Page 18 of The Billionaire and the Maid

“Oh. I’m so sorry. Let me clean this up and get you fresh coffee,” she says. I push my chair back, but Chase’s hand grips my thigh, keeping me in place.

I look over at him and he gives me a subtle headshake.

“It’s fine, Wendy. But do hurry, we have a busy schedule today,” Mrs. Marino says with a sigh.

What. The. Fuck?

These people are…jerks! I suddenly want to leave. I don’t belong here. But Chase’s hand is still gripping my leg tightly.

I give him a pleading look before I glance over at Wendy. “Are you alright?” I ask her.

She looks up at me and nods, her mouth hanging open like she wants to say something but then she closes it.

“I’m fine, miss. I’ll be back in two shakes,” she says as she scurries out with the broken mugs and individual coffee French presses on the silver tray.

“So, Ella, what do you do?” Mrs. Marino asks. Chase wasn’t kidding. She pays zero attention to her staff and I’m not even permanent staff, so I’m less than worthy of her attention.

“Ella’s in graphic design and marketing,” Chase interjects before I can answer.

“Oh? What firm?” Mr. Marino asks.

Chase pauses and I decide to play along. “I’m starting my own firm,” I state, because, after all, it’s the truth.

“Well, an entrepreneur. Maybe you can talk some business sense into my son here. I assume you know the business rules of branding?” Mr. Marino questions.

“Dad…” Chase begins with a long sigh.

“What? We have a good thing here. We do fine leather shoes. No more talking about your crazy shoe idea,” Mr. Marino says. I glance at Chase. His jaw is clenched. What is his father talking about?

Wendy comes back in with coffee and a plate of Danish pastries and fruit, setting it down, this time without breaking anything. She glances my way and I give her a look that says,I will explain later.

She purses her lips and heads back into the kitchen.

“Fruit?” Mrs. Marino asks.

I nod. “Thank you, Mrs. Marino,” I say politely as she passes the platter toward me.

“Oh, please, call me Kayla,” Mrs. Marino insists.

I nod, blushing slightly as I take a sip of coffee. It’s not as good as Elisha’s but it’s not bad.

“So, how did you two meet?” Kayla asks.

Chase launches into our predetermined meet-cute story. The Marinos seem to believe it. Chase has barely finished telling the story when Mr. Marino’s phone buzzes.

“Sorry, have to take this. It was nice meeting you, Ella,” he says as he gets up and walks out of the room without a second glance. So much for a family meal. I wonder if all their brunches are like this. I have no real family anymore, but at least I have good friends and they would never up and leave in the middle of a meal.

“Well, I’m off to the club. Do you play tennis, Ella?” Kayla asks as she stands.

I shrug. “I played when I was younger, but it’s been years.”

“You’ll have to join me sometime, then. It’s a great sport. Never too late to start again,” she says with a smile that is somewhere between Stepford wife and a beauty pageant contestant. I can’t quite get a read on her. Mr. Marino seems…well, like the jerk I thought he was, but Kayla is either a pompous princess or maybe a misunderstood high-society wife.

The door shuts behind her and Chase turns toward me. “I’m sorry about that,” he mutters.

I look back toward the door. “About your parents?” I clarify.

He nods and his shoulders sag a little. I feel a little sorry for the guy. I may not have had many years with my dad, but he was a great dad. Chase’s parents seem…not very interested in parenting. Were they always like this? I want to ask but decide that would be rude.

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