Chosen for Power (Women of Power, #1) Read Online Free

the spotlight, people had become more interested in making up rumors. He’d decided he could live with that. It had allowed him to spend time with his family, volunteer at the hospital, and lead a more normal life. Unfortunately, dating would never be normal. There were too many socialites out there who only cared about yachts, vacations to St. Bart’s, and the size of the diamonds on their fingers.
    That was why he had made this annual ball a masquerade. The tickets had been priced so high that they paid for most of the hospital staff and their families to attend for free. Deep down, he had a wish to meet a normal woman. One who didn’t know how much money he had. One who enjoyed talking to him for the sake of good conversation. It sounded silly and he knew that. But even as his hope had faded over time, he’d kept hosting the ball, wishing to find that spark.
    That spark was definitely not coming from the curvy bottle-blonde in front of him. Drake stood quietly behind her, clenching his jaw as he listened to Missy Jenner talk to her date, who happened to be his college friend, Chip Aubrey. In fact, to grab his attention, he would need someone quite the opposite of Missy, whose rich daddy bought, and continued to fund, his daughter’s makeup company.
    “I heard he isn’t even here. They say it’s some medical condition that has him bedridden,” Missy Jenner said with an unmistakable hint of judgment.
    “Sugarbear, I don’t think so. I know Drake from college and he was a very healthy and athletic guy. I don’t know where these silly rumors start, but Drake Charles is not some elderly invalid.”
    Drake took a sip of champagne as he made a mental note to call Chip for a basketball game soon. Then he’d introduce him to his secretary—a sweet single mother with a solid head on her shoulders.
     
    Elle’s cell phone rang just a couple blocks out from the charity ball. She didn’t need to look at it to know who it was. “Hello, Mother.”
    “Good evening, dear. Are you on your way to the ball?”
    “You know I am, Mother,” Elle sighed. Her mother still liked to pretend she was calling just to talk.
    “Oh, I daresay the ball will be full of men looking handsome in their tuxedos. Maybe you’ll even dance a time or two. I can’t wait to hear about it in the morning.” And there it was. The real reason her mother called.
    “Yes, Mother. I’m sure there will be lots of people there.”
    “Just enjoy yourself, that’s all I’m saying. It wouldn’t hurt to find a guy, you know. You’re too sweet and lovable to be without a good man. Go find that true love your father and I had.”
    “Thank you, Mom. I’ll try to dance a time or two. See you in the morning for a marathon Christmas cookie baking session.” Elle hung up the phone and looked out at the lights.
    She didn’t want to tell her mother, but she had already decided to enjoy herself. She wished to meet a dark, mysterious man who would whisk her away from reality for one night. Her last relationship had ended almost a year ago. They’d dated for three months and she‘d thought it was going well. However, he’d begun dropping hints on their last date. But not the kind of hints she had hoped for. No, it had been more like, "Elle, while you have your board meeting this weekend, I would sure love to take my buddies to Aspen. Can I borrow the G5 and maybe you could spot me fifty Gs to show them a good time?" It was then she’d realized she was only a piggy bank to him.
    It had ruined her confidence and her already shaky trust in men. Were they just trying to get to know her because she was rich? Or were they corporate spies? After dating Chord she had learned her lesson. It was hard to relax and be herself around men. She wanted to be the woman who curled up at home and watched movies in her bunny slippers while eating chocolate ice cream straight from the carton. She was tough enough at work every day—she didn’t want to be that way in a