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.”

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

that Edrick sat up in bed, wide awake. Had I been talking so loudly that I woke him up?

slid my feet into my slippers and shuffled

replied, quickly opening the door and poking my head out to

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

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

high rise building, finally opening with a

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

into 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

hello, darling,” the older woman said, bending down to kiss Ella on both cheeks. “Happy belated birthday! Grandma has lots of presents for

looked up as Edrick and I approached, eyeing me up and

hello to Kelly, Ella,”

“Hello, Kelly,” Ella said, sounding much less enthusiastic than she did when she greeted her grandmother. Kelly bent down and kissed Ella on both cheeks, who stiffened at

eye me, so I decided to end the awkward silence and

I said with a slight, polite bow of my head.

Verona said coldly. “I didn’t expect a human, so I was

who beamed widely at him, but she glared at me coldly

We all stood quietly in the elevator as it slowly carried us up to

the right qualifications

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