Chapter 7

Samael’s POV

After I tucked in Ella, I kissed her forehead as she slept peacefully on her bed. I slowly got out of her room and walked into the living room where Justin was sitting on the couch scrolling through his phone as he moved his hand through his blonde hair.

“Is she asleep?” Justin asked me without taking his green eyes off the phone.

“Yeah. Thanks for coming, Justin. Tough you were not much help, like always.” I said playfully as I sat in front of him on the chair.

“Seriously bro? I left my date for you, to look after Ella. I played with her toys with her and fed her what she wanted to eat when you, we’re sitting in the office because you had work. Come on man, give me some credit!” Justin said with unbelievable expressions which made me smile but he knew I was always thankful to him whenever he had helped me.

“Yeah, I think I lost my job today.” I blurted out as I massaged my forehead with my fingers.

“What? Why, bro?” Justin asked me as he kept his phone aside sensing the seriousness in my voice.

“My boss, Caroline was not letting me go and after hearing Ella’s cry I just wanted to come home. So, I may have said some mean things which I shouldn’t have and may have stormed out of the office without letting her say anything.” I said nervously while I watch Justin’s expressions change from confused to surprised.

“Are you for real Sam? Well, that was brave and stupid of you at the same time. So, I guess I have to look for a vacancy in my club.” He said with a smirk. Justin is a goofy and playful guy who cannot be serious most of the time.

Back in my hometown, while I use to work as a secretary, he was keen on earning money. When I decided to move from there with Ella, Justin moved with us and opened a club here after selling his house from our hometown.

I heard a ‘ding’ from my phone and after checking the email that I received from Caroline Martinez herself, I was shocked.

“What happened? Who is it?” Justin asked me with his eyebrow raised.

“It seems like you don’t have to find a job for me as I already have one. It’s an email from Caroline which says, that I have to accompany her for a business trip to London.” I explained to Justin and he looked at me surprised.

“Wow! That’s amazing. So, how are you going to impress her?” Justin asked me as he looked at me with a smirk and hopeful expression.

“Why do I have to impress her, Justin?” I asked him as I huffed.

“Because she is beautiful, Ella told me. And also, from you spilling her coffee on her white shirt, to saying mean things to her, my man you should apologize to her. It’s just advice, take it and you will thank me later or leave it, you will regret it later.” He told me with a shrug to which I just shook my head with a smile, at his dramatic nature.

But I think I was out of line this time and should apologize. I thought I would be fired by her after how I exited the office, but she seems to have different plans for me. now, I have to accompany her for a few days to London for a business meeting. But I cannot leave Ella alone here, nor I can leave her with Justin as she is not able to sleep without me. I have to convince Caroline to let me take Ella with me, though I think she won’t allow I still have to try.

I replied to her emails saying that, I will accompany her to London but also requested to allow Ella to come with us. I signed and sat comfortably on the chair and Justin lied on the sofa, as we both talked about random things.

Justin is the only person except for Ella who is close to me and knows me in and out. We share an amazing bond which I think is stronger than brothers, we have seen each other fall apart and were always with each other supporting one another through tough times.

When I started to feel sleepy, I lied on the chair itself.  Closing my eyes, I saw Caroline’s blue eyes that looked broken and sad from the inside, I realized that was the eyes looking at me when said something out of the line and stormed out of the office.

Opening my eyes, I frowned at the picture I got with my eyes closed. I frowned and got up from the awkwardly sleeping position. I saw Justin sleeping and snoring on the couch he lied. I walked into the kitchen and drank a glass of water. I checked my phone and saw a reply to my previous email to Caroline which said, ‘fine’. That means she allowed me to bring Ella to our business meeting in London.

Wow, that’s quite surprising as I thought she might decline my request after how I spoke to her in the office. But why is she being so nice, it’s wired as I haven’t seen her being this nice to anyone rather myself. I don’t understand her, it’s like she has secrets and loves to portray an image of herself that she is not. But I am not complaining, everyone has their secrets as I have mine too. Sometimes I wish to understand what goes on in her mind and what she thinks all the time.

I gazed at my left hand which has a huge scar, it was given by Shane, my dad when I was just a toddler. I don’t remember him giving it to me but I can still feel the pain from which I must have gone. Pretty painful for a toddler more than anything. I can never forget what he has done with me in the past ever.

I took a few deep breaths and went to sleep without taking my mind into that distressful life I lived a few years back.

***

“You are joking?!” Ella asked me in disbelieve and her comb fell off from her hand.

“No, I am not,” I replied as I sat on Ella’s bed while she stood in shock in front of her mirror.

“So, you are telling me that we are going to London?” she turned and asked me again, confirming what I said again.

“Yes, we are going to London because I have to go there for a business trip and you are going to join me because I couldn’t leave you alone,” I tried to explain to her.

“I don’t care, Sama. I care about the fact that we are going to London! Oh, my god! And we are leaving tomorrow! That’s amazing! We have never been anywhere except New Jersey where we lived and California, where we are currently living and it’s the first time we are going to another country! I am so excited.” Ella said as she jumped and screamed out of excitement all over her room while I tried not to cringe at her high-pitched scream.

“I can see, very clearly Ella. I want you to pack your bag and take whatever you need.” I said and got up from her bed while she breathed heavily after running and jumping around.

“Yes! Thank you so much, Sama. I love you, big bro!” she said and hugged me.

“I love you too, little sis,” I said as I hugged her back, it made me happy to see her all smiling and excited. I love Ella more like my own daughter than my sister because I have grown her and taken care of her since she was born like a parent.