Chapter 6 PROGRESS

Ellise opened the door to her room and stepped in, grinning like a love struck teenager. Her gaze fell on the red dress which was lying on her bed alongside two small velvet boxes. Frowning, she picked up the dress, her jaw dropping when she saw how beautiful it was. She picked up the first box. It contained expensive looking diamond earrings and a golden necklace. She stared at them, wondering how expensive they were.

"Do you like it?"

She yelped, turning around with a start. Xandre who was leaning on the door jamb gave her an apologetic smile.

"Gosh, you almost gave me a heart attack" Ellise said, giving him a small smile.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you" he breathed. Her heart did a flip in her chest. He'd apologized twice in one day. This was certainly unexpected.

She watched him as he approached her and she couldn't help but admire his graceful movements.

"So?"

"I love it.... but you didn't have to do this" she stated.

"I wanted to. So, uh-Ellie...."

"Yeah?"

"I don't think you should call me Mr Loides any longer. It makes me feel old" he said.

"Of course, Dre"

His eyes widened and he inhaled sharply.

"Dre? I like it. It's much better" he said, smirking.

She blushed, lowering her gaze nervously.

"Tonight we leave for the banquet, yes?"

"Sure"

"Good, I'll be in my room" he said and exited her room.

...

"Wow, Ellie. You look stunning. Right Amelia?" Jade said as Ellise checked out herself in front of a full length mirror. The ankle length red dress hugged her curves, with a slit from just above her knees and downwards. Her hair was in a fancy chignon with some strands framing her face. "Let's go, we don't want to keep the guys waiting, yeah?" Amelia said with a smile on her face.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Ellise followed the girls to the hallway.

Dominic, Dmitri and Xandre were all dressed in black tuxedos and crisp white shirts. They all had silver stud ear piercings on. Dominic and Xandre had their hair in manly buns.

They looked devilishly handsome with the tattoos on the exposed skin of their chest very much visible.

"You look beautiful, Ellie" Xandre whispered.

Ellise smiled, placing her hand in his when he held out a hand to her.

"You don't look so bad yourself, Dre"

"Let's go, then" he said with a smile on his face. They were soon out of the Loides mansion. Ellise was presented with a chance to escape but she couldn't do it.

They all made themselves comfortable in the limousine that took them to the banquet.

When they got to the hotel, Ellise was stunned by the sight of the place. She was amazed. People of high class were walking around in elegant tuxedos and dresses, and this made Ellise feel awkward. She had never been to such a gathering where people of high calibre were present.

While Xandre led her across the hall, a young man with short brown hair and blue eyes approached them with a smirk.

"Alexandre! What a pleasure to see you again. Who's this young lady?" He asked, his gaze resting on her.

For reasons unknown to her, she felt very uncomfortable under his gaze.

There was something creepy about him and Xandre didn't look happy to see him.

"Suarez, this is Ellise. Ellise meet Suarez Ricci. He's one of my business associates."

Ellise forced herself to smile as he gave her a handshake.

"Alex, you've got such a pretty young lady, here. I look forward to seeing you again. Have a great time tonight."

Later, Amelia, Jade and Ellise chatted lazily while the guys met with some other people.

From the corner of her eyes, Ellise saw a lady walking towards Xandre.

As soon as he saw her, his eyes darkened. Ellise quietly watched the unfamiliar lady as she embraced him, her hand on his chest.

Ellise turned away, suddenly feeling jealous. When she realized this, she felt sick to her stomach. Jealousy was usually not her thing, especially since she knew nothing about Xandre.

"Ellie."

She turned to look at Xandre who was walking towards her with the unfamiliar lady still standing in his previous position with a scowl on her face.

"You stayed," he whispered.

She frowned, confused.

"Why wouldn't I?"

"I thought you would escape tonight."

"No, not until you give me the permission to," she mumbled.

"What changed your mind?"

"You," she whispered truthfully.

He smiled and held out a hand.

"Dance with me."

Grinning, she placed her hand in his and let him steer her towards the dance floor with her heart pounding with excitement.

....

She looked so beautiful tonight. The way she looked at him made his heart flutter.

Despite how strange it was, he was in love with her. It was the bitter-sweet truth. He really cared about her.

As they danced, her hand on his shoulder, he felt something he had not felt in a long time. Happiness.

He closed his eyes, her scent drifting into his nostrils. He didn't want her to know about his love for her because he thought it would make her uncomfortable. To him, holding her in my arms was enough. Nothing else mattered.

Just Ellie and Xandre.

He stared at her lips, wondering what it would feel like to get a taste of them. It felt wrong, but it also felt right. This was driving him nuts. He had never felt so conflicted.

Their gazes locked; green meeting brown. He was so lost in the beauty of her eyes that soon, he was leaning down to kiss her. When his brain registered the action, he pulled away before it could happen, letting out a string of curses under his breath.

I'm such an idiot, he thought, frustrated.

....

Ellise watched Alexandre walk away tensely. She could tell that he was upset. What she couldn't understand was why he'd tried to kiss her. She doubted that he had feelings for her.

"Ellie, we're leaving now," Amelia said to her. She nodded and followed her outside where the others were waiting. They all got into the limo and were all silent until they arrived at the mansion.

Xandre ignored Ellise even when they got home and this made her feel frustrated. She was tired of being at the receiving end of his mood swings.

She took her bath and changed into a yellow T-shirt and a pair of sweatpants. Then, she pulled back her hair into a bun and sat down on her bed. Shortly after, there was a knock on the door. She rolled her eyes and slid under the sheets.

The knocks persisted. Groaning, she switched off the lamp.

"Ellie...it's me."

She sighed, squeezing her eyes shut.

Why won't he leave me alone? She thought.

"Please. I need to talk to you."

His voice sounded weak and broken. She switched on the light. The clock read few minutes past twelve.

"Please, Ellie. Don't shut me out," he pleaded.

Ellise tried not to give in to his request, but she failed.

"Please-" his voice cracked, accompanied with the sound of her heart breaking. She hated the fact that this man affected her so much. She got out of bed and moved towards the door to unlock it. There he stood, dressed in his white shirt and trousers with most of the buttons of his shirt undone. If she wasn't mad at him, she would've drooled at the sight of his exposed muscular chest. His hair was loose, tumbling down his shoulders and back. His eyes were glazed over and bloodshot with his eyelashes wet. He'd been crying, she realized. Her heart ached in her chest seeing him like that.

"Come in," she said monotonously, trying to keep her emotions in check.

He sighed and walked into her room with his shoulders hunched over in defeat.

"I'm sorry for trying to kiss you tonight. But, you should know that I couldn't help it-"

"Really? Have I become one of your whores? I am not naive and stupid" she hissed.

"I didn't call you that, Ellie. I am so sorry, okay? Ever since I brought you home, my world has not been the same. I know you don't understand. I didn't ask for any of this. I never thought I would have feelings for you-" he slurred

"Wait, you have feelings for me?" Ellie blurted out. She was shocked to the core.

"I'm not a robot, you know. I have feelings too. There's just something about you. I still don't get it. But I'm drawn to you like moth to flame. I tried not to fall for you but I failed miserable. I fell for you hard."

He let out a sad chuckle.

"I feel so pathetic right now" he slurred, pushing his hair away from his face.

She stared at him, mouth agape.

How does he have the balls to tell me all this?

Does he think I believe him?

Heck I don't! She thought.

"Well, you can't blame me for not believing you! You've treated me so coldly and rudely!"

"I apologized" he whispered

She shook her head furiously.

"You act like you don't have feelings! You're so confusing! I don't know what to do with you! I am so confused! Why are you doing all this? Just why are you telling me all this?! Tell me!"

He remained silent, refusing to meet her gaze.

Frustrated, she bit her lower lip, her fists clenched.

"Go ahead! Feed me with more lies! What? Cat got your tongue?! Say something! Anything! Damn it!"

She was rapidly losing her cool.

"Just-"

Suddenly, his lips crashed onto hers without warning. Her first instinct was to pull away but she didn't. She couldn't. Her body was practically on fire.

He finally pulled away, breathing hard.

"Why did you kiss me?!" Ellise demanded, her rage swelling within her.

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"You manipulative bastard! How dare you mess with my feelings?! " She cried out in anger, tears filling my eyes.

"Why can't you let me go? Why can't you just let me go home? Why are you keeping me here?"

"I'm trying to keep you safe, Ellise! And maybe, you should consider the fact that I love you!" He yelled, his hand tugging at his hair roughly, his breathing hard and fast.

Ellise blinked, surprised.

"W-What?"