Free Yours Completely: A Cinderella Love Story (Billionaires and Brides #1) by Krista Lakes Page A

on, the two women introduced themselves. Ella was glad to see that neither of them were the blonde or her group from the night before.
    “I'm Clarissa,” the tall, thin platinum blonde introduced herself. “I'm Maddy's cousin and the maid of honor.”
    “And I'm Gwen, the best friend.” The redhead set down her champagne. “Do you want some champagne? Everything is more fun with champagne.”
    “I'm supposed to be working,” Ella stammered as Madelyn fluffed the skirt out and then went to grab something from a box.
    “Working? Then we're your bosses, right?” Gwen smiled as Ella nodded. “Then, as your boss, I insist that you have a good time and have some champagne with us.”
    “She's right, you know,” Madelyn agreed, rummaging around looking for something. “We'll have far more fun this way.”
    Ella grinned, feeling the bonds of friendship starting to form with these women. “Well, I can't say no to my bosses.”
    Gwen laughed and went to grab her a glass. “I knew you'd come around.”
    “Okay, here's the veil,” Madelyn announced. Ella dipped her knees while Madelyn fastened the lace veil to the crown of her head.
    “Oh, Madelyn...” Clarissa gasped. “It's perfect. Absolutely perfect.”
    “It is, isn't it?” Madelyn beamed. “I was so afraid Martha's veil wouldn't match, but it's like it was made for this dress.”
    “Martha is the groom's mother,” Gwen clarified for Ella, handing her a very full glass of champagne.
    “It's my something borrowed.” Madelyn frowned. “Or is it my something old? I forget.”
    “It was going to be both, but now the veil is something old, the shoes are something new, the dress is now the something borrowed, and the garter we picked out is your something blue,” Clarissa told her. “I have Charles searching for the penny in your shoe.”
    “Right,” Madelyn nodded. “Now, the shoes. I want to make sure they look right.”
    “They're hidden under the dress.” Gwen rolled her eyes and grinned at Ella. “I still say you should wear cowboy boots.”
    “Hell to the no,” came Madelyn's response as she dug through a pile of tissue paper. She frowned as her hands came up empty. “They must be in the bedroom.
    A knock on the door caught the women's attention. “Will you get that Clarissa? I'm going to go look for the shoes.” Madelyn disappeared into the bedroom.
    “Who could it be?” wondered Clarissa, heading to the door. Before she could check the peephole, the door swung open and in walked Jace.
    Jace, the groom. And Ella was wearing Madelyn's wedding dress.
    Horror filled Ella's stomach like molten lead as their eyes met. He couldn't see her like this. It was bad luck. Not in his soon-to-be-wife's wedding dress. Not him. Anyone but him.
    With whimper, she leapt from the stool, spilling her champagne all over the floor but managing to avoid the dress. She ran to the bedroom, slamming the door behind her and wishing that the whole hotel would just go up in flames around her.

Chapter Eight
    B eautiful.
    That was the only word that Jace could think of to describe what he had just seen. Even as Ella fled, spilling champagne all over the carpet, she was stunning. He didn't know it was possible for someone to be so breathtakingly lovely.
    He looked at the three women staring at him, trying to figure out why Ella had just run from the room. They all shrugged at him, concern filling their eyes.
    “Hey, Cousin. Madelyn is in there with her. She'll be fine.” Clarissa asked, settling back on the couch. He was surprised she could find it given the amount of tissue paper filling the room. “What's up?”
    “Just coming up to check in on Madelyn,” he replied. He had always like Clarissa. She was one of the few people that Jace was actually glad to have at the wedding. “What are you all doing for lunch?”
    “We have a tea service planned for this afternoon,” Clarissa told him. She crossed her arms. “No boys allowed.”
    Jace was instantly