Julien’s eyes crinkle with amusement when Elsida’s spine straightens and she stalks towards the blonde crouched beneath him.What was she doing? he mused.“Get up!” Elsida bellowed, her eyes flared as she pulled the blonde’s ponytail.“Get off me bitch!,” the blonde snapped as she feared her head, glaring daggers at Elsida.Julien snapped a finger and the blonde’s head snapped to his, “Partir,” he drawled in French.Blondie’s face sank, she glared daggers at Elsida as she fixed her ill-fitting dress and got to her feet.Julien raised an eyebrow when the door slammed shut, “To what do I owe this visit El?”Elsida closed the distance between them as her heart ricocheted against her ribcage. She forced her eyes to stay on his face and not trail any lower. She crouched in front of him,” Get dressed Julien, I cannot have a serious conversation with your dick on display.”A deep chuckle escaped Julien’s lips and his eyes glimmered with amusement,” Don’t be such a prude El,” he rasped while
11 YEARS AGO, LUTON PREP MANHATTAN “What’s the address of this home?” Julien rasped into the speaker.“I’ll text it to you, the visiting hours are from 10-4 pm, have a nice day,” the private investigator rasped into the phone.Julien ended the call and ran a hand through his disheveled curls. It had been three months since the accident, three months since he laid his eyes on Elsida and it was agony. He wasn’t supposed to think of her, she was the reason he lost his brother but how could he not?He stalked back to the Cafeteria and joined his friends at their table.“Yo Julien, what do you think of Letica?” Aaron smirked as he wiggled his brows.“Not interested,” Julien rasped curtly, his gaze planted firmly on his phone screen.Aaron groaned,” Come on man, you’re no fun anymore. I know what you’ve been through..”“Shut the fuck up Aaron,” Julien muttered snapping his head up. He glared daggers at Aaron and the table fell silent as tension engulfed them.Aaron raised his hands in surr
“You’re okay Julien, the doctor will be here soon,” Elsida crouched next to Julien, matting his tender curls with her hands.“I tried to see you but she…” Julien trailed off groaning in anguish as his hands covered his head again. A thin layer of sweat coated his skin and his body trembled wildly against Elsida’s.“You’ll be fine Julien, I’m right here,” Elsida rasped, clutching his cold fingers tightly in reassurance.“No you don't understand,” Julien groaned.“Make me understand it Julien, I'm Right here.”“Please step away from Julien Elsida,” Dr Nisha muttered as she stalked into the room with her treatment kit.Elsida fought the urge to defy the doctor’s order and placed a feather-light kiss on his flushed cheeks, “you’ll be fine Julien, I promise,” she mumbled before rising to her feet. Julien tugged her finger lightly when she entangled their fingers and her heart melted, he didn't even realize he was doing it, his eyes were shut and his face was contorted in pain. She let out
“Listen to me son, not recalling any memories of these German investors doesn’t mean you’re going to throw this deal in the gutter. We need this.” Armand bellowed.Julien didn’t meet his Father’s withering glare, his eyes remained on Elsida’s green ones. She arched an eyebrow at him and his eyes narrowed to slits, “Believe me Father, I have no interest in ruining your precious company.”Armand’s eyes hardened and his gaze flicked to Elsida before returning to Julien, “You and Elsida must continue to put up a United front. The board still believes you are married and one word about your marriage failing, they will do everything they can to kick you off. Do not mess this up, Julien.” Armand muttered before storming out of the office.Julien let out a heavy breath and he ran his hands through his hair, his gaze hardened when Elsida approached the front of his desk. “I don’t need another lecture Elsida,” he drawled.Elsida tsked softly and let out a humorless laugh,” I wouldn’t waste my b
A dry laugh escapes Elsida’s lips coupled with stray tears that fall to her cheeks. Every time she tried to move on, life had a way of rooting her to the spot. The past always came back to haunt her.She was startled as her shrill ringtone echoed in the bathroom, she wiped her face harshly and answered the call without checking the caller ID.“Hello,” she rasped.“Elsida, it's Jasper, he got knocked down by a car,” Nancy rushed out breathlessly.Elsida froze and her hand stilled on her phone. Dread pooled in her gut rendering her speechless.“Elsida, are you here?” Nancy asked panic laced in her words.“Yes.. yes I am, text me the address.”Elsida stumbled out of the bathroom and rushed past the hallway choking on sobs.“Mrs Benoit, Mr. Armand would like to see you,” Kathy called After her but Elsida didn't spare her a glance. She didn't walk briskly into the elevator and leaned her head against it.Her sons were muffled by her hands and in the three minutes it took for the elevator t
Elsida was done taking shit from Armand. She straightened her back and brushed past him without sparing him a glance. After grabbing Nancy’s Coffee, she headed back to Jasper’s ward where the doctor was crouched checking his vitals.The doctor repeated what Nancy said albeit with more medical jargon whilst Elsida’s mind whirled with tumultuous thoughts, Armand being the center of them all.The anxiety Elsida used to feel whenever she was around Armand dissipated today after their little debacle.She was done letting the Oldman walk over her. She was not afraid to play dirty anymore, Not when her son was concerned.Elsida left the hospital with a new backbone. She’d kill Armand before he lay a hand on Jasper ever again.•••“Sorry Madam but Mr. Julien said he wishes to be alone,” Julien’s home-office secretary rasped her gaze apologetically.Elsida raised an eyebrow and brushed past her.“Madam, please you can’t go in there. He wishes to be alone.” Elsida didn't spare her a glance as
JULIENJulien arched a bored brow at his father, “Don’t mess this up.”Armand mirrored Julien’s expression, he threw back his head, gulping down the remains of his bourbon. “What are you insinuating son?”Julien stalked towards his Father, his gaze tracking his every move. It was Cressida’s birthday and he’d been drinking with unrelenting zeal. It was his third glass of the evening.Julien rolled his eyes, “ Do you think I’m so oblivious? you’re so rattled and I’m positive it has to do with Elsida’s presence.” A smirk splayed across Julien’s lips.Armand’s chuckle reverberated through the study, “Obviously you don’t know me. That girl can never hold so much power over me.”Julien called his Father’s bull shit the second the words left his mouth. He could tell from the darkening of his eyes and the stiffness of his fists that he was lying.On a normal day, his Father’s antics wouldn’t faze him but, today was different, it was his mother’s birthday and nothing would go wrong.Not even t
Julien shudders into Elsida’s sweaty neck as he comes undone, his hands fingering through her soft locs as she catches her breath.Elsida’s skin flushed crimson and her green eyes retained a wild look. Her eyes moved to Julien’s neck tucked into the crook of her neck and she sighed.This was wrong, she shouldn’t have let this happen. Not when he’s in such a fragile state. For fuck’s sake Julien had no clue about his dying son! She needed to tell him but she couldn’t bring herself to at the moment, not after what had just occurred.“Julien,” Elsida rasped, her nails digging into the back of her palms.“Mhmmm, just a moment El,” he murmured trailing kisses on her neck invoking shivers down her spine.Elsida jerked her head back and Julien’s eyes shot open, confusion glimmering in them. Elsida’s heart clenched and she avoided his gaze, “this shouldn’t have happened-““But it did,” he cut her off. His thumb traced her chin gently, tipping it up so she could meet his steady gaze. Elsida’
ELSIDA “Tell me El, did you run from the peony garden to get to me?” My cheeks flush impossibly redder as I try and fail to glare at him. The moment I stepped into Julien’s limo his eyes started to twinkle and his lips drew into a large grin before he took in my disheveled expression. “Fine,” I huffed. “I won’t tell you.” His gaze grew serious as he closed the gap between us with one arm reaching for the curve of my neck. “I’m never letting you out of my sight El. Never, nothing is going to stop us from being together. Morals be damned.” I let out a bated breath as his lips hovered over mine. I try to speak but my mouth opens and closes like a fish. My head swarms with so many thoughts all at once but one stands out the most. I have him now and I don't plan on ever letting go. He robs me of breath with a light peck on the mouth that starts first as light, almost tender before it picks up. All at once, he’s everywhere. I’m clutching onto his shirt like a lifeline
ELSIDACORONATION MORNING 5:45 AMThe last thing I remember is Adrian joining me on the bed in the earlier hours of the morning, pulling me softly to him, his grip almost fervent as he whispered sweet nothings to me.“I love you El, I hope you know that,” I recall him whispering and now at about 5 AM I feel nothing but guilt stretching me into four equilateral pieces.I stifle a yawn and stretch to his side of the bed. Noticing the emptiness, I sit up and my eyes quickly adjust to the brightness of the day.Where could he be so early?Adrian never got up until at least 6:10 so this was a tad bit too early for him to be up.I wrap my silk night robe around my body, place my feet in my slippers, and make my way through the castle in search of him.I needed to see him this morning before it was too late.I needed to tell him how I felt about everything and what I wanted to do even if he’d hate me for it.I search almost every living space of the bustling castle where servants and maids
ELSIDA My little surprise meet cute with Beatrice turns into a sob session I had no clue I needed.Scratch that, it’s exactly what I needed, it was like the universe positioned us in the same place when I needed her the most cause what were the odds that I would find the only female friend I ever made in high school in Spain?“I know I shouldn’t love him but I just-“ I croak, trailing off as I wipe my tears hastily.“Oh please Elsida, don’t say that. We cannot control who we love. If we were able to do that, I don’t think love would have had such value.”“Not helping,” I murmur. “You’re supposed to be telling me that it’s entirely wrong and I shouldn’t be thinking about Julien in such a way when we share a sibling.”Beatrice blows a raspberry and moves closer to me, she rubs my arm softly. Luckily, the peony garden shields us from my guards and over-curious maids.“You know I can’t do that, this isn’t the first time something like this is happening in the universe. Shit happens, our
ELSIDA PRESENTWith Adrian in Cartagena carrying out the coronation tradition and the bustle of the castle, I needed a freaking reprieve from everything.A reprieve from work, a reprieve from work, Fae’s incessant disturbance due to boredom of not having her brother around to pester, Natasha’s nagging over what she was going to wear on the coronation, and my father’s constant “Are you okay?” I didn’t think twice before I slipped past the castle doors, packing a picnic basket alongside my laptop and other drawing essentials.It was just 9 am. Two hours after the sun had risen but it seemed as though the sun had been up for over eight hours.It was all too stimulating.I let out a sigh as I chew on a strawberry and my free hand doodles nonentities on my sketchbook.“Hi El.”Julien’s voice slides into my ear and my hand flies to my chest as I stare at him with wide eyes, my heart thuds at a rapid pace as I take in casual yet classy attire.“What the hell Julien, you’re not supposed to b
CONTINUATION OF FLASHBACKELSIDA“Can I turn around now Beatrice?” I huff as I cross my arms around my chest and feel the shimmery fabric of the red Dior dress my mother dearest purchased for me.“One more minute, patience is a virtue dear!” I snort. If I were allowed to have my eyes opened, they would have rolled to the back of my skull by now at her overzealousness for high school events.“Okay, you can open them now. Tada!” Beatrice Bellows just as I blink at the 2.0 version of me in the mirror.A smile tugs at my lips and for a split second, I let it slip through. “I look…”“Magnificent!” Beatrice completes.“Don’t you think it’s too much though?” I ask uncertainty clawing my thoughts. I looked like I was going to draw a lot of attention, attention that I could certainly do without.“Oh please Elsida, who cares? There’s no going back now. Give me a minute, let me slip into my dress and we can get going!” She bellows as she scurries across the room with her perfect-as-ever makeup
ELSIDATWO MONTHS LATER “Are you ready?” I peer up at Adrian from my position on the bed. He sent all his assistants away who tried to pamper him with traditional powders and help him complete tasks he considered too menial to not get done by himself.He gave me a small smile through the mirror but I could see the slight frown forming on his forehead.“I’m okay Elsida,” he mutters and I have my answer confirmed.Adrian was far from okay I was one hundred percent certain that beads of sweat were lining his forehead even before I rose to my feet and clasped my hands around his shoulders.“You’re going to be a great King Adrian,” I whispered into his ear and drew soothing circles on his shoulders, the exact thing he did whenever I was nervous.I don’t blame him. If I were him, at this very moment I’d be shitting my panties.It’s not every day one got to partake in a reversal coronation.His shoulders visibly unclench. “Thank you Princessa,” he murmurs and places a soft kiss on the back
JULIEN Two months later.It’s been exactly two months, three weeks, and four days since I last had a meaningful conversation with Elsida. She’d done her best to make sure our interactions were curt and cordial at best but whenever the opportunity came for us to be alone or have a casual conversation, she would immediately dismiss me and not spare me a further glance.However, I could tell from the longing in her eyes, that it wasn’t what she wanted, we both knew what she wanted but it wasn’t the right thing hence, at least one of us had to be mature and leave it to Elsida to be the bigger person.“Mr Benoit,” are you listening?” A business associate’s voice filters into my mind putting a pause on my mental spiral.“Of course, yes go on,” I rasp, zooming in on a recent photo of Elsida attending a ball with none other than her lovely husband.I turn my laptop off and fight the urge to throw my phone on the floor, I don’t think I can stand another minute of listening to any talk of bus
ELSIDA“Are you ready?” Julien asks while I readjust my lipstick in my compact mirror.“Just a second, Mr Benoit.”Julien’s glare is scathing when his gaze flicks away from his phone to mine. “I told you to stop calling me that.”I ignore him and return my compact in my Chanel purse, I place my hand on the door to make my exit when his warm palm snakes around my ankle.“Are you good El?” He calls me by the nickname even though I’ve warned him several times not to use that title on me and I roll my eyes at him.“You know, this is a very important meeting for this project, we cannot let our emotions get the best of us.”As if I wasn’t aware?I knew how important this meeting was, this company was my baby and Mr Gonzalo’s investment wasn’t something I planned to play around with.He was a very successful business tycoon in Spain who liked to give nouvelle companies and empires of the sort a chance with his hefty investments and today might just be my lucky day. So, to answer his questio
ELSIDA I swallow. “Yes your majesty, that’s the name, Julien Benoit.”“Hmm,” she mumbles before taking a sip of her tea. “And your company for J, tell me, what inspired the name?” She asks in an all too curious voice.Holy shit, I muse.The Queen knows, there’s no way she’d be asking this question if she didn’t.My heart thuds faster against my rib cage and I do my best not to fidget.“Could you rephrase your question, I’m not quite sure what you mean Your Majesty,” I add the last part with a bow.The clang of her tea cup against the plate is resounding and her eyes narrow to stilts in my direction.I’m so fucked.“Let’s not pretend Elsida, I tried sugarcoating this to see if you would come clean but since you insist on me being blunt, I have no choice but to cut to the chase then.”“Your majesty I-““I know about your past with Julien dear. I know everything,” she says, her voice soft.How her tone switches gives me a whiplash and I’m left staring at this formidable woman with my