Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
I’d started learning the business as soon as I could walk, but I wasn’t ready to lose my father and mentor. There was no time for me to mourn before I was suddenly thrown into the deep end alone, and since then I’ve been trying to keep my head above water.
“This is the first year without him,” my mother says softly as she touches the invitation, and I realize that she used to attend all of these with him.
They were an arranged marriage, but they fell in love and ended up being best friends. They had fun going to parties, and he loved dancing with her at all of these events. I can only imagine the pain of losing someone you cared for that deeply.
I’ve been so busy with work that I often forget about my mom losing a husband and my sister losing her hero. It’s left a hole in our family, and she’s not wrong: This falls on my shoulders now.
“Tell Avery to lay a suit out for me,” I say and offer her a smile. “And my most comfortable dancing shoes.”
“I’ll see you downstairs in an hour.” When I open my mouth to argue, she shakes her head. “One hour, Leo.”
“One hour,” I agree, and she smiles happily as she leaves my office.
I lean back in my chair and stare out the window onto the perfectly manicured grounds. Our family has owned this land for centuries, and at one time the castles on the property were lived in by my ancestors. When my great-grandfather got married, he had a modern estate built which serves as the main house today. But Zelly refuses to live in the main house with my mother and me even though we are separated by immense wings that are practically their own houses within the house. She could have her own space, but still she prefers the solitude of the castle to living with us.
I'm busy thinking about how the hell I’m going to choose a suitable husband for my sister when an alert on my phone shows a text message from my best friend.
Flynn: Are you going tonight?
Me: Unfortunately my mother has insisted.
Flynn: Good. Now we can talk shit about the Vault twins taking over Cinder Financial.
Me: Speaking of talking shit, save a dance for my mother.
Flynn: She hates me.
Me: I know.
Flynn: You’ll owe me. Big time.
Me: Don’t I always?
Flynn: Yeah, but I mean it this time. If I’ve got to sacrifice my pinkies to your mother’s stilettos, I deserve something good in return.
Me: How about my sister? I’m supposed to find her a husband tonight, so you’d be doing me a favor.
Flynn doesn’t respond before I see an urgent email I need to reply to, and then I’m swept up in work. Before I realize it, my valet Avery is coming into my office and telling me I’ll have to get dressed quickly if I’m going to make it on time.
My dark suit is embroidered with gold on the lapels, and I’m wearing a gold tie and vest. My mother is in all black, and I’m not surprised. It’s the only color she’s worn since my father died, but I don’t mention it as I tell her she looks beautiful.
Tonight is about fulfilling my family obligations and nothing more. I’m supposed to treat my mother to a night out, interview prospective husbands for my sister, and strengthen business relationships that mutually benefit Prince Enterprise.
It’s too bad nothing goes according to my plan.
Chapter Three
ELLA
“Ella, dear, what are you doing?” I pull my nose out from the book I’m reading to see my stepmom in the doorway of my bedroom.
After I got done cooking with Oliver, I slipped out and took a shower before putting on my comfy pajamas for the night.
“Reading.” I hold up the book, smiling at her. It’s always nice when Fiona knows my name.
Even when she doesn’t remember, she’s always so sweet and tells me I’m the most beautiful thing she’s ever seen.
I enjoy it until she talks about introducing me to one of her sons. It is a bit funny, though, that she’ll whisper that they need a strong woman to put them in their place. At least on some level, she knows her sons aren’t perfect, but I’m sure that would be hard. To love them but know that they aren’t the best.
“Reading? Now?”
“Ah, yeah. Do you want me to read to you?” I ask as I pat the other side of my bed. I’m guessing not, though, since her makeup and hair are already done. She must be going to the party tonight.
“You can read to me while you’re in the makeup chair if you want.”
“What?” I ask, confused.
“The party is starting soon. You can be fashionably late but not too late. Don’t you want to see if there are any handsome men?” She gives me a smirk I know all too well, and I hold back the lump in my throat.