THE REAL HIM

         Alexandre wasn't pleased about the fact that Ellise had seen him in a vulnerable state and he started to avoid her. Despite how badly he had treated her, she'd tried to comfort him the best she could. He felt ashamed of himself. Ellise truly didn't deserve to be treated wrongly and he wished he could make things right. He really did. But, he was afraid that if he did that, he wouldn't be able to keep up his facade.

     Avoiding her was already proving to be a difficult task because he could literally see her everywhere. As soon as he closed his eyes to sleep, her image would float into his mind and his mind was always infiltrated by thoughts of her.

His feelings for her was growing and while he admired her when she wasn't looking, these feelings were escalating.

He was sure that Ellise hated him. He had been nothing more than a jerk to her.

As much as he would admit that he had feelings for Ellise, he was genuinely afraid of himself. 

He was a mafia boss, a very powerful one at that. He had murdered and tortured people without showing the slightest remorse.

He was well aware of his severe anger issues as well as his PTSD and depression.

After the death of his first love, Olivia, his life had taken a horrible turn. Her death had broken him because he couldn't move past his self loathing and he wouldn't stop blaming himself. He believed that he wouldn't find happiness again, especially after he'd lost the only person who had kept him sane and grounded.

      Running a hand through his hair, he walked into the kitchen to get a glass of water. As soon as he lifted the glass of water to his lips, he heard faint voices coming from outside the kitchen.

Narrowing his eyes, he leaned on the wall to listen closely.

He rolled his eyes when he realized that it was Dominic, Dmitri and their girlfriends.

"You look absolutely stunning, my dear" Jade, Dominic's girlfriend said to Ellise.

"Thank you"

Alexandre bit the inside of his cheek. He could tell that she was blushing.

Who could deny the fact that Ellise was such a beauty? She would look pretty even while wearing an old sack.

"How long have you been living with mr Hot head?" Amelia, Dmitri's girlfriend said. Alexandre closed his eyes, waiting for Ellie's reply.

"Pfft-more like living with the devil. Honestly, it's been five frustration filled months"

Living with the devil?

Is that what she thinks of me?I should be pleased right? Alexandre thought, trying to ignore the ache in his heart.

He felt upset, knowing that Ellise hated him because he'd made her to.

....

    Amelia and Jade were very friendly to Ellise. They had lunch together and thereafter, they convinced Xandre to let them swim in the pool. The irony of it was that Ellise couldn't swim and none of them knew about it.

Xandre, Dominic and Dmitri were sitting in the porch watching the girls as they settled down in the swimming pool area.

Ellise sat down on the edge of the pool with her legs in the water. She felt self conscious about the fact that she was wearing a polka dotted pink and white bikini that was very much revealing. Jade had convinced her to wear it and now she was regretting it.

She could feel Xandre's burning gaze on the exposed skin of her back and was trying not to feel embarrassed.

Amelia could see the tension between Alexandre and Ellise. She smirked and tossed a ball to Ellise. Due to Ellie's clumsy nature, she fell into the pool with a loud splash. Jade and Amelia laughed and she found herself laughing too. But then, she remembered that she couldn't swim. Her eyes widened with horror as she awkwardly flapped her arms and legs about, trying to propel her body towards the edge of the pool, but was failing miserably. She was starting to grow light-headed and was practically gasping for air. Jade and Amelia were completely oblivious to the fact that Ellise was in danger.

She parted her lips to cry out for help but couldn't do it because of the water now filling her lungs. Soon, she was sinking into the bottom of the pool, her vision becoming blurry.

Help! She screamed inwardly, her arms flaring around. Her eyes fluttered close and she sank into oblivion.

....

    As soon as Xandre noticed that she was drowning, he  rushed to the pool and jumped in, ignoring the fact that he was wearing jeans and an expensive crisp shirt. Ellise looked so pale and lifeless, it terrified him.

He scooped her in his arms, his head breaking the surface of the water as he inhaled deeply. He gently placed her on the pavement and knelt beside her unconscious form. Dominic and Dmitri watched with wide eyes. For a moment, a silly thought crossed his mind.

Does CPR count as kissing?

He shrugged it off and began to give her a CPR.

Soon, she was coughing up water but wasn't waking up.

"Ellise?" he whispered, patting her cheeks.

....

"Ellise?"

She opened her eyes, enchanting green eyes staring back into her brown ones. He looked even more breathtaking with his lengthy hair dripping wet. He blinked while she stared at him, weakly.

"You're awake"

She nodded feebly, her mind hazy with confusion.

Was she dreaming?

If he hated her, why would he save her from drowning?

She felt him scoop her in his arms and she closed her eyes, resting her head against his strong chest.

She felt strangely safe. And while she could hear the thud of his heartbeat, her face flushed when she realized that she was really in his arms. Exhausted, she sank into slumber.

....

    Alexandre sighed wearily as he slipped on a black hoodie. There was a knock on the door to his room, followed shortly by the sound of Dominic's voice.

"Boss, can I come in?"

"Come in" came Xan's absentminded reply.

"What the hell was that, man?"

Alexandre ignored his friend, pulling his hair into a neat ponytail.

"Care to explain what happened earlier?"

"I don't know what you're talking about" he mumbled, taking off his rings, wristwatch and ear-piercings.

Dominic sighed and sat down on the couch.

"You care for her, don't you?"

"Maybe" he replied with a gruff voice.

"You looked scared when you noticed that she was drowning" Dominic pointed out and Xan rolled his eyes.

"I don't want her dead body on my property" he replied coldly.

"You are crazy. You're a mafia boss, yet you're worried about something as skimpy as that. You pretend that you hate her. Why are you doing this when it is clear that you care for her more than you should?"

Alexandre clenched his jaw, pacing back and forth when the truth hit him.

He wasn't afraid of her falling in love with him, he was afraid that he had already fallen for her. From the moment he'd seen her, there was something about her that had sparked a reaction within him. This reaction had been growing and now, he realized with a jolt that he wasn't just having feelings for her. He was in love with her.

"No, it can't be" he muttered, eyes wide.

"Are you alright?" Dominic asked, concerned.

"I want to be alone, right now" Alexandre said and Dominic rose to his feet with a sigh.

"Whatever it is that you're feeling, Xan, don't push it away. It means you're human. There's nothing stopping you from being happy. You just have to let yourself be happy and heal"

After Dominic left the room, Xan lowered himself onto the couch, conflicted.

What was he supposed to do now?

...

      Ellise woke up to find herself in her room wearing a large T-shirt. She sat up immediately.

'How did I get to my room?

Who made me wear this shirt? Oh my God, it can't be Xandre, right? He didn't touch me, did he?' She thought, her eyes wide.

"Calm down, he didn't. I did"

She turned to look at Amelia who was standing by the window, an apologetic look on her face.

"Oh..."

"He brought you here. But, I helped you change into the T-shirt. I'm really sorry for what happened. It's my fault you almost got drowned" she said, kneeling on the bed beside her.

"It's not your fault. I should've told you that I can't swim. I'm fine now, see?" Ellise said.

Amelia smiled and embraced her.

"I've never seen Xandre so scared" she said and Ellise lowered her gaze, heat creeping up her neck.

"Oh my goodness, you're blushing! You have feelings for him, don't you?"

"No. I don't" she mumbled, blushing harder.

"Girl! You have a crush on him! I'm sure he feels the same way"

Ellise scoffed.

"Never, he doesn't even have feelings. He hates me"

Amelia's gaze softened.

"Honey, he went through a lot. The truth is that he is broken. The coldness and rudeness are just facades. You might be his only fix, trust me"

"C'mon girl. I'm sure the guys are starving. Let's make lunch" Amelia said. Ellise nodded and got out of bed with a lingering thought on her mind.

Was it true?

Did she really have feelings for a man who had done nothing but make her feel like trash?

...

Cecilia and Xandre were having a conversation in the kitchen when Ellise got there. She noticed that the way he looked at her was different.

Weirdly, it made her heart flutter.

"Are you okay?" He asked her and she stared at him for a few seconds, surprised.

The fact that he wasn't acting so cold and distant was surprising.

"I'm fine" she replied.

His lips held a hint of a smile and she felt her heart stutter.

Cecilia went to the dinning room and the tension in the air became thick due to the fact that Ellise was standing in the kitchen alone with Xandre.

"Um- I have to go" she mumbled, heading towards the door. His hand grabbed hers, stopping her from leaving.

She bit her lower lip, sparks shooting up her skin from where his skin was making contact with hers. This was the first time he was holding her hand without actually hurting her.

She stepped back to look at him. His green eyes were so bright. They weren't looking cold and dull as usual. His eyes held so many emotions and it made her feel jittery.

"Ellie.. I-"

He took a deep breath. Ellise was blushing like crazy just because he called her Ellie.

'He freaking called me Ellie!

Gosh, I feel like an obsessed fan girl right at the moment.

Why the sudden change?' she thought.

"Ellie, I wanted to say that I am sorry" he breathed.

She smiled.

"Now, that wasn't so hard, was it?" She said.

He smiled, dimples dotting his cheeks. She got a bit dizzy just watching him smile. He was such a dazzling beauty and for a moment, she nearly forgot who he was.

"So, am I forgiven?" He asked and she bit the inside of her cheek.

Feigning ignorance, she cocked her brow. "What are you apologizing for?"

He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"I'm sorry for acting like a jerk to you" he replied.

"Okay, you're forgiven"

"Thank you?" He whispered seeming a bit hesitant.

She chuckled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"You look nervous" she pointed out.

He shifted his weight to his right leg.

" The truth is that I am nervous"

She raised a brow.

"Why?"

"Here's the thing, uh- there's going to be a huge banquet tonight and I was wondering if you would come with me"

She smiled to herself, still trying to figure out why he was suddenly acting so differently.

"I really don't have anything to wear" she mumbled, avoiding her gaze.

"So, is that a yes?" He asked, his eyes lighting up.

"Of course, it is"

"Thank you" he said and she gave him another genuine smile.

Once he'd left the kitchen,

Ellise pinched herself, wincing.

'It's really not a dream.

Okay, we're making progress right?' she thought.

"So, what did he say?" Jade's voice pulled her out of her thoughts. She turned around with a start, her hand flying to my chest.

"You scared me"

"Sorry, I didn't mean to. So, what did he say?"

"He apologized"

"Oh. My. God!" She squealed.

"How did you- oh my goodness! He apologized? How did you get him to do that?"

"I don't know.... he just did it"

"Oh Ellie, it's clear that you're breaking through his walls. Xandre never apologizes even if he's at fault. So, if he apologized, something is definitely up"

"He asked me to come with him to a banquet" Ellise blurted.

Jade's blue eyes went wide, her hand flying to her mouth.

"Are you kidding me?!"