Chapter 17: The Guests
Moana

When I woke up the morning after Ella’s birthday, I was shocked to discover that it was already eleven o’clock; three hours past my usual time to wake up in the morning. If it hadn’t been for my phone buzzing on the bedside table, I likely would have slept in for even longer.

As I awoke, squinting against the bright sunlight coming in through the large window, I also discovered something else: Edrick and I were cuddling again.

Feeling my face flush hot, I quickly climbed out of bed, taking care not to wake Edrick, and picked up my phone to see Selina’s name on my screen.

“Selina?” I said quietly, walking away from the bed so as not to wake the still-sleeping Edrick.

“Where on earth are you?” she asked angrily, her voice quivering with rage. “You should’ve been up hours ago, and you haven’t answered even though I’ve been knocking on your door all morning.”

I gulped, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over me. “I’m so sorry,” I stammered, trying to come up with an excuse as the housekeeper was still oblivious to my new sleeping arrangement with Edrick, and she certainly wouldn’t understand it if I tried to explain it to her myself. “I-I was taking a shower just now. I’ll be out soon.”

the other end of the phone. “Well, hurry up. We have guests who are expecting you, Ella, and Mr. Morgan downstairs in the lobby

so loudly that I woke him up? It always seemed that he fell asleep as soon as I did, and woke up

about guests?” Edrick said confusedly as I slid my feet into my slippers and shuffled

the door and poking my head out to make sure no one was

and sore from spending my entire day yesterday at the theme park — with a sunburn across my nose to prove it — and

finished getting Ella ready, Edrick was already waiting for us in the foyer. We took the elevator down to the lobby to greet these mystery guests. I hid my bashfulness around Edrick in the silent elevator as best I could and avoided eye contact at all costs, as it seemed that we would wake up cuddling every morning despite our agreement to not get romantically involved, and I didn’t want him to think that I was trying to break the clauses in my contract; nor did I want

floors of the high rise building, finally

our guests standing in the lobby. I was taken by surprise as Ella ran away excitedly

focus. One was an older woman with silver hair wearing an expensive-looking dress and a large sun hat, while the other was much younger with an equally expensive-looking satin dress and perfectly curled blonde hair that fell down her back, her eyes covered by large

the older woman said, bending down to kiss Ella on both cheeks. “Happy belated birthday!

squealed delightedly. Both women looked up as Edrick and I approached, eyeing me up and

Kelly, Ella,” Edrick

looking down at Ella. “Hello, Kelly,” Ella said, sounding much less enthusiastic than she did when

to eye me, so I decided to end the awkward

with a slight, polite bow of my head.

said coldly. “I didn’t

toward Kelly, who beamed widely at him, but she glared at me coldly over his shoulder as they kissed each other on the

women’s bags and carried them to the elevator. We all stood quietly in the elevator as it slowly carried us up to the penthouse. Suddenly, Kelly turned toward me, looking down her nose

Do you have the right qualifications

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