Her Fairy-Tale Life

"You can't be serious!" Suzie said.

"Oh, trust me, I am deadly serious. Maggie was the nicest person I met at this party, and I can see why Kaeden likes her so much. He's been mooning over seeing her again all week. I'm afraid you just tossed out one of us, so the rest of the McConnell's will follow," Lilly said, lightly walking through to the back of the house and gathering, not her husband, but Scott into her confidence. He was the fixer. He could fix any bad situation. Gosh knew, Claire made enough of them, so he had practice with disasters like this. Kaeden was not going to take this news well.

"She did what?" Scott exclaimed loudly, making everyone around them stop and look at him. Surprising Lilly, he didn't apologise for the outburst. Instead, he stalked over to where Kaeden stood. "Our hostess just forced Maggie to leave in a private car."

"She did what?" Kaeden exclaimed in a loud voice that mirrored Scott's outburst from a moment before. Then took off at a trot towards the front of the house with Scott on his heels.

"Suzie has their driver taking her home. Maggie's perfectly safe," Scott reassured him. "Go after her. I'll get Lilly to call you and tell you the full story."

Scott walked back into the party and could see that Lilly had already begun to inform Wade and Claire of what had just occurred. He loved being part of this family. They were a tight unit who cared deeply for each other, and to be drawn into their circle was to feel the unconditional love they each had for one another.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Suzie's father approached Scott with a concerned look. He had every reason to be concerned, Scott mused. His business was heavily reliant on the McConnell's, and, while not a close friend of the family, they were business colleagues and had a general friendship.

"I don't know, Mike, your daughter just threw my future sister-in-law out and sent her home in your car with your driver. It's probably a little late to do anything about that," Scott said shaking his head. The man visibly paled and didn't try to stop Scott walking to where his wife stood. "Ready to go, darling?" he inquired.

"Most definitely," Claire nodded and took her husband's hand.

"What's going on?" Alecks asked Suzie, as the remaining McConnell's left the party without taking the time to farewell their hosts leaving a low buzz of speculation running through the crowd.

"Your freak of a sister, that's what happened!" she spat, placing all the blame for her mistake on Maggie.

Chapter 9.

"Come on, Maggie, pick up your phone!" Kaeden yelled into the darkened car as it went to message bank once again. He raced through the back streets and down the highway, determined to beat her home. This party had been his one shot at having a memorable first date, which they could laugh about in years to come, and he wasn't about to let a stuck up little bitch like Suzie McMahon wreck it for him.

When he eventually pulled up in Maggie's driveway, he was sure he had beaten her home and could put the plan he had been formulating into practice when he saw a shadowy figure move from the greenhouse towards him.

"Maggie's not here!" Bob called out.

"Yeah, I was with her earlier, and she disappeared on me, I was hoping to beat her home so I could talk some sense into her and continue our date, maybe make a weekend out of it," Kaeden said. "If I can convince her to continue our date, can you keep an eye on the place?" Kaeden asked quickly as he saw the lights of the car carrying Maggie approach.

"She could use the break, but if you've upset her, I don't like your chances," Bob spoke with concern.

Kaeden walked up to the slowing car and opened her door as soon as it stopped. He took in her tear streaked face and offered his hand to help her out. She ignored it and stepped from the car, moving to walk past him without a word.

"Hey! You run off like Cinderella from the ball and now that I tracked you down you won't even explain why you didn't tell me you were leaving?" Kaeden said gently. "I thought we were having a good time, at least I was."

"You don't have to pretend anymore. It's been pointed out quite clearly that I don't fit into that world and was just embarrassing my family and you by pretending that I did," she said sadly, not turning to look at him.

"Now you listen here, Mags, any fella would be lucky to have you on their arm, and this here fella sped all the way here from that party to make sure you were alright. That doesn't sound like someone pretending to me," Bob's heart broke for the girl he had known from the time she could walk. "You at least owe him the courtesy of an explanation."

"He's only here to drop off the bag I left in his car and no doubt retrieve this dress for his sister. If you give me a minute to change you can take it, I'll pay for the dry cleaning, you can send me the bill," she sighed, trying not to start crying again.

"Maggie, just stop, this is a date, and it's not over, so just get in the car and stop whatever this is!" Kaeden said, hoping his change in demeanour might snap her out of the self-pitying stupor she was in.

"There he is, Bob," she said in a harsh voice to match his. "The man used to getting his own way! Women fall at his feet; people from all walks of life just jump to attention as he walks by! Well, not me, I'm not one of those girl's who will jump into your bed at the end of a date, so forget it! So, you see, there is no need to prolong the agony. We are not having sex tonight!" she enunciated each word as if speaking to a child.

"Well, that's disappointing to hear, but I hadn't thought beyond the party. I hadn't been the one to plan this date, if you remember," Kaeden argued back with a small crooked smile.

"What is it you want from me, Kaeden? The crash was an accident, and the insurance will cover it. I'm sure you've never had to go on a pity date before, but you should have been relieved when it ended and gone home." She sighed.

"Well, to start with, I want to finish our date, and then I'll tell you what else I want," he shrugged. "So, get in the car, please, Bob can handle everything here, can't you, Bob?" Kaeden looked at the old man. "Here's my number, you can call if there are any emergencies," he took a card from his wallet and passed it to the man.

"No!" Maggie shouted at both men and turned, walking into her house and slamming the door shut.

"It looks like it's going to be a long night for me, care to keep me company for a bit?" Kaeden asked Bob.

"Care to help me in the greenhouse?" Bob asked in return. He was curious about a few things that had come up just before Maggie's arrival and during their argument.

*****

Maggie stalked into her bedroom, half expecting him to follow her and felt a small pang of disappointment when he didn't. She tore off the dress and went into the bathroom, determined to rid herself of every trace of the nightmare she was having. She scrubbed her face clean in the shower and washed her hair as she went through a wide range of emotions.

She was indignant that Suzie, of all people, had practically thrown her out of the party. She was mad at herself for getting carried away by the atmosphere created by Kaeden and his family. The few snatches of conversations she'd had with Elena and Alecks had been heated exchanges, reminding her that she didn't fit in there and that his marriage was not only important to Alecks, but the whole family, as he would be marrying into money that could help sustain the farm and her father's legacy. Regardless of anything else, she did care about Alecks on a family level, and she hoped she hadn't ruined everything for him.

By the time she stepped out of the shower she just felt stupid. Instead of getting ready for bed, she pulled on an old worn pair of jeans and a singlet top. On her way through the kitchen she grabbed a bottle of water and continued down to the one place she never felt stupid or awkward. Her greenhouse and her precious roses.

It hadn't even occurred to her that Kaeden wouldn't have left when she slammed the door on him, so when she saw the blurry shadows in her greenhouse she broke into a run, thinking someone was in there destroying her plants. She'd had intruders before, and she was ready for a fight. She picked up a small hand spade from the trestle as she entered and moved warily through the greenery.

"What are you planning on doing with that?" Kaeden asked, standing up from where he had been crouched down sweeping debris from around the still intact pots. He'd taken off his jacket and shirt, and she could see the bruising still evident on his chest.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, as if it was the strangest thing she had ever seen.

"Giving Bob a hand," he shrugged negligently.

"I thought you left," she suddenly became tongue-tied. "Aren't you still recovering? Those bruises are still showing."

"It's nothing, and I'm hardly straining myself here. What you were suggesting earlier, on the other hand," Kaeden waggled his eyebrows, "Would have taken considerable effort on my part," his voice lowered seductively. "I don't do that by halves, let me assure you."

"Urg! You're so infuriating! Go home, Kaeden. You shouldn't be doing this," she grumbled, balling her hands into fists and putting them on her hips. "You shouldn't be doing this or anything else here," she alluded to his innuendo about sex. "Maybe I should ring your doctor, or, better yet, your brother. I think I still have his number on my phone."

"If that was a threat, it's not a very good one," he said, slowly advancing on her. "He will just tell you that I am a big boy and can look after my own affairs."

"Good grief, you're acting like a child who can't get his own way!" she argued.

"No, I'm a man who knows what he wants and doesn't give up easily. Some people like that quality in me," he chuckled.

"What is it you want from me, Kaeden? Seriously, the date is over, so just tell me, I don't want to play games anymore tonight," she sighed and sagged in defeat.

"Neither do I," he said, seriously making her look up at him. He leant forward and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close as he kissed her. Not the chaste brushing of lips they had enjoyed at the party, but the lip bruising, tonsil tickling, deep kiss that took her breath away and left her weak at the knees. He felt her not only give into the kiss but participate equally, and he smiled, looking into her eyes as he broke the kiss. "I want more of that."

"Be serious, there are hundreds of girls out there willing to do more than kiss you," she scoffed.

"There's only one woman I want to be kissing right now, though," he bent his head, kissing her again, paying attention to how her body softened against his as she melted into the kiss. "I want you, all of you in every way possible. Marry me," he said, letting the words roll off his tongue.

"That's not funny!" She huffed and attempted to push him away.

"It wasn't meant as a joke," he said frowning at her.

"We're practically strangers, Kaeden, and, let's face it, I don't fit the profile," she pushed him away properly. "Just go away and leave me alone."

"Just here me out, I have a business proposal for you?" He said, quickly recovering from her immediate rejection of his impromptu marriage proposal.

"Another one? Elena already told me that the first one wasn't worth the piece of paper it was written on!" she spat.

"Did she indeed?" Kaeden asked, shocked by her words and realising Neil and Bob's suspicions had been right after all. He had been so sure Elena would take the bonus money; he hadn't considered that the farm was worth more to her, even if she had to ruin Maggie's life to get it. "Bob?" he raised his voice knowing the man was still here and had just moved away to give them some space. "Bob knows a little something about that, and I suggest you listen to him."

"Yeah, okay, I'll tell her what I think is going on, but can I have a cuppa while I talk? The night air isn't so good for the old bones," he said unhappily, having been close enough to listen and know what Kaeden wanted him to do after their talk. Kaeden was about to argue when he saw a flash of curiosity soften Maggies features. 'Well played, old man,' he thought to himself.

"Fine, let's go up to the kitchen," she said. Her concern for Bob overriding her feelings about Kaeden's cruel teasing. How could he ask her to marry him like that? They were virtual strangers who had nothing in common except that he crashed his plane on her farm.

Maggie resolutely ignored Kaeden and walked ahead of the two men, getting to work on the tea as soon as she walked into the kitchen. She hadn't noticed Kaeden detour to his car before following them in, and was surprised to see only Bob sitting at the table when she turned around.

"Mags, honey. He's a little unorthodox in his thinking, but I think he's a good man, it might be worth listening to him, at least without looking like you might stab him with a carving knife," Bob said mildly. "You had Elena come and warn me to stay out of your business, and I have, but I can't stay silent anymore."

"I never asked her to tell you that!" Maggie was aghast.

"Yeah, I've been guessing she told a lot of lies to a lot of people using all that legal jargon to bamboozle us," he grumped. "How's that tea coming?"

"Here's something to warm up your bones, old man," Kaeden walked in and placed a leather folio on the table, as well as a bottle a Chivas Regal.

"Maybe just a small one," he grinned. "Could we have a couple of glasses, Maggie?"

"Why do you have a bottle of alcohol in your car?" Maggie asked tersely. "If you're a drunk, that would explain a lot of things."

"No, I'm not an alcoholic. It just saves time when I lose a ludicrous bet. I tend to bet on stupid things, like making it back to the city in my plane before a storm hits. I lost that one, obviously," he chuckled.

"Obviously," she rolled her eyes. "God, give me strength," she turned her back on him and poured the boiling water into the old pot and placed it on the table to steep while she got cups and saucers out. She took the last of the banana bread she had baked at breakfast time and put it on the table with butter in case they were hungry.

"Okay, Bob, why should I take any proposal this man makes seriously, given that I have known him less than two weeks and only seen him twice remembering that one of those times he was barely conscious?" Maggie asked. "The second time being tonight, where, as far as dates go, this one didn't go well, and we left the party separately."

"Well, when you put it like that," Kaeden grumbled.

"Because you have put your trust in the wrong people, and if you don't let this guy help you, regardless of his motivations, you'll lose the farm and everything your father left you," Bob said bluntly, and, seeing her about to argue, held up his hand silencing her.

"This isn't about him, Maggie. He seems nice enough, but neither of us knows him. This is about you needing to take the blinders off and see what's happening here. If this guy hadn't crashed, you and I would have gone on none the wiser. I wouldn't have understood why you sold the land to the developers rather than ask for help, and you would have gone on believing I never offered more help than just keeping an eye on things when you were away." Bob took a breath and downed the finger of whisky Kaeden had poured him, motioning for another.

"Elena told you that I said I didn't want you coming here to visit anymore," she shook her head. "Why would she do that, and why would you believe her?"

"Probably the same reason you believed her when she said I didn't want to come anymore," he challenged. "She made it seem like a reasonable request, given the circumstances."

"I guess," she nodded.

"Before you came of age, and she was mismanaging the farm and your trust, I challenged her on a number of occasions. When she threatened me and told me you wanted me to stay away, that son of hers was with her, and you trusted him at the time. So I stayed away, for the most part while they were here, and, when I could, I came over to help you out," he admitted.

"I would never have asked you to stay away," Maggie leant over and touched his hand. "I've known you my entire life. You were like a second father to me."

"Then listen to me now, and listen to him, because Elena and Alecks, and even that little fop, Ruslan, probably, have plans for this place that don't include you. Do you know who the developers are that want this land? Have you spoken personally to your bank manager? Or is Elena handling all of that and you're just accepting that she is telling you the truth?" he probed. "If the business and land go into foreclosure and have to be sold, the management company gets the money, not the nominal owner operator who defaulted."

"That's ridiculous! I own this land and the business, Elena has nothing to do with it!" Maggie challenged. "I have the contracts with the bank it's all legal."

"No, you, as part of her management company, own the land, but if the bank forecloses to pay off your debts, any residual funds will go to the management corporation, namely, Elena and your brothers, as well as you. You'd get a nice little sum after the sale price was split four ways," Kaeden said seriously," but I imagine you would have to use most of it to pay off your debts and find somewhere else to live."

"You went through my personal and financial records?" She turned on him again, anger flashing in her eyes.

"I noticed the company name on the insurance documents. I paid the settlement two days ago to that corporation, and I would be willing to bet you haven't seen a cent, nor will you see a cent until you start making waves about it," he defended the reason he had done the digging in the first place. "When I accepted the insurance assessment, which was way over the top, I also offered a second proposal," he tapped the folio. "I would be willing to bet you didn't even get to see it. She would have waved it around in front of you, but I doubt she left a real copy for you to read, so here it is."

"Hold on. This can't be true. None of it makes any sense. Why would they do that to me?" Maggie's head was spinning.

"Ruslan's broke, he doesn't mind where his money comes from as long as he doesn't have to work for it. I think he does care about you, like a brother, and probably doesn't know a lot about the deal Alecks has with his soon to be father-in-law," Kaeden paused. "Mike McMahon, head of McMahon property developments." He prompted further when she looked at him blankly.

"He's the king, and Alecks is about to marry the princess for the generous bride price he will pay for with my farm," she understood now, and her voice petered out to a whisper. Elena had mismanaged the farm and her trust fund until there was practically nothing left, while she had finished school and bided her time until she was eighteen, now, five years later, she was finishing the job of destroying her step daughter's life completely. Maggie sucked in a deep breath and set her jaw stubbornly. "If I work and wheedle I should be able to scrape enough together to keep the bank happy. Then I will see about this company thing. Thank you for telling me just how truly stupid I have been. I knew she was awful, but I never thought she meant me any real harm."

"Maggie, I want to help you, that's why I am telling you this. Let me help you, please," Kaeden's voice sounded pained.

"By letting you pay off my debt and giving you twenty-five percent of the business?" she asked woodenly. "Then I'd be right back here again with someone else owning my future."

"Fine, no twenty-five present, I thought that would make you feel better about accepting the money. I don't need the partnership. I just want to help you," Kaeden said.