The Billionaire's Contracted Cinderella

Chapter 8

Edmund’s POV

The contract has been signed but I’m now facing a daunting task of introducing Ella to my father. This whole situation began as a way to escape an arranged marriage with Harper, and to become the sole heir of our companies. But now my father wants to see if my feelings for Ella are authentic or just a ruse. Convincing him won’t be easy, but I need to find a way to make our unconventional arrangement seem real and sincere.

I had already discussed it with Ella, thankfully she is now slowly getting into the story but she’s still hesitant to pretend to be affectionate in front of my father, thinking it might not be as convincing since we don’t even know each other and have no chemistry.

“I’ll try my best but I can’t guarantee that your father won’t be suspicious,” she replied.

“Just make something up and I’ll follow your lead. We have to convince him that we’re in love.”

“But we’re not and don’t forget that I still hate you. I’m only doing this for the sake of the contract,” she said coldly and I won’t deny that she doesn’t let go if any opportunity to tell me how much she hates me.

“I’ve prepared a dress for you, and a makeup artist would do your makeup so you don’t have to worry about anything,” I explain everything to her but she didn’t seem amused.

I don’t care about her anyway, the only thing on my mind right now is to convince my father that she’s the one I love.

The day passed by quickly and it was already night time. I rushed to he penthouse after finishing some meetings.

I waited for Ella to come down so we could go together. I hate waiting for people, I don’t have the patience for it but I still try my best.

Ella comes down wearing a different dress that I had prepared for her. This girl really knows how to get on my nerves.

“What’s this? Didn’t I tell you to wear the dress I prepared,” I clench my jaw in frustration.

“What about it? I didn’t like that dress, so I didn’t wear it,” she grins and it just makes me want to growl but I can’t mess this up.

“Okay, my love. As you wish.”

I drove to the hotel where we’ll be meeting our father. I had given her a brief description of everything on our way there.

As I parked the car in front of the five star hotel, I got out and opened the door for Ella. It was time to act, I extended my hand, to which Ella rolled her eyes but then grabbed my hand and gave me a fake smile.

As we entered, my father was already there. The manager had told me that he was waiting for us in the VIP section.

I glanced at Ella to see if she was okay, and was surprised to see her eyes glowing as she looked around. She was amused by the interior of the hotel. Her expressions made me smile but them my eyes landed on my father.

“It’s time to show your talent,” I reminded her.

The weight of my father’s gaze on Ella was almost palpable, causing a twist of anxiety in my stomach. This was the moment I had been dreading ever since our unconventional arrangement had begun. As he studied her, I could only hope that our carefully constructed façade would be enough to convince him that our relationship was real.

“Dad, I’d like you to meet Ella,” I began, my voice steady despite the tension in the air. “She’s someone I care about deeply.”

Ella’s nervous smile matched my own, and she offered a polite greeting to my father. I watched her, admiring the way she held her composure despite the obvious unease of the situation. Her bravery in agreeing to be a part of this charade was something I would forever be grateful for.

My father’s scrutinizing eyes seemed to bore into us, dissecting every detail, every nuance. I knew him well enough to recognize that he wouldn’t be easily swayed by appearances alone. He was a man of tradition and principles.

“So you were the one my son kissed that day, we weren’t able to greet each other,” he said as we sat down.

“I know, Edmund was waiting for the right time to tell you about it. I’m sorry that you had to know about our relationship like that,” Ella smiled widely.

My father wasn’t an easy man, I knew his questions weren’t going to stop just there.

His question hung in the air, heavy with expectation. “And how did the two of you meet?”

Ella and I exchanged a quick glance, a silent reminder of the backstory we had carefully constructed. I cleared my throat, injecting as much authenticity as possible into my voice.

“I fell in love with her at first sight. When I got to know that she works as a delivery girl, I didn’t care about her status or her family background. I just wanted her be mine.”

“And then he kept pursuing me, even after getting rejected many times. He kept trying and I saw through his love. We dated each other for a while and then decided to get married without waiting anymore,” Ella was going along with my story.

My father listened intently, his expression unyielding. I couldn’t tell whether he was buying into the story or not. The room seemed to hold its breath as I finished my explanation, waiting for his response.

“What are your intentions with my son?” my father’s tone softened slightly as he turned his attention to Ella.

Ella’s response was measured, her eyes betraying a mix of emotions beneath her composed exterior. “I care for Edmund, and I’m willing to support him in any way I can. I believe in power of love.”

Her words resonated with a sincerity that even I found comforting. It was a testament to the effort she had put into maintaining our ruse and her genuine commitment to our plan. I hoped my father could see that too.

The conversation continued, covering topics of our future plans, aspirations, and even shared experiences that we had fabricated to lend authenticity to our story. The more we spoke, the more I observed a shift in my father’s demeanor. While skepticism still lingered, there was a faint glimmer of understanding in his eyes, as if he recognized the connection that had developed between us.

When the time came to bid my father farewell, I felt a mixture of relief and anticipation. Walking out into the night with Ella by my side, I knew that this was just the beginning. The challenge of convincing my father of our relationship’s authenticity was a significant hurdle.

We had yet to attend social events together, celebrate holidays side by side, and even navigate the intricacies of living together for a whole year.