Curvy Ever After: Forbidden Curvy Girl Fairy Tales (6 page)

~~~

Across the room Olivia and Sophia saw the whole scene unfold before them. They had been watching Charlie all night with an eagle eye. They had unsuccessfully tried to flirt with him at their pre-party, but he had seemed preoccupied. They also made sure that they were seated at the same table as him during the dinner portion of the evening, but again he just kept scanning the room for someone.

When his eyes had reached the top of the stairs and stayed there, they had glanced over to see what had caught his attention. They frowned in confusion when they saw a plump, dark-skinned woman in a rather lovely dress, they grudgingly admitted. They looked at each other, silently communicating,
there is no way in hell he could be interested in
that
!

On closer inspection, as the odd couple talked at the bar, the twins realized that the girl was their frumpy stepsister.

“He couldn’t possibly be interested in her!” Olivia squealed in distress. “And how did she find that ensemble in only an hour?”

“Hmm…I don’t know, but he must be taking pity on her.” Sophia rationalized. “Let’s find out if the auction is about to start. Maybe we can speed things up a bit. I mean, he obviously needs help getting away from her and he’s
way
to nice to tell her he’s not interested,” she suggested, clueless.

“Yes! That’s perfect. He definitely needs a wingman to help him in these situations and it’s apparent he doesn’t have one. So we could be his wingwomen,” Olivia agreed anxiously.

As the twins made their way over to talk to the organizers of the event, back at the bar, they couldn’t have been more wrong. Charlie was determined to pull the shy beauty out of her shell. He wanted to know all there was to know about Ashland.

“So what do you do, Ashland?” Charlie asked, genuinely interested.

“I’m a photographer. Fashion and editorial.” Ashland spoke quietly, looking down at her drink.

“Ashland, look at me,” Charlie said softly as he brought his index finger to her chin to lift her face. “I know you’re shy, but I want to see those beautiful brown eyes when you’re saying something. I want to see what brings you passion and joy. Eyes are the windows to the soul, or so I’ve heard.” He winked at her.

“Okay, I’ll try.” A small smile touched her lips.

“So what made you get into photography?” Charlie continued.

“It was my father’s passion, before he built up his career and didn’t have time for it anymore.” Ashland shrugged. “So, I guess I decided to pick up his hobby to be closer to him after he died. And I suppose I fell in love with it like he did,” Ashland said, finally getting out a whole paragraph and barely breaking eye contact. It wasn’t hard considering once she looked at him, his eyes were hypnotic. Like sitting on an island beach, watching the blue waves of the ocean for hours.

“I’m sorry to hear about your dad. Though, I’m glad you found your passion. I can see how much you love it by the way your entire being lit up from the inside out,” Charlie said truthfully. Unable to stop himself he raised his hand and stroked his index finger down her smooth heart-shaped face. “Are you freelance?”

“Huh?” Ashland didn’t hear the question at first. She was too dazzled by his previous statement and thrown off by his gentle touch.

“Do you work freelance?” Charlie repeated.

“Oh…um…yes. I work with several different magazines and clothing stores when they need me.” Ashland answered finally.

“Good. I’d love to hire you for some shoots Knightly magazine has coming up.” Charlie offered.

“That would be great!” Ashland exclaimed hopefully, already anxious to see him again. “But how do you know my work is any good? Or if it would fit the layout and style of your magazine?” She asked, her insecurities once again rearing their ugly heads.

“I just do. I have a sixth sense for this kind of thing. Which has helped with my success.” He took her empty glass and set it on the bar. “Would you like another-” he started before someone on a microphone cut him off.

“Alright ladies and gentlemen, our Date for the Day auction is about to begin. As soon as we get all the lovely ladies that have graciously volunteered for tonight’s auction, to come up to the stage. Ladies?” The auctioneer called out.

“If you’ll excuse me. One of my thoughtful stepsisters volunteered me for the auction.” Ashland said with a hint of sarcasm and a tight smile.

Charlie nodded his head as she turned to walk to the stage. He smiled to himself as he realized that he’d be writing out a fat check later, because there was no way in hell he was going to let someone else win a date with Ashland.

He watched as the women lined up. Ashland was at the very end and she fidgeted nervously with her dress and clutch purse as she stood on display for the entire room. Charlie couldn’t fathom why the stunning woman was so self-conscious. But he vowed that if he was lucky enough to make her his, he would make sure that she knew she was beautiful…daily.

Ashland could barely make out the people in the audience because of the bright lights that were directed towards the stage. Though she could feel eyes on her. The feeling unnerved her and her heart pounded out a beat in her ears. Her palms were a sweaty mess and she could’ve sworn she was on the verge of hyperventilation.

She started to take deep calming breaths as the auction began. She pretended as if she was behind her camera, the only place where she felt safe and protected. Soon, her heartbeat calmed and her breathing steadied. Once she was calm enough, she realized that the auction was well underway. And up next were her hateful stepsisters.

“Next we have the lovely, Olivia. Olivia is a runway model who enjoys walks in the park, organizing charities, and feeding the homeless at a local soup kitchen.” The auctioneer listed off.

What the…? ‘Feeding the homeless!’ Bullshit! More like berating the homeless for being in her way!
Ashland railed in her head.

“…Now the bidding will begin at one thousand dollars.” The auctioneer continued.

“One thousand.” Someone called out.

“One thousand to the man in the gold mask.” The auctioneer verified.

“One thousand five hundred.” Another voice shouted.

“Two thousand!” A man bellowed before the auctioneer could speak.

Ashland sighed deeply.
I might as well sit back and relax. This is gonna take a while.
Her stepsisters were gorgeous and Ashland knew that when it came to women’s looks, men could be very superficial and fickle. It was why she still, at twenty-four-years-old had never had a boyfriend and barely been kissed. And why her stepsisters had men coming and going like a revolving door.

In the end, both stepsisters had racked up over fifty thousand dollars for charity, between the two of them. Though, Ashland did get a certain amount of pleasure when the winners of the bids for Olivia and Sophia, came up to collect their prizes. One was an old, balding pudgy man and the other was a scrawny young man, whose wire-rimmed glasses continued to slip down his nose. Her stepsisters turned up their noses, but accepted their arms reluctantly as they led them off the stage.

Now it was Ashland’s turn and she took a deep fortifying breath. Even though she was trying to brace herself for humiliation, she knew that no amount of preparation would block the hurt. Though a little hopeful voice in the back of her mind told her,
Charlie still hasn’t put in his bid. At least he didn’t bid for Olivia or Sophia.

Ashland glanced up in horror as she began to listen to what the auctioneer was saying. She realized too late that she didn’t personally give them a list of her likes and hobbies. And considering the ridiculous lies that were said during Olivia and Sophia’s introductions, she knew that they had given the organizers their lists. Which meant they had given hers as well.

“And last, but certainly not least, we have the…the bubbly and studious, Ashes.” The auctioneer cleared his throat uncomfortably. Ashland wished that the floor would open up and swallow her whole. “Ashes enjoys cleaning, reading bodice-ripping romance novels on Friday and Saturday nights, and eating loads of delicious foods. For anyone wanting to take this voluptuous treat out for a day, the bidding will start at one thousand dollars.”

Ashland was mortified at her introduction. What the auctioneer had said would be no big deal to someone slender and beautiful. But to a girl that was teased mercilessly by her so-called family and ignored by men, it was especially horrifying. Her stepsisters had made her look like a bookish, nerdy girl that had no life, and stuffed her face all day. With some OCD thrown in for good measure.

Even through her mask, Charlie could see the embarrassment written all over her face. He could tell that the auction was something she wasn’t comfortable with, and that she had been volunteered unwillingly. Her intro wasn’t as favorable as all the other women that had went before her. Charlie wondered who had written the somewhat insulting list of ‘attributes’.

He gritted his teeth in anger on her behalf. Charlie had already planned on paying whatever was necessary to get that coveted date with her. Though now, he had every intention of riding up on his proverbial white horse. Wanting her pranksters to have to eat crow before the auction was over.

Before he could speak first, someone in the crowd put in their bid at a thousand dollars. Charlie scowled in the general direction of whoever had said it.

“Five thousand dollars.” Charlie called out, skipping a couple thousand in the process.

“Five thousand to Charming Charlie at the bar.” The auctioneer responded.

“Six thousand.” A third man shouted.

“Seven thousand.” The first man called back.

“Ten thousand!” Charlie growled.

The auctioneer stopped interjecting, since the men weren’t letting him get in a word. His head just kept bouncing around the room as more men joined in. Many of the men had an honest interest in the shy beauty. Though, it was obvious that once Charlie had put in his bid, he had sparked interest in the other men around the room that hadn’t been paying attention to her. All the men taking a second look at the curvaceous beauty standing in the spotlight. But Charlie wasn’t in the mood to share. His next move squashed all the competition.

“One million,” he said clear as a bell across the room. The two words shutting everyone down.

The entire ballroom grew silent as he made his way up to the stage. Ashland’s wide eyes were as big as golf balls as she watched him step onto the stage. She could not believe what had just transpired. She had thought that she’d be lucky if someone even put in one bid for her.
But a
million
dollars! And all because of a bidding war over…ME! Unreal!

Charlie stopped in front of her, his beautiful smile spread across his face. The bright grin warmed her like the rays of sunshine on a cool spring day. He held out his hand for Ashland to take. In the moment next that she reached across the gap between them, to place her small hand in his. Something in the universe clicked as his massive hand engulfed hers. Ashland knew that no matter what happened he’d find her, protect her, and love her. And she knew it with a certainty, she could not explain.

As Charlie walked her off the stage, Ashland saw her stepsisters and stepmother standing off to the side. They had varying expressions of disbelief written across their faces. Their mouths flapped open and closed, like a fish out of water. Ashland smiled softly and inclined her head towards them. By the looks of hatred that passed over their faces, she knew they would have ripped her apart if it wouldn’t have been frowned upon.

The first strains of
What a Wonderful World
began to play from the big band. Charlie spun Ashland out, and smoothly pulled her back into the circle of his strong arms. They stayed like that for the rest of the song, swaying back and forth. She enjoyed the feel of being wrapped in his warm embrace and he relished the feel of her soft body against his. Charlie had to bite his lip hard to keep from ravishing her on the dance floor in front of everyone. Though, as the song came to an end, he looked down at Ashland and the look of naked longing on her face broke his resolve.

“Come with me,” Charlie blurted out.

Clutching her hand tightly, he practically pulled Ashland from the ballroom. He led her through a set of double doors and into another ballroom, one that was currently unoccupied. He turned towards her and Ashland looked up at Charlie with a question in her eyes.

“Forgive me. I normally have more restraint than this, but never in all my life have I wanted someone as badly as I want you right now.” Charlie breathed as he stepped closer to her.

Ashland’s backside hit the wall and his hands rested against it on either side of her head, trapping her. He hesitated, looking down at her, asking for permission.

She gave her ascent without pause. “Please, Charlie.” She whispered softly.

Charlie groaned deep in his throat before he claimed her lips as his. His hands made their way to her smooth skin. His fingers wrapped round the back of her neck, his thumbs caressed her delicate jawline as he tilted her face up further to meet his passionate kisses. His tongue flicked against Ashland’s bottom lip. The shock of sensations that traveled straight to her core, brought a gasp to her lips, opening her mouth to his heated assault. She had no idea where to put her hands, unused to passionate embraces. Though, she needed to do something. So her hands grasped the lapels of his tux jacket in a death grip.