Chapter 80 - Daddy Dominant's Good Girl

“I’m not kissing you!” I insisted, stepping back from Ellis.

He cocked his head at me, his eyes dancing with amusement. “A kiss is the price to pay. I’ve been more than generous and that dress is…” Ellis trailed off as his eyes raked over me again.

I shivered under his intense gaze, my heart pounding. He always knew just how to look at me to make me feel like I had no clothes on.

“… very expensive,” he finished, smirking.

“What does that have to do with it?” I asked. I crossed my arms to try and shield myself from his eyes.

“Seeing as the last dress you wore got soaked in red wine, I do worry how much this act of kindness will cost me, financially. So, I want some collateral. A kiss to seal the deal,” he explained, chuckling.

“And you can’t just do me a favor out of the kindness of your heart?” I challenged, raising an eyebrow.

Ellis sighed and shrugged one shoulder. “I’ve been kind enough, don’t you think?” he asked, tilting his head again.

“Fine, if you want a kiss, I’d rather wear the stained dress,” I snapped.

Ellis put a hand to his chest and took a step back like I’d just stabbed him. “That hurts,” he said.

“It wouldn’t have to if you changed your mind,” I pointed out.

“I’m a businessman, Olivia. When I make a deal, I’m never the one who bends. I wouldn’t be as successful if I did,” he told me.

“If you’re that adamant about it, I won’t wear this dress,” I said. I snatched the stained dress off the hood of his car and stomped back toward the changing rooms. Most large venues had easily accessible changing rooms because the rich and the famous wanted privacy in case of any mishaps.

Like the one I’d had.

“Fine, fine, wear the stained dress. It doesn’t bother me any,” Ellis said, following me to the changing rooms.

“Why are you following me, then?” I asked. I tried to open the changing room but the door was locked.

“I’ll just be a minute!” someone shouted from inside.

“Sorry,” I said. I backed away, sheepishly.

“As I said, it is an expensive dress. Without my payment, I don’t want to risk it getting damaged while taking my eyes off of it,” Ellis drawled.

I glared at him, my blood boiling under my skin. I was about ready to shred the d*mn dress with my own fingernails if it was that important to him.

“You’re impossible,” I hissed.

“I’m a businessman protecting my investment,” Ellis said, snorting a light laugh.

“You want the dress so badly?” I asked. I slipped my arms out of the straps and started to pull the dress off right in front of him.

Ellis’ smirk broadened and his eyes bored into my exposed skin. I flushed with heat, angry that he was taking the opportunity to ogle me and equally pleased by the way he drank me in through his eyes. I shivered and clutched the front of the dress over my breasts.

I looked away, trying to pretend Ellis wasn’t there anymore. When he looked at me like that, I couldn’t stop thinking about some of the times we spent together. Ellis had pulled me into a dressing room once. He’d been so voracious and needy then, making me feel like I was the light of his life, a treasure that made him feel things he’d never felt before.

He’d definitely made me feel things I’d never felt before.

My stomach squirmed as I got lost in that memory and I started to pant. My skin was hot and tight all over and my thighs clenched. I closed my eyes, gripping the dress like it was my only protection from the past.

Suddenly, Ellis’ lips were on mine. For a moment, I thought it was a strong memory from when we’d been in the dressing room before. I could practically feel his hands holding my hips tightly, too.

When I realized it wasn’t a memory, my eyes snapped open. I gasped and wiped my mouth. “What are you doing?” I breathed out heavily.

“The dress is all yours. I’ve received my payment,” he said.

“What?” I asked, gaping at him.

“I told you, I just wanted a kiss. You acted like I was asking for so much more,” he said, smirking at me.

“A kiss is never just a kiss with you,” I said. “I’m changing out of the dress.”

Ellis held up a hand and shook his head. “Don’t. It is too beautiful on you to be wasted.”

I continued to gape at him as he left me alone in the changing area. My stomach wouldn’t stop fluttering and my heart was like a hammer against my chest. Ellis’ last words kept ringing in my head, sending my emotions every which way.

Growling, I tossed my stained dress in the trash and put the one Ellis had given me back on. It really was a beautiful dress, much better than the one I had worn. As much as I didn’t want to accept Ellis’ help after what he’d just pulled, I still had to get into that party and I couldn’t do that with my stained dress.

I headed to the chapel. First, I took a detour to the gardens to check on Ken and Toby. They were still happily playing together. A few more kids had joined their game, too. I smiled and waved to Ken. He blew me a kiss, a good sign he was still having a good time.

That put my mind at ease. At least I could do right by my son.

When I went into the chapel, a server handed me a glass of champagne. I nodded and smiled, accepting the drink.

I glanced around. Bethany was surrounded by several young men. They were practically drooling over her.

Ellis was by one of the banquet tables, enjoying a glass of red wine and talking to some nicely dressed businessmen.

When I stepped across the threshold, the live band stopped playing and everyone’s eyes turned to me. I caught Ellis’ glance and he winked at me. What was going on?

The men that had surrounded Bethany all came rushing over to me.

“Miss Richardson, you look absolutely stunning,” one of them said. He took my hand and kissed the back of it.

“Uhh…” I looked around helplessly.

Ellis was laughing, trying to hide it behind his hand. Bethany had her hands on her hips and was glaring daggers at me.

“This dress isn’t even available yet. Do you know the designer?” one of the other men around me asked.

“It’s…”

“And this bracelet,” another said. He grabbed my wrist and held it up, showing off the bracelet Ellis had given me. “It is so simple, yet elegant. I recognize the design. Your dress and bracelet are worth more than all the other jewelry in this room.”

I groaned inwardly. Ellis had played his hand well! Bethany was so quick to show off her diamonds and expensive jewelry. I knew the bracelet I wore was more expensive than the average diamond piece, but I didn’t even know who designed the dress I was wearing.

I shouldn’t have been surprised that Ellis had access to pre-season designs before they were available to the public. That automatically made my dress worth more than almost anything else anyone was wearing.

“You’re so beautiful,” another one of the men said.

“Thanks,” I said. I pulled my wrist away from the guy admiring my bracelet. “I’m here to see Bethany, you know, the birthday girl,” I reminded them.

“She’s not as finely dressed as you,” one of them said.

“Please, everyone, just back off,” I said a little firmly.

With some reluctant, annoyed sighs, the men admiring me backed away. Even as they dispersed into the crowd, I could feel their eyes on me.

The band started playing again. I looked for Bethany in the crowd. She had vanished too. I rubbed the back of my neck. Ellis had really messed things up for me.

I looked over at him. He was with a group of men, all holding cigars, that were heading out to the gardens. He knew exactly what he was doing.

‘Protecting his investment’ had nothing to do with the dress. It was all about showing off the Richardons so the business dealings he had with my family wouldn’t fall under.

“Have you seen Bethany?” I asked, tapping someone on the shoulder.

“She’s around her somewhere,” the woman told me dismissively.

I sighed and wandered through the chapel. This wasn’t how I’d wanted things to go. Bethany had been mean earlier but I was hoping that once she got it out of her system, she’d be more willing to talk. I just had to find her.

How hard was it to find a girl in a glittering green dress? Turned out, it was pretty hard. The party was really getting going. The music was picking up. People were dancing and more alcohol was being served.

I knew Bethany. There was no way that she was going to miss her own birthday party, at least not for long.

The band started playing “Happy Birthday” and the crowd got hushed.

Two lines of waiters appeared. They had a chair resting on their shoulders and Bethany was sitting in the chair, a diamond and emerald crown set on her head. She was smiling and waving as they carried her into the center of the room.

Behind her, another set of waiters appeared, carrying a massive, five tier cake lavishly decorated. It was nicer than any wedding cake I’d ever seen.

I sighed and rolled my eyes. Bethany wouldn’t do anything halfway when it came to honoring herself.

The band started singing “Happy Birthday,” and the whole crowd joined in. I even sang along. Bethany and I were at odds now, but I did still think of her as family.

At the end of the song, one of the waiters handed Bethany a knife and she made the first cut in the cake. Everyone cheered and clapped.

The waiters took over cutting the cake and the cheers died down. People began to mingle again as the cake was dished up.

“AHHHH!” A shriek pierced the chapel, echoing off the stone walls.

I cringed and glanced around, looking for the source. Bethany’s face was completely pale.

“NOOOO!” the cry came again.

“What is it? What’s going on?” people murmured, glancing around. Everyone looked frenzied and nervous.

“Toby! Toby Diaz was pushed!” that person screamed again. I couldn’t see them through the crowd but it sounded like they were near the chapel door.

“What?”

“What happened?”

“Is Toby okay?”

So many questions erupted into the room. With the cathedral ceilings, the echoes turned into a roar.

“Toby was pushed into one of the fountains!” the panicked scream came again.

My heart stopped. “Ken,” I whispered. He was with Toby. Was he okay?

The entire chapel erupted into chaos as everyone ran for the door.