Stroke of Midnight (Cinderella 1)

“You shouldn’t be up there,” I gripe. “There’s no reason to go upstairs.”

“Ahh, but that’s where you’re wrong,” Nate says with a maddening smirk. “Your fancy boss man has heated towels in his bathroom. The guest bathroom downstairs doesn’t offer such amenities. He’s spoiled me to those damn warm towels.”

Rich boys and their prissy needs.

Gross.

He makes his way down the stairs. I’ve almost started back on my task of pretend dusting when my phone rings in my pocket. I yank it out and answer, expecting Winston. Instead, Manda’s voice purrs down the line.

“Hello, darling,” she croons. “How is your work for Mr. Constantine coming along?”

“Just dandy.”

Nate eyes me with curiosity as he helps himself to another drink. I don’t want to leave him alone again for privacy, but I also don’t want to have a conversation with my stepmother in front of him. In the end, I opt for hiding in the kitchen out of earshot, but where I can still keep an eye on him. Manda rambles, and it isn’t until she mentions Scout that I realize I’ve missed nearly all of what she’s said.

“What?” I croak out.

“I said I apologize for my son’s behavior. I can assure you it won’t happen again.”

She knows? How?

“What did he say happened?”

She sighs. “That he got rough with you. Hurt you. Like Mr. Constantine said, he indeed bit you—”

“Wait. You spoke to Winston?”

“I did,” she says, her smile wide in her voice. “He explained how important you are to him. Mentioned that Scout had hurt you. Sweetie, next time just come to me. We can handle our family matters without assistance from Mr. Constantine. It was rather embarrassing to be called at work this morning regarding what happened. You know how Scout can be. He’s broody like his father.”

“Did you tell Dad?”

“Heavens no,” she breathes. “Your father is a busy man. I can handle my children.”

Silence fills the air as I wait for her to continue. After a beat, she continues cheerfully as though we didn’t just gloss over the fact her son sexually assaulted me, bit me, and threatened me.

“After your shift with Mr. Constantine, I’ll pick you up for a much-needed girls’ night,” Manda says. “Just the two of us. We’ll go to our favorite restaurant.”

I really don’t want to hang out with my stepmother, but I can’t hide out at Winston’s forever.

“Sure,” I mumble. “Is that it?”

“Dress nicely, sweetie. You’re making a name for yourself in the elite society being Mr. Constantine’s new plaything. If you’re seen in public, you need to be absolutely flawless.” She chuckles. “No more sloppiness.”

“Winston had some clothes delivered. I’ll be dressed just fine.”

“Did he now?” She can barely contain her excitement. “I knew he was taken with you. If he’s buying you clothes, sweetie, it won’t be long before he’s buying you a ring too. The Constantine name will certainly suit you.”

It’s annoying that I’m suddenly deemed important now that Winston is in my life. Whatever. I’ll take it if it keeps her bastard sons off my back.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Manda. He bought me clothes. It’s not a marriage proposal.”

“Not yet,” she says. “Text me the location and when your shift ends. I’ll be by to pick you up. Goodbye, darling.”

I hang up the phone, huffing in annoyance. When I glance up, Nate is leaned against the counter in the kitchen, his playfulness gone. His eyes are narrowed, and his arms are crossed over his chest.

“Trying to get the great Winston Constantine to marry you? That’s what this is all about?” he asks, his brows furling. “A gold digger through and through?”

“What? No. It’s just my stepmother,” I groan. “Forget you overheard any of that conversation.”

“I should get going now.” He gives me a polite smile. “And, honey, I never forget a thing.”

15

Winston

The hours just tick by, pissing me more and more off. It’s a game. I know how the Morellis work. They like to keep you on your toes and throw curveballs to trip you up. Unfortunately for them, I anticipated this move. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t annoy the fuck out of me, though.

“You think they’ll come?” Perry asks from the seat beside me, looking up from his phone.

“They’ll come.”

He goes back to scrolling through his phone. I take the moment to study my brother. Today, he dressed the part in a Brioni two-piece navy pinstripe suit that I know set him back seven grand. His normally messy dark blond hair has been recently cut and styled in a way that makes him seem older than his twenty years. I have to give the guy credit. He does appear to be trying. And his insistence upon staying with me when everyone else was sent home spoke volumes regarding his loyalty to our family name.

Ding.

The chime of the elevator can be heard all the way into the conference room. Seconds later, the doors open and male voices echo loudly. Perry tenses but otherwise seems to force his body to remain unaffected by the arrival of our most hated foes.