Page 25 of The Powerful Boss She Craves

‘Where’s her fiancé? Her maid of honour? Actually, who is her maid of honour?’

‘Dodi Lewis. She owns Love & Enchantment, the wedding dress salon. Dodi has a busy morning at work and I’m not sure what Clyde’s excuse is.’ Ella caught the bite of irritation in his voice and wondered if he approved of his sister’s fiancé.

Then again, Thadie was a grown, independent woman and didn’t need her brother’s approval.

‘We’re meeting in the library.’

Ella followed him down a hallway, stopping briefly to take in the magnificent hall, with its Harlequin tiled floor and matching, hand-carved staircases, and caught a peek through a doorway of a sleek, glossy, gourmet kitchen with acres of granite countertops.

Exceptional art decorated the walls and massive bouquets of roses, hand-cut and probably from the garden, perfumed the air. Sculptures, bronzes and ceramics sat on antique tables and Ella kept her arms folded and her bag tucked by her side so that she didn’t knock anything over. They’d have insurance but some of their objects looked irreplaceable. This was, by far, the grandest house she’d ever visited.

Micah stepped back to let her precede him into a double-storey library, shelves extending up so high that a ladder was attached to a railing twenty feet in the air enabling the reader to get a book from the top shelves. A big wooden desk dominated one half of the room and, at the other end, two fat, dark leather couches sat in front of a pair of French doors which opened into the garden.

She immediately recognised Thadie Le Roux, with her big eyes, flawless light-brown skin and her famous mother’s incredible cheekbones. She turned at their entrance and her smile was Julia-Roberts-wide. God, she was gorgeous.

The woman next to her with gold hair, pasty skin and narrow eyes paled beside her. Thadie wore a bright-yellow sundress and sandals whereas the other woman wore a revealing top, a far too short black mini-skirt, and three-inch heels. Not to mention pursed lips and a scowl...

Thadie jumped to her feet and Ella took in her height. She was close to six feet and curvy. As she held out her hand in greeting, their eyes connected and, within those dark-brown depths, Ella saw warmth, a hint of panic and maybe a touch ofwhat the hell am I doing?

Micah introduced her to his sister, and then to Alta, Clyde’s stepsister, who didn’t bother getting to her feet.

‘Are the twins still with Jabu, Micah?’ Thadie asked him as she sat down and crossed her long, slim legs.

‘Yes, they are in the greenhouse. Mkulu’s probably got them filling pots with compost or digging for worms in a flower bed.’

Alta gasped, horrified. ‘But that’s unsanitary!’

Thadie smiled. ‘Little boys like dirt and digging in the soil, and being outside helps build up their immunity. Ella, please take a seat.’

Thadie gestured her to the couch and Ella sat down, placing her tote bag at her feet. Micah offered her something to drink, and when she asked for coffee he nodded. A solid-silver tray sat on the coffee table and held a Chinese-looking teapot and thin-as-paper teacups on equally thin saucers.

‘I’ll just go make you a fresh cup,’ Micah said.

‘Just ring for the butler,’ Alta told him.

Micah’s lips tightened at being told what to do in his own house. ‘As I said, Jabu is with the twins in the greenhouse and, even if he wasn’t, I would never interrupt what he was doing to demand he bring me a cup when I could so easily get it myself. I’m rich, not spoiled,’ Micah told her with an easy smile, his good humour restored.

Ella knew that Alta wanted to ask him what the point was of employing a butler if he didn’t buttle. Was that even a word?

Thadie waved at a plate holding exquisite looking, one-bite cakes covered with a mirrored chocolate glaze. ‘Please have one. They’re divine, and I’ve already eaten three, so help me out here.’

Ella grinned, loving her honesty and, because she hadn’t had breakfast and adored chocolate, took a tiny cake. ‘Thanks.’

‘You’re not going to fit into your very expensive wedding dresses if you keep eating those,’ Alta said, sounding snide.

Thadie just grinned. ‘Of course I will! I run ten miles a day on the treadmill and another ten chasing the boys. And life is too short not to eat chocolate!’

Ella instinctively liked her. She just as instinctively didn’t like Alta, with her plummy accent and cool eyes. For Thadie’s sake, she hoped Clyde was a lot warmer than his stepsister.

Thadie leaned forward and briefly rested her fingers on Ella’s arm. ‘Thank you so much for helping Micah to find a new venue.’

Ella was about to respond when Alta spoke. ‘If your very experienced, unbelievably connected wedding planner can’t find you a venue, Thadie, then I doubt Bella—’

‘My name is Ella,’ Ella mildly corrected her.

Alta didn’t miss a beat. ‘Will be able to find you a suitable venue. I strongly suggest you postpone the wedding and rebook the venue and vendors.’

Ella looked from Thadie to Alta and back again. Alta sat up straight and was as tightly wound as piano wire. Thadie, who’d kicked off her sandals and tucked her feet up under her bottom, looked relaxed and unfazed. This was, after all, her childhood home.

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