Read Online L.A. Cinderella by Amanda Berry - Free Book Online Page A

rampant.
    Critically acclaimed performances had shot him beyond the shadows of his famous parents. He’d taken on risky performances and made them his own. Now he was kneeling in front of a filing cabinet, rooting through bank statements.
    And all she could think about was how soft his lips had been, how he’d tasted like a hint of mint and how his body had melded against hers. Why had she let his warm eyes and smooth words convince her she could work with him? She would die a little every time someone like Alexis strutted down the hallway to his office.
    She was halfway in love with this man, and if she stayed much longer, she could find herself hopelessly in love with him. Someone like him could never love someone like her. A burning sensation formed at the back of her eyes.
    “Found it.” Looking at the papers in the folder he was holding, he stood and walked toward her. “All the bank statements are in here. This should have the information you need.”
    When he met her eyes, he froze. A moment of panic flashed over his face and flowed into resignation.
    “I’ll come back in tomorrow to finish up.” She managed to speak without a single hitch. Even though her heart ached and she could barely breathe. She dug the keys out of her pocket and held them out to him.
    “Nata—”
    “Please. Don’t. I can’t.” She turned and ran out the door.

Chapter Nine
    T he rain started as soon as Natalie pulled out of the parking lot. Chase stood in the doorway and watched her drive away.
    He’d let her go for the good of the company. He’d done the right thing.
    He set the folder with the bank statements back on her desk and closed and locked Martin’s door. Her usually neat desk looked like a tornado had hit it. Every night before she left she straightened the piles. Tonight she couldn’t get away fast enough and had almost left her purse behind.
    Maybe he should ask Robert to come in tomorrow to help her out. His chest felt hollow. While he’d promised to back off, he couldn’t resist seeing her. He just wanted to be around her, smell her sweetness, touch her soft skin. Feel like he’d finally found something real.
    She could never fit into his world. She’d crumble underthe pressure. He’d lose her before he ever had her, so he went back to his office and turned off the computer and lights. On his way past her desk, he noticed something sparkling under her desk.
    A cell phone lay on the floor under her desk where her purse usually was. He picked it up and flipped it open. The display showed a field of flowers and her name.
    He slid it into his pocket, knowing it was the wrong thing to do, but the crushing weight on his chest lifted as he opened Martin’s office again. This time to get Natalie’s address.
     
    The ice cream box was almost empty by the time the movie was at the halfway point. Elizabeth was telling Chase’s character, Tom, how they were meant to be together, but Tom was blowing her off, even though he loved her. Usually Natalie didn’t require a tissue box and way too much Chunky Monkey ice cream to get through her favorite film. But with every close-up of Chase’s face, she helped herself to a huge bite of ice cream.
    It didn’t help that she’d become way too familiar with his face. Seeing the expressions he’d given her on the television made her pulse pound and her heart ache.
    She’d cleaned the kitchen with a vengeance first thing when she got home. Then she’d changed into her comfiest pair of jammies and popped on If Only . She hadn’t bothered with dinner, figuring she’d get enough calories from the ice cream.
    Now tucked under her blanket, she began questioning her sanity for picking the movie she’d always loved in the past. It only served to remind her of Chase’s larger-than-life world. That, coupled with the magazine Rachel had left open to pictures of Chase and Alexis last weekend. Natalie wondered what else she could do to sink the dagger further into her heart.
    She