“So you helped Julien’s mum plan this orphanage from scratch?” Elsida asked Landon in awe.He was one of her closest friends in Luton prep, he made it somewhat bearable for her and she was immensely proud of how far he had come. He had also grown into his features Elsida noted as her eyes did a double take on his broad shoulders and scruff of blonde hair gracing his chin.Landon let out a coy laugh, “Well technically I’m just her project manager but-““Elsida darling, I’ve been looking all over for you,” Julien drawled as he placed a kiss on her cheek and wrapped his arm around her waist pulling her flush against him.“You have? you were very engrossed in your conversation,” she murmured as the shock of the sudden contact ignited flames down her spine.“I have,” he muttered, his voice clipped as he pinned Landon with a murderous look.Landon looked between the two of them, sensing the evident tension, he took a step back.“Congratulations on your wedding guys, Elsida I’ve got to get
Elsida’s mood managed to plummet and remained so from the early hours of the morning when she received the photo till they got to London.Luckily for her, Julien was distracted enough and had to make a stop at the office so it was just her and Cressida who didn’t seem to mind her silence as she chatted away, At least that’s what she chose to believe.Who could have possibly taken that photo of her at such early hours of the morning?“Elsida dear you’ve been quiet, is something bothering you,?” Cressida asked.Elsida focused her gaze on her and plastered what she hoped was a small smile on her lips, “Oh I’m fine Cressy, I just didn’t get enough sleep last night.”“Hmm I’ll brew you some of my Arabian tea later and you’ll be off like a baby in no time,” Cressida said, giving her a reassuring smile.“Thank you so much,” Elsida murmured absentmindedly as her mind drifted back to the cause of her unease.“Elsida darling, it's so good to see you,” Anne said excitedly after she shared a lon
“How did you survive and where have you been all these years?” Natasha said with disbelief gracing her features, she couldn’t still come to terms with the fact that Raphael was alive. They were barely teenagers the last time she saw him and now she’s sitting with the older version of Raphael who’s studying her with an amused glint in his eyes as though she said something funny. There was nothing funny about the situation matter of fact, she was inclined to believe that ghosts existed. If he was alive then… “Wait does that mean Alex-“ “No he’s dead,” Raphael said briskly, cutting her off as an unreadable expression crossed his face, his fists clenching at the side. “I’m not here for a reunion Nat, you know what my Father wants and you know what he has on you if you don’t cooperate.” Natasha’s face turned grim and her heart thudded rapidly at the insinuation, beads of sweat traced her collarbone. “Why are you doing this Raphael, this isn’t like you, the Raphael I knew wou
The next few days went by in a blur for Elsida, Julien kept his distance but returned to being his ever flippant self and Elsida took the hint.He had said very few words to her in the past few days and spent most of his time in a different room, it was as though he had studied her every move to make sure their paths hardly crossed and by the time she woke up at mornings, she only caught wisps of his sandalwood scent that let her know he had been in the room.Elsida started to spend most of her time with Cressida and Anne, if they weren’t having brunch or visiting one museum or the other they’d hop from one luxurious store or the other.That was their routine until two days ago when Cressida suggested that Elsida should pay a visit to her art gallery.Since then, Elsida slept with fingers itchy for a paintbrush and arose with fresh inspiration.It was her fourth day at the gallery when Cressida suggested she paint something.“Are you sure,? You have your charity gala coming up and I d
Elsida lay on the bed as her mind replayed the sentence over and over again, her breathing shallow from her anxious thoughts.Her mind raced with trepidation, and it came up blank for the hundredth time, trying to figure out who had been sending her the messages.She had deleted the message and blocked the number though that did nothing to calm her nerves, she turned off her phone and started to count the boxes on the ceiling in an attempt to calm her rattled nerves.After a strenuous hour, her nerves managed to calm and she drifted off to sleep.Sitting next to the small campfire, Elsida listened to the drunk mumbles her classmates made as they danced the night away to the edm beats encompassing them.Ever since she started at Luton prep, ninety-nine percent of the school population barely regarded her as anything, if they didn't murmur belittling words when she walked past them, they made it a point to purposely alienate her.The 1% that regarded her walked towards her with blankets
“I take it she signed the non-disclosure form then?” Armand asked, his eyebrows touching his hairline as he awaited his son’s response.A smirk graced Raphael’s face as he pulled out a hefty document and handed it over to his Father.“She was a bit reluctant but she couldn't risk her sick father finding such incriminating photos of her,” Raphael murmured.“Well done son, now we must get to her house before her shift is over,” Armand said flippantly as the car reared to life.Raphael felt pride swell in his chest at his Father's appraisal and he faced the window so Armand wouldn't notice the over-joyous expression on his face.No sooner after they arrived at the small townhouse, a petite red-haired nurse on duty stood by the door entrance, awaiting their arrival.“Get in and get out in ten minutes,” Armand said sternly as his gaze roamed the block, a perturbed look on his face.The nurse directed Raphael into William Dalton’s bedroom where he lay fast asleep.“Have you found a good spo
Elsida’s breath got caught in her throat, she risked a look at him observing the silver flecks dancing in his eyes, his gaze zoomed in on her lips before flicking back to her eyes.From the way her heart thudded wildly in her chest from his proximity and the way he gripped her arm tightly as though he was scared she would slip away, it all felt too real.She suddenly remembered the last time it felt this real, once upon a time as a teenager she would have given everything to have him look at her this way.She couldn't let him get any closer, they had too many damaged goods.It would never work.“I don't know what you mean,” she rasped and looked away from him, her gaze rooted to the spot on the wall above his head.“Stop it El, don’t say that,” Julien rasped, almost desperately gripping her chin so she could meet his eyes.Elsida didn’t bulge; her gaze remained rooted to the spot on the wall.“Let’s not do this Julien,” she murmured, her voice cracking mid-sentence.Julien’s eyes hard
LUTON PREP, MANHATTAN, 10 YEARS AGO“What do you want, Julien? It’s past midnight,” Elsida asks as she eyes him curiously, her half-awake brain spinning as she tries to grasp why he’s standing in front of her dorm room at 2. a.m. suggesting they go for a ride.The same Julien who locked her up in the bathroom at the cabin and found ways to make her life at Luton Prep hell was casually standing on her doorstep like they were pals again?“It’s twelve degrees and my ass is freezing. El, get dressed, I’ll explain in the car.”“I have very little Faith in you Julien so Pardon me if I’m not jumping at the opportunity to spend time with you.”Julien cast her a wry look, his hands running through his curly tendrils, he let out a heavy sigh.“Give me one hour and then you’ll be back to your lovely confines El,” he rasps his gaze resting on hers, almost pleading.Elsida’s gaze roams his face trying to read him, she senses the nervousness radiating from him as his hands venture into his hair aga