Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91049 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91049 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
“I have to go. Thank you for everything.”
“It was my pleasure. I hope this evening is all that you imagined and more. Make sure to enjoy yourself.”
“I will as much as work will allow,” I say.
“But you’re off tonight. No one will know it’s you. Since the evil ones wanted to handle this evening, let them. You go as a guest and enjoy time with a handsome prince, if you catch my drift.”
I pause for a moment. She has a point. I could very well go through with being a guest this evening and no one would know. The staff riding with me wouldn’t say a word if I asked them not to. They can let me know if there’s an emergency or something.
This way I can find the Blakes and salvage their event before my stepsisters and stepmother lose the entire account. The idea starts to take root. I like it more and more by the second.
A handsome prince. She has no idea how right she is in that statement. Again, I think of what I found in my research.
“I might just do that.”
CHAPTER 4
Arrival
Cinder
“Why me?” I huff and groan into my hands.
I had to send my staff ahead of me in two Ubers. Our car broke down, leaving me on the side of the road because even with the two Ubers there wasn’t enough room for me, especially not with this big dress on.
“I’m so sorry, ma’am,” the driver peeks his head into the back window to say. Funny how his tone has changed. “My boss said he’s rushing a car here for you. It’ll be the same; you’ll have to leave the event by midnight. I’m sorry about that.”
“At this point, I should just go home,” I mutter.
I’m still stewing in the back seat thirty minutes later when the door opens. The driver gives me an awkward smile as he holds out his hand.
“Your ride is here. It’s a beaut.’”
I sigh and take his hand to climb out. I stop in my tracks as the black-and-blue Wraith comes into view. It’s not what I was expecting at all.
“I’ll have you there in no time, ma’am,” the new driver says.
“Thank you.”
I melt into the seat as I sit inside the car. I truly feel like a princess. This day has continued to go from one extreme to the other. I’m liking the results.
I almost forgot how breathtaking the location is. As the car starts the drive over the bridge, I look down at the water crashing against the stone wall below. It gives such a majestic feel to the bridge and the castle-like structure on top of the cliff on the other side.
“This is one pretty place,” the driver says before releasing a low whistle.
“Yes, it is.”
When we roll up to the front of the castle, there aren’t any cars ahead of us. It looks like I’m the last guest to arrive. The photographers and reporters are still milling around—I’m sure waiting for whatever scoop they can get once the guests are all drunk and reckless.
Everyone starts to come alive once the car comes to a stop. I inhale, trying to still my beating heart. I don’t know what I was thinking. I shouldn’t be here.
“Can you give me a few seconds?” I plead with the driver before he can get out.
“Sure, whatever you need. You look exquisite, by the way. They’re sure to take some amazing photos of you.”
That doesn’t serve to help my nerves or my pounding heart. I get ready to tell him that we should leave, but something catches my eye as the doors open in wait for me.
Step One and Step Two are mingling with the guests and not handling the party as they should be. I know it’s them because of those ugly, overpriced dresses they insisted on buying. I had to hear about them for weeks. As if seeing them wasn’t enough to make me gag.
My blood is boiling. If they mess this party up, I’ll kill them both. I need to get inside and make sure the clients are happy. This is still my family’s business that I need to protect.
“I’m ready,” I say as I fortify my nerves.
* * *
Princeton
I step out onto the balcony to fume all by myself. She’s not here. I’ve stopped every worker with a clipboard to ask for their boss and they keep pointing me in the direction of those vile women.
When I asked for the one who gets shit done, I was told she has the night off. I’m so pissed. I could be in my apartment with her brown thighs around my neck if my mother would have followed my directive.
“Fuck,” I mutter.
The flashing of lights gets my attention below. Looking down, my breath is stolen away. A beauty in a strapless blue-and-silver dress climbs from the back of a Wraith. She’s stunning, even with her face covered.