Chapter 14
Aiden
I finally broke away from my mother’s scolding but not in time to catch Ella. Zep stepped up and reached down to pick something up at my feet, and it was Ella’s ring. Or at least part of it. “She dropped this. You might want to hold on to it.”
“What happened? My mom stopped me about the liquor and scolded me for being upstairs. What did those bitches say to her?”
“They told her you were going to be in their foursome with us.” He looked as if all the wind had been knocked out of him.
“Did you explain that I wasn’t?”
“I didn’t know what to say! I didn’t want to piss off the twins.”
“You let them fill her head with that bullshit?” He should have told her it wasn’t true, but I understood him being put on the spot like that, but I hated that Ella must think the worst of me.
“Man, no telling what she thinks. Those twins are brutal and especially to someone like Ella who’s good and beautiful.” About that time the twins stepped around the corner to where Zep and I stood talking away from the crowd.
“What did you say to my guest?” My lips pulled back in a scowl as I leaned over Sadie and Halle.
Halle sneered. “Please, you don’t even know her, or you’d know she’s our maid.” I turned to see my mother standing behind us in the doorway. She folded her arms and turned around as if she had nothing to say to me, then she stormed off.
“She’s your maid?”
“Yes, since her mother died, she’s been living with my family and working as our personal assistant. But don’t worry we fired her.” I’d remember her saying she was an assistant. The girls weren’t lying.
“Look, let’s just forget all about her and go upstairs. I’m sure we can work it all out.” Sadie was trying to remain calm, but I wasn’t having it.
“You’re out of your minds. Especially you, Sadie, if you think for one minute I’d be with the likes of you.”
“But you said—
“I lied. I wanted you out of my hair, and the only way to speak reason to you is to promise you sex. I was never going to go through with it.”
Sadie and Halle clasped their chests in unison, and then Sadie scowled. “How could you lie about that?”
“The same way you can treat Ella like shit I suppose, because I don’t like you. Though I think your issue with Ella is more because you’re jealous of her. She is more beautiful and talented than either of you will ever be. I suggest if you want to stay, you’ll cling to Zep because otherwise, you can get the fuck out of my house.”
I turned and walked away, sick to death of their bullshit. How Zep could put his dick into either of them was beyond me, though his appetites were much different from mine.
I had to go back though. I needed information, and they were going to give it to me. I spun back on them, getting in Sadie’s face. “Tell me her number.”
“You can kiss my ass, Aiden. I’m not giving you her number so you can go live happily ever after with that pain in my ass. You want her, good luck finding her, because after tonight, she’s going to be a homeless skank.” She grabbed her sister’s hand, and the two took off upstairs. I could only imagine they’d still end up in Zep’s bed.
I hurried away and ran to the front door, taking a quick look outside. I had no idea what kind of car she came in and no idea if she’d had enough time to leave, but she was nowhere in sight.
I hurried back in, and Zep stopped me at the bottom of the stairs. “I’m sorry, man. I should have stepped in, but I didn’t know it would be this bad.”
“I want her, Zep. I fucking care about her, and I can’t stand to think she’s lost her fucking job and has nowhere to go now because of me. I feel like shit. I’ve got to go after her, if not right now, soon. Tonight.”
“You realize who she is, right?” Zep looked at me like he couldn’t believe I’d want someone like Ella. I wasn’t sure he knew who she was.
“She’s Layla Ford’s daughter.” I watched as my words registered and I could tell by his shock he’d had no idea.
“What? No fucking way.” He scratched his head. “I just meant that she’s that chick from the club— the train wreck who spilled her drink all over you.” My jaw dropped as I remembered the plain girl. She wasn’t anything like that now, but I had to wonder if it were the magic of the gala that had made her so much more appealing or the fact that she was having a bad night the first time at the club. I could believe the latter only because I had a feeling the twins had been messing with her that night as well. They were a real force to be reckoned with.
“Well, she might have been a fucking mess that night, but she’s amazing, and I still want her. More than anyone I’ve ever wanted, Zep.”
“And you’re sure she’s Layla Ford’s daughter and not just saying that.” He met my eyes and shook his head like I had to be careful.
I gave him a sideward glance. “Who’d lie about something like that? Besides, she’s still grieving. It’s obvious.”
“Someone wanting your attention, your money, I don’t know, man. I just want you to be careful. Maybe it’s someone who knows you’re in mourning too still. Someone using that to play on your heartstrings.” Zep had always looked out for me, and I could imagine that with the way the twins had been so quick to chastise Ella for being with me that he’d wonder. No wonder what they’d made him think.
“She said something else, man. Something that hasn’t sat right with me all along. She said that the lady she was living with was helping her out with her finances. Now that I know who she’s living with, I can’t help but worry. Nola Blue is known to be ruthless in getting whatever she can for her daughters.”
“You think Nola is skimming from this chick? Why would she have to? I think you’re reaching, man. I understand not liking the twins, and even I know they can be two little bitter brats, but this is a big accusation, Aiden. One I’d step into carefully or not at all. You don’t want to fuck with Nola Blue. Your mother would shit.”
I nodded, but only to let him think I agreed. From what she told me she should have a small fortune, one that even cancer and mounting hospital bills would be hard pressed to find the bottom of, unless someone was skimming or flat stealing from her. Not only would I find Ella, but I’d try to do whatever I could to help her.
I took the ring and slipped it into my pocket and then I asked Zep to cover for me.
“You’re going after her, aren’t you?” He met my eyes and shook his head.
“Yes, now cover for me. Like I would do for you. I won’t get into it with Nola Blue, but I’m going to find Ella. I don’t care what’s going on with her. I want her, and you know how I get when I set my sights on someone I want.”
“Fine, but if your mother gives me shit, you owe me one.”
“No, we’ll call it even for not speaking up to help me when you had the chance.” I gave him a warm smile and a pat on the back.
“Fine.” He seemed to deflate as his shoulders slumped and I shook his hand before I headed out.
“Wish me luck.”
“Luck.”
I took off into the garage and wondered if the valet had taken my advice and not blocked me in. I’d always hated that, and they knew better, but the party was also a lot bigger than expected.
I knew right where the twins lived and hoped I could get to Ella before the twins called home, but I had a feeling that by the time I’d get there, Nola Blue would already know what was happening.
I seemed to remember something about Nola and Layla Ford being best friends, but I wasn’t sure about that. Sometimes the tabloids made up fake relationships and even feuds, and it was hard to tell which was which.
I opened the garage to find a couple of paparazzi waiting for someone to leave. I didn’t bother ducking the camera flash and tried my best not to run over one of the idiots who made a bad habit of standing in front of cars.
Finally, I was on my way, and I knew that if all else failed at least, I could return her ring and wish her well.
But I really hoped that I’d find her missing me as much as I missed her. It was a feeling like I’d known her my whole life and would never see her again.