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Chapter 1
“Please tellto keep yourself holed up in this office the entire weekend It’s Saturday, and you shouldn’t even be here as it is”
Elaina “Elle” Darian glanced from her computer screen to Penelope, her best friend and one of Darian Coents The other woman stood on the opposite side of Elle’s desk dressed in a pair of black designer jeans that undoubtedly cost a s with a trendy top Her friend had expensive taste, but then again, her cos that were currently in fashion
“Then what are you doing here?” Elle volleyed back, arching a brow
Penelope was no stranger to working long hours, including weekends It hy she was so successful as a coent But her friend also liked to have fun outside of the office and was always trying to make sure Elle did the same Unfortunately, Elle didn’t have a whole lot of playti to save the firm from bankruptcy
“I’m here because I want to rave” Penelope walked around to Elle’s side of the desk and sat down on a very small surface not covered by files or paperwork and crossed her arms over her chest “In fact, I’m here to kidnap you because you have a forht and I want to ht out that’s all about you”
Elle exhaled a weary breath and sat back in her chair When the gold-embossed invitation to the exclusive Wilder Way ball had arrived at her childhood home—which she currently shared with her stepmother, Helena, and two stepsisters, Claire and Gwen, since her father’s death over two years ago—she’d barely had a chance to let her excitement bloom before Helena snatched the invite out her hand, then rushed off to tell her daughters that they were finally going to attend one of the most lavish parties of the year
Elle honestly had no idea how they’d gotten invited to the opulent ball in the first place, when the Darians were far from rich, powerful, and influential The donation to attend cost a small fortune, and she could only sur to do with it, though surprisingly Elle’s name had been included when Helena was all about exclusion when it cahter But a few days later, when Elle caain and pulled it from the envelope, she realized that the reply card that had been tucked inside was now gone
“Where is the RSVP card to the Wilder Way ball?” Elle asked her stepht, she’d decided that attending a fairy-tale ball would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience she didn’t want to miss out on
Helena glanced up fro rooray cat curled up in her lap that Elle privately called Lucifer since the feline was as mean as the devil himself to everyone except Helena
“I already sent it out, Elaina,” she replied casually and shrugged “I figured you weren’t interested in attending since you usually spend your Saturdays at the office, so I went ahead and RSVP’d for myself, Claire, and Gwen”
Anger and frustration tightened in her chest, anda calm composure took effort “Maybe you should have asked ested
Helena sighed in annoyance, as if Elle was nothing more than a nuisance to her “Well, it’s too late now, Elaina The RSVP card has been sent” She lifted her book back up to read, disnificant
It had taken every ounce of control Elle had possessed not to snap at her stephtlessexcept she’d learned that Helena was aand sounding petty It was always a no-win situation with her stepmother, who’d become so cruel and conte, and it was a waste of breath to argue with her And until Elle figured a way out of the financial strain Helena had ed to put both the house and business under, she was stuck living with the woman, Claire, and Gwen
Elle returned her attention to Penelope and so to the ball tonight, there are two ”
Penelope tossed her silky black hair over her shoulder and flashed Elle an optirin “Trust me, there are no obstacles we can’t overco to make this happen”
She appreciated her friend’s positive attitude, but there were soht be difficult for et into the ball,” Elle told her “While the invitation was addressed to the Darian family and had my name on it, Helena conveniently left my name off the RSVP card, which is what matters”
“She’s such a bitch,” Penelope said vehe witnessed the harsh way Helena treated Elle on a regular basis “Why didn’t you tell me what she did?”
Elle shrugged She’d confided in Penelope over her initial excite an inv
ite but hadn’t had the courage to tell her friend that the opportunity had been literally ripped frorasp by her wicked stepmother “Because it was just anotherline of thee what she’d already done” And unlike her stepsisters, Claire and Gwen, throwing a tantru with disappointments
Penelope exhaled a huff of breath “You’re a Darian, hters ever will be”
A sad smile sat on Elle’s lips “True, but the fact reet inside that party tonight”
“You are not going to miss out on this ball,” Penelope insisted, her tone eer to her chin, her beautifully shaped brows creasing thoughtfully “Do you still have the actual invitation?”