, it just confirmed it."

"So you're here because of the research? I'm doing my best. I just got it and-"

The senator held up her hand to stop me. "I'm here because you shouldn't  be doing it. I was promised that Anastasia was as good as you. That was  why I agreed to the switch. It was a way to make Audrey Verna happy and  possibly get another qualified aide. I never thought she'd make you do  her daughter's work."

I shrugged. "Never put anything past Audrey."

Senator Glenn nodded. "If I had known that she was going to drop you  here, I never would have agreed to it. She promised me that it would  further your career. That this was something you wanted."

I couldn't keep the bitter laugh contained. "That's what she told you?"

Senator Glenn grimaced. "Looking back, it's rather obvious. I'm sorry,  Aria. I never would have agreed to it if I had known what she was  actually planning. I really thought she had your best interests in  mind."

My anger rose, hot and searing, but then died just as quickly, leaving  me empty. The senator had been taken in by Audrey's charm just like so  many others had. Even I had believed my stepmother at times. Audrey  Verna was a professional liar and manipulator. The senator was simply  her latest mark.

"Well, I'm still working on that research for you," I said, sitting back  down in my chair in front of my laptop. "There's still a lot to do."

"You will stop immediately," Senator Glenn replied sharply. She stood up and closed the laptop.

"What? I thought you needed it as soon as possible."

"I needed it from Anastasia, not you. I will not have you working for  nothing." Her blue eyes flashed. "It's unacceptable that you haven't  received payment nor recognition for your work. I won't accept any more  of it."

"You mean, I'm done?" I held my breath. If I was done, I could go to the  ball. Well, if I could find a dress, and then go to the ball.

"I will inform your stepmother that the work was finished in a timely  and efficient manner. And then I'm going to fire her daughter," Senator  Glenn replied. "So I don't want you wasting another moment of your time  on this."

I let out a sigh of relief that almost came out as a laugh. "Now I just need a dress."

Senator Glenn frowned slightly, her head tilting to the side. "What do you need a dress for?"

"I've been invited to the Paradisian Masquerade Ball," I explained. "But, my dress... my dress is gone."

"The Paradisian Masquerade Ball? How wonderful!" A slow smile crept  across the Senator's face. "I think I might be able to help you."

I frowned, not following. The senator and I were nowhere near close to  the same size to where we could share a dress. I was almost a foot  taller than her, and hadn't had three boy children.         

     



 

"What do you mean?"

"Are you still living at your mom's place? The apartment by the train station?"

"Yeah. How do you know about it?" I asked, wondering how she knew it was  my mother's place. It wasn't like I put that the apartment was my  mother's on any forms.

Senator Glenn smiled. "I knew your mother. I actually was the one who  introduced her to your father." She smiled at the memory. "Your mother  was a paralegal in my firm. I picked up many files from her at that  apartment. You have her brains and beauty. She'd be very proud of you."

The world froze for a moment as I remembered the woman with dark hair  and a beautiful smile that I could only seem to remember in dreams.

"I didn't know that you knew them both," I said softly. I knew the  senator had worked with my father, but I never suspected she knew my  mother as well. It was so rare to hear anyone speak of my mother. She'd  died when I was just a child, and there weren't very many people left in  the world that remembered her.

"I tried to keep them apart. Your father was all fire and trouble back  then. I didn't want him corrupting Sarah." The senator laughed. "But  George loved her as soon as he saw her, and really, who could blame him?  Your mother was wonderful."

I cupped my chin in my hands, my elbows on my desk, and drank in her  words. It had been a long time since anyone had spoken about my parents.  Their names were magic words to my mind of a happier and simpler time. A  time of love.

Senator Glenn's eyes softened and came back from the past to focus on  me. "I'd like to do something for you. In honor of them, and because I  feel terrible about this job situation."