Page 69 of Once Upon a Prince

“Yeah,” I said and let out a slow sigh.

Dax had been nothing but wonderful the last few days. He was the one who suggested we investigate Taylor Medical’s financials, and my father’s will. What we found had been astounding and more than likely would take my stepmother down.

It was something I never would have thought about doing if not for Dax. Now, I knew I could have the future I wanted, one I never thought I could really have. If things went the way I wanted. Not only would Cheryl be out of my life for good, she would have no say in Taylor Medical.

“What are you thinking?” Dax asked.

“So many things. But the biggest one is how grateful I am for you. I couldn’t have done this without you. I don’t want to do it without you.”

Dax pulled me back into his arms. “And you don’t have to. I told you I’m here for you. I’m always going to be here for you.”

I leaned back and looked at him. I could see how much he cared for me, he had shown me with how much work he had put into this the last few days, I could feel it when he held me in his arms. I was pretty sure the man loved me and I knew I loved him. I wanted nothing more than to tell him. I wanted him to know that the only life I wanted was one with him in it.

But I couldn’t do that until I knew my life was my own. I couldn’t have that until Cheryl was out of my life completely. With Dax’s help, it looked like that was closer to happening than ever before.

“Good. Because I’m going to need your help to prepare what I’m going to say to Cheryl and how we’re going to take her down for good.”

“Whatever you need, however I can help, I’ll do it,” Dax said.

I smiled at him. “Thank you. Let’s get to work.”

Chapter 40

Dax

“Hey son. How are things going with Ella and her stepmother?” my father asked.

“Good. Good. The plan is in place. Now it is up to Ella to pull it off,” I said.

“Wonderful. Wonderful. I couldn’t be happier how things have progressed. I can tell that you and Ella worked hard on this and you two seem to be getting along very well,” my father said.

I laughed and looked out the window, barely noticing the city passing by. “Is that your way of asking me how things are going between me and Ella?”

“If you want to tell me, I would gladly listen. I don’t want to pry but she is a wonderful woman and you would be lucky to have her.”

“She isn’t a toy or a prize to have Dad. She’s an intelligent, amazing, funny, caring, beautiful woman. You knew all that when you had her work for me, didn’t you?”

“I watched her grow up; I’d tried to be there for her when her father died. I knew all the work she did at his company, so yes. But I wanted you to figure it out on your own. You needed to see all the wonderful things I saw in her. If you saw more, something in a romantic nature, then even better, but I wasn’t going to push it.”

“You just made sure she worked with me, that we spent long hours together, and she was constantly underfoot. No, you didn’t push anything,” I said with a laugh.

“I’m a man who likes to create opportunities for others. What you do with them is up to you,” my father countered.

“Well, it worked out very well. Better than I imagined. Ella is everything I could have ever wanted in an assistant but as I’m sure you’re aware she has become more than that.”

“I’ll be sure to let the board know that you’re settling into your new role and down in life. It’ll go a long way to sway the last few in our favor, not that I think you need it.”

“It seems archaic to me that my status in the company can be based on my personal life.”

“There are some conservative people on the board, they want to know that the company is in good hands, that includes having someone who’s secure in their life. It isn’t too far of a stretch to think if someone is, say, married, or even engaged, and looking to buy a house with a woman they were living with, the board would think they are as committed to the company as they are to having a good life.”

“You don’t need to be married or have a woman in your life to have a good life,” I stated.

“Are you sure? Ana and I were just talking about how much happier you seem since you started seeing Ella. I think having a good woman is the best thing that can happen to someone, if they’re the right woman.”

“I’m not going to propose or ask Ella to move in with me simply because it will make the board happy,” I stated, though it was something I was considering.

“How about if it would make your father happy and help him fulfill the wishes of his late best friend?”

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