As they walked back to the manor, Nick led Ella to the side entrance so she could go to the ladies’ bathroom with no observers. She really needed to clean up.“Do you want me to wait here for you or meet you back in the ballroom?” Sliding an arm around her waist, pulling her in close.He had put his mask back in place and, like her, she could only see the lower half of his face. Yet, the sight she beheld during their rendezvous under the moonlight was breathtaking. His eyes were as dark as his hair. With a soft touch, Ella traced her hand along his sculpted jaw. She loved the sensation of his stubble grazing her fingers.“I think we both have been away too long. You go back. I’ll join you in a few minutes.” Leaning in, he kissed her hungrily. Not wanting to let her out of his sight even for a minute.“I’ll be waiting for you. I also think we need to talk before the night is over.” Giving her one last kiss before turning and heading down the stairs to the ballroom.Ella entered the bat
As he ran to the top of the stairs leading to the grounds surrounding the manor and driveway. Nick looked both ways, scanning cars and pathways, looking for Cindy everywhere. Starting down the stairs, he kept looking, hoping to spot her bright hair in the moonlight.He moved at a fast clip down the driveway along the line of cars. He had a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach, knowing she had run from him. Needing to know what she had heard. Was it just he was a prince?Nick heard footsteps, turning to see Stephen running to catch up to him. “Do you see her? Tate just told me your date has run off.”“No. I can’t find her.” Nick didn’t see any cars start up or lights turn on.“Do you know why she left like that? Phone her. Ask.”“I would if I knew it.”“She was your date. How do you not have her number?”Frustrated, Nick said, “she wasn’t my date. I tried to stop a scene I could see brewing with Ava and I was trying to help. Cindy is a local.”“No way mate, I don’t know a Cindy and I
It wasn’t until the next morning Nick found out why Cindy must of ran and he was mad as hell and ready to kill Ava. The only thing that was stopping him was his friendship with Stephen. Ava had found out from Stephen that he was getting pressured to marry his sister-in-law and was currently hiding out in England. The little bitch had thought this gossip too good and had spread it around.Like any piece of gossip, she had told the story wrong. She had told everyone he was to marry Sophia. Had that been why Cindy had run? Had she heard this rumour?Sitting down with Stephen and Tate having breakfast the morning after the ball, his friend couldn’t apologise more. But now he needed to find Cindy because the damage was already done.He struggled to comprehend her virginity. She had been so sensual, so tantalising and exotic. Their sexual chemistry was like he had never experienced before.He would not let her slip through his fingers once he found her. If he was being forced to marry. Why
Sunday morning, Ella had breakfast with Emily at her friend’s apartment before Ella made her excuses and left. Emily had questions that at this time Ella wasn’t ready to give. Only repeating the same part of the story she had told her last night. She couldn’t tell her friend the whole truth. She couldn’t even voice it out aloud.Ella didn’t sleep well last night, running the events of the ball through her mind. Feeling sick just thinking about it all.If she had stayed the previous night in her own place, Ella was sure she would have cried herself to sleep. She had stayed a virgin this long. If she was going to give away her virginity so easily, why hadn’t she pushed to sleep with Stephen during their engagement? Instead, she had given it to someone she just met at a masked ball.A two-timing asshole at that. Ella felt very discontented and disappointed in herself. In the end, she solely held herself accountable. She had behaved recklessly last night. The situation was contributed bec
Nick looked out one of the top floor windows at the manor later that day. He watched the reporters being held back at the gates by his security team.Devlin, his personal guard, watched the scene alongside him. “Sir, I have to say running like you did without proper security was a very dangerous move.”Because of their long-standing relationship, Nick didn’t take offence at Devlin speaking to him in this manner. He had known the man even before he had started working for his family. “I know, I get it. Just needed to get away. Becoming the crown prince wasn’t part of my plan, especially with the pressure from my dad to marry Sophia. Who I don’t want.”Nick was sure Sophia had manipulated his father into believing it was the best thing for everyone, that they should get married. “I would denounce my title before I marry that woman.”Having witnessed Sophia in action for years, Devlin understood his reasoning. He held little to no respect for the woman. “Tell your father the truth about S
Saying goodbye to them both, Stephen turned and joined his friend outside.Ella breathed an enormous sigh of relief. Wanting to ensure her well-being, Stephen showed kindness.Her rudeness and sharp manner were so unlike her. However, their friendship was forever changed. She knew it was silly, but she could never trust him not to hurt her again. It wasn’t so much their engagement had broken up; it was how it had ended and that everyone knew in town. She didn’t want to be pitied. Even if they try for some sort of friendship now, Ava just wouldn’t allow it.Ella was pleased and stupidly angry that Nick remained unaware of the presence of his mysterious woman.Swinging around to her friend, Ella found Em leaning against the counter, looking at her. Waiting.“Well, safe for another day.” Ella rushed out.“Yes! But is that really what you want?” Em questioned“Why wouldn’t I? I don’t want anyone to find out.”Emily reasoned, “Maybe deep down, babe, you do. There must have been something b
Tate saved her. “Ella, why don’t you come to the kitchen with me to help Sally bring in the appetisers?” Gratefully Ella smiled and followed Tate out of the room. She moved around Nick, being sure not to touch him or make eye contact on the way past.The kitchen allowed Ella to get her raging heart under control. Seeing Nick being around him made her heart race and her body flush. It also gave Tate the time she needed to vent.“……I still can’t believe Stephen is marrying her instead of you.”Ella walked over to Tate, touching her shoulder to get her to turn around. “Tate! Honey, while I love the fact you feel the need to fight my battles. This isn’t a battle I want to win.” Leaning against the table.How to word this to not upset Tate. “Stephen and I should never have been more than friends. We just let everyone push us along to get married. It really made everyone else more happy than we were. I loved your brother, but not in a way that a wife should love her husband. When you meet t
Ella felt like the universe was working against her. Ella observed Nick was seated on her left. Tate occupied the seat on Ella’s right. Across from her was Ava, with Stephen sitting opposite Nick. Leaving her dad sitting at one end of the table with the two men and Mary at the other, with Jenny sitting next to her.Maybe it was better that Nick was beside her, rather than in front. He was less likely to see more than her profile throughout the meal.They received their creamy soup almost straight away. Mary was talking softly to her mother.“So Nick, we will see you at our wedding, correct? Being a good friend of Stephen’s, you can’t possibly let him down.” Ava said loudly.Nick looked up from his soup. “As I told Stephen, I would do my utmost to make it to the wedding. But unfortunately, until I get home, I will not be sure if I can get back.”“You have your own wedding to get ready for, I’m sure.” Ava replied pouting, because she would like the exposure and press coverage that it wo