Besides, it was also obvious that Rosabel couldn’t stand him.
Regardless of all that, what did it matter that Maddox had fallen in love? He didn’t care. Duncan didn’t mind in the slightest that even though his friend had found happiness with a woman, he never could.
In the distance, Maddox gathered Adelie into his arms. Her white, flowing dress trailed the pave stones, and the crowd around them erupted into cheers as he dipped in for a kiss with their photographer capturing every second of it.
Good grief, this was ridiculous. Duncan had to get over himself.
Still, something streaked through him as, beaming, Rosabel joined in the applause.
“Aren’t you glad I helped them out?” Duncan taunted from behind her.
She glanced back, her eyes flashing. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
Rosabel slanted herself toward him, turning away from the happy couple. “I know you’re taking credit for this fantastic moment for them, but news flash, Duncan Hawthorne, you are not the reason those two got together.”
“I was the one who got you to help with their wedding and their honeymoon.”
“Which I did gladly.” She punched his arm. “Now stop arguing with me. You’re ruining a perfect day.”
Duncan sniggered, and at that moment, with her playful, almost flirtatious arm-punch, a thought struck him.
What if a relationship with Rosabel wasn’t impossible?
He refused to believe Rosabel felt nothing for him, or that this animosity of hers was genuine. He’d tried suppressing his interest in her…but what if he stopped?
So what if she was his assistant? Maddox Hatter wasn’t the only one who could pull a fast-one on an unsuspecting recipient. After capturing another quick glance of Maddox kissing Adelie in front of the Ferris wheel, the realization sank hard into Duncan’s sternum, hammering itself in with the force of a fence post digger.
As far as Duncan saw things, he had two options.
He could put his feelings for Rosabel to rest once and for all. Continue simmering in this frustration or just fire her and do his best to forget her.
Or he could let Rosabel know how he felt. He could see where things might lead.
The prospect of that, he admitted to himself, was tempting and terrifying all at once.
***
See how Rosabel tames her hunky boss in
Rosabel and the Billionaire Beast!
You Know the Original Stories.
Now read the billionaire versions
Goldie and the Billionaire Bear (A Goldilocks Retelling)
Ella and the Billionaire’s Ball (A Cinderella Retelling)
Aaliyah and the Billionaire’s Lamp (An Aladdin Retelling)
Rosabel and the Billionaire Beast
(A Beauty and the Beast Retelling. Coming May 2020!)
Hazel and Her Billionaire Tower
(A Rapunzel Retelling. Coming July 2020!)
***
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Thank you!
Acknowledgments
First of all, thanks go to Scarlett Johansson for her narration of Alice in Wonderland. I grew up watching the Disney version of the story but used this retelling as an opportunity to hear the original Alice story for myself for the first time. She did a fantastic job narrating it.
I listened with a notepad in hand, and each time Alice went through a new excursion, I got a new idea for an attraction at Maddox’s theme park. Then things just took off from there!
Thanks go to my cover designer, Najla Qamber, and to her sister, Nada. Najla, you absolutely captured the romantic, fairy tale feel I wanted for these covers. The cover is completely perfect, Naj. Thank you! And Nada, I love this formatting. It’s elegantly done.
To my husband, Duane, for all your help and for your unfailing support. To my beautiful kids, I love you! To my Heavenly Father, for talents and blessings.
Huge thanks to Scarlett West for her amazing insights and for helping to spiff up the ending that much more. And thanks go to Sara Olds for her wonderful, intuitive editing.
And to you, readers! We share a love of books, and that is a magical thing. That is a fairy tale.
If you ever want to hang out with me, be sure to stop by my Facebook group, Catelyn’s Sweet and Sassy Readers. All kinds of awesomeness go on there, and I’d love to have you join in!
About the Author
Catelyn Meadows is a romantic at heart. A mom of four munchkins, Catelyn married a true-blue farm boy who still makes her heart pitter-pat, and she wanted to create stories that do the same. She also writes clean, young adult fantasy romance as USA Today bestselling author, Cortney Pearson.
You can find out more about Catelyn on her website,
www.catelynmeadows.blogspot.com.
