Read Online The Glass Slipper Project by Dara Girard - Free Book Online Page B

say.”
    She stared at him in a thoughtful manner, which made him uncomfortable. He released her hand, but his action only made her examination more intense. “What are
you
trying to prove?”
    “I’m not trying to prove anything.”
    “You could live anywhere in the world. Have any woman you want, why did you come back here?”
    He glanced away.
    “Could it be revenge?” she whispered.
    He met her gaze but said nothing.
    “You’ve proven your point. You’ve succeeded, we haven’t. Congratulations. But you want something else besides applause.”
    He rubbed his chin and forced a light tone, uneasy with how close to the truth she was. “Why do I get the feeling you don’t like me anymore?”
    Her gaze searched his face, and for a brief moment sadness entered her eyes, but the emotion quickly disappeared. “Because you’re very clever. You always were.”
    Alex watched her leave, taking rein on his temper. He didn’t like being told he was acting childish. He returned to the ballroom annoyed rather than angry. He hated rejection. He hadn’t been rejected in a long time — especially by someone like Izzy. She should be thankful he even considered her. He took a deep breath. Izzy wasn’t important anyway. He didn’t even know why he’d asked her in the first place.
    It had been impulsive and he knew better. She had a romantic view of life he couldn’t afford to entertain. He wouldn’t have gotten this far if he did. Ideas were nice in theory, but not in practice. Which was why he was rich, and she was not.
    No, Izzy was of no importance to him, Alex convinced himself, erasing the memory of her standing in the hall and the feeling of her slight hand in his. He had plenty of women to choose from, and one in particular was trying very hard to catch his attention and he was more than willing to give it.
    “Hello, Mariella,” he said approaching her. “You look stunning.”
    “Thank you.”
    “It’s nice to be back here in town.”
    “We’re glad to have you back.”
    “I’m sure there are many places that have changed.”
    She measured him with her eyes. “If you would like a tour, I’d be more than willing to give you one.”
    “Thank you. I’ll pick you up.”
    “Of course.” She smiled seductively. “You know where I live.”
    Velma walked up the stairs of her new home glad that the party was over. Her head continued to ache from the high-pitched squeals of the young women who had shared her limo ride. When had she gotten so old? All she wanted was peace. Once she reached the top of the stairs she walked toward her room and then stopped. One young woman had been conspicuously absent from the ride and she wondered how her evening had been. She knocked on Isabella’s door.
    “Come in.”
    She entered the sparsely furnished room with posters from around the world on the walls and saw Isabella sitting crossed-legged on her bed wearing jeans and a large T-shirt.
    “You look exhausted,” Isabella said, leaping from her bed. “Please sit down.” She went over to her side table where she had a hot pot of tea and four cups with saucers. “My sisters and I usually eat here,” she explained. “I’m sure they’ll have a lot to tell me.” She handed Velma a cup and poured her some lemon-ginger tea she’d just brewed.
    Velma held the warm mug, sighed contentedly and took a sip. She briefly shut her eyes. “Mmm, I needed that.” When she opened them she noticed Isabella’s wary gaze. “Is something wrong?”
    “Did anything happen?”
    “What do you mean?”
    She shrugged nonchalantly. “I left early. I was just curious if anything interesting occurred.”
    “Not really.”
    “Did you enjoy yourself?”
    “Yes, Alex was pleased.”
    “I’m sure he was,” she said in an odd tone.
    “He doesn’t tell me everything though, I can only guess.”
    “I’m sure you understand him perfectly.”
    Velma took another sip of her tea then mumbled, “Sometimes I wonder.”
    Someone knocked on