Dinner was almost over, and Ella hadn’t heard a word anyone had said at the table, she’d been so lost in her thoughts. Rome knew who she was. He wanted to meet her. In real life. That was both amazing and terrifying at the same time.
Ella wasn’t that pretty. She had been told for most of her life that she looked like her mother, who happened to be a famous model. But she knew now that she hadn’t inherited her mother’s beauty. Her stepmom told her all of the time that she had a witch’s nose, that her hair was too straight. Her sisters remarked on her bushy eyebrows and the bland color of her eyes. Her skin was pale compared to the bombshells running around the streets of LA. If Rome were to meet her in person, he’d probably feel sorry for her.
“All right, Ella. Back upstairs. No dessert for you,” Teresa said as soon as Ella was done with most of the food on her plate.
That was fine with her. She wasn’t that hungry anyway. “Yes, Mother. May I be excused?” Even though Teresa had just ordered her away, she still had to ask.
“Yes. Right up the stairs now. No lollygagging.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Ella was almost through the dining room door when a servant came pushing past her, his expression telling her he didn’t consider her part of the household.
“Mrs. Sinders, Mr. Bolt is here to see… Miss Ella.”
Without another thought, Ella pushed through the door, as if she hadn’t been listening. Tim was there to see her--but if Teresa got to him first, she’d lie and say Ella was out. She hurried toward the front, trying to look natural. The stairs that led to the second floor were right there, and she’d have to take them to get to the attic.
The servant came running after her, shouting her name, but it was too late. She’d made it to the foyer before he caught her. She stopped and turned to look at him and said loudly, “Yes, Clyde?”
“Ella!” Tim said, coming up behind her. “Good. I was afraid you might not be home.”
Ella looked at Clyde for a moment, wondering what he might say. He slunk off toward the dining room.
“Oh, hi, Tim. It’s nice to see you.” Her cousin embraced her, and Ella contemplated these few seconds to tell him to take her out the door, quickly. But thoughts of men in white coats with a straight jacket in their arms with her name on it kept her from it.
“I tried to call you about a hundred times last night. Why didn’t you answer?”
“I… uh….”
“Tim! Darling! How are you?” Teresa exclaimed, coming in from the dining room.
“Good, Aunt Teresa, thank you.” He cleared his throat, clearly not wanting to see her. “I just stopped by on my way to the club.” Looking at Ella, he asked, “Do you want to come?”
“Oh, she can’t tonight. She has plans,” Teresa said.
“Where are you going?” Again, he was talking to Ella.
She stammered, “I… uh… to a friend’s house.”
“Oh. Okay. Well, I was just saying, I tried to call you last night but you never answered. What’s going on?”
“Can you believe she dropped that brand new phone in the toilet a few minutes after you gave it to her? You see why I say it’s like having a child again?” Teresa shook her head.
“You did?” Tim cocked his head to the side and stared at her.
“You know me. Clumsy.” She cleared her throat, not knowing what else to say.
“Actually, no, that doesn’t sound like you at all. But… it still should’ve worked. It’s waterproof.”
Ella looked at Teresa. “Huh. Well, we threw it out. We didn’t know that. Oops. I’ll get her another phone. One of those cheap flip phones from a discount store. It was nice to see you, Tim. Too bad you have to go.” Teresa put her hand on his back and started guiding him to the door.
“Wait, actually, I was just going to remind Ella that my mother’s birthday party is next Friday night. At the country club. You are coming, aren’t you, El? She hasn't seen you since you got back in town. She’s dying to see you. Of course, she won’t come over here.” He inhaled deeply and held it, his mouth a thin line. No, she couldn’t blame his mother for not wanting to come over to the home that used to be her sister’s but now belonged to Teresa. “You simply must come.”
“I’m afraid she isn’t allowed to go anywhere that Anna and Drew aren’t invited,” Teresa said. “Those are family rules.”
“That’s all right. They can come, too. It’s a costume party, after all. Well, masks. Tasteful masks, is what mother prefers. You could even come and she wouldn’t notice,” he added to Teresa.
“I… uh….” Ella could see from Teresa’s expression she really didn’t want her to go. “I’m afraid I don’t have anything to wear.”
“What? But you lived in France. Surely, you have a gown or two.”
“No, she’s gained so much weight since she came back, she’s outgrown all of them.” Teresa puffed out her cheeks like a pig.
“Well, then, we’ll go shopping. I’ll pick you up tomorrow after work.” Tim looked confused, even as he spoke. “Gained weight? If anything, you look thinner than ever.”
“I’m so sorry, Tim. I wish I could but… I already have plans for next Friday.”
“You can cancel them. Your aunt wants to see you.”
“Ella, that’s so terrible! You treat your family so horribly! Just… go to your room!”
“Yes, Mother.” Ella caught Tim’s eyes before she turned to head up the stairs, hoping he’d see her cry for help. Even if he couldn’t do anything to get her out of this situation, at the moment, she just wanted him to know it wasn’t her decision to miss the ball.
“She’s… twenty-two….” Tim said, as Ella walked up the stairs. “She’s not a child.”
“Unfortunately, she chooses to act like one. It’s all a shame, really. Perhaps she should go back to France.”
“Perhaps she should get her own place,” she heard Tim say as she neared the top of the stairs.
Teresa laughed. “She’d never survive in LA by herself.”
“Perhaps she wouldn’t be by herself,” Tim said. “I’m sorry, Aunt Teresa, but this all seems a bit odd to me. When is Uncle Lloyd going to be back?”
“Why do you ask? Are you suggesting I’m not running the household properly?” Teresa sounded pissed now.
“No, not at all. I’m only saying… perhaps Ella would be easier to manage if her father were home. Sometimes… children listen to their fathers better than their mothers.”
Ella had heard enough and proceeded to the attic stairs. If that was truly how Tim felt, then it was no good asking him to help her either. Unless, of course, he was only saying that to trick Teresa. Confused, she headed up the attic stairs, rubbing her head. It was beginning to ache.
Once in her room, Ella laid back on her bed, one arm tucked under her head. What if she did go to the ball? What if Rome were there? She’d have a mask on, so he couldn’t see her witch nose or her bushy eyebrows. They could dance the night away, and when it was all over….
Nothing would change. She would still be a prisoner here, in this horrid room, and he would still be the son of her father’s enemy. There was no way to fix any of it.
Ella sighed and tried to remember her happiness from earlier, when she’d gotten to hear his voice. He’d ended up asking too many questions, but at least they’d been able to speak to one another. She’d been so happy he’d called back. And learning that he really was the handsome actor she’d been staring at for days was impossible, yet magnificent all at the same time.
The lock on the other side of the door clicked, and the servant shouted, “Lights out!” even though the lights weren’t on, and it wasn’t even time yet.
Ella did something she’d never done before and stuck her tongue out. Feeling like a rebel, she laughed and then buried her face in her too-thin pillow. If she kept it up, she really would get herself into trouble. Maybe it was time for a little trouble in her life….
Before she got out her sketch pad, Ella got up and tiptoed over to her computer, doing her best to keep the floor from creaking. She wiggled her mouse, and the device came to life.
There he was… still in the corner where she’d put him. The most spectacular looking man she’d ever seen. Everything about him was perfect from his square jaw, to his perfectly angled nose, to the light brown hair that fell just over one eye.
Not only was he a prince to look at, he was so nice. She loved his voice, the way he asked her about her day. He was a gentleman.
With a sigh, Ella sat down in her chair. It seemed impossible to think she could ever date a guy like Rome Verona. But then, the world seemed to be bringing them together. Perhaps, if she were a bit bolder than usual, she would find out for certain if they were meant to be.
“What if I do go to the ball, and he is there? Then, I’ll know for sure.”
Ella went to her meager wardrobe and looked through it. There was one simple black dress hanging there. Perhaps she could fix it up, make it look more stylish. It wouldn’t be perfect, but it might work. Then, maybe Tim would come to pick her up, and she could find a way to go to the ball. It seemed like a long shot, but for Rome, she was willing to try anything. Even if it meant she ended up in that padded room Teresa kept threatening with. She had to try.