Yours Completely (Billionaires and Brides 1)

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.

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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.