Yours Completely(59)

Ella was shocked. Delores had said some cruel things in the past few years, but how dare she talk about her father that way! “You're just angry you didn't check his bank account before marrying him.” Ella surprised herself at saying the words out loud. She'd thought them for years, but had never said them out loud.

Delores froze. Her mouth pinched into almost nothingness and her face whitened. “You have no idea, you ungrateful child. You deserve a hellhole like this. How you got that billionaire to even look twice at you is beyond me.”

Ella didn't know what to say. She'd never spoken to Delores like that. Ever. But she wasn't about to take the words back. “I love him.”

“Of course you do.” Delores couldn't have sounded more patronizing if she tried. “I'm sure he's promised you the world. Men like him always do, but I have a feeling you've already given all of your leverage away.”

Ella flushed. “That's none of your business.”

Delores's eyes widened. “I knew you were worthless, but apparently you don't even have the good sense to get paid. It looks like all you got was a pretty dress. You should have held out for at least some jewelry.”

Ella's jaw hurt from clenching it and her knuckles were white around the comb. If she had an inch less of self-control, Ella would have chucked it at the older woman's head. The implication that Jace was using her stung. She wanted her stepmother gone before she said or did something she'd really regret. “I'll see you tomorrow, Stepmother.”

“Have a good night, dear.” Delores chuckled. It was a low evil sound that held no joy. “Oh, and by the way, you're not the only one with a billionaire on your arm.”

Ella looked up surprised. “The father? You?” She had to stifle a laugh.

“Yes. He said I gave him the best night he's had in years.” Delores smiled, but there was no warmth. “Just imagine, if everything works out, I'll still be your stepmother.”

Ella said nothing as Delores sashayed her way out of the barn.

“You're wrong. You have no power over me,” Ella whispered, saying the words for the first time in her life. “I don't care what you do, you can't stop me from being with him.”

The defiant words made her blush and heat. For the first time in her life, she was ready to defy her stepmother, to refuse her father's wishes. It was frightening and powerful at the same time. But, for the first time, she had something worth fighting for.

Jace.





Chapter Twenty-Five


It was close to midnight, and Ella couldn't sleep. Her mind was racing from the day. Jace. The helicopter. What happened next. She couldn't sit still, let alone lay in bed and try and sleep.

So, she went to the lobby bar and took over for the bartender. The bartender was more than happy to get off a couple hours early and get out of cleaning up, especially since there was only two customers left.

Everything was quiet after the hustle and bustle of the wedding the day before. Ella was glad. Wiping down the bar and putting everything into place was soothing. She wished she could clean and organize her thoughts as easily, but Jace had her completely tangled up.

The tax man, still wearing the same dark suit and thin tie- or one exactly like it- stood up and left the perfect amount of cash with a ten percent tip neatly on the counter. Ella groaned as she remembered she hadn't given his card to Delores yet. The fact that he was still here troubled her. What kind of trouble was Delores in?

“You look like you need a drink,” the lone patron remarked, stealing her attention away.

“Unfortunately, I don't think it would help me much,” Ella replied, topping off his drink. She recognized him as Jace and Madelyn's father. He looked so much like Jace, yet entirely different. Where Jace looked bright and energetic, his father looked worn and defeated.

“You're smarter than me, then,” the man replied. His words were just slurred enough that Ella was glad he wasn't driving and it was a short walk to his room. “I'm Charles, by the way.”

“It's nice to meet you, Charles.” Ella poured him a glass of water to go with his whiskey just as Madelyn walked across the bar. “I'm Ella.”

“Hey, Daddy,” she greeted him, coming close to kiss his cheek. She wore a simple pale pink dress that looked far more tropical than the local climate supported. “I thought I would find you here. Hi, Ella.”

“Hi, baby girl,” her father said, his face lighting up as he kissed her back. He turned back to face Ella. “So you're the infamous Ella I've been hearing about.”

“Infamous?” Ella repeated. “I don't know if I'd call myself infamous.”

“Maddy was telling me how Ella the angel saved her wedding,” he said.