6 months ago. ELLA. "Lets do shots Chloe," i say as soon as i get back on my chair. "Wait, what changed between a few minutes ago and now?" she asks looking at me curiously. "I have decided tonight to let loose and live like you, everything under normal circumstances i wouldn't get caught dead doing, i will do it." "Well, i won't talk you out of that, so shots it is." The music in the club pulsed through my body as i threw back my second shot of tequila. “Maybe you should slow down Ella, you're not really a heavyweight drinker” Chloe warned“And maybe you should shut up,” I replied handing her a shot. Stop being a buzzkill, let's just live tonight" i say taking my third shot. "Jordan Baker has been looking at you since you came back”“where” i asked a little too excitedly that it shocked me, i knew his reputation and he wasn't really my type so maybe the alcohol was clouding my judgment. That's when I turned around and saw him. He was casually leaning against the wall talking
PRESENT ELLA. When Chloe texted me this morning to go in for the personal assistant job interview i applied 2 weeks ago, it caught me by surprise. I had applied, but i didn't expect to really get picked since i didn't have a lot of experience. I have spent most of my adult life in and out of the hospital. I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of sixteen. Between my chemo treatments i haven't really had much time to gain experience. I have had only one job since graduation and it didn't last because shortly after i got sick and had to go in for another round of treatment.Which means i have not also been to interviews before, but i need this job. The hospital bills have drained my trust fund and am broke. I put on the only skirt suit i own, with a white shirt and pair it up with black heels. I hold my hair back and put on some lipgloss.I pushed through the revolving doors of Empire Enterprises lobby, ten minutes before nine. Wanting to make the best impression. I have been
JORDAN. I looked towards the door, beyond Jeremy there she was. The woman i have tried to stop thinking about for the last six months. She looked nothing like she looked that night. She was paler, she looked like she had also lost some weight. She was wearing a simple black suit and her hair was held backwards. Pure unadultered lust flowed like fire in my veins.God. She was still sexy.I had tried to track her down since the morning i woke up to her nowhere to be seen,six months ago. There was nothing on her. It was like she was a ghost. Until one week ago when i came across her application for the assistant position. She was not qualified in any way for the position but i needed her, i needed to know what her deal was. She was the first woman i had been really interested in more than for the sex, since my fiance died six years ago. But for a woman who never wanted to be found, i needed to play her game. As much as i wanted her, craved her i needed to know what her deal was. She h
ELLA. I was paranoid about which bill to open up first. I still had balances from the previous month that i needed to clear. Tensing for a moment i forced herself to tear open the first envelope. How much was it this month? I scanned to the bottom of the invoice and located the total amount. Breath trickled from my lungs before it gusted out. Not horrible. I set the bill back on the table trying to calculate in my head how much money i will be left with after settling all the awaiting bills.For a moment i sat back on my couch and imagined how it would be like not to have so many bills. I would be free, it was good to imagine but i also knew that was just wishful thinking.As i padded through her cheap studio apartment to the bathroom, i shed my clothes to get in the shower to freshen up. Chloe was coming over. After the day i had, i needed her to talk me up and remind me why i needed this job. I cranked the shower head and waited for the water to turn warm and for the steam to clou
JORDAN Ella Washington distracted me.Distracted was a euphemism for what she was doing to me. Hell, i didn't know if i was coming or going with this woman. I couldn't fucking stop thinking about her. Her soft skin. That taunting mouth of hers. Those fuck me eyes, those legs, God, don't start me on those damn legs. This morning even with the distraction of Leila, all i could think of was Ella. The image of her in my t-shirt was still stuck in my head. Leila was a commercial model she was the most sought after model in New York, every woman wanted to be her and ever man wanted her. She was mine, but even her had nothing on what Miss Ella was doing to me. I knew if i went to Chicago alone, i would not be able to concentrate on any thing. So whe was coming with me, i would rather have her close to me if that helps with the day dreaming. I never go to6any of my business meetings with women, especially women i sleep with. I prefer not to mix business with pleasure. But i guess with Ella
ELLA. I have never brought a guy into my apartment before. Infact only Chloe has been to my house before. Because of my treatments and regular hospital stays, i never really had a social life so the out friend i had was chloe. But right now one of the richest men in New York city was in my house. My one bedroom cheap apartment.This entire day has been one bizzare moment after another. I open the door slowly making a quick scan of the apartment incase there's anything i need to hide. In doing so, i realize i just might have to hide everything and that's not possible with Jordan step behind me. When Jordan said we will pass by my place to pick up my stiff, I thought he was going to wait in the car while i pack. But he instead followed me up claiming women take forever to get ready, he needed to come up with me to make sure i hurry up. I step aside and allow him to enter my apartment. "Come in." i say. Jordan walks in after me, taking in my apartment with his curious eyes. Its a sm
Chapter seven. “Hey,” i said smiling at the receptionist. She was a tall brunette who didn't seem to like me very much. “Am here for Jordan,”“Do you have an appointment?” she asked me coldly. “Not officially, but he is expecting me.”“Well am not allowed to let anyone in without an appointment.” she said sitting back down. I took my phone out and dialed Jordan's number, but he was not picking up. I was about to go back down to the car, when Chloe called me. “Hey,” i answered the phone enthusiastically. “Hey baby girl how is Chicago treating you? Is it cold?”“I will catch you up on everything but i need your out of the box thinking right now.”“Ofcourse, what's going on?”“I am supposed to be in a meeting with Jordan but his receptionist won't let me in and he is not picking up his phone.” i said loudly for the receptionist who was looking at me like i was one of Jordan's sluts to hear. She just rolled her eyes. “Well that's easy, just walk right past her.” Chloe said giggling.
ELLA. It's almost past midnight. Jordan called an hour ago and said he wouldn't be coming back to the house. I didn't ask him questions i figured he was spending the night with the blonde from the party earlier. I cant sleep for some reason, on this particular lonely night it has me thinking about Alex, my son Kyle's father.I still never got him out of my head completely, though time made things better, sometimes I would see something that reminded me of him and it would put me in a funk. I remember the day i got the call, I was six months pregnant he died in war, he was in the military serving our country.On a particular lonely night when i was almost due, i went alone to a tattoo studio and had a a heart put in the spot he used kiss me. It's a tiny heart, about the size of a thumbprint. It's not fully closed i had it like that on purpose because it's how my heart feels every time i think about him. It just feels like a little hole in it, letting out all the air.I loved him, i st
Ella. “Give me the real on you and Toby, what's been happening. You guys are always together.”“Let's just say if all goes well, you're not the only one who will have a boo.”Ella said smiling, “He is really a good guy and i love him.”“Hold up!” i say almost shocked, “Ella loves someone, That's juicy.”A shadow slid across Claire’s face before it disappeared. “Yes i am in love and i can't believe saying this, ut he just mightbe the one speaking of which,” She turned to me “Where’s Lover Boy?”I rolled my eyes, a blush spreading over my cheeks. “Don’t call him that, and he’s busy running a company. He doesn’t have time for college events.”“You sure about that?” Ella tilted her chin at something behind me. I whipped around, my heart jumping in my throat when I saw Toby standing behind me. In his navy cashmere sweater and jeans, he cut a sophisticated figure amongst the crowds of drunk college students and rumpled professors. I couldn’t help it I ran and threw my arms around him. “I t
ELLA.I woke up quiet early than usual, we are staying at the Hamptons house alone since Jordan had given the workers days off so we could all soebd time together, like an intimate setting. Given what he shared with me last night, i wanted to do something for him even if it was as simple as preparing him breakfast.Jordan was still sleeping peacefully, i walked quietly to the bathroom and brushed my teeth and put on some comfy lounge wear before heading downstairs. Chloe and Jeremy were not yet in the house which meant they were still in their love nest. I put on some soft music opening the curtains to let the fresh air come in. I went ahead to prepare breakfast, or rather brunch.I was in a really happy mood, and the sun was out today, the weather was amazing for us to just chill in the backyard by the pool and just relax. I although wished Chloe was up so she could help me set the table, i knew Jordan would be up soon, and i would like to be done by then."wooow!" i heard Chloe's vo
ELLA.I watch him get ready for bed still wondering how we are going to survive eight hours of sleep beside each other. Considering we had just had sex this same morning. After a while i decide to get in bed and try to sleep before he joins me. It would be much easier if he found me already sleeping or pretending to be sleeping since I know sleep today was not going to come easy.I immediately got under the covers and laid on my side, my back facing his side of the bed. I tried to close my eyes but i couldn't get any sleep, i just lay there in anticipation as my body tensed up. How the hell was i supposed to fall sleep tonight.I felt the bed move when he got in it and then there was total silence. My body froze as i prayed and hoped he would fall asleep immediately, i tried to listen to his breathing hoping he would fall asleep soon. I knew this was going to be a very long night. I know the effect this man has on me and i didn't want any parts of our bodies to touch.For a moment the
LeilaAfter a couple of shots, my body was burning, am more of a wine girl, i don't drink the hard stuff. I needed a shower to help me sober up a little. But i also didn't want to leave the party, it was really fun, playing drinking games with Michael and my sister Maria. It has been while since we had fun like that, without yelling at each other. So i decided to use the guest bathroom on the same floor as the living room to shower. I figured Maria wasn't going to sleep any sooner. I stripped naked and walked towards the bathtub, the water was so calming and relaxing. "Hey babe, are you in here?" I could hear Michael 's voice from the bedroom, "I am in the shower." I shouted back, hoping he would hear me and go back to the living room. "I think we should play beat the clock." i heard him say in a sexy voice. "My sister is right next door Michael no." i shout back totally surprised by his sudden need for exploration. "Thats what will make it even more fun and sexier, the knowledg
MARIA. We are all sitting in Leila's apartment where she is currently staying with Michael drinking wine. There are about three empty bottles on the table and four more unopened. Am starting to feel a little bit tipsy."Maybe, you should stop drinking. I think you have had enough, you don't want to go back to your house and fiancé drunk." Leila said taking away the bottle of wine i had just opened."Jordan is not even home, and he won't be for the next couple of days. Why do you guys think am here, it's definitely not because i wanted to see you make out every second of the day."I say irritated," Am lonely, i feel like something changed with him ever since the Ella situation, i barely see the man anymore.""Where is he? Do you think he knows or suspects anything?" Michael asked sitting down next to Leila."No he doesn't suspect a thing, i just think losing the babies hit him more than he had anticipated and he is suppressing by over working himself." i say pouring myself some wine, "
ELLA. "Do you guys think he is okay?" i ask Chloe and Jeremy for the millionth time. It's almost midnight and Jordan is still not back from wherever he went to and we still haven't heard from him. His phone is off."He is fine," Jeremy says, "He probably got caught up in his drinking spree.""How can you be so sure of that when we haven't heard from him all day?""Because he is my best friend, and I know him better than anyone. I actually know him better than he knows himself."Chloe gets up from Jeremy 's laps and walks over to where am sitted, "He is going to be fine, try not to focus too much on him.""How can i focus on anything else? I am the reason he is out there in the first place."i say tears rolling down my cheeks." If i jad just listened to whatever he wanted to say, maybe we would have talked and he would have stayed here safe.""Look Ella, stop blaming yourself, Jordan has been going through aloot, it has nothing to do with you. And if there is someone who is feeling gui
Chloe."What do you think they are doing, they have been quiet for a while, since breakfast i have not heard screaming or seen any furniture breaking, maybe they are actually good." i say to Jeremy as we stand in the living room looking up. "Mayne they are okay, we should just go do our own thing." I say as i stand in front of Jeremy and put my arms around his waist."I won't let you tell me that twice." he took my hand and we started walking out of the door, when suddenly Ella's door opened and Jordan came down the stairs furious.He went straight to the refrigerator snd took out a bottle of whiskey and started drinking from the bottle." Everything okay Jordan ?" Jeremy asked him as we walked back into the house."Does it look like everything is okay?" he asked looking at the both of us then walked right past us and left. We quickly followed him outside"Where are you going Jordan ?" i asked shouting at him."Anywhere that's not here." he shouted back getting in his car."Please go
Chapter Seventy Four Jeremy .I followed Chloe outside. I looked around for her for almost ten minutes before I spotted her, she was sitted behind the house in the gazebo. She was actually lying on one of the chairs, i approached her silently until i was standing right behind her. Hey eyes were closed."Hey you," i said still standing there.She immediately got up and sat up, "Don't creep up on me like that Jeremy , you scared the crap out of me." she says"Can i sit?" i ask gesturing to the chair right in front of her."Sure, you can do whatever you like." she saidI sat down and looked at her for a moment,"We need to talk about last night, how are you feeling?""Am good, whatever you gave me worked miracles." she said ignoring my statement about needing to talk.I digged into my pockets and took out her phone and handed it to her, "This belongs to you." i say"How do you have my phone Jeremy ?" she immediately snapped grabbing it from me. "Like i said, we need to talk about last
Jordan ."I was wondering when you two would come down." i called out to Ella and Chloe the moment they stepped off the stairs and into the living room. They walked slowly towards the dining table with no expressions on their faces.Chloe sits across from Jeremy as i sit on the head of the table and Ella immediate to my right.There was so much tension between all of us, Jeremy tried to make light of the situation but nothing changed, the women were both fixated on their breakfast, eventually he also gave upate and concentrated in his food. Ella did not look up at me even once during the whole breakfast session, but i wouldn't blame her.I haven't had the chance to talk to her since yesterday, and clearly she is doing everything in her power to ignore me."You disappeared on me last night," i say to Ella looking directly at her. "You didn't even say anything, you just left.""Well, i gave you and your fiancé time to catch up on what you were wearing." Ella answered me sarcastically.