Page 16 of Taming the Elusive Billionaire

“No.”

“Let’s do it then.” She pushed the door open with her hands and inside felt like another world.

Among the rooms in this home, this was the most beautiful. Everything in it was designed with gold, right from the mirror, the bead board, the chair, and everything in it. It felt like I stepped into a dream world, and standing beside the mirror, removing her earrings, was the Matriarch, Ella’s mother.

She turned toward us, smiled, and stopped what she was doing as she began to move closer to us, and for a moment, it felt like I was staring at another version of Ella.

“Oh, my dear, finally, I get to meet you. I have heard all about you from my sweet angel.”

I swallowed hard and pulled my gaze from her while fanning my face. “My God, you look so much like Ella. It feels like I am staring at her mirror image.”

“I do now?” Her mother replied as she touched her face gently, “I have been told that a million times, and it excites me knowing I still have a few youthful features.”

Nodding, she grabbed my hand and moved me toward the bed. “Oh, and before I forget, Ella said the yellow dress from one of the collections looks absolutely stunning on you, and I think I have the perfect gift to top that off.” She said as she took me close to the mirror, left my arm, and moved closer to her bag while I looked at Ella, surprised.

“Gift?”

“Of course.” She replied as she rummaged through her bag, pulling out everything in it. “Where did I keep that?” She murmured as she continued to search the bag. “Voila,” she said excitedly, pulling a small box from her purse. “There’s no way I could cruise around the world and return empty-handed. Especially meeting Ella’s best friend for the first time.”

I turned towards Ella to intervene, but she just stood there, giggling with her hands folded. “Oh. I am just here to help Ella with the party, and to do a portrait of you.”

“I don’t care.” She said as she came close to me, opened the box, and inside was a beautiful gold-diamond laced necklace, which made my legs weak and my hands shaky.

“Wow, Mom, it’s beautiful,” Ella said as she walked towards us and began to study it, “I love it.”

“You already have hundreds of them. Come on, quickly put it on her neck. Let’s see how it looks.” Her mother replied enthusiastically as she watched Ella open the hook and move it around my neck, but I stepped back and looked at both of them nervously.

“What’s wrong?” Ella’s mother asked as she looked between her daughter and me.

“Nothing,” Ella winked at me. “She’s just trying to find a way to say thank you.”

Ella stepped toward me again and placed the necklace around my neck. She grabbed my shoulders and led me toward the mirror, so that I could see how stunning it truly was.

I gasped at the sight of the most beautiful piece of jewelry I had ever seen, and it was on me.

“Yes,” I replied with a nod. “Thank you very much for the gift, ma’am, but I am sorry I can’t accept it.”

“Why?” Her mother persisted, surprised. “Don’t you like it? I can have it changed if you want.”

“No, no, no,” I muttered, looking to her, “Please don’t do that, ma’am. I am more than thrilled to do a portrait for you, but this gift is more than I can imagine or accept.”

“What are you talking about, sweetheart? Surely, you can’t be refusing a gift I have given you, and please, call me Eve just like everybody does.” Her mother asked, looking at me and then turning toward Ella, who was biting her lips nervously as she looked between me and her mother.

“It cost me a great deal of time to think about something perfect for you since Ella said you are an artist.”

“And a great deal of money, too, I suppose, and that is the reason why I can’t accept this gift even though I really, really appreciate this gift.”

“Oh, don’t be silly. There is nothing that brings me more joy than giving people gifts. If you don’t like it, I can exchange it for you.”

“There’s no need—”

“Already having issues with my mother. Why am I not surprised.” A low familiar male tone, which I had come to recognize, interrupted me.

“Mason? Oh, my sweet, sweet boy,” Eve said as she widened her arms for a hug from Mason, but instead, he moved toward her and kissed her on both sides of the cheek, his hands folded behind him.

“Welcome home, Mom. I was just coming back when the gatekeeper told me you just returned from your trip.”

Eve nodded and brought down her hands with a shake of the head. “Yes, though I must confess you grew lean. Have you been eating well?”

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