XAVIER'S POV Madame Browne was a lot of things. Pretentious, fake, backbiting. But I never expected her to be this calculating. In life, I've learned the best way to get out the webs of pretentious people is to play along in their crazy game.Behind the soft hug and pleasantries she offered was a dark twisted figure. Madame Browne married into the McKinney family even before I was born, and as calculating as her husband, my uncle, Lucas was, she also held grudges against me.The truth behind the reason for their hatred was dark and painful— especially to me. My Grandfather knew of the hatred towards me and that was why he had sent me of to study business in other to keep me out of their web. They both wanted the company so bad and that explained the reason they had been mean to Ella.Seeing Ella like that made me angry. It drove rage through my veins, I had sensed how troubled she was from the instant I stepped into the dining room. It was obvious Madame Browne had said something to
ELLA'S POV I woke up with a shrill yawn, the sunlight from the blinds blocking my view the instant I opened my eyes slowly. I winced slowly as I stretched my fingers to tap on the other side of the bed to check if Xavier was there but he wasn't.I opened my eyes softly, my brows grimacing as I searched the room for Xavier but didn't catch a glimpse of him anywhere. Where had he gone? I pulled the sheets of myself and walked over to the bathroom, to wash my face with water from the sink. The cold water splashed on my face and I opened my eyes to the view of myself in the mirror on the wall.My shoulders were flared red, my lips swollen from the events of last night. My body still ached from all the pleasure he'd given to me as I smile softly. Today was going to be good and I could already tell it. The cool water fell on my skin and washed off grime and tension of the day before. Still, I lingered in the shower longer than usual, my mind racing and replaying everything that had happe
CHAPTER 75ELLA'S POV My heart raced as I stepped closer to the breakfast table and took my sit. The air was heavy with a heated silence the instant I stepped in. Madame Browne's gaze hovered over me, unwavering. Her lips were strewn into a tight line, the remorse in her eyes unhidden."Good morning, Ella." She said slowly, her voice sugar-coated but still dropping with malice. "I trust you slept well darling."I was taken aback by her words. Darling? Wasn't she the one just threatening me just minutes ago? I grimaced slowly, confusion written over my face as I shrugged it off and clenched my chin. This was obviously a trap, another trap.And I wasn't going to fall for it. Not again, at least not this time. I nodded my head softly and flashed her a polite smile, "Yes thank you, I did." I noticed the slight change in her face as she turned her had to face the chef. Signaling to him, he instinctively lowered his body and she whispered something in his ears. Something dark, twisted, d
CHAPTER 76ELLA'S POV A lone sweat trickled down my face as I stared back at my reflection in the mirror. I bit my lower lips and paced down the room anxiously, the sound of my heels clip-claping against the marble floor being the only sound in the room. “Of course, dear. But be careful. All hell has a way of breaking loose when someone like you tries to hold on to something beyond their reach.”Madame Browne’s words echoed repeatedly in my mind. Her words drove concern in my veins, the way she made it sound as if there was something I didn't know— something bigger than all of us.My stomach churned as I settled into a nearby chair, nerves rolled through me, in waves. I couldn't let this sit any longer. I had to know. I had to hear it from him.Xavier was avoiding me, just like he always did when things got too complicated. But not this time. I needed answers. Now.As if on cue, the door chimed open, and behold, Xavier. His face was as unreadable as always, that same calm, distant m
CHAPTER 77XAVIER'S POV "Just ignore her," I whispered softly as I gazed into Ella's eyes. A breath hitched in my throat as I lowered my head to place a kiss on those succulent lips of hers. She received it softly, the soft taste of cherry on her lips urging me as I pulled deeper into the kiss. Ella had been obviously really troubled by Madame Browne and it was nerving seeing her this worried.The fear in her eyes wash off as I traced my finger tips against her sharp jaw. She squirmed slowly, a muffled moan slipping through her lips. Damn. I wanted more— I want to hear her voice screaming my name, begging for mercy and also begging for more. I paused my fingers and repeated the exercise, but this time, I traced my fingers in an anti clockwise motion.Her eyelids flustered open and I caught the warm glints of desire in her eyeballs. I could feel her body's sensation under mine, the way her shoulders squared and the way her cheeks flushed red. From the gown she was putting on, I could
ELLA'S POVTHE NEXT MORNING I woke up with a soft yawn and stretched my arms disorientedly. Stretching my fingers to feel the other side of the bed but was shocked to find out it was empty. My eyelids fluttered open and I caught the back view of a striking male figure at the dressing room.I instantly recognized Xavier from the corner of my eyes and stepped down from the bed. The warm texture of the floor braced my feet as I walked into the bathroom. Once I was at the sink, I washed my face and readied myself."I'm going on an important business trip to Mexico and I won't be back until two weeks time.” Xavier's words echoed against the inner walls of my ears, this was not what I expected but I could persevere a week with Madame Browne. It sure would be tough but I was ready to finally face Madame Browne and beat her at her own game.But first, I needed to go meet Xavier and tell him goodbye. I would really miss him, his cold remarks and sexy eyes, everything about him marvled me. I
CHAPTER 79MADAME BROWNE'S POV“Lipstick?” I heard a voice call as I tilted my head slowly. My reflection in the mirror looked fabulous— I mean, what would you expect from a fashionista. My eyes flashed with anger as I flashed a sharp gaze at the make-up artist.“Of course, Idiot! Were you expecting me to go out there looking like a Chihuahua.” I snapped sharply, my voice cutting through the short lived silence in the room. My fits tightened as I watched her shudder. I hated weak people, especially the shy ones.“Sorry ma'am,” The quiver in her voice was evident against my ears. “If not from the referral, I wouldn't have hired you.” The lines of her face become more evident as I squinted my eyes softly. I sucked in a breath and rolled my eyes.“Sorry ma'am.” Her voice was shaky, almost inaudible. The sound of the lipstick palet in her hands shaking drove anger into my veins. I fixed my face in a frown as I settled into the chair. The soft wind from the air conditioning system blew s
ELLA'S POV “I need you to host the president's 87th birthday.”My heart skipped a beat as I felt my pulse go into a frantic race, one that intensified my bloodstreams. A breath caught in my throat as I paused, the fork in my fingers sliding down.The soft metallic clank it made jerked me back to reality. Madame Browne stared back at me, her eyes sparkling with a glint of joy, happiness and was that…. Malice?Her lips pulled effortlessly into a smile, the lines of her face slithering into a flawless facade of make-up. Her gaze was chilling, sharp against my uncertainty.I felt my bloodstreams tighten, shock and anxiety mixing into something nerving. Her fingers traced their way to the table as she gripped a wine glass before racing it up to take a slow nerving sip. The lightscape which I had previously found soft and inviting now seemed to tighten on me. How could she have chosen me to take the role of hosting the president's 87th birthday.Why? Was it to sabotage me? If yes, then s