Page 27 of The Billionaire and the Maid

Me: It’s fine.

World’s Best Boyfriend: No, it’s not. I’m sorry, Ella.

Me: Hey, I agreed to this.

World’s Best Boyfriend: That was before…

Me: Still doesn’t change the fact that we have publicly announced ourselves as dating. We have to commit.

World’s Best Boyfriend: Thank you for doing this.

Me: Thanks for not getting me fired.

He doesn’t reply and I drive off to the thrift store. It’s been almost a week since I started pretending to date Chase. And it’s been four days since we figured out that we knew each other as kids. That changed things somehow. He’s been…dare I say, sweeter? It’s like he’s peeled back ten layers of his onion shell to reveal that he’s not just some grumpy, arrogant playboy billionaire. He sent me flowers yesterday. The day before that, I had coffee delivered from Elisha’s café to start my day. And the day before that, I got lunch from Max’s sent to where I was working. It’s going to be very hard not to fall for Chase, especially now that I know he’s my Ace. How can Ace and Chase be the same person? And how could I have not known that? I always thought if I saw Ace again, I’d know it was him.

I pull into a parking spot next to the store. I already see Duchess parked there. Gus must have beat me here.

I open the door to find Heather, the owner, discussing the upcoming gala with Gus.

“I’d die for an invite. I hear it’s going to be a who’s who of Storyview Falls,” she gushes as she leans on her counter.

Gus is examining a necklace. “That it is.”

“There’s my favorite customer,” Heather exclaims when she looks over to find me at the door.

“Hi, Heather,” I reply, waltzing in and heading over to the racks with my sizes.

“Oh, I already pulled stuff for you. Heather started a dressing room,” Gus calls out as he saunters toward the back of the store.

“Great,” I mutter as I open the dressing room curtain and survey the clothes. They aren’t horrendous. Just…not totally me.

“I know, I know. Just try them on,” Gus says reassuring me.

I try on one outfit and then another and another. I swear I’m trying on outfits for thirty minutes with Heather bringing more every few seconds. I’m about to give up when Gus hands me a pink top.

“Try this with the skirt you just had on,” he requests.

I pull on the top and skirt, a cute floral pattern in black and white.

“Oh, and this jacket,” he adds as he tosses a cute black cropped jacket over the curtain.

I do as I’m told and slide my feet into cute pink pumps that somehow match the top.

I push the curtain back and Heather and Gus let out collective squeals.

“OMG, that’s it!” Gus says loudly.

“I love it. It looks great on you. Pink is totally your color,” Heather agrees.

I frown when I look at the jacket price. It puts me three dollars over the money Gus sent me. I really shouldn’t be spending any money.

“And because you’re getting four items, you get a discount!” Heather announces.

I let out a sigh of relief and silently thank the universe. And just like that, I’m walking out in my new outfit.

“I’ll see you there. You look great!” Gus says as he kisses my cheek. I get in Princess and drive the five blocks to my place. I park just as Chase pulls up behind me.

I get out and so does he. He takes three steps and stops. I frown, looking down at my outfit. Did I get it dirty? No. I look around me. Everything seems fine.

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