Page 23 of The Billionaire and the Maid

“Because.” I look up into his eyes. He looks…concerned. Strange for a playboy. “I guess because she’s the only family I have left.”

“But it sounds like she treats you like shit,” Chase says in disgust.

I shrug. “Sometimes she’s OK. Like she found some old shoes in a closet a while back that belonged to my mom and dropped them off instead of throwing them away,” I explain but I know I sound pathetic. I know I’m grasping for straws out of desperation to be loved by a woman who will never love me, I just don’t want to face the facts yet because giving up hope, means there’s no chance of a happily ever after.

“Well, I’m sorry that’s your family. What about your stepsisters?”

“They’re OK. Myra is sort of self-obsessed and Mila is just really forgetful. So I only hear from Myra when she needs something and I only hear from Mila when she remembers to text me.”

“Sooo…not close, then,” he says.

I sigh as I stare back out at the vista. “No, I guess not.” I suddenly feel silly and pathetic. “But I do have good friends,” I say quickly, trying to make him not feel too sorry for me.

“That’s good. Friends are good,” he replies. He’s quiet for a long beat and I wonder what he’s thinking.

“Come on, let’s go to the back trail. I haven’t been there in ages,” he finally says as he turns and takes off, leaving me and Velvet trying to catch up. As we go down the side of the hill away from his grandfather’s stables, a memory starts to permeate my mind. I’ve been here before. I’ve been here with…Gunther.

“Wait up, Ace!” I call out but I don’t think he hears me as Velvet and I gallop amongst trees. I’m about to yell again, when “bam!”

CHAPTERTEN

Chase

“Ella!” I call out as Rook and I rush toward her. I jump off the horse and crouch down by Ella who’s lying on the ground. For a moment, I think I’ll have to call an ambulance but then her big blue eyes open and she stares up at me.

“Ace,” she whispers.

My heart which had been thundering in my chest starts beating rapidly. I think I’m having a heart attack.

“It’s you,” she says a little louder as she tries to sit up.

“Whoa, don’t get up too fast,” I tell her as I help her to sit up.

“It’s really you,” she says as tears start welling in her eyes. Fuck. How did this happen? “I never thought I’d see you again.”

“But…” I trail off as I search for words. How is this possible? How did I not know it was her? I know this woman but as a girl.

“You went away,” she remembers.

I sit down next to her, and we both lean against Velvet who’s decided Ella needs a backrest.

“Boarding school,” I explain. God, I had thought it might be her. When she said Gunther, I started to remember. I wanted to bring her here where we first met and then I heard her call me “Ace” and I knew that she knew. She was the little girl who saved me. Well, technically, I saved her, but I don’t know what I’d have done without her company that summer.

“I was so sad…and lonely after that. And then Dad died,” she says as she looks up at me.

I open my mouth to speak but then there’s a horse head poking at my back pocket. “Velvet!” I scold.

Velvet doesn’t relent and Ella giggles. “Just give her one,” she urges as she reaches into her pocket and produces a sugar cube for the horse.

“You’re spoiling her,” I grumble.

“Hardly,” she answers as she pats Velvet’s side.

“Are you sure you’re OK?” I ask again as I feel the side of her head.

She bats my hand away. “I’m fine. I mean, my pride is a little injured, but I’ll make it.” She looks around and laughs, one of her snorting laughs that makes me laugh. “This is where I fell that first time.”

I look at where we’re sitting. She’s right.

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