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
MADAME BROWNE “I accept the role.” Ella’s voice chimed.I felt like loosing it at that moment. The audacity of that whore to think she could ever host an event that could ever amount the ones I've been throwing for years till know. For decades, I've been hosting all of the family's events. Birthdays, business meetings, anniversaries and even funerals. My events were flawless, the decorations elite and the guests were of highly distinguished personalities.But something wicked in me couldn't get over the urge to watch her suffer? Malice was an easy option seeing the courage gleaming in her ocean blue eyes. I resisted the urge to let out a laugh, a cackle perhaps. “Sure, I look forward to seeing what you come up with.” I said and rose from the table. I was done with breakfast today, I had gained all the satisfaction there was from Ella.She didn't cease to amaze me. Oh well, she's going to regret every crossing path with me. I strutted purposefully, my heels clicking against the mar
ELLA'S POVThe soft sound of giggles rushed into my ears as I stepped out from the elevator. The warm air of the hallway greeted me, the decor gripping me in it's inviting solace.I strutted towards the door to Ivy's room with uncertainty reeling in my veins. I still couldn't get over Madame Browne's proposal and what was at stake. The proposal was cornering, like a two edged sword with no way out. Hosting events was never my thing but I was determined to make it work, at least this time. I couldn't afford having Xavier see me create a mess, also, I saw this as an opportunity to prove to everyone that I could take on the task and still deliver.Madame Browne had obviously given me the role to see me fail, I could tell she was certain I would fail when cornered with such a huge job. But I would try my best and actually give it my all.But first, I needed to meet Ivy, I'd missed her nagging voice over the days. As I gripped the knob, the soft smell of sandalwood flustered into my nostr
ELLA'S POV “Alright, tell Ivy I'll be back.” I said and flashed a glance back at Mrs. Winters, the housekeeper. She was a petite blonde lady who obviously in her mid 60s, I could tell from the soft tinge of gray at the base of the strands of her hair.She offered me a soft smile and I flashed a quick glance at Ivy. Anxiety rushed in my veins, why had the president requested my presence? I had a million questions bubbling in my veins at that instant.He rarely called for anyone's presence so I was worried. Who wouldn't be? He was my father-in-law, and I couldn't help but wonder why he had called for my presence.Did he find out I was the one hosting his birthday party? If yes, then how? I thought the event was supposed to be a surprise to him and a celebration of a life well lived. My palms grew wet as I clenched my fists until my fingers bit into the flesh of my palms. A wave trudged down my spine as I inhaled softly. I could do this, of course I could. I turn on my heel and took p
ELLA'S POV The president's cold voice jerked me out of my interlude as I swiveled to see my once smiling father-in-law now frowning. He looked nerved, clear lines of worry laced in his electrifying green eyes. It was almost as if my question had striked a chord. But I wasn't going to press on.“Let's focus on why we're here,” he said, gesturing sharply to the work table situated at the middle of the room. I followed him as I traced my steps to the high neck swivel chair opposite his.“Sit,” he prompted softly and I took a seat. The soft lush texture of the chair crumbled beneath my back as I felt myself drifting into the comfiness.“You requested my presence,” I said sharply cutting through the silence as I tried to get some emotions but his eyes remaind cold, evident as if hiding a secret.Who were the people in the picture? And why did he feel offended when I asked who they were?I was still going to do my research later on but now I had to focus on the president. I watched as he
ELLA'S POV “So what's your say?” I held by breath after asking. I couldn't directly read the look on the president's face but from the little info I could get, I could as well say the expression on his face was a bland mixture of shock of and comtempt. I waited for his response anxiously, my palms turning wet as I bit my tongue.Just before I could finish my little prediction, his face twisted sharply into a frown, his eyes gleaming with a dark glint of anger. The leafy green color of his eyes burned with the golden red color from the chandelier. My heartbeat thumped hard in my chest as my pulse raced. The anxiety in me was filling to the bream with each passing second, waves rolling up my spine.“I… I am so sorry father in law—” I was saying when he interrupted me with a raise of his index finger. Pausing, I pursed my lips as I watched his finger fall. Fear seeped into my veins. What had I done? He looked so angry, like I had provoked him. It seemed my apology didn't work but the
MADAME BROWNE’S POVHow dare her? That bitch! She even had the audacity to confront the president and have him agree to her stupid excuse of an event. The rage in my veins was hot and blazing, my fingers biting into my palm until I felt little patches of blood seeping out.I clenched my jaw tightly as I watched the president yell, “You may leave Madame Browne!”My jaw fell slightly as I stared back at the president, his eyes were blazing with fire, his tone sharp and unquestionable. I felt my once felt courage melting into a pool of regrets. The president had never opposed my words before, even though we weren't exactly close, he always allowed me have my way not untill she came into the picture.Ella.I wanted to tear into her, that bitch, for what she did. I tried to resist the sharp pungent anger in my veins as my pulse raced. My breath came in muffled puffs, the tendsion in the room rising with each passing second. Smirking, I turned in the direction of the exit and traced my wa
XAVIER'S POV When my lips pulled open, It was to the starry vision of a dark room. I winced sharply, fear purring in my veins as I tried my best to make out something from the background I was.The last thing I remembered was zoning out after the president told me my family were killed by the brutal hands of Lucas McKinney and Madam Browne. As the thought punched through my mind, I shook my head slowly, my face powdered with sweats.Even now, I still couldn't believe it. It had to be a joke. Madame Browne and Lucas couldn't have done that. This had to be a dream, a nightmare of some sorts.I was sure it was edged far away from reality. That was the only logical reason I was waking up in a dark room. I must be sleeping peacefully on a bed with Ella's body clinging to mine.I must be sleeping peacefully.That had to be it.This was a dream.With gentle flinches, I pulled my back from the hard ground and I felt the brushing texture of the group against my back. The sudden scratch caused
XAVIER'S POV I obeyed the president's words and took my seat. As I did that, I still couldn't get a grip over the waves of emotions soaring in my chest. I flashed him a glance and I noticed the plain glint of remorse in his eyes.For quite a long time now, the president had been hiding something. I knew that for sure but what didn't know was why. Anytime he tried to talk to me, either Madame Browne or Lucas comes in and intrudes but this time around, there's no rooms for games.My heart thumped wildly in my chest as I took my seat and my chest heaved. I stared back at the president expecting him to start an explanation but instead, he stood up and walked over to the door which he locked before walking back to where I was.I wasn't sure what it was but I could tell for a fact that something was about to go down. Something dark. Something ground shattering.I steadied the uneven gasps rippling through my lips and turned back to him. The president's eyes turned dark almost immediately a
XAVIER'S POV.I strolled into the hallway slowly with the weight of Ella's gaze still pressing against my back. Ignoring it, I continued and walked over to the elevator where I tapped the button leading in. As the doors chimed open, I stepped into it and locked my arms.I watched the doors close and yet I could feel her gaze on me. It layered over my skin, tracing delicate patterns that made it nearly impossible to keep a steady heartbeat. A cloud of sweats loomed over my forehead and upon several intervals, I'd wipe them off swiftly.The cold droplets of sweat trickled down the side of my face as I clenched my fists. My mind wasn't at ease. I had a lot of unanswered questions. First was why did the president acknowledge dying soon?What did he mean?I was just about to ponder on the questions when the thought of his mention of Madame Browne and Lucas punched through my mind. My heart palpitated but I stayed still, feeling a surge of dread in me as I thought of them.I shook my head s
ELLA'S POV I couldn't wait to get home.I had to tell him.Xavier deserved to know everything. He deserved to know that Rochelle wasn't really pregnant. He deserved to know that Cassandra worked for Madame Browne and is probably trying to kill the president and most of all, he deserved to know one thing, the one news I hadn't really told anyone else.I'm pregnant.The main reason my eyes watered in tears back there when we were walking out of the building was when I thought of the chances of losing him and the thought of Madame Browne winning over us.We couldn't allow that, at least not when we have a lot at risk. The wind from the side glasses in the helicopter jostled sharply at me as I pulled closer to Xavier and locked my arms tighter with his.As I did that, I caught the soft whiffs of his cologne in the air. I waited patiently until we finally arrived at the tall towering figure of the mansion. From the top view, I caught the sight of the maids going about doing their respecti
XAVIER'S POV.I could feel their gazes on me.It loomed over me as I strutted into the room with rage boiling in my veins. Despite the fact that I hadn't fully recovered, I had to be there. Ella had done enough for me. All through the weeks of my Coma, she stepped up into a role as demanding as the acting CEO just to secure my spot in all the meeting needed in the meeting. I balled my fists as the rippling sound of gasps braced my ears in an unsolicited welcome.I pushed forward, my feet moving gently as I traced my step into the room with my wife or should I now say, my assistant, strutting beside me. Her arms locked against mine, the soft whiffs of her perfume surging into my nostrils.I brushed off some unseen dusts on my suit as I stared back at the figure of my shocked nemesis. His electrifying green eyes stared back at me as my lips curled into a smile. I dusted off my suit again, giving him the hint that it was the exact one I wore before getting involved in the accident they
XAVIER'S POV Dear reader, I'm just as shocked as you. I couldn't believe I made it. I thought I died but when my eyes fluttered open, it was to the sight of a doctor staring back at me with a shocked look on his face. A gasp rippled through his lips as he stared at me.I stretched my hands to yawn and as I did that, I was repelled by the casts placed over my hands. I look up at the ceiling as I wondered where in god's green earth I was.Most importantly, where was he?Where was the man who was hired by Madame Browne to kill me?The doctor in front of me ran out of the room and raced out like he had seen a demon. I yawned and raced my back a little. I searched the entire room with my gaze and I immediately remembered where I was.This was an hospital.It was obvious.The ridiculously big machines surrounding me and the wires fixed to me. I arched my brow as I tugged off the wires and stepped out of the bed. As my feet touched the base of the floor, I was about to crash into it when I
ELLA'S POV The next few weeks blurred by and I had to go to over many meetings. It was stressful but I did it anyways. I didn't have a choice. I had to hold down the position for Xavier.Speaking of Xavier, I'm sure you're curious as to what happened to him. I'll be your host. After the surgery which he survived, he was placed on a cast and was in a comma for a few days.My heart still shook in my chest whenever I thought of him. I shook my head as I tried to take it off my mind. That particular morning, I had to go drop off Ivy at her school when Alex, Jason's assistant called me.“Mrs Ella… we need you at the office immediately. There is another meeting.” His voice beamed and I threw my fists in the air out of frustration. A cloud of sweats formed on my forehead and I wiped them off with some rolling down my face.“Here’s your backpack Ivy.” I said and gave Ivy her backpack. “Madeline, we will be going now. Thanks for breakfast it was delicious as always.” I remarked and even befo
ELLA'S POV “We're here, Ma'am!” The hushed voice of the driver pulled me out of my train of thoughts and as I pulled out of thoughts, I flashed my gaze at the figure beside me. Penny's eyes loomed brightly with concern as she gripped my hands and asked, “Do you want me to come in with you?”A weary smile tugged at my lips as my voice creaked out, “No… I'll do just fine Madame Browne has nothing on me.”I saw her lips pull open as if aiming at saying something else but before she could even muster up enough words, I interrupted, “Driver, you can take Penny back to her apartment.” The driver nodded and I pulled my hands from Penny's loosening grip as I stared back into her sad eyes. “Ella, are you sure?” She slurred her words and they shook several waves of fear down my spine. As her words loomed into the air, I felt a stifling wave of fear log into my chest as I pressed my lips into a tight smile. I nodded slowly, clenching my jaw as I assured her. After our little conversation, I
ELLA'S POV When my eyelids fluttered open, it was to a sight I would forever loathe. He was there. Right there. Lifeless and clinging to the frayed edges of life.He was laid lifelessly on the bed with a wave of wires fixed into his body. I still couldn't believe this was the same mine who made love to me earlier today. Xavier. I remembered the soft, pleasing sound of his voice and the sweet promises he made to me. I remembered how he chuckled at the mention of revealing who Madame Browne and Lucas really were to the media.A stinging sensation prickled my vision as tears filled my eyes. I wiped it off immediately, forcing my eyes to blink quickly to hold back the tears. I had to be strong… at least for him and for my daughter, Ivy.It would break him to see me cry if he was conscious but sadly, he was on the edge of something I hoped wasn’t death.He was still in that hospital gown, his eyes closed, his gaze nowhere to be found. A plunging pain wrecked through me as I heard the un