She's Not Cinderella

Takeaway Ginger Chow Mein

William PoV

I stomped over to my limo and slammed the door shut.

"Where does she live?" I asked the chauffeur, Carl.

"Well, I checked with your headmistress and she lives in a pretty rundown part of town. You sure you want to visit her home?"

Carl and I had been friends from childhood, and he technically served as a bodyguard as well as my chauffeur, despite mostly just snooping for me, and of course driving me around. He was two years older than me, and was black belt in pretty much every martial art you could name. Not the kind of guy you'd want to mess with.

"Yes, I'm sure." I mumbled, steam practically fuming out of my ears.

Five minutes later Carl stopped outside a rundown, wooden bungalow that previously would have been white, but now had faded to a dirty grey. As soon as I stepped outside of the car, the cold hit me, and I looked forward to going inside. I walked up to the rickety old door and after realising there was no doorbell, rapped on it thrice.

There was no reply, so I did so again. This time there was a shout from inside, and an unshaven, potbellied man who reeked of alcohol lumbered over and flung open the door.

"Hello, I'm William Fitzgerald, your daughters employer. I have come to request your permission for her to stay the night, as she will be attending a business eve-"

"You're 'avin a go with 'er then. Lucky boy, I 'aven't done 'er yet..."

"What?" I exclaimed, misunderstanding his words.

"Are you Adeline Christa's father?"

"Yeah, well she likes it really, she just puts on that straight face. I 'aven't 'ad a go on her yet though, but lately..."

I had to get this straight. Was this drunkard talking about... Intercourse?!

"What do you mean by... Had a go?"

"A healthy young lad like you should know. A bit a 'rumpy pumpy' , I usually just get it off the bar lady but she's reaching that age... Where it's a win-win situation..."

I punched him square in the face.

I had also been trained in martial arts by Carl, and could take a bastard like him any day, and that one blow knocked him out. He looked like he was about to pass out anyway. I stepped over him, giving Carl a thumbs up meaning I was fine, and shut the door behind me. I then went to search for Adeline's room.

What a bastard.

When I found her room I was shocked at how stark it was. There was barely any furniture, and she had almost no belongings, only a few old t-shirts, baggy jumpers and trousers. The shoes she wore must have been her only pair. I packed everything, from her books to the canvas on the floor into a laundry bag I found in another room. I had a quick look around her house to see whether there were any more of her things. I would buy her new things, of course, but sentimental value, and all that.

The kitchen and lounge were littered with beer-cans, only her room was immaculate. Every room stank like cigarette smoke and alcohol, and I had already decided for Adeline that she would never come back to this place.

I made my way out, stepping over the drunk and slamming the door.

I threw the bag into the boot, and told Carl to take me back to the ballroom.

££££££££££££££

Adeline PoV

Nathan pulled me closer.