Chapter iv
Beach Thriller
iv
When you unpack it, Cinderella sends a terrible message.
It reinforces the “pretty equals worthy” trope.
The beautiful, kind, but passive woman gets the prince, while the objectively less attractive stepsisters deserve nothing.
Granted, they’re cruel and horrid—but the point still stands.
And what’s Cinderella doing about her plight? Nada, that’s what.
She remains stuck in a toxic environment, taking no steps to improve her lot in life. Yet suddenly she’s deserving of a kingdom, all because of a biological quirk that gave her tiny feet? Come on. Talk about conveying the notion that luck and looks matter more than effort and skill.
But don’t tell that to Anna. She’s essentially living the role. She’s dressed for the part, too, wearing what amounts to rags compared to the designer clothes her employers flaunt around the house. They’re like walking advertisements for top brands: Couture, Abercrombie, Hilfiger, Lauren, and more.
But look on the bright side, Anna—nothing lasts forever. At least the daily humiliation was funding grad school. And she had already learned a valuable lesson: imagining how the other half lives was much more fun than having it shoved in her face every day.
Today was no exception.
Maeve had gone for a swim while Anna cleared the greasy breakfast dishes from the long mahogany table.
She polished the counters until they shined.
Conrad and Baxter Ward were holed up in the study, discussing real estate.
From what she overheard, Conrad was getting an education on how business was and wasn’t done at Ward Pharmaceuticals.
He would soon be family, and Baxter was taking Conrad under his wing.
Anna had nearly finished cleaning the kitchen.
It looked spotless, like breakfast had never happened.
What a pity she was actually skilled at this job.
She understood all too well why Conrad had kept the job description vague.
Now here she was, down on her hands and knees, scrubbing floors, killing brain cells from the chemical fumes.
And she knew why: to be closer to Conrad.
Who is going to be married, screamed a voice in her head. But the heart and mind were often at odds.
When all her tasks were finally finished, Anna went outside for a quick break.
She sat in the garden, admiring the ocean view.
She told herself, You don’t need money to enjoy this.
The sun sparkling on the ocean always captivated her.
Her grandfather likened the view to a million diamonds spread across the water—absolutely priceless.
She missed him terribly. He’d been gone several years, but it felt like yesterday.
He was the only father she remembered; her own had died the summer she turned three, and her mother had been too grief-stricken to remarry.
“Penny for your thoughts,” said a voice behind her. Anna jumped. “Get it—a penny? Like how we met?”
Anna laughed uneasily. “Oh—hi, Conrad,” she said, flustered. “You, uh, caught me daydreaming.”
“Sorry to interrupt, but I thought you might want this.” He offered her one of the two glasses of lemonade he was holding. He’d even thought to garnish it with a sprig of mint.
“Thank you,” she said, mildly abashed. “Is it okay that I’m taking a break?”
She sipped the sweet, refreshing drink, savoring the taste that embodied summer.
“Of course.” His warm voice coated her like a soothing balm. “My mom might gripe, but that’s just how she is. You’ve already lasted longer than most of the help.”
The words stung—the help. Oh shit. In your place, Anna—back in your place.
Conrad seemed to realize his mistake. He looked sorry, which softened the impact. He cleared his throat and took a sip of lemonade. She tried to ignore the tangle of hair falling in front of his eyes and those sensuous lips.
“What I’m trying to say is it’s like Grand Central Station with the staff. People come and go before I even get a chance to know them. But the pay is good, and hopefully … you’ll stick around.”
Anna read between the lines: Stick around … for me. Tentatively, he reached for her hand, and a jolt ran through her. His smile was charming—but nervous? Was there a vulnerable side to this handsome man?
“Let’s take a walk … get away from the house so Mother doesn’t see you relaxing, God forbid.”
They left their glasses on a small garden stand. Anna made a mental note to collect them before Maeve noticed.
They walked in silence until Anna broke the spell.
“How’s the real estate business treating you?” she asked, fumbling for words, her heart pounding.
He looked at her keenly, and she worried he was upset that she’d overheard his conversation in the study. But he smiled.
“I dream in square footage,” he joked. He took a piece of paper from his pocket, unfolded it, and showed Anna a remarkable hand-drawn picture of a brick building, with the dimensions marked neatly on the sides.
“You drew this?” she asked in amazement.
Conrad nodded. “Art was my first love—drawing, especially—but a career as an illustrator isn’t fitting for a Carmichael.”
“You’re still young—there’s always time to change course.”
Conrad laughed off the notion. “You don’t know my family. Elizabeth just graduated from law school. She did her internship with her father’s company and now she’s working there full-time. They offered me a position as well, and everyone expects me to take it.”
His hand dropped away at the mention of his fiancée. “Coerced might be a better word than offered. Her dad’s huge in pharma, and I’m set to run his real estate division.” He paused. “Honestly, I don’t want the job.” Conrad’s eyes drifted to the ocean. “I don’t want any of this,” he mumbled.
He balled up his drawing and stuffed it back in his pocket.
“Any of it?” Anna hoped he would know she wasn’t just talking about work.
“I thought I did. Elizabeth and I go way back—we were high school sweethearts. Everyone expected us to get married. But she hasn’t been the same since her mom died.
It was sudden, really tragic. She was a model, still working in her forties—not the healthiest lifestyle, too thin, a smoker …
but still, you don’t expect that.” He left it there, and Anna didn’t push.
“I did my best to support her, but after her mother’s death, she started drinking heavily.
I thought it was just a phase, but it kept getting worse.
I don’t like to judge. I love having a good time as much as anyone, but not the way she does.
” His jaw tightened. “I don’t know why I’m telling you all this. ”
Anna almost reached for his arm but pulled back. “It’s okay—I’m glad you’re sharing. I’ve been wondering. The engagement party was lovely, but let’s just say … there were undertones.”
Did he understand she meant him and her, not Elizabeth?
“If it’s as bad as you say—why…?” Her voice faded.
“Why get engaged?” Conrad sighed but looked at her as if she were his lifeline.
“I guess I felt trapped. Elizabeth depends on me for emotional support, and now there’s family pressure to make it work.
But I’m done cleaning up after her drinking.
I don’t want this fancy job with her father’s company.
I just want to say fuck it—fuck it all.”
His face turned gray; his eyes darkened. “My family can go to hell with their expectations.”
He bent down, picked up a stick, and snapped it in two with an audible crack, like he was breaking someone’s neck. Anna flinched, startled by his sudden outburst. After a few deep breaths, he calmed, color returning to his cheeks.
“I want out. I want a new life, away from all this.” He gestured to the large house and lush gardens that would be the envy of most. “But Elizabeth and my family—it’s like they’ve trapped me inside a box.”
“It’s a pretty box,” Anna said gently. “And you have a bright future. Not to mention you’ve got money. I’ll be lucky if I make rent in my first year of teaching.”
Conrad looked at her, embarrassed that he hadn’t asked about her aspirations. “You want to be a teacher?” He said this as though she were Mother Teresa.
“Yeah, I love kids. I grew up with just my mom and my sister.” She told him about her grandfather stepping in after her dad died.
“More than anything, I want a big family. Holidays, kids running around the yard, a white picket fence, all that. I studied early childhood education—there’s nothing more important than teaching the next generation. ”
Conrad looked wistful. “I wish I had a sibling. But I don’t think my parents liked each other enough to try again.
Honestly, it’s a miracle I’m here.” He laughed mirthlessly.
“There’s a loneliness to being an only child.
And I’m sorry about your father. My dad, Geoffrey, passed away, too.
I guess we share that sad story. I miss him every day, but my mom doesn’t feel the same way. ”
Anna’s heart constricted. She hardly remembered her father, but Conrad’s grief felt raw.
Perhaps Conrad felt he had overshared; he quickly changed the subject. “So, teaching, huh? That’s a lot more noble than real estate.” His smile returned.
“I like to think it’s a calling,” Anna said. “But we need buildings to teach in—so your job matters, too.”
Conrad’s smile widened as he laughed. The rage and sadness she had glimpsed was now as distant as the sun trailing their walk.
“I want a big family, too. Maybe in a house where you don’t worry about breaking priceless antiques wherever you turn. The other night, you wished to be invited to the party. But I want to run away from it—go somewhere else, build something new. Does that make sense?”
His eyes were so earnest, she felt a lump form in her throat.
“Does Elizabeth know how you feel?” she asked, stepping over an invisible line.
Conrad seemed sincere, but he had a fiancée. Was he prone to making promises he couldn’t keep? Was he only saying what Anna wanted to hear?
“Yeah, she knows. But once she has her heart set on something, there’s no stopping her. She’s Daddy’s girl and she’s used to getting what she wants.”
They reached the edge of the estate. Ahead stood a sweet cottage with two stories, whitewashed shingles, and a small porch. Unlike the main house, it felt warm and lived in.
Conrad noticed her interest. “That’s the guesthouse,” he said. “We barely use it. It was my hideout as a kid. Want to see?”
He took her hand and led her up the steps. “The door sticks a little, but it just needs a shove.” He bumped it open with his shoulder.
Anna was enchanted. Dust hung in the air, and the place smelled faintly stale, but it was cozy. A woodstove sat in the corner, with a cushioned bench under the window. The kitchen was compact, with a kettle on the stove and a breakfast bar. A spiral staircase curled upward to a second story.
She pictured herself seated by the fire, glass of wine in hand, Conrad beside her. Her face flushed.
“It’s perfect,” she said softly. “A cottage by the ocean? I can’t believe no one uses it.”
Conrad’s eyes didn’t leave her. “I’m enjoying it now.” His voice was low. “You’re glowing—it’s like you belong here.”
He stepped forward. She smelled spicy notes of cinnamon on his skin, mixed with the freshness of lemons. Anna felt she should move back, but she always did what was expected of her.
“Why did you take this job?” Conrad asked.
“I need money for school,” Anna answered nervously, looking away.
He touched her arm, encouraging her to meet his gaze. “Is that the only reason?” His words came out in a pleading whisper.
Anna was never much of a liar. “Maybe because of the way you’re looking at me right now,” she said.
The air grew tense. She felt a pull of gravity dragging her where she shouldn’t go. Maybe, just this once, she could break the rules.
Now she met his gaze, unwavering.
He leaned in slowly, his warm lips brushing hers, and she melted into his embrace.