by Krista Lakes
“I'd like that. Have a great trip, Madelyn. Bye, Jason,” Ella replied. “Have the best honeymoon ever!”
The happy couple laughed and headed out of the bar to escape into a world all their own. Ella watched them go, drying the glass for far longer than it needed. Watching the two of them was almost disgustingly sweet, but at the same time wonderful. She wondered for a moment if she and Jace looked like that.
“I'm so damn proud of that girl,” Charles said softly. He cradled his drink in his hand as if it were his child to protect. “I wasn't the best father in the world. But I'm going to change that.”
Ella didn't say anything. The way he moved reminded her of Jace, and she found herself wondering what had happened to make Charles so different from Jace. She knew how Jace felt about his father, but she was trying her best not to let that cloud her judgment on the man.
“I'm a failure as a father. My son will be the first person to tell you that,” Charles continued. There was a soft heartache to his voice that made Ella sad. “But, this wedding and seeing my daughter so happy has changed things. I want to be better. I'm going to be better. I can't change the past, but I can be there for my kids in the future.”
“That's a good thing,” Ella said quietly. She'd heard a lot of drunken promises at this bar, but she hoped this was one that would come true. She hoped he could do it. “I need to go grab some more cleaning cloths. I'll be right back.”
Charles nodded as she headed to the small storage space behind the bar. She could still see Charles sitting at the bar, staring into his drink and promising change as Delores walked up.
Ella's eyes widened as Delores draped her arm over Charles. “Hello, big boy.” How Delores could manage to sound so seductive was beyond Ella.
“Big boy?” Charles looked up surprised. No recognition flashed on his face.
“Yeah, you liked it when I called you that last night.” Delores still purred her words, but a little of her confidence melted from her posture.
“That was you?” Charles looked her up and down, his eyes still cold. “You don't look the same.”
“I should look even better today. You said last night was the best night of your life. You said you wanted to see me again.” Delores lost the softness and suddenly looked feral.
“Honey, I say that to everyone I sleep with,” Charles said, no emotion in his voice. “To be honest, you weren't anything special. Certainly nothing I'd fight another divorce for.”
“What?” Delores flushed. The temperature seemed to drop ten degrees, even in the storage room. Ella was glad that she wasn't out there. Hopefully, her stepmother would never know that she'd seen this humiliation. Delores would only torture Ella for having viewed her shame.
“My current wife ignores my dalliances and I ignore hers.” Charles took a sip of his drink. “You aren't worth the lawyers fees to change that.”
Delores's jaw hit the floor. She couldn't have looked more shocked if Charles had straight up hit her. “But...”
“Look, you want a drink? Whenever the bartender gets back, have one on me.”
“A drink? After what I did for you last night?” Delores spit out the words like they were bitter seeds. “Here's a drink for you.”
With that, she reached to the bar, grabbed the glass of water, and threw it in Charles face before storming off. Charles just stared after her, water streaming down his face. He didn't even blink.
Ella waited until Delores was out of the bar before coming out the storage area. Without a word, she offered Charles some napkins to wipe himself off. He calmly proceeded to dry himself off as if getting drinks thrown in his face was a normal occurrence. If what Jace said about him was true, it probably was.
“One more drink, and then I think you're good for the night,” Ella said, pouring him a fresh glass of whiskey. “This one's on the house.”
“Won't the boss lady be angry?” Charles asked. He looked up at her with blue eyes. They didn't have the green that made Jace's so beautiful, but they had enough of Jace in them to make her smile with memory of him.
“She's always angry with me,” Ella informed him.
Charles lifted his glass. “Sounds good to me, darling.” He took a nice deep sip. “You seeing anyone? You'd be a great match for my son.”
Ella nearly dropped the bottle of whiskey.
“Your son?” Ella repeated. “What makes you say that?”
“You make me smile. You make Madelyn smile.” Charles looked up at her with red rimmed eyes. “He needs someone who can make him smile. And who isn't afraid of the boss.”
Ella topped off his drink. “Don't tell the boss.”
Charles laughed and took another sip. “I don't think she wants to hear from me anyway.”
Ella picked up her dishrag and kept finished wiping down the bar with a smile on her face.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The hotel hallways were deserted as she walked back to her room. Her phone had a message from Jace. He'd sent it an hour ago and it wasn't anything crazy, just a hello with a smiling icon. Still, it made her pulse race. He followed it up with a message about breakfast before his flight left.
Her fingers paused over the keypad, trying to find the best words to say what she felt. She bit her lip, waiting for inspiration to strike. She wanted to type more than just “yes!” because that felt too simple. She wanted to make his heart race as much as hers did.
“What do you think you're doing?”
Delores stepped out of her office and directly into Ella's path. She nearly dropped the phone in surprise.
“Going to bed.” Ella turned off the screen without responding back to Jace. The last thing she wanted was for Delores to see her texting the man who'd scorned her's son.
“It's no longer your day off.”
Ella sighed. One encounter with Delores today was more than enough. “I don't want to do this right now. I just want to go to bed.”
“Do you want this inn or not?” Delores narrowed her eyes. They were full of a cruelty that frightened Ella. “All I have to do to stop you from getting this piece of crap is to say you didn't put forth the effort required. You don't magically get this place at twenty-two.”
“You wouldn't,” Ella gasped. The idea that anyone would believe her stepmother was ridiculous, but she'd heard enough horror stories about inheritances and lawyers to make her frightened. If anyone could pull off something that evil, it was Delores.
“Give me your phone,” Delores demanded, holding out her hand.
“No.” Ella took a step back. “I'm going to bed.”
“Give me your phone,” Delores commanded again. This time she reached out and took it directly from Ella's hands. The scent of rum filled Ella's nose, overpowering her for a moment. Ella fought to keep the phone, but Delores had the element of surprise and a viciousness that Ella wasn't prepared for.
“You can't take that!” Ella growled, lunging for the phone, but Delores was ready and simply moved out of reach.
“You are back on my time, Ella. Your day off is over. You want this inn? You have to earn it.” Delores slid the phone into her dress where Ella couldn't get it. “All it takes is one bad word from me and you get nothing. I own you.”
Ella stared at her stepmother for a moment. The woman was obviously drunk. And angry. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, thought Ella. And despite the fact that Ella had nothing to do with the scorning, she was going to take the brunt of it.
“What can I do for you, Stepmother?” Ella asked. Perhaps if she just did as Delores asked, the old woman would just calm down. If Ella was lucky, Delores would pass out at her desk in a rum induced sleep within the hour and she could get her phone back then.
“I want you to go to the cellar and get more wine for the bar.” Delores crossed her arms. “You should've noticed we were low while you were back there cleaning.”
A cold settled in Ella's stomach. Delores had seen her at the bar. No wonder the woman was crazy with rage.
&
nbsp; “Yes, ma'am,” Ella replied meekly. Delores wasn't in a rational place right now. Far better to just appease the dragon for a few hours. Ella had weathered Delores Storms like this before. This was the worst Ella had ever seen, but it would blow over. “May I have my phone back?”
Delores pointed her finger in the direction of the cellar. “When I can trust you to do your work and not sit around being lazy.”
Ella pressed her lips together and turned on her heel. She wasn't about to press the woman who was making drunken threats. Delores couldn't fall asleep soon enough. Ella would get that wine and whatever else Delores demanded. This wasn't the end of the world. Delores just wanted her to feel as miserable as she did.
Ella opened the door to the cellar and made sure to prop the door with the brick before turning and picking up several boxes of wine to bring back up to the bar. Her back was turned to the door when she heard a creak and a thud.
Turning around, Ella found the cellar door closed and locked. Delores's faint laughter filtered through the thin wall before fading away.
She was trapped.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“Sir, it's time to go.”
Jace sighed and glanced around the empty hotel lobby. He checked his watch, even though he knew it was long past when Ella should have arrived. Especially after all those text messages. Yet, still, he had hoped she would show up. The time was only two minutes and fifteen seconds different than the last time he had checked.
This isn't going to work out.
I can't lie to you anymore. I have someone else.
You aren't special.
You were going to find out eventually, so I'll just spare you now. I don't want this.
I'm not coming tomorrow.
You need to leave.
The text messages still burned on his phone. There were more, but just looking at them made him want to cry. They seared into his soul. He had missed the first two he was so busy working. He'd immediately messaged her back, begging her to let him come see her. She'd said no, that it would only hurt them both.
This weekend was magical. But magic isn't real. I don't want to hurt you. Please, just leave me alone. Go back to your real life.
The messages had come all night. From her phone. There wasn't anyone else who could have sent them. The woman of his dreams was just that. In his dreams. It was over.
The lobby was empty. Most of the guests from the wedding were either already checked out, or still sleeping. It was far more peaceful now than the first time he had seen it. Without the celebrities, their entourages, and mass amounts of security, the place was calm and welcoming. He could see himself coming back to visit if it was like this.
“Sir?”
He wanted to see her one last time, to smell her hair and feel her pressed against him. He wanted the text messages to be a figment of his imagination. He wanted her to walk into the lobby and fall into his arms, telling him that not a single one of the messages real.
“Just a minute more,” Jace told his driver. “The plane will wait.”
Just a few more minutes, he thought. He checked his phone and his watch again, hoping that time had slowed. As much as the plane would wait, his business would not. He couldn't stay here forever. This isn't how he wanted to end things with her.
“Sir? Are you ready?” The driver stepped forward, ready to usher him to the waiting car.
Jace didn't see her anywhere. Maybe she was waiting for him to come somewhere else? Somewhere private?
“I'll be right back,” he told the driver as he headed to the front door. Jace's steps were fast and sure as he hurried along the path to the gazebo.
His polished leather shoes squished gently on the dewy ground as he ran up the dirt path to the small gazebo. His thoughts were on their conversation there, the way the sunlight had sparkled in her hair....
But the structure was empty. Somewhere, a lonely bird called out across the water.
The barn. She had to be at the barn. If she wasn't at the gazebo, she would be at the barn. He smiled, turning quickly and heading back down the path. He could just see her smile in his mind's eye as he walked in and found her grooming one of the white horses. She'd be so pleased.
But the barn was empty except for the two horses.
Commander popped his head up over the stall door and huffed a hello. Jace walked over and patted the gentle giant's nose. The grooming tools were all neatly stacked away and the stable was clean, but there was no sign of Ella.
His heart sank and he felt like he might fall to his knees. For the first time since he was a child, Jace felt like crying.
She was gone. The woman he had fallen in love with was gone. She had meant her messages and there was nothing he could do to change that. If she wasn't here or at the gazebo, then she didn't want him to find her.
Anger bubbled up in his chest. If she couldn't do the right thing and just say goodbye in person like a grownup, then he was better off without her. What she was doing was rude. He didn't deserve to be treated like this. He was Xavier Connor, CEO of Connor Conglomerate and worth more than a billion dollars. If she was going to throw his feelings away so callously, then he didn't need her.
He would leave and never come back.
It was what his father would do, and for the first time in his life, his father's decisions made sense.
Love did nothing but cause heartache. That's what his father always said, and he was right. Crying and moping over something as simple as a three day fling would accomplish nothing. Instead, Jace squared his shoulders, promised himself that his heart wouldn't hurt so much in a few days, and headed out to the car to go to the airport.
As the car pulled away, he looked sadly at the inn.
Ella...
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Ella pounded on the cellar door. Her hands ached from the repeated blows on the door that clearly wasn't moving. She'd tried screaming, but she knew that no one would hear her. Just last week, one of the kitchen staff had been stuck in here for hours before someone came to look for her.
Except no one was coming to look for Ella. The only person who would notice she was missing was probably on a plane back to his real life already.
She couldn't believe Delores would do this to her.
A sob choked Ella's throat and made it hard to breathe. Her knees buckled as she checked her watch and knew he was gone. She had wanted to say goodbye. She had wanted to see him one more time, to tell him how she felt and that she couldn't wait to see him again.
But now she couldn't.
She tried banging on a different wall, but the sturdy ancient cellar walls absorbed everything. She was trapped and had no way to tell Jace goodbye. No way to tell him that he was all she thought about all night.
Despite spending the night trapped down here, she had hoped she'd figure out a way to escape by now. This was her last chance to see him. She could only imagine the things Delores had told him about her with her trapped.
She'd beaten at the walls for hours, yet all she had to show for it was dirty hands.
The numbers on her watch changed to the hour and Ella knew he was gone. He couldn't have waited for her this long. Her heart stopped and her knees gave out. She didn't remember sinking to the floor, didn't remember starting to cry, or hanging her head as sobs racked her body.
Jace was gone.
What would Jace think? He had to think that she didn't meet him for a reason. If Delores had her way, she would tell him that Ella wasn't interested and to never come back. If her daughter couldn't have him, then no one could. Especially not Ella.
Regret spilled out of her like water from a faucet. She should have told him how she felt, how he lit up her gray world and made her feel special. When he smiled at her, she felt like things would work out. How she wished she could just see that smile again.
But he was gone. Gone, and probably angry with her for having stood him up. Her eyes welled up with fresh tears and her lungs ached for more oxygen. No one c
ould hear her cry down here anyway.
She was alone and there was nothing she could do.
***
Ella wasn't sure how much time had passed. There were no windows in the cellar, and she'd given up checking her watch. It didn't matter anyway. An hour or a week, Jace was still gone.
The door handle squeaked as someone attempted to open it. Ella scrubbed her face, finding it crunchy with dried tears. She was fairly sure that no matter what she did short of a shower, it was going to be obvious she'd been crying. Ella just hoped it wasn't Delores opening the door. She could handle just about anyone else right now, just not Delores.
“There you are!” Allison's voice was full of relief. “I've been looking everywhere.”
“Allison?” Ella was expecting one of the kitchen staff, not her step-sister. “What are you doing down here?”
“Rescuing you,” Allison replied. She pushed the door open as far as it would go and kicked the door stop firmly under it.
“Thank you,” Ella said, but it sounded full of despair even to her own ears. The tears were threatening to come back now that she was free. She could escape the cellar now, but Jace was long gone.
“Wow, don't sound so grateful.” Allison leaned against the open door. “I might get the wrong idea and think you liked it down here.”
“Sorry, I really am glad you came,” Ella said. Her shoulders slumped. “It's just... he's gone. And I didn't get to say goodbye.”
“I figured as much.” Allison crossed her arms. “I've actually been looking for you for the past two hours. No one knew where you went.”
“You were looking for me?” Ella looked up from the floor in surprise. Why in the world would Allison look for her?
“I saw Mom with your phone. I also saw Jace leave in an angry huff. Since you weren't there, and you aren't the type to let a guest leave in a huff, especially one you like...” Allison shrugged. “I figured it was bad. And since you two looked awful cozy and happy yesterday, I figured that it wasn't a planned thing.”