CHAPTER 1

I watched Ethan from across the streets, my heart sank at the sight of him holding hands with another woman. The pain of betrayal I felt was almost unbearable.

“Maybe she was just a friend or a distant relation,” I said to myself trying so hard not to be judgmental.

I wonder why I was getting So worked up about him being with another woman when I knew it was a one-sided affection. Ethan knows nothing about my feelings for him and Today of all days, was meant to be the day I confess it to him. It was his birthday today. I had rehearsed the words I would say a hundred times, but now, seeing him with someone else, it felt like all my efforts had been put to waste.

I couldn’t help but reminisce about the first day I met Ethan at Douglas Mansion, all dressed in a fitted dark suit enhancing his masculinity. His eyes pierced deeply through me like it was longing for something different, something missing. I had mistaken him for the lawyer Dad had asked me to come get the documents from.

“Good afternoon, you must be Mr. George,” I said stretching my hands forward for a shake. I could see a confused look on his face as his hands met with mine.

I didn’t pay much attention to it, I assumed he was perhaps perplexed by my beauty just like the rest of the men I had met. Since childhood, I had always been the pretty blonde girl with stunning features, attracting men my age and older.

Getting no response from him, I decided to cut straight to the chase and not waste my time any further

“The document please.” I asked, with hopes of getting a favorable reply this time.

“Ma’am….” I heard his baritone voice call out. Excuses usually followed such inconsistent tone and I couldn’t afford to listen to one right now. Without waiting for him to continue speaking, I interrupted, already upset he had forgotten the files. As much as he was good-looking and charming, It didn’t compensate incompetency.

“Don’t tell me you forgot the documents or something, I’m sure you do not want us to begin our first meet on a rough path, 'cause I……”

“bravo…look who we have here, the prodigal daughter finally finds her way home” I heard grandma interrupt from the stairs, her sharp tone adding to the already brewing tension.

“Oh, crap! Not her.” I cursed under my breath. She was just the last person I wanted to encounter today, not while I was stressed.

Madame Rosette like she was popularly called was a pain in the ass, mine at least. I was aware of the fact that she never liked me and she always made sure to remind me I was the unwanted grandchild of the household. I tried my possible best to avoid crossing paths with her but, this was a difficult task. She was always popping at my face when I least wanted.

Ignoring her choice of words, I approached her, pulling her closer for a kiss.

“Hey Grandma, how have you been?”

“Better without you here."

Despite her sharp remark, I maintained my composure, unwilling to let her get under my skin. “Well, I’m here now, you’ll just have to bear with me,” I said with a forced smile.

Madam Rosette scoffed, her disapproval evident in the way she narrowed her eyes at me.

“ I see you haven’t lost your arrogance, so, what brings you to the Douglas Mansion? I thought you no longer felt the need to be around us. ” She spoke adjusting the glasses between her eyes.

I chose to ignore her comment, focusing on the main reason for my visit.

“Well, Dad sent me to get some documents from him,” I said turning my gaze at the gentleman who had been standing quietly like a mounted statue placed on his watch.

“I see, you’re not so useless after all. But, what documents could the new driver, Mr. Ethan be with? He hasn’t even resumed duty” Madame Rosette asked raising her brows inquisitively.

“Oh shit!” I’m being hit by the realization that I have been asking the wrong person. I see why he was too dumbfounded to speak.

Feeling a slap of embarrassment on my face, I quickly glanced at the man I had mistaken for Mr. George, my cheeks flushed with guilt, his expression was wearing a mixture of confusion and amusement but, there was no hint of offense in his eyes.

I…I’m so sorry, I stammered, my voice trailing off as I struggled to find the right words to apologize for my mistake.

He chuckled softly, gracing me with his warm and understanding smile, “No need to apologize ma’am. It’s an easy mistake to make.”

I could see Grandma’s sly smile through her crooked teeth as she spoke. I know she won’t let this slide, an opportunity to get on my nerves. “As expected, you just can never do anything right. I doubt if Douglas’ blood flows through your veins” she hissed.

Those words were not new to me. I had grown a thick skin to her antics, I ignored her once more, and turned to face the man I mistook with an extended hand, this time addressing him properly,

“Elizabeth Douglas.”

“Ethan Haynes”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Ethan and once again, I apologize for the mix-up.”

His smile reassured me as he shook my hands firmly.

I’m snapped back to reality by the honking cars, signifying I was blocking their path.

*********

Returning home, I could feel my eyes water up from thinking too hard. I was unsure of what to think, as I read his reply to the text I abruptly sent.

“He had a woman….A WOMAN” All along I was invested in someone’s man.

Damn….I thought we had something going on, I sighed in realization of how foolish I had been. It was all a one-sided attraction all along. I searched for my phone dialing the only number I could think of, “Maltida, please pick up the damn phone….” I cursed impatiently, tears welling up my eyes, in anticipation for my best friend’s response.

After what felt like forever, I heard a voice on the other end “Yo bitch, what’s up?”

“Mal…Mal…Maltida” I choked, my words hung in my lungs unable to flow. I burst into tears, my emotions were getting the best of me.

“hey..hey…hey…chill….let do this” I hear .

“Breathe in” I do as she says …now, “breathe out”

Certain I had followed her order, she asked “Now, where are you Elizabeth?”

“Home” I managed to utter.

“Good, stay there. And make sure you don’t do anything drastic, I’m on my way girl.” I nodded in response to her order, as though she could see me.

With a promise to stay put, I hung up and sank into my chair, feeling like an empty void. Minutes felt like an eternity as I waited for Maltida’s arrival, each second filled with emptiness and pain.

Unable to wait any longer, I walked up to the bar in search of the wine bottle, I needed to pour myself a drink, to quench the burning sensation I feeling.

I’m taken aback by the sound of the doorbell. I staggered to the door, wiping off my tears. I had to compose myself. Maltida burst through the door, her eyes wide with concern as she enveloped me in a tight hug.

“hey…hey…. It’s okay” she murmured, her voice a beacon of reassurance in the dark. “you’re stronger than this Ella, we will get through it together. I promise.” I could feel myself calming down with Maltida by my side. She was all I needed to recollect.

“Now, tell me, what has that old and evil witch done to you this time” she spoke making a weird ass face at the mention of my grandma. She thought Madame Rosette was the reason I was devasted.

I let out a soft chuckle at her facial expression and my stupid self. I couldn’t believe I was crying like a baby over a man who was happily having dinner with another woman. I let out a loud sigh “Well, Madame Rosette didn’t do anything this time.”

“oh please! You don’t have to cover for the old witch, I know she’s your grandma but then…”

“I’m serious Tilda…Madame Rosette has nothing to do with this” I told her once more, trying to sound as convincing as possible.

“Okay, so, who’s making a badass bitch cry like a baby whose lollipop got snatched.”

Well in a sense, she was right, my lollipop was snatched from me. “Ethan….”

Not letting me finish, she adjusted her sitting position, giving me her full attention, she knew how obsessed I was with Ethan.

“What is it?, Did something happen, did he reject your proposal?” I could see her eyes flicker with expectancy as she spoke.

“no….worst”

“huh?”

“ETHAN HAS A FIANCEE”…I said letting the cat out of the bag.