Page 53 of Hidden
Ellie smiled. “I appreciate that. I’ll have my stylist put a couple of things on standby. She always does anyway.”
Angelica eyed her again. Then she sighed. “Okay, I can’t believe this is happening. And I’m terrified. But show me your dress and let’s see what we can come up with.”
Two hours later, Ellie and Sofia hugged Angelica goodbye and headed to Sofia’s SUV. They’d agreed on twenty-four-karat gold and brilliant, dark green emeralds. Both colors would pair nicely with her Roman-inspired dress. Contrasting well with the pale green silk and picking up the gold in the thin braided rope accents that circled her waist and crossed between her breasts. They’d worked out rough designs for earrings, a bracelet, and a ring, forgoing a necklace when they all agreed it would be too much.
Thankfully, Angelica’s dad had covered for his daughter during the midday rush, allowing them to work uninterrupted. He’d even brought them some lunch. Now she was both fedandhad her jewelry sorted. Not a bad afternoon in the books.
The high of having accomplished two things on her to-do list faded, though, when her phone dinged with a text as they climbed into Sofia’s car.
Sabina:We have some updates. Can you come by in an hour?
Ellie showed the text to Sofia. Yesterday, she’d filled her friend in on everything going on. And true to form, Sofia was ready to kick some ass. As soon as they knew whose ass she needed to kick.
“Do you want me to go with you?” Sofia asked.
Ellie shook her head. “Asher wants to meet me there. I know you have work to do. Maybe we can meet later for dinner or something?”
The look that flashed across Sofia’s face froze Ellie in her seat. They’d been through so much together that Sofia had every right to feel as though she should be the one at Ellie’s side rather than Asher. A man Ellie had only known for two weeks. She hadn’t meant to hurt her friend with her decision but feared she’d done just that.
“Don’t look so worried, Ellie,” Sofia said, reaching out and squeezing her arm. “I know you’re not replacing me with Asher, so stop thinking that’s what I think. Believe me, if anyone knows how easy it is to fall for these Warwick men, it’s me. He’s a good one, though. They all are. But he’s overlooked. The quiet, steady one who gets drowned out by the others. He doesn’t care, of course. He doesn’t care because he knows what’s important in life. And if you are important in his life, which I think you are, then you’re lucky. Just as he’s lucky to have you.”
Ellie blinked back tears. She didn’t tend to be a crier—she left that to Harry—but hearing Sofia’s unwavering support released a tension inside her that she hadn’t known she’d been carrying. “You know you’re the closest thing I have to a sister, right?” she said.
Sofia smiled and gave her arm another squeeze. “Right back at you. But I think it’s a good thing we don’t have any biological sisters. They’d be very jealous of us.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Asher parked his truck in the HICC lot as Sofia and Ellie pulled in behind him. When Sofia’sSUV came to stop, he opened Ellie’s door. She had her purse and a shopping bag in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. He reached out and took the bag, then steadied her as she slid from the seat.
“We had an emergency water heater situation at home, and her car is still at our place. Why don’t you two come over after your meeting? I’ll make some dinner,” Sofia said.
Asher looked to Ellie, who gave a small nod. “Sounds good. We’ll text you when we’re done,” he said.
To her credit, Sofia didn’t harass him or say anything. She just smiled and said she’d see them soon.
“You ready for this?” Asher asked after giving Ellie a quick hello kiss and taking her hand in his.
“Yes,” she said on an exhale. “I hate this part. The investigation, the waiting, the not knowing. But as they say, the only way to get through hell is to keep going. Not that all of this is hell.” She drew them to a stop then lifted her lips to his. He obliged and dipped his head for another kiss. She smiled. “You know what I mean, though. I’m probably not going to like a lot of what we’ll hear in the next hour or so. But if it means we’re one step closer to figuring it out, then it’s worth it.”
Her attitude didn’t surprise him. No one made it in her industry the way she had by being fragile. Or by hiding from the truth. And he admired the hell out of her for it.
“You two lovebirds coming in?” Ethan called as he threw the door open.
Asher sighed then met Ellie’s gaze. “You may be ready for the updates, but are you ready for my family?”
She smiled. “The moment we step into the conference room, you should lay a big kiss on me. That might stun them into silence.”
He chuckled. “The idea has its merits. Mostly because it means I’d get to kiss you. Properly.”
She laughed then started pulling him toward the door. “Let’s play it by ear.”
In the end, JJ’s attendance at the meeting seemed to keep his family in check. The only one who seemed to want to say something was Sabina. But to his surprise, she cornered Ellie and not him. Both women’s gazes darted to him as they spoke. Their conversation bounced back and forth then finally, Sabina gave Ellie a quick hug before joining her husband at the conference table.
“Coffee, anyone?” Sabina asked. A little too cheery.
Chad slid her a look. “I’ll get it. And decaf only for you,” he added. She froze, then made a face at her husband before taking a seat with a grumbled “never mind.”
When everyone else declined, Ellie jumped straight to the point. “Don’t sugarcoat anything. Just tell me.”
