11 YEARS AGOSURREY MENTAL HOSPITAL MANHATTANELSIDA “Elsida dear, a family is here to see you.” Elsoda’s fingers pause the accent on the piano, she swerves her head to face Nancy and suppresses a groan.“I don't want to see them, Nancy.”Nancy’s gaze is apologetic. She approaches Elsida with a careful smile on her face. “They are good friends of your Father, they seem nice and have been hoping for a child, why don’t you give them a shot?”Her hands move to her baby bump on instinct. The bump she found herself getting uncharacteristically attached to. It wasn't as though she wanted to keep the child.All she wanted was for the baby to not end up in the hands of some rich bratty work-ohssesd family. The only person she wanted to have him was staring at her with a hopeful gaze.She let out a sigh, “Fine, lead the way.”As they arrive in the visitor's suite, the middle-aged couple seated rise to their feet with matching excited smiles. It was borderline creepy.Are they trying to scare
JULIEN Armand barely perks up at the sound of Julien’s footsteps as he enters his office.Julien’s eyes narrow slightly at his Father’s disheveled state.Armand’s hair is a ruffled mess and papers are strewn across his usually tidy table.Julien takes the seat in front of his Father and cannot help the wary gaze he throws at him.He cares for the bastard, albeit reluctantly.“I see you got rid of the press,” Julien muses.Armand doesn’t take his eyes off his bottle of whiskey when he answers, “My PR Secretary finally got the job done.”“Ahh.”Minutes pass and the air remains tense with silence. The recent events have made Julien to see his Father in a different lens and he eyes him as though he’s not the same man that instilled rigid manners in him.This was not why he came to see his Father, he didn’t have time to dilly-dally yet so he cracks his knuckles and cuts to the chase.“Tell me something Father, did you know I had a son?”Armand’s gaze finally flickers to Julien but he doe
ELSIDA“May his soul rest in peace.”Elsida muffles a gasp and Nancy clutches onto her tightly as Jasper’s casket is carried into the dirt.“Jasper,” she whispers suppressing a shudder as tears stream down her face.Her Father and Natasha stand beside her and William Dalton pulls his daughter into his arms suppressing her anguished cries.“It’ll be fine Elsida,” he whispers into her hair.Elsida chokes on a sob. No, it won’t, she muses.Jasper is gone and she never allowed herself to get to know him, she was too grief-stricken to manage to welcome a baby.At the moment, she regrets it dearly.She wipes her nose with a handkerchief and her eyes zoom in on a mop of curly locks.Julien.He stands like an on-looker mere inches away with his hands tucked into his pockets and a muscle in his jaw jumping.He meets her gaze with his red-rimmed eyes and Elsida shudders, letting go of her Dad.“I’ll be back Dad, I just want to “William gives her a reassuring smile. “You don’t need to explain y
JULIEN FATHER AND SON THERAPY“Armand, what would you like to achieve out of today’s session, is there something you would like to work through today?”Armand gives the therapist a blank stare countering her encouraging smile and Julien scoffs at his Father.The stubborn bastard.“No Cynthia, I’m here because my son threatened me and he’s of the opinion that this is somehow supposed to help me? This is not how we did it in my time, I need a smoke.”Cynthia’s smile becomes strained and she clutches her stress bubble.Julien gives Cynthia an apologetic smile and turns to glare at his Father.“Father please, can you not act like a child? The session is just for an hour, after that you can get your smoke.” Julien says it to Armand in a cautious voice doing his best to appease him.Armand rolls his eyes but says nothing more. Cynthia takes it as her clue and claps her hands, “Shall we begin then?”“Yes Cynthia, please go ahead.”Cynthia nods her head as she takes some notes on her iPad b
“You're ridiculous”Elsida mutters, pure disdain seeping from her words.Who did Julien think he was, showing up at the escort agency and demanding her services?He must be out of his mind for thinking she would ever accept an offer from him she thought.Julien let out a dry chuckle.“El why would I go out of my way to personally present my offer to you if I didn't mean business?” He said with a humorous glint dancing in his eyes and a smirk spreading across his lips.“The next time you use that nickname on me I will make sure you never utter a word again”Just the thought of Elsida threatening Julien aroused a deep amused laugh from him.“I love how creative you are with your threats but you and I both know you’d rather die than lay your hands on me”“Go away Julien, find someone else to taunt, I'm tired of entertaining you,” Elsida muttered, she had a very wealthy client to accompany to a ball in two hours and she wasn’t even done getting ready. She didn’t have the time for convers
“I’m looking for William Dalton”Elsida says to the front desk Nurse. “Third room on the left, second floor” the nurse replies half-heartedly.Elsida sprints past the hallway, heart thumping rapidly with trepidation, she suddenly regrets her choice of shoes that hinder her from hastening to her satisfaction.“Elsidaaaaa” Natasha sobs as Elsida lets herself into the emergency room.“Shush it’s fine, Dad will be fine,” Elsida says as she rushes to her sister and envelopes her in a hug, as she notices her Father connected to numerous tubes, she’s not quite certain her previous words hold any significance.“It’s all my fault, If I hadn’t stepped out of his room I would have stopped him from swallowing those pills, oh if I hadn’t kept them close by we wouldn’t be in this situation” Natasha says as she continues to sob uncontrollably.“Don’t say that Nat, none of this is your fault, Dad will be fine I promise.”“Has the doctor said anything yet?” Elsida asks and as if on cue, the door to t
“Mr. Benoit awaits your company Miss” one of the tall figures to her right says.Elsida lets out an incredulous scoff,” I'm not even going to ask questions, lead the way” she says motioning toward the congested sidewalk.The bodyguards divert their attention to the footpath, guiding her to a black Porsche Panamera.“Tell me now El, why did you have to keep me waiting?” Julien says once Elsida is situated next to him.“You masochistic hypocrite” Elsida seethes and it causes Julien to let out a deep chuckle, finding amusement in her obvious exasperation.“Now that wouldn't earn you a place in my good books, would it? and because a few hours ago you rejected my offer, I'm quite certain the only hypocrite here is you” Julien says, his malicious smirk settling across his lips.“Go to hell” Elsida mutters.“Right after you, El” Julien retorts his chest reverberating with laughter.“Enough of the niceties Julien, let me know the terms of this offer,” Elsida says, worn out from the conversati
Chapter 4: Fraternizing with the Enemy“What are you insinuating Julien?” Elsida asks, turning to stare at him, her heart beating rapidly with trepidation.“I have business to take care of in Europe till next year, how can I possibly leave my wife behind? We leave for France in three days” Julien states matter of factly, his face masking a stoic expression, seemingly unfazed by Elsida’s reaction.Elsida’s hold on the doorknob tightens shock coursing through her body, rendering her helpless.In her twenty-six years of living, she hadn’t met anyone that wore cruelty like an armor like Julien Benoit she thought.Sighing weakly, she muttered, “I understand” as she twisted the door knob, Briskly walking out of the room.✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧“What do you mean you signed a marriage contract with Julien Benoit Elsida?” Natasha asks disbelievingly.“Keep your voice down Nat” Elsida says, scouring the hallway to make sure there’s no passerby.“ How can I keep my voice down? You’ve