Page 21 of Falling for Them (Cinderella’s Daddies #1)
“Not at all,” I say. “I’m just wondering if you also have a butler. Maybe a live-in housekeeper. You know, I haven’t seen your house. Do you live in a castle? Do the dishes wash themselves? Are you going to try to impress me with your massive… library ?”
A sharp burst of laughter comes from his mouth. “You are so fucking lucky we aren’t going back to mine or King’s tonight, princess, or I’d be spanking you so hard for your attitude.”
His black SUV drives up and idles at the curb. Sebastian helps me in and buckles me up again.
“I can do that myself, you know,” I say.
“Oh, I know.” The seatbelt clicks home and he gives it a little pat, then buckles himself in on the other side of the rear bench seat.
I pull my phone from my bag to check the time. A warning message blinks, reminding me that my payment is overdue. Shit. Well, that’ll be a thing to do later, assuming I have the money to pay it…and I don’t think I do.
My apartment isn’t far, and we’re there before I’m ready.
Sebastian’s looking straight ahead, not at me.
“Did I do something wrong?” I ask.
“What? No. Fuck, no,” he says, grabbing my hand. “Not at all. I just have some things I need to take care of, that’s all. Can I get your phone number, to call you later? King and I were having a damned time getting your contact info.”
“Joel has it,” I say.
“Yeah, he said he deleted it. Petty asshole.”
“Petty, indeed,” I say, holding my hand out for Sebastian’s phone. He unlocks it and hands it to me, and I punch in my phone number.
When I hand it back, he smiles. “You put yourself in there as Princess .”
“Well, that’s what you call me all the time, so…” I look away, embarrassed. Maybe I shouldn’t have done that.
“It’s perfect,” he says.
My phone chimes with a text a second later.
“Now you have my number, too,” he says. “Feel free to list me as Daddy Sebastian.”
“Uh…we’ll see.”
He winks. “I’m living in hope for the future, princess.”
The car stops outside my apartment building. I sigh, looking up at the monstrosity. It’s such a far cry from Mr. Tyler’s building, that comfortable penthouse. I don’t need all that, everything that he has. But it sure would be nice to feel safe, and to be comfortable.
“I’ll call you, Ella,” Sebastian says in a serious voice.
“Okay. Or I’ll call you. My boss gave me Mr. Tyler’s phone number.”
“Have you called him?” Sebastian asks quickly.
“Um, not yet.”
“Don’t dawdle, princess. We’ve been worried about you.”
I nod. “I’m fine. But yeah. I’ll call him.”
“Good.” He lifts my hand and presses a kiss to my knuckles. I had no idea my hand was a direct conductor of lustful feelings, but I feel that kiss at my core.
He smirks as if he knows the effect he has on me. I yank my hand back and open the door to let myself out.
“Goodnight, princess,” he says.
“Goodnight, Sebastian.”
I’m out of the car, gulping in the winter air, allowing it to cool my heated skin.
Sebastian’s car idles at the curb until I’m all the way inside the building, and I watch it slowly pull away, disappointment rumbling throughout my body. Despite making him promise nothing would happen with us tonight, a part of me was hoping he’d push.
I think about what he said, how he and Mr. Tyler have been worried. I feel bad for that, but in my defense, I hadn’t realized they actually cared.
It’s too late to call Mr. Tyler. I’ll do that tomorrow, first thing.
As I begin the hike up to the third floor, my phone starts ringing. It’s Tommy calling. I answer it, keeping my voice to a hush so I don’t disturb any sleeping neighbors as I walk.
“Hey,” I say.
“Sis,” he says. “How are you?”
“Oh, I’m fine.” Surprised he’s asking, but fine. “How are you?”
“Good, good. Listen, I was wondering if you could lend me a hundred bucks?”
I can’t help my laugh of disbelief. “Tommy, I don’t have a hundred dollars. I don’t even have enough money to buy bread right now.”
“You spent it all on that dress, didn’t you?” His voice sounds sharp, with a thread of anger lurking beneath it.
“Um, no. What dress?”
“I saw a picture of you at the freaking Tyler Gala , Ella. What the fuck? You rich now? And you can’t give your brother a hundred dollars?”
“You know what, Tommy? You’re being a dick. Cut it out. I don’t have money. I can barely pay my rent.”
“I’m in a jam, El. A big one. Come on, please?”
I unlock my apartment door and let myself in, then throw my coat on the loveseat. “Tommy, listen to me. I don’t have the money. I have no money. None. If you’re in a jam, you should go to the police. And stop gambling so you don’t get in jams!”
“Fuck you, Ella, you don’t know shit. This is hard, and you have never understood me or what I’m doing. I’m trying to pay back the hospital bills while you’re off at some fancy rich people party.”
Before I can respond, he hangs up.
I stare at my phone until my vision blurs with tears.
Dad’s gone. My brother hates me, and he’s lost because of gambling and I don’t know how to find him. He’s my only family now, and I don’t know how to bring him back.