Read Curvy Ever After: Forbidden Curvy Girl Fairy Tales for Free Online Page B

smack on her substantial behind.
    Ashland yelped in surprise and then gave him a cutting look. “Keep your hands to yourself, perv. Whether my cherry is still intact or not, is none of your business. And the day you dress me up like some doll, is the day pigs fly outta my ass.” Ashland scowled at him before she grabbed her brown leather camera bag that also doubled as her purse. She flung the long strap around her body, letting it rest in its usual spot on her shoulder, giving her a sense of comfort. “I’ll see you later at the ball.” She smirked at her best friend and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before leaving his design studio and heading to the Upper East Side.
     
     
    ~~~
     
     
    “You’re late, Ashes.” Olivia snapped as Ashland stepped through the front door.
    Not feeling up to being berated, Ashland uncharacteristically spoke her mind before she knew what she was saying. “It’s not like I’m exactly on the payroll. I’m helping as a favor, not as your slave. Be glad I’m even here.”
    Sophia gasped on her sister’s behalf. “Do you know who you’re speaking to? You don’t talk to us like that.”
    “You’re only where you’re at because my father married your mother and left everything to her when he died. My father’s generosity and blindness got you here. Nothing else,” Ashland said, her teeth gritting.
    “You’re a bitch!” Olivia shouted at her.
    “We’d still be models whether your father married our mother or not. That’s what happens when you’re tall and beautiful. Unlike short, fat trolls like you.” Sophia said snidely, looking up from her perfectly manicured nails.
    Tears stung the back of Ashland’s eyes. The same tears that always came when she heard certain trigger words that catapulted her back to all the years of torment they had inflicted upon her. She blinked rapidly a few times, stifling her tears. She never wanted them to see her break.
    “You know what, I’m not here to fight. What do you need help with?” Ashland sighed deeply.
    “That’s better,” Olivia said with contempt. “We need you to help decorate the house for the pre-party before the masquerade ball, while we get ready for the evening.”
    “Didn’t you have all day to decorate?” Ashland asked, irritated with their laziness.
    “All the decorations are lined up there,” Sophia said, ignoring her question. Then she pointed over at the bags and boxes lining the wall that seemed to stretch on for days.
    “Fine. Whatever,” Ashland said, turning her back on them. Dismissing them.
    As they left the living room and headed back towards their bedrooms, Ashland’s stepmother swept into the room. Her face pinched as usual.
    “Oh Ashland, you’re finally here,” Ester said, looking her up and down like a disgusting bug that needed to be squashed. “My…my, we’ve packed on a few pounds, haven’t we? Well, you never were a great beauty. Thank goodness for your little career you’ve got going for yourself.”
    “Yes, because being beautiful is so much more important than being kind, intelligent and a decent person in general,” Ashland said between clenched teeth.
    “Are you suggesting something, dear?” Ester asked with a raised brow.
    “I wouldn’t dare, stepmother.” Ashland challenged.
    “Good. You’d do well to remember that with one phone call, your career would be over. You only have a career because I allow it.” Her stepmother threatened.
    “Yes, ma’am.” Ashland bowed her head in defeat.
    “I’m glad we understand each other. Now, hurry up and get these decorations up. Our guests will be arriving in a couple of hours.” She commanded, before turning and gliding into the kitchen to oversee the progress there.
    Ashland quickly swiped at a few tears that had escaped down her cheeks with the back of her hands. She walked over to the wall of packaged decorations and took a deep breath, before getting to work.
     
     
    ~~~
     
     
    A couple of hours later,