Chapter 24 Alexander
Chapter Twenty-Four
ALEXANDER
Mind-numbing.
That was what the week was like.
I still had two full days left of it. At least tomorrow was the polo game, so I had a bit of a reprieve from it.
Ugh, I missed Ella.
My phone had been confiscated by my mother and father during all meetings so I would focus. I knew a punishment would come, but I didn’t realise the punishment would be taking my phone away, so I have to pay attention.
I tapped my hand on my leg, hoping this meeting would soon be over.
I had to wonder if the people around the table found these conversations stimulating or boring like me.
As I looked around the table, I noticed them all staring at me.
Shit.
What were they talking about?
“Erm, could you repeat that?” I asked with a small smile.
“We were just talking about being finished for the day, your Highness,” John, one of the members of the board, said. “We were going to ask if you were okay with that?”
I smiled. “Yes.”
“Oh, thank God,” I heard someone mumble. I turned to see Tessa who had slapped a hand over her mouth. “I am so sorry. I did not mean to say that out loud. I apologise, your Highness. I meant no disrespect.”
“Disrespect?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. I looked around the table, leaning my elbows on it.
They were all shifting uncomfortably.
“Do your meetings usually last this long?” They all looked down, and I groaned. “Why?” No one answered and I narrowed my eyes. “Tessa. Why have these meetings lasted so long if they usually don’t?”
“Well, your Highness, we figured the reason you came to the meetings this week was because you wanted to know everything.”
I bit my lip to try and keep myself from insulting my father in this circumstance. I let out a small laugh. “No. I’m going to be blunt when I say this. I could think of much better ways to spend my time. You guys have this all wrapped up usually much earlier than this?”
“Usually within two hours, three at the most,” John admitted. “Your father did request that you were to be here all day.”
I rolled my eyes.
Of course he did.
“How about we do normal meetings for Thursday and Friday? We can just pretend that we’ve been here all day.” I offered.
They all nodded with relief.
“Great.” I grinned. “Thanks. I need to go and see my girl.” I stood up and walked out of the room.
I walked out the building and saw Jones’ car ready and waiting. I got into the car as he opened the door.
“To Ella’s please, Jones.”
He nodded, shutting the door.
A few moments later, he began driving.
I couldn’t wait to finally see Ella. I had missed her so badly. God, I was attached and obsessed.
After a couple of hours of driving, we arrived outside her house. I got out of the car, knocking on the door.
A few seconds later, the door opened.
Ella’s mum stood there.
“Hi, Ms. Brown.”
Although I knew her name, I wasn’t about to call her by it. Not when I knew she hated me.
“I warned you about hurting my girl.” She glared at me.
“With all due respect ma’am, I wouldn’t say I hurt her. I’d call it a blip in the road,” I defended myself. “Ella and I are on good terms.”
Elena scoffed and opened the door, letting me in. I followed her and as I did I heard Ella talking to herself. “Stupid idiot. Can’t even text. Stupid parliament making him work.”
“Melinda,” her mum said, shaking her head. “I know you’re annoyed, but don’t take it out on the ice cream.”
“He hasn’t even texted me, mum. I’m like one of those annoying girls you want to slap.” She groaned.
I couldn’t help but smile. Ella definitely did hate showing her emotions, but it made me smile when she did.
“Anyway, who was at the door?”
“If you actually turned around, then you would know,” she said.
Ella groaned. “I can’t believe you’re making me move.” I heard the bowl be put onto the table.
I appeared next to Elena.
“Alex!” She climbed up over the sofa.
I rushed forward as she began to fall and grabbed her before she could hit the floor.
“I missed you!” She hugged me tightly.
I noticed Elena walking away and rolling her eyes. She really did hate me and my relationship with her daughter. I just hoped she would come around because Ella was forever.
“My girl missed me,” I said, holding onto her tightly before sitting us both down on the sofa.
She moved her legs, so she was straddling me. She reached back for her ice cream, and I couldn’t help but laugh a little.
“Did you go to class today?”
She shook her head. “I lost all free will,” she said, taking a spoonful of ice cream.
“Sorry I couldn’t text. I still don’t have my phone. My father has been interfering to keep me away,” I admitted.
“It’s fine, baby,” she said.
I smiled a little at the pet name. Anything was better than potato, that was for sure.
“You warned me. I just didn’t realise how much I would miss you.” She reached for another spoonful of ice cream and offered it to me.
I took the spoon and inserted it into my mouth, eating the ice cream. “Ice cream has been comforting.”
I laughed. She placed the tub on the floor resting her head on my chest, I kissed her head holding her tight. “Ella, can I stay the night? We can travel back to London tomorrow.”
She nodded, reaching for the blanket and wrapping it around us.
I could stay here forever.
She let out a yawn, and I smiled a little. “You want me to take you to bed?”
“I’m not tired, I’m comfortable,” she said.
I couldn’t tell if she was lying or whether she was actually tired.
“So, what happens at the game tomorrow?”
“You will sit by the track and watch us play. It’s one of the nicer events you get to attend,” I told her softly. “Mother said Megan is coming?”
Ella let out a small laugh. “She made a complete and utter fool of herself with your mother, she curtsied and fell down. It was interesting,” she said. I couldn’t help but chuckle. I could just imagine how amused that made my mother. I kind of wish I could have seen all of their faces.
“It was one of those moments I wish we had cameras in this house,” she said.
“I bet. Dress appropriately though, please.”
Her mouth dropped open. “When have I not?”
“I’m talking about Megan, Ella,” I told her, shaking my head.
“Oh.” She sat up removing her head from my chest and looked at me with a little smile, “Can I tell you a secret?”
“I’m listening.”
“I think I love you.”
My heart stopped.
“Actually, I don’t think I love you. I know I love you.”
I crashed my lips onto hers and deepened the kiss immediately. I had wanted to hear those words from her ever since I said them to her.
She loved me.
She pulled away resting her forehead against mine. “I love you, and I’m all in.”
“I love you, too.”
“Thank you for being so patient with me since I discovered who you were. I know it hasn’t been easy, being in a little bit of a limbo but thank you.”
“Ella, I love you and our bubble. I’d wait forever if it meant I’d be able to hold onto these moments,” I told her honestly.
“Do you want to watch a film upstairs? In a bed, where it will definitely be more comfortable.”
I nodded.
She went to climb off my lap, and I held her tighter. “Let me carry you.”
She wrapped her arms around my neck, and I lifted her princess-style. I headed up the stairs, and Ella directed me into her bedroom. I shut the door behind us and laid her down softly on the bed.
I looked around her room and grinned. “This is exactly how I imagined your bedroom.”
She leaned up on her elbows, raising an eyebrow. “You imagined my bedroom?”
I nodded, not elaborating anymore. Her space was filled with photos of her best friend, and her work spread all over a desk.
One of the things I loved about her was her work ethic.
“So, since you’re avoiding that question…do you want to explain to me why you have the guards? I thought you said I wouldn’t have them,” she said.
I smiled sheepishly. “I thought I had escaped the lecture.”
My mother said she took it well when she suggested it, but clearly she was waiting to try and argue it out with me.
It wasn’t my mother’s order either. It was mine, but I didn’t think I wanted to admit that to Ella.
“Ella, you could argue until you are blue in the face, but believe me it does nothing. They will be staying. That is the end of that discussion.”
She stayed silent for a moment, and I had to wonder if she was gearing up ready for an argument or if she was going to accept it. She was keeping me on my toes that was for sure. “Okay.”
My mouth dropped open in surprise. “Didn’t think it would go that way.”
“Well, I thought about arguing with you but at the end of the day I’m wasting my breath,” she said, rolling her eyes.
I kicked off my shoes and stripped my suit off, leaving me in just boxers. I got into bed with her.
She laid on my chest as she began to flicker through Netflix, looking for something to watch.
As she clicked on a film, I rested my head against hers and found myself falling to sleep easily with the girl I loved in my arms.
Irolled over and coldness hit my chest.
I cracked an eye open.
Ella wasn’t here.
Is this how she felt when I left her in my bed?
I looked around for my phone and let out a groan when I remembered it was still in London.
I really must remember to get my phone back.
I looked around Ella’s room and couldn’t see anything with the time on it. I flipped the covers off and looked on the floor to see a pair of my joggers. I narrowed my eyes.
Was Ella stealing my clothes?
I slipped them on and headed downstairs. As I started coming down the stairs, I saw Ella and Megan in the living room. I could hear them talking about something to do with men.
I stood at the living room door and saw that they were watching ex on the beach. “You actually watch this crap?”
Ella’s head spun around, and her eyes stayed on my chest.
I couldn’t help but smile from my own amusement.
My girl really didn’t hide her lust well, but I loved it. “You finished staring, Ella? You can take a picture if you want.”
“Shut up,” she mumbled, blushing.
I noticed Megan was eyeing me up, too.
I looked at Ella as she grabbed my hand, pulling me to sit on the sofa and placing herself in front of me.
“Roar,” Megan teased doing a clawing motion with her hand. “Don’t worry, he’s all yours, but it doesn’t mean I can’t stare.”
“Actually it does,” she said flatly.
“Shh.” She waved her hand turning back to the television.
“I love you, Ella,” I whispered in her ear. She turned slightly in my arms and kissed me softly. “I suppose I can watch this shit if it means I get to stare at my beautiful girl.”
“Swoon,” Megan said, waving her hand in front of her face.
I let out a laugh.
I really liked Megan. She reminded me so much of Jeremy. It was hilarious.
By the end of it, I was glued. She was right. This shit was addictive. “Not bad for shit huh?” She teased.
A few hours later, a knock on the door made us all jump. “What’s the time?”
Ella reached for her phone, and I looked at the time. “Shit. We’re going to be late. I bet that’s Jones.”
I climbed off the sofa, heading towards the door and seeing Jones standing there.
He looked at me disapprovingly as he handed me clothes and my phone. “Thank you, Jones.”
“Please hurry, sir. We don’t need to be late.”
I nodded, shutting the door. I looked in the living room, seeing Ella and Megan had gone.
I quickly changed into the jeans and shirt that Jones had provided leaving Ella with the joggers she had stolen.
I ran a hand through my hair and made my way upstairs and I could hear them talking.
“Come on girls, we’re going to be late.”
“What does one wear to a polo game?”
I rounded the door, seeing Ella standing in her underwear and I grinned. “Not that baby girl, you look sexy.” I pressed a kiss to her neck and started to suck on her neck, leaving her a love bite. I pulled away and grinned.
I was impressed with my little mark on her.
“Anything, Ella. Whatever you’re comfortable in.”
She reached for leggings and a black top that said something about adulting. She got dressed, and I smiled. “You look beautiful.”
I tapped my phone screen, looking at the time.
We were definitely going to be late.
“Where did you get that picture?” I looked to see Ella concentrating on my screensaver which was a picture of us from the ball.
“Mother got a few, and I also asked the photographers for copies.”
“Send them to me. I want those photos,” she said.
I nodded. “I’ll send them to you in the car. Go find Megan. We’re already late.” I bent down, kissing her.
I headed out the house to the car where Jones was looking disapprovingly. “Yes, we’re late. I know.”
He chuckled as I got into the car tapping my foot as I waited for Ella and Megan to come out.