Chapter 3

Ellodie did her makeup far from her old self. After exfoliating her face and body in the bathroom, she sprayed rose water over her face before applying her face cream and makeup.

On a normal day, she would have applied light makeup, but for no genuine reason, she took her time beautifying herself today.

She didn't want to think about Simon or what he would feel when he saw her today, but she knew she wanted him to see what he was missing.

Ellodie wanted him to know she was no longer the Ellodie from four years ago who would nod meekly like a dove to everything she was asked to do. She was an independent woman now.

Controlling her anger has become impossible these days. She was sure he suspected that she was just pretending to be another woman.

Knowing her ex-husband was the CEO, she would have given up on this partnership if it wasn't one of her dreams. But she knew it would take her to places she had been dreaming of.

Ellodie wouldn't let Simon make her give up on her dreams. This was just business. Nothing more.

The ringing sound of her phone jerked her out of her reverie. With Sydney sleeping on her bed, she quickly grabbed the phone to pick up so Sydney wouldn't wake up from the loud sound.

Xavier's name flashed across the screen, and a smile appeared on Ellodie's face.

“Hey, I'm outside,” he shouted, making her hold the phone away from her ear for a second.

“Why the shout?” she scolded him, getting up to pick up her purse.

“You don't want to be late for your first appointment, do you?” he retorted sharply.

“I'm coming!” she said before disconnecting the phone and dropping it in her purse.

Ellodie walked towards the bed, pecked Sydney's cheeks, and giggled when she turned slightly before rushing out to call Juanita, the nanny.

She hadn't intended to come back to Las Vegas, but the partnership forced her to. She thought of Simon the moment she saw the proposal but waved it away quickly, ensuring that their paths would never cross again.

Four years ago, when they got divorced, Ellodie was so mad that she prayed hard never to see him again. She was annoyed to the point of daydreaming about hitting him in the face if they ever met again.

But that was gone.

Though she was still enraged.

“Ma'am, Sir Xavier is waiting outside,” Juanita almost bumped into her as she stepped into the large living room.

Ellodie nodded at her. “Sydney is in the room sleeping. Take care of you two.”

With a wave, she smiled and walked towards the exit, grateful for having Xavier. If he wasn't here, she would have had to stay in a hotel until she got a decent apartment for Sydney and her to live in for the meantime before heading back to Paris.

When Ellodie stepped outside, Xavier was on his phone. He saw her and said a quick goodbye to the person on the other side, who she suspected was his mom, before opening his arms wide to embrace her.

She narrowed her eyes and stepped backward.

He pouted, and she laughed.

“Let's go, please. Being late isn't a good first impression,” Seb murmured and pushed him aside to enter the car. With a melodramatic sigh, he gave up and turned to the driver's side.

When he slid in, Ellodie punched his shoulder, laughing. “Let's go already. Stop with this drama. We saw each other at the airport, didn't we?”

She knew he missed her. This was the reason for his funny acts.

“You look good,” he commented as he ignited the car engine into action, and she nodded proudly.

“Thank you.”

Her phone rang again. Yannie's name flashed across her screen, and she picked up immediately, wondering what was happening.

“Good day, ma'am,” her secretary greeted politely.

“How are you doing, Yannie? Is everything okay?” Ellodie demanded impatiently.

“The appointment with the McGregors has been rescheduled for tomorrow evening. I tried to get them to postpone it till next weekend when you would be back, but I think the manager is due for a leave soon.”

Ellodie exhaled. The meeting with Simon was today, but she needed to do other things before going back to Paris. Besides, their partnership agreement signing might extend till the weekend.

“You know what? When I get back home tonight, I will give you a call,” she tells her, rubbing her forehead.

“Yes, ma'am,” she mutters before disconnecting the call. Yannie is in charge of everything now until she is back in Paris. Her secretary is resourceful, and her trip down to Las Vegas is because of her.

“Is everything okay?” Xavier questions, sparing her a glance before looking back to the road.

“Yeah,” she only says. After tonight, she will find a solution. If there is nothing she can do, then she will have to talk to Lea about her trip to Paris and ensure she comes back as soon as she can.

Xavier and Ellodie became friends four years ago. They met in Paris when she was newly admitted to school.

Being pregnant with Sydney didn't stop her from going back to school. She knew that was the only thing to keep her away from brooding and attempting suicide.

She was broken.

Simon broke her. But Sydney kept her going. If she hadn't been pregnant before she left his house, she wondered what she would have done to herself.

The reason for her anger towards him that night was because he deceived her. She always knew Jessica was his obsession, but she thought he had gotten rid of his feelings for her the moment he stopped being cold towards her and started showing her care and concern.

Ellodie never knew it was fake! They even had sex!

It was a night filled with passion and it meant a lot to her until that night he asked her to sign the divorce papers nonchalantly as though he was asking her to sign a contract to own a house.

A clap pulls her out of her thoughts. It is Xavier.

“What is going through that little head of yours? Are you sure everything is okay back in Paris?”

“Yannie was unable to reschedule my appointment with the McGregors. I'm afraid I will have to go to Paris tomorrow and be back as soon as I can.”

“Oh!” He mumbles before asking, “Can't I go to your place? You need to sort things out here first.”

“I wish. Let's get the E.S & Co contract done first, then decide on what to do,” she says with optimism.

This is not a problem. If it doesn't go her way, then she will book an early flight to Paris tomorrow. Very simple.

He nods in understanding.

Ellodie is sure he knows she doesn't want to add that to the list of things running through her head.

“So how is my pretty little girl doing? Are you enjoying the house? Is Juanita nice enough?”

Ellodie chuckles lightly. “Yes to everything you asked.”

“I also asked how my pretty little girl is doing?”

“Obviously, she is fine and asleep,” she rolls her eyes at him. If Sydney wasn't asleep, she would have insisted on coming along with her.

Not just because this is about seeing Las Vegas and making new friends but also because she is now friends with her mother's sole enemy.

“What about her beautiful big mom? Is she fine and looking pretty as usual?” Xavier asks with a wide grin plastered on his face, which makes her laugh out loud.

“Let me be, please.” She shoves him away when he leans forward with a funny face.

Finally, they get to the company, and her mood changes from light to heavy. Her heart is thumping wildly in fear of seeing him again.

It makes me wonder how long she has to do this. How long does she have to keep seeing him until their partnership is done? How long does she also have to pretend to be someone else?

When Xavier parks his car in the parking lot, Ellodie sits still, with her eyes shut, trying to calm her nerves before stepping out. While doing that, she hears the sound of the door opening and closing.

She figures it was Xavier coming to get her door like he usually does. As soon as he throws her door open to let her out, she opens her eyes with a smile plastered on her face so he won't suspect a thing.

Looking away, Ellodie wants to step down when something catches her eye. Someone is watching her.

She stares forward to see him sitting in his car and watching her intensely. It makes her heart beat twice its normal rate. Realizing what she is doing, she looks away instantly and finally steps out.

Ellodie touches Xavier intentionally, and he mumbles something funny into her ears. She laughs just in time for Simon to appear before them from nowhere.

“Hello, Mrs. Amanda Tornes. Is this your husband, Mr. Tornes?” There is a smile tugging at Simon's face as he stretches his hand toward Xavier, whose face suddenly turns sour.

“Yes, Mr. Richards.” She gives him a sweet smile and holds Xavier's arm, making Simon's jaw tighten. “Love, meet Simon Richards, the CEO of E.S & Co.”