Free Worth the Challenge by Karen Erickson Page B

I’ve been there, trust me. This little shopping excursion will be funded by the Worth Luxury expense account.”
    “Oh.” Shock coursed through Ella and she cleared her throat. Who was Tessa Worth, some sort of fairy godmother? “I’m not sure I understand. What exactly are we supposed to be shopping for?”
    “Why, clothes for your trip to Maui. Considering how last minute this entire adventure has turned into, Rhett knew you wouldn’t have a chance to return home and gather your personal belongings. He thought it was the right gesture to help you acquire a proper wardrobe.”
    Humiliation washed through her and she was thankful Tessa couldn’t see her. Her cheeks were hot. She knew she looked a flushed, red mess. “Thank you for offering, but I should probably decline.”
    “Oh please, don’t decline.” Tessa’s voice lowered, as if she didn’t want anyone to hear her. “This is my chance to escape for a little while. I love my daughter, I love my husband, but it’s been so long since I’ve done something fun just for me—like shop. Too long. Please say you’ll come with me. We’ll have a great time, I promise.”
    Ella figured the Worths had a fleet of nannies to take care of their precious daughter. And fun? That was the last word she would associate with shopping. “But where will we go?”
    “I know of a few stores where we can find exactly what you need. And if you’d like, we could grab some dinner after we’re finished.”
    Shopping and dinner with the CEO’s wife? This was getting weirder by the minute. “I don’t know…”
    “I’ll have a car sent over to the hotel. It’ll be there to pick you up in thirty minutes,” Tessa said firmly. “Don’t say no.”
    Ella sighed and gave in. “Okay. I’ll go.”
    “I promise, you won’t regret it,” Tessa said before she hung up.
    That was the problem. She knew she wouldn’t regret it. Tessa Worth sounded like a nice woman. And though she was uncomfortable at the idea of spending so much one-on-one time with Tessa, she couldn’t help but wonder what exactly her motives were.
    Realizing she had approximately twenty-eight minutes before the car arrived, Ella jumped in the shower and changed into the same black dress she’d worn when she first met with the Worths. Twisting her damp, slightly unruly hair into a topknot, she attempted to put on a bit of makeup, making a face at her reflection in the still-steamy mirror when she saw the smudged mascara beneath her right eye.
    She was hopeless. Rubbing at the black dots beneath her eye, she then tossed the tissue into the trash and slicked on some lip balm. Smudged mascara and Chapstick, that was her lackluster makeup regimen.
    The surely impeccable Tessa Worth would take one look at her and declare she needed a makeover. Ella could hear it now. Yes, she enjoyed the thought of new clothes, but she didn’t know what was in style and probably couldn’t pull it off anyway. Plus, she didn’t want anything flashy or expensive.
    She was a simple girl with simple needs—and she’d become that way out of necessity, nothing more.
    The concierge called exactly twenty-eight minutes later, announcing the car was waiting for her in front of the hotel. Nerves eating at her insides, she slipped on her black flats and headed down to the lobby, feeling as if she were facing a firing squad, she was so scared.
    What if Tessa hated her? What if she saw her boring dress and shoes and started laughing? Ella would die. Wouldn’t be surprised in the least if Tessa whipped out her cell to call Rhett and ask why in the world did he hire this mouse of a girl.
    God, she hadn’t felt this inadequate since…forever.
    The driver greeted her when she stepped outside, the sticky warmth of the late-afternoon air, the buzz of activity and noise of the bustling city streets making her head swim. The friendly man led her over to the car, opening the door so she could slip inside.
    A woman waited for her within the