Xavier's POVThe harsh glow of the studio light felt like a spotlight on my every flaw. So many times, I have done these interviews; each and every time, I continued to chip away into my façade so carefully constructed. Today wasn't any different. The scandal that shook the soil on which I stood continued to buzz around me, a storm I couldn't outrun. It was relentless, just like the humming of a fly that refused to be swatted away."Xavier," the voice of the host cut into my daydream. "What would you like to say to the allegations concerning your family's business dealings?"I took a deep breath, forcing a smile that really felt more like a grimace. "Those allegations are baseless. I've worked hard to establish my own reputation, separate from my family's past. I assure you, my focus is on the future, not the mistakes of the past."The words came, practiced and polished, easily rolling off my tongue. Inside, though, I was a tempest-a maelstrom of emotions with every question asked, t
ELLA'S POV Stepping into Xavier's mansion was like stepping into a world too big, too overwhelming for my life. The sheer scale of it all made my heart pound in my chest. As the door closed behind me, the silence inside pressed in against my ears, a contrast to the noisy thoughts racing in my head. Ivy tugged on my hand, her innocent eyes wide with wonder at all the grandeur surrounding us.It was cool, the air crisp-each breath a thoroughly conditioned perfect simulation-but it did little to quash the bubbling unease in my stomach. The taut smiles of the staff greeted us, no more than courteous and rehearsed, their words soft and formal. A woman clearly used to such introductions stepped forward, offering to take me to my room. She strode ahead down the hall, Ivy and I trailing until the luxury of the mansion seemed to swallow us whole.When we finally reached my room-no, my suite-I was literally out of breath for a second. Large was an understatement: a room fit for royalty, with a
ELLA'S POV"Don't let this get to you, Ella." The president's face twisted into a mask of pure concern. His words reverberated at the back of my mind as I nodded my head slowly, my eyes scanning his for any hint of emotions and surprisingly, I met the soft glints of compassion in his eyes.Rising from the chair I was sitting on, I turned and headed out of the room with my head wrapped in thoughts. Could Xavier really be telling the truth? If yes, would I be able to give him my heart this time around?As I glided deeper into the horizon of the hallways, my heartbeat raced harder as I ran my fingers through my dress. Stopping in front of the elevator, I stretched taut my fingers and pressed the button causing the automated doors pull apart.The elevator ride was a matter of seconds before I finally arrived at my floor which was on the secondth. The hallways were quiet— save for the soft clip-clap of my heels against the bronze tiled floors. I made a stop at Ivy's room and opened to the
XAVIER'S POVThe sharp ray of sunlight flared my eyelids as I pulled from sleep, the softly smell of Ella running into my nostrils. Last night was a blast of emotions, emotions I was happy I finally let out.I loved Ella, deeply. And the sight of her moody stroke a sharp jolt of pain in me. That goddamn scandal had caused a rift in my relationship with her and it hurt to watch her there, so sexy, refusing to let off her guards.After putting Ivy to sleep, I raced my way to the room only to find the door ajar and no sign of Ella in the room. I made my way only to see her drinking champagne by the balcony. Her milky blonde curls framed the edges of her face, waves cascading all the way to her waist. The moonlight washed her beautiful features, her soft blue eyes and her attractive curvy body. I felt a wave trudge through me at that instant, desire racing endlessly in my veins as I let my gaze wonder her hungrily.If anything, I wanted to claim her and make every bastard around here kn
ELLA'S POV The sharp smell of the substance in the cup I was holding reeked it's way into my nostrils. I let out a choked cough as I passed it back to the maid in front of me. She was obviously feeling the same way as I was, confusion was boldly written on both of our faces."I can't drink that," I said giving up as I passed the cup back to her. I watched the corners of her lips pull apart as she replied, "Master Xavier had put a lot of effort in making the drink, he would be hurt if he found out you didn't take it."Her words shook the air as my mind flashed back to Xavier. He was a lot of things, cold, arrogant, bossy. But now actually romantic and caring. I was taken aback by the warmth of her words. Xavier was never the type to let his emotions get the best of him, but last night seemed different.His words to me, they sounded pure, genuine. Like a grave promise I knew he would keep. The thought of his effort flashed back into my mind and I steadied myself before reaching out and
ELLA'S POVMy curls now draped over my view as I bent my head slowly, dead in tracks. Raising my gaze slowly, I was shocked to find the figure of a lady in a purple mermaid gown. She looked fierce— not in the heroic way but kinda scary. Her face was well adorned with makeup, her cheekbones evenly highlighted. Her hair was the neatest I had ever seen. This woman— whoever she was, was classy. She possessed an air of authority that braced my anxiety. Every detail I could gather about her screamed wealth and power, her face fixed in a frown that indicated clear displeasure. Her skin glowed under the light of the chandelier, her hair braided in a chignon.She was obviously another member of Xavier's family, I could tell, like an aunt or a sister maybe. She was seated on the edge of the long breakfast table, her fingers curled against the fork plucked on vegetables on her plate.But something was different— she didn't possess the same green eye color as the rest of all the McKinney family
ELLA'S POV "We're here ma'am!" The chillingly familiar voice of the driver jerked me out of thoughts. Displayed from the car's side windows, was the tall familiar building of the hospital, my previous work place. After my marriage with Xavier, the contract included me dropping off work as the marriage, according to Xavier, would be one that deserved full attention.Ivy was sitting beside me, her hair packed in two sideway buns. The cars in the parking lot of the McKinney mansion were sleek, mostly expensive limited edition cars of serialized brands. The cushions of the backseat were warm and inviting against my back, the AC in the car setting the atmosphere.The car finally settled at a vacant space in the parking lot and the chauffeur had opened the door for me not quite long after. The instant I stepped out, the hot summer air and the smell of desperation in the hospital's grounds fazed my breath.The familiar walk into the hospital felt chilling, unfamiliar, like it's been years
ELLA'S POV The lines of my lips crackled as I bit anxiously into my lower lip, my fist tightening as I stood up and headed out of the room. As I ascended the stairs, I couldn't help it but feel the weight of her words settled in my bones."Xavier may tolerate you for now, but you’re nothing more than a fleeting distraction. This family... this life? It's too much for someone like you." Her words echoed against the inner walls of my ears. The stairs now seemed to now be longer as I climbed slowly, my head dabbled in thoughts. Was this life really too much for me? She wasn't lying, maybe I was actually the burden here. I was nothing, just an underpaid nurse forced into this big life style as the wife of a billionaire. Was I really a distraction? If yes, then for what?As I progressed through the hallways. My fingers curled around the cup of water in my palms, the cool surface doing nothing to ease my doubts.Her soft voice echoed in my mind, with the double edged sharpness of a swor
ELLA'S POV Xavier was finally here.My joy knew no bounds as I rushed over to the parking lot where I had guessed his car was packed. From afar, I could already see a glint of his backview stepping out of his car.The security men following him led the way as he turned. His face, as you'd expect, was strict, the bad-boy look plastered on all corners of his face but once he saw me, a bright smile tugged at his lips.“Xavier.” I said, running as fast as my legs could carry me. Xavier also ran in my direction and when I finally came in contact with him, I jumped into his wife arms. The smell of his cologne flared my nostrils, the joy of being in Xavier’s arms washing back into my veins.In as much as I didn't want to admit it, I missed him. And I could tell he also missed me. His arms wrapped aroundy back, his lips placing a hot kiss on my neck.“I missed my princess.” The sound of Xavier's voice trudged into my ears, fulfillment washing into my bones. I felt happy, safe and contented
ELLA'S POV “This way ma'am,” The news reporter walked over to me, his finger pointing in the direction where his camera team were located.I looked back at the script in my hands, I still didn't understand why Madame Browne had insisted I did the interview when I was told only ten minutes away. Madame Browne was seated by the edge of the hall, a wicked smile playing on her lips. The flickering lights of the camera team washed her features, the malice in her gaze burning my flesh. I parted some loose strands of my hair behind my ears as I walked over to the corner where the interview was going to happen. The walls had a green background and the makeup artist walked over to me with a make-up box in her hands.“Make-up?” She asked nicely, revealing her bright set of dentition.I was just about to respond to her when Madame Browne interrupted, her tone dismissive, “No! She doesn't need that.”“The interview should start in a minute.” The director stepped in beside Madame Browne, his fi
THE NEXT DAYELLA'S POV Grin Grin!I woke up to the first ray of sunlight. The air loomed celebration and joy, the distant sound of the workers at the hall bracing my ears. My alarm clock receding ringing filled my ears as I tapped on the button to turn off before stepping out of the bed. The president's birthday was today and I had set a timer to wake up early enough to be one of the first set of people to wish him a happy birthday.I took my bath and dressed myself in a simple top and some khaki pants to go surpervise the event before the guests arrived. I traced my steps to Ivy's room to find her already awake in her pajamas. “Let's go wish Grandpa a happy birthday!” I smiled, pointing to the cake I'd ordered earlier. “Yay cake.” Ivy squeeled beside me, her sweet voice filled with joy.“Let's go.” I urged, taking the cake pack. Ivy gave out another squeel as she ran over from the bed. “Don't forget the party poppers.”Madeline, ivy's caretaker who was watching us from the side,
ELLA'S POV I walked over to the hall with the president behind me. I was taking him on a short tour of the hall and things were going smoothly. I pointed over to the stage, “That is stage and that is…”As I spoke, something in me felt uncertain. I could feel iny veins that something bad was about to go down. Madame Browne was the only person in the hall and the thought of that was unsettling.“I'll be back.” I took several steps back. I flashed a wink at Glenda telling her I had to use the lady's room before walking out of the corner into the main hall.I took slow yet calculated steps into the hallway, my heels walking slowly without making any noise. I stepped to a side and caught a view of Madame Browne's figure looking as maddened as I had left.I waited for a second, a cold sweat running down my forehead as I searched for any movements from her but received nothing. I was just about to turn and leave when I caught her walking back in the direction of a corner of the hall. She
ELLA'S POV “My mistake…was thinking the size of the event mattered more than the heart behind it. For years, I was impressed by noise. But this year, Ella reminded me that silence…can steal the show.”It would be an understatement to say my heart skipped a beat when those words escaped the president's lips. I felt the world beneath me crumble, the shock causing me to nearly lose my stance.A tear slid down my cheek. My heart was still racing from the shock. I had been so afraid of the president not acknowledging my efforts. For a split second, I'd thought I lost it all to Madame Browne and that she'd won but I was wrong.I had won.Madame Browne's efforts to ruin the event didn't work, I scaled through. The president had walked over to me and for the first time, had offered me a hug.He seemed very happy, probably the happiest he'd ever been. Once the hug ended, he turned in Ms. Glenda's direction. I hesitated for a second before I spoke, “This is Ms. Glenda she helped me design the
MADAME BROWNE'S POVThe elevator door in front of me chimed open sharply, a soft metallic swoosh brushing my ears. I stepped out of the elevator into the long hallway to my room. As expected, my maids were lined up by the walls like figurines dressed in uniforms I'd designed myself. The elevator's soft gloom layered over the purple linen of the uniform, catching my gaze from the side.The silence in the hallway was soft, almost unbearable but somehow, it felt okay. The discomfort in my veins rolled easily, my face fixed into one of those things oldsters call a warrior's mask.The president would be here anytime from now and he was going to come back to her— Ella, and that bitch, Glenda. He would witness their event and would probably give her some accolades— accolades that should've been mine.I bit my lower lips furiously, the impatience in me was cold— chilling cold. I clenched my fists trying to think of something else, something other than her.Ella.Her name was like fucking tat
ELLA'S POV I wasn't expecting to see Madame Browne at the event hall but there she was, claded in one of the most expensive dresses I've ever seen. Her eyes loomed with malice and an even darker emotion, the air shifting sharply.Smug smirks slipped through her lips as she strutted into the hall. Her presence daunted curious gazes, hushed whispers trudging through the air as she made her way into the hall.My bloodstreams tightened, the veins in my legs twitching as I maintained a straight stance. The air, if I remembered clearly, stood still with unspoken tension.I stood by the stage, the clipboard in my hands nearly snapping to the floor from the shock.The silence in the hall was thick with suspense, the whispers fading immediately as Madame Browne strutted into the hall. Her eyes wandered around sharply, inspecting each and every detail as if searching for a flaw to bicker on about.My heart raced in my chest, my gaze following Madame Browne. And just when I thought she wouldn't
Madame Browne's PerspectiveThere was only one sound filling the car: the smooth hum of the engine beneath me, as I sat in the backseat, my fingers idly tracing the rim of my wine glass. Outside, the city was a blur of lights and motion, a sea of faceless people who didn't matter to me. They were all just ants, scurrying around in a world that would never understand the power I held.The driver, a quiet man that had driven for me for years, looked back at me through the rearview mirror. "Ma'am, where to tonight?"I took another sip of my wine, let the rich flavor dance on my tongue. "To the mansion," I said coolly, my voice low, deliberate. "I need to speak with the staff, make sure everything is in order.The mansion had been mine, my domain where I could let my guard down, and relax in the knowledge I was in control. But tonight… tonight was different. The tension was palpable, an unhealthy knot threatening to tighten in my chest. It had not gone according to plan, and to say the le
MADAME BROWNE'S I thought I'd seen it all.Well, not until I saw Glenda Bacci stepping into the one bar I thought I could escape her god-damned presence. She stood by the door to the mini bar, the club's flickering lights highlighting her silhouette.A proud smile tugged at her cherry red lips, disgust burning in my breath. I tried to flash my eyes away, to hide the discomfort I faced.Anger steamed in my blood, hard and pungent. I gripped the shot glass on the table, my fingers wrapping against the hard glass as I gulped it all down. I tried to turn away, to not acknowledge Glenda's presence but the attraction was daring, like that of a moth to a flame.“Oh! Look who it is?” I said, sarcasm dripping in the base of my voice. “Little Miss messiah.” “Yes, Madame Browne it is but this time, I'm no little messiah, I am Glenda Bacci, the one woman you tried to ruin years ago.” Glenda remarked like she didn't give a damn about my presence.She’d really grown wings I must say. But, like al