Page 9 of Fake Dating Mr. Prince

CHAPTER THREE

Ashlyn

One month later...

This has to work. Itjust has to.If I showed absolute confidence today, there was no way she could brush me off. Again. My proposal was solid. My dream was finally within reach.

As the papers in my hand trembled, reflecting the nerves I struggled to hide, I forced my hands to stay steady. The short hallway seemed to grow in length with each step I took. The tastefully decorated walls in pale grays and lavender felt like they were closing in on me. I tried to calm myself by focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. The soles of my sensible black flats barely made a sound on the dark hardwood floor, or perhaps because of the hammering of my pulse so loud in my ears I’d stopped hearing it. Either way, I was fighting to keep myself calm.

Five, four, three, two, one. Breathe.

Determined to project the confidence I sorely lacked, I threw my shoulders back and smoothed down the front of my plain maxi dress. Not for the first time, I wished I had something to wear that screamed professional business attire. Even the few pieces of modest jewelry I wore did little to add to that image.

The murmur of familiar voices reached my ears and abruptly stopped when I knocked on the heavy wooden door I’d stopped in front of.

Don’t be a coward.

Confident people didn’t knock soft as a little mouse. It was time I showed them I was a lion, even if I had to pretend. I struck the wood firmly two more times and stiffened my spine.

And then I waited. And waited. And waited.

“Yes?” came the hardened voice from within after probably only minutes, but what felt like an hour. I’d sent her my plans last night, and she’d offered to hear me out in person before my shift today. That had to be a good sign, right?

I grasped the silver knob to the office I’d rarely been inside since my father died. At seven years old, my innocence had assumed that when Elaine married my father and took over this business, I would get the life I’d always envisioned: a mother, with her unconditional love, by my side.

Instead, I ended up with a cruel, bitter woman who hated me.

The door swung open, and I had to force down the flutters that filled my stomach. Nothing pleasant happened here. I mentally shook my head, remembering the book about being positive I’d just read. Negative thoughts only brought about negative results.

Nothing pleasant happened here.Yet.

I was about to change all that.

I tucked a piece of long blond hair behind my ear and smiled at the stern figure sitting behind the ornate desk while I strode through the doorway. My stepmother was a formidable opponent.

Her jet black hair was cut in a short, flattering style that seemed to highlight the gray she’d chosen not to color. The suit she wore was severe enough that it made her authority prominent, but was inherently softened with the various shades of purple, silver, and black she tended to wear. I only wished I looked that poised and coordinated all of the time.

My two stepsisters sat on my side of the desk in front of me. I turned my smile at them. They were both close to my age and had pivoted to face me the moment I’d entered the room. On the right, Stella—with her pixie-ish face and red hair, wearing a beautiful lavender dress—grinned back, bolstering my courage. Her green eyes sparkled with excitement. I already knew she was on my side and had pushed to have this meeting, even knowing that her boldness could come at a cost.

Heaving an internal sigh, I looked to my left. I could already predict the scowl marring the model-like face of Adelise. Her ebony hair was forced back into a severe chignon, ruthlessly held in place by untold numbers of bobby pins. In contrast to Stella, Adelise’s eyes never revealed anything but what she chose to show you. I quickly looked away, afraid her glare would work its magic and undermine the little confidence I had.

My gaze searched the room. It became immediately apparent there wasn’t a chair for me to sit in, and I was reasonably sure it had been done on purpose. I clenched my teeth. If that was how today was going to begin, I would not stand here and wait for her to start our meeting like I’d foolishly waited for her to allow me to enter the office.