Yours Completely (Billionaires and Brides 1)

She didn't feel comfortable taking off her bra, but it wasn't strapless and would show through the lace sleeves. Instead she just tucked the straps into the cups, deciding that a lumpy boob was less noticeable than a bra strap.

The dress slid over her head with the satin making a soothing, slippery sound. It was cool against her skin, but she still felt hot as she threaded her arms through the lace mesh of the sleeves and adjusted the dress as best as she could. Ella kept her eyes closed as she pulled the skirt straight and prepared to call Madelyn to finish up the back.

“Wow,” Madelyn's voice was low and reverent.

Ella looked up into the huge bathroom mirror to see Madelyn slipping into the room behind her. But it wasn't Madelyn that made her breath catch in her chest and squeeze down hard.

Ella stared at the figure in the mirror as Madelyn came up behind her and began cinching the corset ties on the waist tight and buttoning buttons. The woman staring at Ella in the mirror was her mother. Except for the eyes. The eyes were her father's.

And they were both smiling at her.

“I figured we were about the same size,” Madelyn murmured as she carefully put the buttons through each delicate loop. Her fingers paused at the top button, Madelyn's eyes going to Ella's in the mirror. “Thank you again for this.”

Ella just smiled and nodded, unable to find the words.

“My mother didn't have a dress,” Madelyn remarked, filling the silence with easy conversation. “She and my father eloped to Vegas, otherwise I would have used hers. There's no way I'd use my stepmother's. Either of them.”

Ella turned to see Madelyn smiling at the memory. “I'm sure your mom will like this one.”

“I like to think so,” Madelyn agreed. When Ella frowned at the phrasing, Madelyn explained. “She died two years ago. Cancer.”

“I'm so sorry.” Ella looked away, feeling awful for bringing up something like that. It was probably hard enough that Madelyn's mother wasn't around, let alone having Ella bring it up.

“It's okay,” Madelyn assured her. “But, you letting me borrow yours, feels like a gift from her. Somehow it feels like she sent you to be my guardian angel.”

Ella wasn't sure how to reply to that. She had never really experienced anything to make her believe that anyone was looking out for her. Or, if they were, they were doing a terrible job.

“Anyway, I know it's silly, but I can't thank you enough for saving me. You're my hero.” Madelyn patted Ella's shoulder. “All done. Come out in the main room. I have everything out there.”

Ella carefully followed Madelyn out of the bedroom and back into the craziness of the sitting room. The two women sitting on the couch gasped as she stepped out.

While Madelyn grabbed a small stool for Ella to stand on, the two women introduced themselves. Ella was glad to see that neither of them were the blonde or her group from the night before.

“I'm Clarissa,” the tall, thin platinum blonde introduced herself. “I'm Maddy's cousin and the maid of honor.”

“And I'm Gwen, the best friend.” The redhead set down her champagne. “Do you want some champagne? Everything is more fun with champagne.”

“I'm supposed to be working,” Ella stammered as Madelyn fluffed the skirt out and then went to grab something from a box.

“Working? Then we're your bosses, right?” Gwen smiled as Ella nodded. “Then, as your boss, I insist that you have a good time and have some champagne with us.”

“She's right, you know,” Madelyn agreed, rummaging around looking for something. “We'll have far more fun this way.”

Ella grinned, feeling the bonds of friendship starting to form with these women. “Well, I can't say no to my bosses.”

Gwen laughed and went to grab her a glass. “I knew you'd come around.”

“Okay, here's the veil,” Madelyn announced. Ella dipped her knees while Madelyn fastened the lace veil to the crown of her head.

“Oh, Madelyn...” Clarissa gasped. “It's perfect. Absolutely perfect.”

“It is, isn't it?” Madelyn beamed. “I was so afraid Martha's veil wouldn't match, but it's like it was made for this dress.”

“Martha is the groom's mother,” Gwen clarified for Ella, handing her a very full glass of champagne.

“It's my something borrowed.” Madelyn frowned. “Or is it my something old? I forget.”

“It was going to be both, but now the veil is something old, the shoes are something new, the dress is now the something borrowed, and the garter we picked out is your something blue,” Clarissa told her. “I have Charles searching for the penny in your shoe.”