His Reluctant Cinderella. Jessica Gilmore

His Reluctant Cinderella - Jessica Gilmore


Скачать книгу

      Her daughter wanted for nothing, except for an interested, loving father. Could that be about to change? This was the first time he had contacted her in ten years—that had to be a good sign, right?

      ‘Clara, are you okay? If you don’t want to do it that’s fine. I’ll call in a favour or two. I’d have preferred to keep things professional, that’s all.’

      ‘What?’ With difficulty Clara fought her way past all the possibilities and emotions swirling dizzily around her brain. ‘Sorry, I just need to read this. I’ll be with you in a second.’

      She noticed detachedly that her hand was shaking as she clicked on the email, the words were dancing in front of her eyes, making no sense at all. She blinked again, forcing herself to concentrate.

      

      

      Dear Miss Castleton...

      

      

      The opening line made her reel back, shocked by its formality, but, grimly determined, she read on.

      

      

      Both Mr Byron Drewe and Mr Archibald Drewe will be visiting London the first week in May and would like to know if it is convenient for you to meet with them to discuss your daughter’s future. Her presence is not required at the meeting.

      Please send me any dates and times that week that would be convenient for you to meet and I will let you know the final arrangements and venue nearer the time. Any expenses you incur will of course be covered. Please provide the relevant receipts.

      On behalf Mr Drewe Jr

      

      

      Her first communication in years—and it was from Byron’s secretary.

      Her head was suddenly clear, the dizziness and anticipation replaced with hotly righteous anger. How dared they? How dared they dismiss Summer, summon Clara as if she were a servant? How dared they offer to pay her expenses—as long as she provided receipts like an untrustworthy employee?

      Although Byron’s father had always thought she was a gold-digging good-time girl, she had just naively hoped Byron believed in her, believed in their daughter. Despite everything.

      Byron had spent so much time stringing her along, promising her they would be a family, but he hadn’t even had the guts to tell his father about the baby. And once his father found out that was the end.

      It was a straight choice: Clara and Summer or his family fortune. Turned out it was no choice at all.

      Even then he had lied, promised he’d find a way, that he loved her, loved Summer. Her heart twisted painfully. He had just wanted her to leave quietly, to not make a scene.

      Clara’s eyes locked onto the photo that sat on her otherwise clutter-free desk and the anger left just as suddenly as it had arrived. Dark hair, dark eyes, just like her father. Clara’s feelings didn’t matter here; Byron’s behaviour didn’t either. Summer was the one who counted and this was the first communication she had had from her daughter’s father in years. He wanted to meet. Maybe he wanted to be involved.

      Or maybe not. But she had to try. If only she didn’t have to do it all alone. Of course her parents would come with her if she asked, but she didn’t trust them not to threaten to castrate Byron with the butter knife—or actually do it. Not that he didn’t deserve it but it wasn’t quite the reconciliation she was hoping for.

      Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

      Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

      Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

      Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.

/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAgEAYABgAAD/4RqIRXhpZgAATU0AKgAAAAgABwESAAMAAAABAAEAAAEaAAUA AAABAAAAYgEbAAUAAAABAAAAagEoAAMAAAABAAIAAAExAAIAAAAcAAAAcgEyAAIAAAAUAAAAjodp AAQAAAABAAAApAAAANAADqYAAAAnEAAOpgAAACcQQWRvYmUgUGhvdG9zaG9wIENTMiBXaW5kb3dz ADIwMTQ6MDc6MjggMTA6MTE6NTIAAAAAA6ABAAMAAAABAAEAAKACAAQAAAABAAAB9KADAAQAAAAB AAADGwAAAAAAAAAGAQMAAwAAAAEABgAAARoABQAAAAEAAAEeARsABQAAAAEAAAEmASgAAwAAAAEA AgAAAgEABAAAAAEAAAEuAgIABAAAAAEAABlSAAAAAAAAAEgAAAABAAAASAAAAAH/2P/gABBKRklG AAECAABIAEgAAP/tAAxBZG9iZV9DTQAB/+4ADkFkb2JlAGSAAAAAAf/bAIQADAgICAkIDAkJDBEL CgsRFQ8MDA8VGBMTFRMTGBEMDAwMDAwRDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAENCwsN Dg0QDg4QFA4ODhQUDg4ODhQRDAwMDAwREQwMDAwMDBEMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwM DAwM/8AAEQgAoABlAwEiAAIRAQMRAf/dAAQAB//EAT8AAAEFAQEBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAMAAQIEBQYH CAkKCwEAAQUBAQEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAQACAwQFBgcICQoLEAABBAEDAgQCBQcGCAUDDDMBAAIRAwQh EjEFQVFhEyJxgTIGFJGhsUIjJBVSwWIzNHKC0UMHJZJT8OHxY3M1FqKygyZEk1RkRcKjdDYX0lXi ZfKzhMPTdePzRieUpIW0lcTU5PSltcXV5fVWZnaGlqa2xtbm9jdHV2d3h5ent8fX5/cRAAICAQIE BAMEBQYHBwYFNQEAAhEDITESBEFRYXEiEwUygZEUobFCI8FS0fAzJGLhcoKSQ1MVY3M08SUGFqKy gwcmNcLSRJNUoxdkRVU2dGXi8rOEw9N14/NGlKSFtJXE1OT0pbXF1eX1VmZ2hpamtsbW5vYnN0dX Z3eHl6e3x//aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8A4twTD6A+Km8dlBv0R8VPIVL6IS0s9S1tZMB3J8oWv0j6tdZ6 9Tk5eDUDi47tjXPMF7hp6VHt22Orb/Ofmf21l4oDrDJja10fEg7V6N9Xs3HZ9V8DLxHPc7ArZQ+h m4frIIbbjuxcbb6ll1r/AFa7ner6/r+qnG+iiaF+L5/Zj3Cm0PZstpP6U99ocK/6v03fpVf6Axv2 r0XENblMLa3dp93t/wA3cu86h0jpuV1TLrtraXOawWt/lWCvc8/vbfUavPepBmHnOxaC4Nosn1IA dLg36LPzfTUUcnGZw2PdsUBwz8NR4vSdM6c+9zXWfRduZ4EOOxw/6TXMW3TXgtgWQ4PeSHEdtxLW /wCasf6tdVGReKbC0X3Dc+gnb6h/0uJu9rrdN/2f/MTdVffgZZoe4vqsM49vBa4/pGMt/le2xm/+ w/8Am1XnCRlwnQsol2L0GNjdNdXYBBBDyQdY2q3Vg4zCHVH+bcQzvpIn/pLkLc57bGOrkHIAaW8A OHvsB/da7e9q6vpQtGObrzFY+gXaE/y4UUomO/VM+9uZ1+p7ca3Ha31Bc8VVNGpO4e8NXO9Qqsx7 KsitgrlpDBAdETWQ7T03Wf62fpF0mVezLzHvJJroeaGsA+iIa663+U9+/wD62xD65hUkWUBvpw0W B8e0FrXO/wCmxPx5RCUYkafpf4bWy4jPHKQPq3h/1L+s8FsG/b2iEkbaftHHySWm53EP+a//0ONc 7Twj+Kg36H9pInRO0w0EchynJuX0QkbETJGogjsVodJ6z1TpN1l2E6K7xF9TmiypxiJ2O9jbW7v5 z9z/AINZxc4n1H6wdFsY2Phs6XeL7w2ypvrU0zBe7cKuCff/AJqMjS+EeI0TXm3endezqDZdY77R mZLox6BAcTLfS3BgY30mvqZ+Z/Ns2Lb6J9W2Z2Q/qnUYuZYR6NfZ2xran5Dv5FljHPrWL9XMC/qB 9JjmVVn+eFbGsc/xY+9rRf6bvzmequx6b1R9WZf06/HItx/oVNPufX/g7KGECp1bmj2/pa/3FVzW JSEPm/TI/dbcdIC+3pCYfVXpN79xoaTMweJ/e/kuUb/qs+yyL7jfSQQ3d7nN7t959zvo/nLZ6flY eXWbcWwPa07X

Скачать книгу