Page 101 of The Cinderella Secret
“It’s a long story,” said Aiden.
“Yes, a long story in which Aiden claimed to my face—this face right here—that he didn’t know how to punch people.”
“Aiden!” she exclaimed. “Who is going to buy that?”
“Everyone!” snapped Aiden. “Everyone buys it. Except Jackson. And possibly also Evan,” he added as an afterthought.
“Dominique is also suspicious of your winter tans,” said Jackson and Aiden made a disappointed noise. “Did you really think we were never going to notice?”
“You haven’t for the last six years. So yes, I thought that.”
“Well, I’ve only been here for four, so I don’t think the first two years should count. Also, thanks.”
“For what?” asked Aiden, looking surprised.
“Well, I just realized that my review hearing took place during the high-season. Getting me out of jail must have been extremely hard on your fight schedule.”
“Meh,” said Aiden with a shrug. “You’re not going to tell Grandma, are you?”
“What am I—high?”
Ella watched Aiden’s shoulders relax slightly.
“No, what we’re going to do is have a much longer conversation about your security arrangements. But unless you’re planning on taking this pro, I think your secret identity should probably stay secret.”
Aiden was quiet and Ella wasn’t sure what to make of his expression. “Thanks,” he said at last, sounding a bit shell-shocked.
“Although, at some point, I would also like the inside scoop on you,” he said, pointing at Ella. “You don’t have to tell me, but I do like to have a complete story.”
“Well, I guess it’s not exactly a secret,” said Ella, trying to assess how much to sanitize her mother’s behavior. “My mom threw this Day of the Dead party and I was dressed as Cinderella—”
“No,” said Aiden firmly. “We’re not telling Jackson.”
Ella frowned at him in confusion. Jackson obviously already knew most of it and he obviously wasn’t upset. On the other hand, Aiden seemed to compartmentalize quite a bit—maybe he wasn’t ready to break down all the walls. “Well, all right,” she said. “If that’s what you want. But I don’t see why he shouldn’t know.”
“You just said you never told your family!” objected Aiden.
“Well, yes, because I thought my uncle would stop me from trying to find you, and I wasn’t going to let that happen.”
“Itwasyou who talked to Josh!”
“Yes, of course. I’ve been looking for you for the last six years!”
“Really?”
Aiden looked so touched that she impulsively leaned over and kissed him.
“Well, now that Cinderella has found her Prince Charming, can we come back from happily-ever-after-land and work on nailing Charlie to the wall?”
Ella blushed at Jackson’s amused expression.
“Yes,” said Aiden, blatantly reaching across the table to hold her hand. “We should do that.”
Jackson looked like he was two seconds from rolling his eyes.
“So what do we do when MacKentier makes me an offer?” asked Ella. “The goal is to get him to admit that he’s responsible for forging the Berdahl-Copelands?”
“The goal is to get him to admit he’s responsible for your father’s death,” said Jackson.
