Page 20 of Once Upon a Prince

If there is anything that you need, Mr. Moore, please do not hesitate to let me or my staff know,” Garrett said to me.

“Thank you, but I’m not the one you need to be concerned with,” I said and eyed the hallway Ella had gone down.

“Yes, sir. Of course, sir. We will do everything to make your guest’s experience with us memorable.” Garrett tilted his head slightly as he spoke, as if he was trying to imply or figure out exactly who Ella was to me.

“Ms. Taylor is a valuable employee and she will need a full wardrobe for her work as my assistant,” I said hoping to clarify things.

“Certainly, sir. We have everything she could possibly need for her work as well as any evening attire, gatherings, or situations,” Garrett lingered on the last word.

I knew what he was implying and I sat up in my chair and glared at him. “Professional work attire is all we will be needing.” My half smile did not meet my eyes and as I held his gaze, I knew my look helped to emphasize what I was getting. I had the satisfaction of seeing Garrett swallow slowly before nodding and walking away.

Annoyed, I sat back in my chair and waited for Ella to come out. I was a man who liked to be in control, who liked to know what was going to happen, and how others were going to react to me. None of that had happened since I had talked to Ella about going shopping with me.

It had been an impulse to suggest it but once it was out, I knew it was exactly what I wanted to do. I had money, plenty of it, and spending a bit of it on Ella to give her the clothes she should have and put Diana and Tanya in their place was worth every penny. Anna, my sister, loved to go shopping, as I figured most women did, and I thought that Ella would jump at the chance. I should have known she would be different; she certainly had been unlike any other woman I had known since the moment she started working for me.

She challenged me, she questioned me, and made me rethink so much of myself. It was both infuriating and intoxicating. I had never had a woman who seemed to know me and not be intimidated by me the way she was. It made me want to spend more time with her, it made me want to do more nice things for her, and it made me feel more protective of her than any woman besides my sister.

I liked the idea of doing something nice for her. I wanted her to have nice things and I wanted to be the one who gave them to her. The fact that she had resisted me doing so only added to my enjoyment and my determination to go a bit overboard in what I bought.

Ella brought out a new side of me and I liked who I was when I was around her. She kept me motivated in my work; she made me excited about what the next day would bring. I liked working with her, I enjoyed seeing her mind work, especially when she questioned me. The more I was around her, the more I saw the type of woman she was, the more attractive she became.

I wanted her, but I respected her too much to flirt with her or even suggest we become lovers. It wasn’t the type of relationship we were going to have; it wasn’t the type of relationship I could have with my assistant. But it didn’t stop the thoughts from coming into my head or for me to seriously consider kissing her when we were in my office. But I wouldn’t do it. Instead, I would do what I could for her, and if that meant buying her nice clothes and pissing off some other employees, then so be it.

It had taken a bit longer and more planning that I had thought to arrange the outing. Not because it had been difficult to set up but it was hard to find a time when I was free to go with Ella.

I had called my sister and had her set it up. I was going to get an earful from her when I was done, but that was an issue for another day. Anna said she was more than happy to help and had arranged for Ella and me to go to the top floor of one of the most prestigious stores in Manhattan. Garrett had been there to greet us and had whisked us in a private elevator to the top floor. Champagne and chocolates along with four of his assistants were waiting for us when we arrived.

Ella had looked at me, a bit overwhelmed and I tried to smile and shrug it off as if this was a normal occurrence for me. I had never shopped in this manner and hadn’t known what to expect. I had been going to the same tailor for my suits since I was fifteen years old, but I didn’t want her to know that. My self-assurance seemed to put Ella at ease and the smile she gave me when she accepted the champagne and was taken into the back to try on some clothes had lingered in my mind long after she was gone.

I had hoped she would come out and show me some of her outfits. It was why I had come along but as I sat and waited, I understood why she wouldn’t. I was her boss, not her friend, and certainly not a significant other. While I might be footing the bill, I really couldn’t and shouldn’t have any say in what she was going to buy.

With Ella safely working with Garrett and his staff, there was no need for me to stick around. There were plenty of other things that I could have been doing, projects and problems that needed my attention. But I couldn’t bring myself to leave. I wanted to see the look on Ella’s face when she came out with her clothes. I wanted her to look at me and thank me for what I had done for her. Not that I needed her thanks, I just wanted to be the reason she smiled.

“Thank you. I understand but I’m going to talk to Mr. Moore, if you would,” I heard Ella say before she came out of the back.

I sat up as she did and my breath caught in my throat. I knew the store had high end, good quality clothes. I had always had only the best materials when it came to my suits and clothing. I knew how a good fitting outfit could make someone look better than ones that weren’t. But I had never seen it be so obvious as when I saw Ella and what she was wearing.

The black pantsuit looked like it was tailor-made for her. It laid over her body in such a way that was flattering and showed off her curves but not to the point of being obscene. The V-neck top cut just low enough to be interesting and made my mouth go dry. Looking at her, I immediately imagined what it would be like to peel the suit off her and kiss every bit of her exposed skin until she was naked and shivering with desire for me.

I didn’t get a chance to linger on my fantasy as Ella stood in front of me and put her hands on her hips. “This has to stop, right this minute,” she said.

At first, I thought she was talking about my train of thought and it took me a moment to realize she wasn’t. I stood up, shook my head to get it on the matter at hand, and adjusted my pants so I didn’t embarrass myself or Ella.

“What needs to stop?”

“I agreed to this crazy idea of buying my clothes because I thought we would get a few outfits and call it a day. I had no idea that you wanted me to have a full wardrobe or be this much. This pantsuit cost more than my first car,” she said.

“You look better in that suit than I imagine you did in that car,” I said.

I looked over to Cynthia, one of Garrett’s assistants. She looked worried and I gave her a quick smile and nodded toward the door so that she would leave me and Ella alone. She understood my gesture and with a slight bow of her head quit the room.

Ella looked around the room as if she wasn’t sure where she was or what she was doing. The whole scenario had been a bit overwhelming for me and I had grown up with wealth and privilege. I hadn’t considered how it must have felt for Ella. I should have prepared her, but it was hard to do when I didn't know what to expect.

“That is beside the point. This is too much. I get what you were trying to do and I thank you for it, but I can’t accept it,” she said.

I reached out and took her hands in mine. It was done as a bit of self-preservation as if I didn’t take her hands, I was worried I was going to try and touch her somewhere else or pull her into my arms and kiss her. I ignored the pull, the heat, the need that filled me by just touching her hands. I had a point to make and I was going to make it. I didn’t answer her question but turned her so that she was standing in front of me and looking at herself in the mirror. I watched her face as she saw herself in the pantsuit for the first time. I had the satisfaction of seeing her gasp, smile, blush, and then look down as she ran her hands lovingly down the fabric.

Standing behind her, I took it all in. As she slowly looked up, our eyes locked. The smile on her face could have lit up the entire city. I was transfixed watching her. I had thought she was incredibly sexy before but she looked even more so standing in front of me. I could feel my body tightening at her reaction. As I looked into her eyes, I imagined what it would be like if I could stand beside her, and have more moments like this for the rest of our lives.