Tim’s fingers seemed cold compared to Rome’s warm ones, and even though her cousin was a graceful dancer, Ella couldn't help but think about what it would be like if it were Rome twirling her around the dance floor.
She’d stolen his phone. She hadn’t meant to. Well, that wasn’t exactly true. She had meant to. But only because she didn’t want Tim to see it. And also because it had occurred to her that if she could sneak the phone into the attic, her stepmother wouldn’t know she had it. Then, Rome could call her whenever he wanted to. Assuming he was able to get another phone.
He might be mad at her. It was possible he hadn’t liked her enough that he was willing to trade his phone for her. He could charge over at any second and accuse her of taking it. But he wouldn’t do that as long as she was dancing with Tim. For all she knew, Rome had left. If he heard what Tim said about how angry he was that any Veronas were there, Rome probably hadn’t stuck around long.
“Ella, are you all right?” Tim asked. “You look… lost in thought.”
‘Yes, I’m sorry. I’m fine. I was thinking about… how beautiful the fountain outside is, that’s all.”
Tim smiled at her. “You really don’t like crowds, do you? Is this why you never leave home? Aunt Suzette never mentioned you being a homebody.”
“No, it’s not that, Tim. I just… California is different from France. It scares me a little, that’s all.”
“What scares you? It’s really not all that different. Sure, there might be more people, but your father has created an empire in this town, Ella. All you need to do is say your name, and people will do whatever you want.”
She wrinkled her nose, certain that he hadn’t meant that the way it came out. “I don’t want to intimidate people, Tim. I just want to have a few friends, possibly go to the movies every once in a while, and eat at a restaurant now and again. I don’t want to be judged by everyone all the time, worry about photographers, or told I’m not pretty enough, or shaped the right way.”
“Who in their right mind could possibly think you aren’t pretty enough for anything, Ella? You’re gorgeous.”
She rolled her eyes, and even with her mask on, he could see them. “Tim, I look nothing like most of the women here. They’re all blonde with giant breasts and long legs.”
“First of all, the breasts aren’t real. Secondly, the hair color isn’t usually either. Finally, your legs are great, Ella. I mean… you usually wear sweatpants to dinner, or loose jeans, but I know you have a great figure. I hope that’s not creepy coming from your cousin.”
With a smirk, she said, “A little.”
“I’m just saying, stop hiding in your room. You need to get out more.”
“I know. Thank you so much for making me get out today. It’s just not as easy as you make it seem.”
“It should be. We should go out at least once a week. God, I was beginning to think that stepmother of yours was… keeping you locked in a dungeon or something.” He snorted, and Ella let out a chuckle, but she couldn’t tell him the truth. After tonight, she’d be lucky if she ever managed to find a way out of the attic again. Her stepmother was glaring at her even now, standing across the dance floor, pretending to watch her daughters dance with two buffoons who were tripping all over themselves to see how easy the girls were--which Ella knew from the stories they shared at dinner, if a guy had the right name, they were pretty damn easy.
“Should I talk to Teresa about encouraging you to get out of the house?” Tim asked.
Ella shrugged. “You can if you’d like, but I doubt she’ll side with you. She seems to like me being home.”
“Probably because she knows you outshine those two idiot daughters of hers any day of the week.”
“Anna and Drew are beautiful. And they’re not… idiots.” She wasn’t sure about that second part. But she did know they were beautiful.
“They’re pretty enough, but they have reputations as gold diggers and women who are willing to do whatever it takes to get a part in a movie. That’s not cool. You’re too classy for them.”
Ella made a face. “I definitely don’t want a part in a movie. I prefer to stay on the very far side of the camera, thank you very much. You be in the movies. I’ll just design the posters.”
Tim laughed. “Sounds good to me. I still can’t believe your father assigned you the new poster for that movie with Rome Verona in it, though. If Lloyd would’ve realized he was cast in that movie, he probably wouldn’t have even taken on the marketing.”
“I’m glad he did. The movie did so well, we got more orders. The original campaign doubled its numbers. It was a win for everyone. I don’t think it should matter if the son of a man dad used to have disagreements with is in a movie.”
“Disagreements with?” Tim questioned, his face turning a little red. “Ella, I don’t think you understand. This is more than that. This is a huge family rivalry. This makes the Hatfields and the McCoys look like the Flintstones and the Rubbles. They absolutely hate each other.”
“But why? It’s not like one of them killed the other’s puppy or something.”
He shook his head. “Verona cost your dad millions of dollars and somehow tried to spin it so that your dad looked like the one who’d double crossed him. You should hate the Veronas as much as I do, as much as your dad does.”
“Do you even hear yourself, Tim Bolt? You’re telling me I should hate someone I’ve never met for reasons I don’t understand. Doesn’t that sound a little crazy to you?”
“No, because I do know, and I do understand. Every time I walk into an audition and see a Verona there, I turn around and walk away--even if it’s just one of the cousins, let alone that repulsive Rome. I’m telling you, Ella, they’re awful people.”
“Well, maybe it’s time we showed them that we are bigger people, and that we don’t hate people for no reason.”
Tim rolled his eyes. “You have such a soft heart, Ella. I do love you.”
“I love you, too, Tim. Thanks again for everything--getting me this beautiful dress, the shoes, the jewels. I will pay you back, I promise.”
“Nonsense, it’s a gift,” Tim said. “I’m just glad you could come.”
“Me, too. But I should probably go home soon. I’d like to be there before my stepmom so I don’t have to speak to her again.”
“Good idea. I’ll drive you.”
“I can just call an Uber.”
“I thought you didn’t have a phone.”
“I don’t.” She wondered if she’d even be able to unlock Rome’s phone. “You can call me one.”
“Did you really drop that new phone in the toilet?” Tim asked.
Ella could only shrug. “I won’t accuse her of being a liar.”
He narrowed his gaze at her. “I’ll take you home and then come back.”
“Thank you. Let’s go say goodbye to your mother.” Ella took Tim’s hand and let him lead her away, but she was looking for Rome as she went. Unfortunately, she didn’t see him again before she said goodnight and got into Tim’s car.
Thankfully, she still had the memory of his kiss on her lips, the feel of his palm on hers, and the scent of his cologne in her lungs. With any luck, she would dream of him that night.
When they pulled up outside of her father’s mansion, Tim wanted to walk her in, but Ella insisted he needed to get back to the party. It still had at least an hour to go, and she knew his mom wouldn’t want him to miss it.
She hurried into the house and up the stairs before the servants could catch her and say anything or search her. She had a feeling the dress would disappear if she didn’t do something with it to make Teresa think she hadn’t kept it.
The bag was on her bed. She wondered if one of the servants had put it there earlier. She hadn't seen a single one as she flew up the stairs. Quickly, Ella changed into something else, throwing on a pair of sweats and a T-shirt. Rome’s phone was the most important item to hide. She took it off the bed where she’d placed it while she was changing and hid it way in the back of the attic, in a spot where someone would have to crawl on their stomach to find it, in a crevice in the wall. She ripped the jewels off and found a different spot in the wall to hide them in and shoved her shoes and the mask in somewhere else.
The dress would be so much harder to hide. Where could she put it?
Ella looked around the room and noticed there was a spot behind the insulation in the ceiling that looked loose. She wrapped the dress in an old nightgown she hardly ever wore and stood on a chair to work it into the ceiling and then put the insulation back. Once Teresa had searched the room, she’d get it out and put it somewhere else, maybe even have Mary smuggle it out for safe keeping. But that would work for now.
Once she was sure everything was hidden, including the hairpins that she’d taken out and put in a small bag before hiding them in the floorboards, Ella hung the empty bag in her closet and pretended to sleep so that when Teresa came in, she might just let it go until the next morning. She doubted that would be the case though. Headlights would mean interrogation, and probably severe punishment for going to the party.
But now that she had a moment to think about what the evening had held, it was so unbelievably worth it. Even if she never had a chance to see Rome again, he’d kissed her--twice--and that was more than she could’ve ever hoped for.