A setup only to receive attention from his crush

 At Celia’s apartment

Elliot was screaming in the middle of the night, “Hey Celia!!! Leave my office staff. He has done nothing. I promise, I won’t call the cops, just leave him safe.”

The people in the apartment awoke and came out to watch what’s happening.

Celia half asleep rushed to her gallery in surprise, “What are you talking about?

Someone started screaming in pain from behind her. Celia knew him but didn’t expect him to be there, at that hour.

Celia stepped ahead and asked, “What are you doing in my room?”

The person kept screaming as if he had been tortured brutally by Celia.

Elliot urging for help to the people around, “Please, help my staff member… please someone do something or else he will die!”

Looking at Elliot’s exaggerated plead and cry, the neighbours called the cops. They broke in Celia’s room and what they saw was serious. Celia was standing with a rod in hand and the person playing victim was on her bed with a traumatized look.

Celia got arrested and was taken to the station for investigation. Media was brought into the picture. The television at the police station kept flashing the news of Celia being a psychopath.

Elliot claimed her of being a cheat, fraudster, a drug addict, a criminal in front of the investigator.

The investigator, “Why did you kidnap him?”

Celia with a tough tone, “Sir, I didn’t kidnap him, neither did I hit him and nor did I ask any ransom from Mr. Elliot Hansen. I work there!”

The investigator in suspicion, “Then, why were you holding the rod?”

Celia in amazement, “I did hold the rod because I was forcefully given by him to hold and by the time I could figure what’s happening… you entered with your team.”

The investigator said, “We’ll find the truth till then stay here.”

Celia asking, “Sir, can I give a call to my lawyer?”

The lawyer met Celia and she explained everything including her unstable relationship with Hansen’s. The lawyer was a good friend of Celia. She was determined to get her out of this play. She went to the investigator to resolve the matter.

Half an hour later

The investigator talking to Elliot, “Sir, whatever evidences we’ve got falls in her support. We have to leave her. The victim was lying. He has admitted and his statement can put you in trouble. It is better you stand by my suggestion, which is to back out.”

Common room at station

Celia and Elliot sit with their lawyers beside.

Elliot with his convincing statement, “She is doing this because I fired her for carelessness in work. I had asked her to get the investors some savouries and she passed that work to someone else.”

Celia’s lawyer questioning, “As far as I know magazine writers aren’t given the work of lining the investors with savouries, then why task her?”

Elliot in cocky tone, “I, too am aware but couldn’t she adjust in the situation of urgency? Fine, even if I ignore that, what about the ransom she asked to my staff?”

Celia’s lawyer stated when her informer entered with a clip, “Then what’s this?”

Elliot pretending innocent, “Oh… I… didn’t know this. My staff fooled me I guess. Good, he got what he deserved. Um… sorry, I’ve got to attend this call, excuse me.”

However, the media had benefited him spoil her image somehow. The lawyers terminated their clause and wrapped up the case.

Celia talking to the lawyer, “Thank-you, I was actually surprised with this random act. Glad I remembered you. Thanks a lot.”

The lawyer hugged her and said, “Don’t worry. Such cases are cake walk for me but did you do something to Hansen’s?”

Celia replied in little fear, “I think, I might have and I’m soon going to pay. You don’t have to worry. I can manage that.”

After a while

Elliot saw Celia going to the parking area. He caught her wrist, looked into her eyes and said, “Crook, enjoyed this disturbance? I can give you some more, if you want to continue messing with me.”

Celia looked at him for a while and then smiled.

Elliot in surprise asked, “For what are you smiling? You look like an idiot.”

Celia smilingly said, “Elliot, stop doing this. You aren’t liking, what you’re doing and I know if you had to bar me in there, you could have, easily! But you intentionally changed your mind and made it look like a prank. If I’m bothering you so much why don’t you let me resign?”

Elliot gazed at her face and replied with a soft melting tone, “If you knew me so well then why did you do that?

He grabbed her by waist and leaned her towards the car; his hands feeling cold and heart softer; his body odour irresistible and voice indicating his longing.

 He came closer and whispered in her ears, “Just tell me once you didn’t do that?”

Celia with swaying emotions and controlled mind, “What does your heart say?”

Elliot bringing Celia’s hand to his chest, “What do you think it says?”

Celia with caressing voice, “I didn’t do anything Elliot. If you trusted me before, trust me now. I’ve always wanted goodness for you.”

He looked in her eyes for a while and said, “Its long time, we didn’t talk. Can we talk while you drive?”

Celia smiled with happiness, “Yeah, sure.”

On two-wheeler

Elliot teasing Celia, “You’ll be able to drive? Don’t wreck me up because of what happened earlier…”

Celia in confidence replied, “Unless you’re overweight. I can.”

Elliot was happy to have Celia back in his life but he had not yet reached to a conviction to what he was feeling for Celia. If it was love then who was Sally to him?

After a drive

Sally approaches Elliot joyously, “Elliot, your back. I was thrilled after the news but why are you getting here with her. This is what happens when I leave you for a while.”

Celia spoke to Elliot, “I’ll go then, take care.”

Elliot kept admiring her till she drove away from his sight. Sally knew something is going out of her hand. She decides to call up Celia.

Sally in affirmed tone, “Don’t trust Elliot. Whatever he did today was a part of his plan. I keep pretending I’m on his side but now I can’t take it anymore. He’s only after his revenge. Stay alert and careful…”

Celia thought for a second and then said, “I’ll be waiting to see where his revenge plan takes us. But know one thing, I won’t run away this time. You better keep our secret closed.”