Chapter 6 The Other Side Of Miles

Ella's POV

"You were jealous."

I immediately turned to Margarette. "What?"

She gave me an amused look. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about. I saw your face when you saw Sonia holding Miles's arm."

"I was not jealous."

"Oh, please, Ella. I've known you for years. You can lie to everyone else, but not to me."

"Marga, please stop. Someone might hear you."

She laughed and leaned closer. "Why? Are you afraid my brother might find out?"

"Marga!"

"All right, fine. I'll stop teasing you, but you have to admit you were at least a little bothered."

I sighed and looked around the garden, hoping to find something that would give me an excuse to change the subject. "I was surprised, that's all. I barely know your brother. Why would I be jealous?"

"That doesn't mean you can't find him attractive."

"I never said I found him attractive."

Margarette raised an eyebrow, giving me a look that said she didn't believe me at all.

"Fine. He's handsome," I admitted. "Are you happy now?"

"Very."

"You really enjoy annoying me, don't you?"

Margarette smiled. "It's one of the benefits of being your best friend."

"Lucky me."

She laughed, but instead of continuing to tease me, her expression softened. "Sonia and Miles used to date, you know."

I looked at her before I could stop myself. "They did?"

The smile that immediately appeared on Margarette's face made me regret showing any interest.

"There it is," Margarette said with a knowing smile. "That look that says you suddenly want to know everything about Sonia."

"I asked one question."

"And I'm answering it. Sonia was Miles's high school sweetheart."

"Oh."

I tried to pretend the information meant nothing to me, but the uncomfortable feeling in my chest said otherwise. The way Sonia had been holding his arm made much more sense now. They weren't simply family friends. They had a history together.

Margarette studied my face. "Want to know why they broke up or if they might get back together?"

"No."

She smiled. "You hesitated."

"I did not."

"You definitely did."

I was about to argue when Margarette's attention suddenly shifted past me, and the teasing expression on her face changed into something suspiciously pleased.

"What?"

She didn't answer, so I followed her gaze and immediately felt my stomach tighten.

Miles was walking toward us.

Sonia was no longer beside him, and he was walking straight toward us. I told myself he was obviously coming over to see his sister, but when his eyes met mine, that explanation suddenly became difficult to believe.

For some ridiculous reason, I became conscious of how I looked. Margarette had spent so much time fixing my hair and makeup upstairs, yet I suddenly wondered if everything was still in place.

"I think I should go inside," I whispered.

Margarette immediately caught my arm. "Absolutely not."

"I need something."

"What?"

"I'll think of something once I get there."

She laughed. "You are not running away from my brother."

"I'm not running away. I just don't want another embarrassing encounter with him today. I've already poured coffee all over the man. I think I've done enough."

"Well, it's too late now."

Before I could ask what she meant, Miles stopped in front of us.

"Hello, big brother," Margarette greeted dramatically. "I'm a little hurt that Sonia has gotten more of your time tonight than your own sister."

Her offended tone didn't fool me. The affection in her eyes made it obvious how much she adored him.

Miles raised an eyebrow. "I've been home less than a day and you're already complaining?"

"You've barely spoken to me."

"You were upstairs getting ready, so technically, you abandoned me first."

Margarette gasped and turned to me. "Did you hear that, Ella? Ten years abroad, and somehow I'm the one who abandoned him."

I laughed. "I'm staying out of this."

"Smart choice," Miles said.

Our eyes met, and I suddenly became aware of how close he was. He seemed different from the cold, arrogant man I had met at the office that morning. He was more relaxed now, and somehow even more attractive.

Margarette looked between us. "Anyway, I should introduce you properly. Miles, this is my best friend, Ella."

"There's no need, Marga. We met at the office earlier."

A mischievous smile appeared on her face. Of course she already knew. I had told her everything on our way home, including the embarrassing coffee incident.

"Oh, really?" she asked, pretending to be surprised. "And how did that go?"

I gave her a warning look. "You already know."

"I want to hear his version."

"I'd rather forget it."

"I disagree," Miles said, amusement in his eyes.

Before Margarette could tease me further, he held out his hand. "Hello, Ella. It's finally nice to meet you under better circumstances."

I placed my hand in his, suddenly nervous at the simple contact.

"Hello, Mr. Ravengard."

"Miles," he corrected. "We're going to be living under the same roof, after all."

During Miles's brief visits home over the years, I had never gotten the chance to meet him. Now that he was back for good, I would be seeing much more of him.

"All right. Miles."

He released my hand, but his gaze remained on me, making me blurt out, "I'm sorry again about this morning. I didn't mean to spill coffee on you. I'll wash your shirt."

I immediately regretted the offer. With plenty of maids in the mansion, why had I volunteered to wash it myself?

"I mean, I ruined it, so I should take responsibility."

To my surprise, Miles nodded as though my offer were completely reasonable. "Well, of course. You can get it from my room later after the party."

My eyes widened. "Your room?"

"That's where the shirt is."

"Seriously, Miles?" Margarette immediately complained. "There are plenty of maids in this house. You can't actually let Ella wash it."

"She offered."

"Because she feels guilty!"

Miles looked at me. "Do you want to take back the offer?"

I should have said yes, especially now that accepting meant going to his bedroom after the party, but there was no way I was backing out after offering.

"No. I said I would wash it, so I will."

"Then it's settled."

Margarette looked between us and shook her head. "You two are ridiculous."

Miles smiled at his sister, and whatever I was about to say vanished. Unlike the smirk he had given me that morning, this smile was warm and unexpectedly sweet, making my heart beat faster before I could stop it.

I quickly looked away. The Miles who had annoyed me that morning was easy to handle, but this charming side of him was much harder to resist.

"Fine," Margarette said. "But if Ella is going to your room later, I'm coming with her."

"Marga!"

She looked at me innocently. "What? I'm protecting my best friend."

"From what?"

She pointed at Miles. "Him."

Miles laughed, and my face grew even warmer.

"Your confidence in me is touching," he told his sister.

"I know you too well."

"Apparently not well enough."

Something about the way he said it made Margarette narrow her eyes, but before she could respond, someone called her name from a nearby table.

She glanced toward the voice and sighed. "That's Mom. I'll be right back."

My eyes widened when she started walking away. "Wait, where are you going?"

Margarette looked over her shoulder with a smile that told me she knew exactly what she was doing. "Mom is calling me."

"Marga."

"I'll be back."

She disappeared into the crowd before I could stop her, leaving me alone with Miles. I suddenly found everything around me more interesting than the man beside me until he broke the silence with a faint smile.

"So, you've already started working at the office."

"Yes. Today was my first day."

"Then I'm looking forward to working with you."

I smiled. "Thank you. I've actually wanted to work in the Marketing Department for a long time."

"Marketing?" His eyebrow lifted. "I was told you'll be my Executive Assistant."

I stared at him in surprise. "Your Executive Assistant? But I was assigned to Marketing."

"Apparently, that changed. You might want to ask my father about it."

Of course. Uncle Marcus. I should have known he had something to do with this.

"I hope working with me won't be too terrible," Miles said.

"I guess I'll find out."

"I'll try to make a better impression tomorrow."

I laughed. "That would be a good start."

The corner of his mouth lifted, and butterflies stirred in my stomach. Maybe I had judged him too quickly that morning. After all, I was the one who spilled coffee all over his shirt, so I couldn't entirely blame him for being irritated.

"I guess I should try to make a better impression too," I admitted.

His expression changed as his eyes locked with mine, the playfulness disappearing from his gaze.

"I think you already have."

Heat rushed to my cheeks, but I couldn't look away. For that moment, it felt as though I were the only woman in the garden.

Margarette had been right all along. I had been attracted to Miles for years, long before I ever met him, and now I could finally admit it to myself.

But admitting it to anyone else was out of the question. Not even Margarette would hear it from me. My attraction to Miles Ravengard was one secret I intended to keep to myself.