Longing for love

Part 1: EL AND ALEC

Prologue

"Michelle Ford has fled the wedding". The gathering was in deep turmoil. The guests started gossiping, the bride's family became more anxious with every passing second and in front of them stood the furious Dwane Farehya, the groom. He was fuming with rage, he shouted "FIND HER" his tone was unnervingly intimidating yet cold, there was an eerie silence after that, everyone was scared to their bones by just looking at him. The bride's father Daniel could only nod.

Daniel Ford and Alec Wilson, Dwane's friend, tried all their resources to locate Michelle but to no avail. Daniel feebly requested Dwane to accept Michelle's sister Isobelle as his bride, to which Dwane grew more furious and said "There is no way on earth I will accept an illegitimate substitute as my bride".

Dwane forced Daniel to legally abandon her as a Ford for the sake of his family. Despite it, Dwane didn't plan to let Michelle go. "I'll find her and strangle her to death with my own bare hands. That is the price she has to pay for her audacity to go against Dwane Farehya ''

Hours later only the three friends Dwane, Alec and Ricky remained in the wedding hall. According to his beloved friend, Dwane's wishes Alec used all his resources to find Michelle. Dwane sat sipping his whiskey, growing more and more furious with the incident. Ricky sat quietly with them. "We'll find her soon" "Find her alive, she'll meet her death with my own hands" said Dwane. "Alec, please help me with the drinks." Saying this Ricky cornered Alec near the bar. Seeing that they weren't in Dwane's earshot Ricky said "I know Dwane is furious now so I didn't say anything. But the bride left out of her own will, Al, You should ask him to get over it and move on. You are not doing the right thing by helping him find her" " I don't care about right and wrong, Ricky. Dwane is my brother and I'll help him in whichever way I can, no matter what". "It's about somebody's life, it's our little Mish" Alec ignored him and joined Dwane.

The friends talked for a while, later, Dwane raised his glass and said "let's drink to Michelle Ford's Corpse" "to Michelle Ford's Corpse" his friends repeated.

At Ford's Mansion, Michelle arrived right after the family had returned. Michelle's father informed her about abandoning her and asked her to leave the city the first thing in the morning. Michelle felt grief-stricken when she heard her father's words but she knew she was at fault so she quietly obeyed.

The next day Isobelle, her stepsister handed over all necessary documents for Michelle's cosmetic surgery, along with other IDs, certificates and passport all with a fake name. No other member of the Ford family met Michelle that morning. While leaving, Isobelle hugged Michelle and said "You did the right thing by not getting married to Dwane, but now it's better that you don't remain here in Barnesville. Take care Sis".

As soon as Michelle left, Isobelle made a call "I need you to keep an eye on Michelle's whereabouts and update me frequently" saying this Isobelle cut the call with a satisfied smile on her face. At the airport, Michelle was able to easily board the plane using her fake passport. When the flight took off she saw her passport and read out her new name. The moment she landed she saw the news which read "The eminent Ford family from Barnesville has disowned their daughter Michelle Ford".

4 years later,

In the desolation of the dimly lit room, a man knelt, battered and barely clinging to consciousness.

His anguished groans harmonized with the echoing wails of a woman who hardly had herself covered, begged and pleaded for his life, a desperate symphony in the face of impending doom.

Amidst the torment, Alec Wilson's gaze, sharp as lightning, slashed through the shadows.

Each flicker escalated tension until the room itself seemed to quiver with an ominous chill.

To offend Alec Wilson was to plunge headlong into an abyss, their pleas swallowed whole by the suffocating darkness.

A second woman stood in horrified silence, a silent witness to the revelation unfolding in its full, terrifying glory.

Ignoring the cacophony of pleas and groans, Alec's eyes bore into her soul.

His hand slithered around her delicate waist, a clandestine attempt to steady her trembling form, while the other clamped onto her arm with brutal force.

"Did you know about this?" he thundered, a tempest of rage and inexplicable emotion in his eyes.

She shook her head, a whisper of defiance in the face of impending catastrophe. "No," her voice barely audible.

Alec's gaze lingered on her, an indescribable emotion swirling amidst his rage.

"Ahh..." The tortured groans of the man seized Alec's attention, prompting him to release her arm abruptly.

"Arrange a bride for me before the scheduled wedding hour, or brace yourselves for the witnessing of this man's demise," he declared, teeth clenched in an unyielding vise of determination.

His ominous warning lingered, leaving an unsettling question in the air - in what unforeseen ways would their lives be reshaped, forever altered by the impending storm he had set into motion?

******************

3 days ago,

Alec and Ricky arrived at Hamspearl hotel early that day. Alec's bride to be Elena had requested him for a destination wedding. The hotel was situated on outskirts of South Hills. It was a place to behold filled with scenic elegance. "No one has come yet?" Ricky said raising his eyebrows at Alec. "Elena will be here soon, with her parents". "And what about your parents" Ricky asked "they'll be here tomorrow or day after, there are still 3 days for the wedding, besides the wedding planners will take care of all arrangements. Come lets check in and then have a look around".

Later that evening, Alec and Ricky were hanging out in the hotel lawn, when they heard a sweaky voice "Al..." it was Elena. "I didn't know you'll come this early Al, these are my friend" she said pointing towards 4 people standing near her. Ponting at Alec and Ricky she introduced them to her friends, they exchanged pleasantries. "My parents will be arriving tomorrow, Elizabeth's wedding took place in Hamspearl hotel itself, it was beautiful" "This place is indeed beautiful." Alec said and then continued "you people must be tired", he handed them the keys and said "here are the room keys, I've got to see the wedding planners,. You guys go rest." Saying this Alec left with Ricky.

"What do you see in her, Alec?" Ricky asked rolling his eyes. Clearly he didn't like her. "She is better than all other choices I've had. Besides, Grandma wants to see my wedding. She wants a wedding, she'll get a wedding" Alec said with determination but his face fell the next moment. "Hey, cheer up Al. Grandma will get better, she has a long and healthy life ahead ahead of her". "Yeah, she'll be fine" Alec said assuring himself.

Later on, Alec asked Ricky to join him for dinner with Elena and her friends. Ricky reluctantly agreed. Before they could join the group, Ricky asked "Who exactly are those guys with them, just friends or boyfriends?" "Well one of them is Elizabeth's husband, and the other guy must be the other friend's boyfriend" Alec replied "So who is Elizabeth and what's the other friend's name?" "I don't remember, she just introduced them as friends." Alec sighed.

At the dinner, Elena was busy talking about herself and her wedding dress. One of her friend was eagerly replying to her, while the other smiled brightly and nodded. "What are your plans for tomorrow?" Ricky asked "Let's visit the jewellery store, I've heard it has great reviews. People from prominent families and celebrities travel miles to visit this exquisite jewellery store." "There are tons of lavish jewellery stores back in South-hills, this is a beautiful ecotourism place. Let's visit a place more naturally inclined? Ricky said. "I heard the lake is beautiful at this time of the year," one of Elena's friends said. "So let's visit the lake," Ricky agreed. "But the jewellery store is exclusive, they do not have any other branches anywhere else" Elena insisted. "Okay fine, we'll go to the jewellery store first and if we have time we will visit the lake" Alec said shutting both of them.

In the jewellery store, Elena had selected an extravagant necklace with a similar set of earrings.

One of her friends was trying to select a pendant suiting her taste with the help of her partner.

The pair exuded a vibe that of a sweet lovey-dovey couple catching the attention and adoration of the crowd around them.

While Elena and one of her friend were busy trying jewellery, her other friend was constantly staring at a bracelet.

Gathering all her courage she asked a sales executive, "Can you please tell me the cost of this bracelet?"

Her eyes that mirrored the glimmer of the bracelet dimmed down the moment the heard it's exorbitant price.

Her face fell, but she couldn't take her eyes off it.

She still continued staring at the bracelet, feasting her eyes in its opulence as a tall figure loomed over her and the voice echoed in her ear,

"Liked something?"

She was taken aback for a moment due to the sudden approach.

Her shock was conspicuous the way she kept her hand on her chest and heaved.

Her eyes were slightly widened and cheeks flushed into a soft pink hue with every passing second matching her floral pink dress.

Alec began to stare at her angelic eyes as she continued to look at him with the same startled expression. Her breath steadied as she composed herself.

"I'm sorry Mr. Wilson I didn't notice that you were standing behind me." she said bringing Alec back to reality.

Clearing his throat Alec said, "I didn't mean to startle you"

"Umm.. it's okay. I'm fine." she replied.

Alec continued to stare intently into her deep brown eyes that seemed to lure him into their depths.

"You haven't answered my question yet." Alec paused staring at her confused expression and then he continued,

"I asked if you liked something?"

"Uh, no. I don't plan to buy anything".

'That's not an answer.' Alec thought and a smirk escaped his lips.

An uncomfortable silence ensued between them. She lowered her face sensing that she did not belong to an affluent place like this.

A selfdepricating smile grew on her lips as she grasped the ironic circumstance she was in.

The smile disappeared as she lifted her head,

"I'll be waiting for you people outside.", She said and started to head towards the door.

However her steps were stopped into an abrupt halt as she sensed a strong force around her wrist.

It was Alec, holding her wrist with a vice grip as his apologetic eyes bore into her.

She turned back and gazed at him with her eyebrows raised. For a moment Alec felt uneasy in the pit of his stomach under her scrutinizing gaze.

This was for the second time someone had made Alec feel something he hadn't felt all his adult life.

He let go of her hand and retreated his and evaded his gaze to reduce the tension between them,

"Why don't you help me select something for myself?" He asked.

She thought she had no choice but to agree to his simple request since he was the groom.

She gently nodded and asked, "What kind of jewellery do you want, rings, bracelets?"

"Anything will work" Alec replied resuming to his cold self yet there was a tinge of indulgence in his usually indifferent voice.

It was just a bunch of simple words but they sent chills down her spine.

Apart from being a cold and domineering businessman, Alec was also an handsome man. Breathtakingly handsome for that matter. So much so that ladies couldn't take his eyes off of him.

The woman in front of him felt the same predicament. For one moment, she couldn't help but steal glances at his God Like form, but for the next, she felt like his presence was too overwhelming forcing her to turn her gaze away.

For the love of God! That man was to be her friend's groom. What was she even thinking to look at him with that sort of admiration. She berated herself before returning to the present.

"Okay, how about cufflinks then." she said and walked straight to the cufflinks section to avoid his gaze.

She kept looking at different cufflinks keeping her eyes lowered again to avoid direct eye contact.

For Alec, it felt like she was too emersed in selecting the best for him.

Taking her sweet time, she picked a pair of cufflinks that were diamond shaped with black stone studded in platinum.

"These will suit you well," she said, handing him the cufflinks.

Alec extended his hand to take them.

Time seemed to stop as his long fingers brushed against hers and their eyes met creating a spark.

However the moment was short-lived as the salesperson interrupted, "Ma'am, it's an exclusive piece of jewellery, with special kind of black onyx stones. It's only one of kind."

She was surprised to know that her choice was so exclusive.

Seeing the price of the cufflinks she was shocked.

Her eyes remained as wide as saucers, while Alec commented, "You seem to have an opulent taste".

Pressing her lips, she lowered her head in embarrassment, only to raise it back as Alec firmly announced,

"I'll buy it."

She raised her chin to meet his soulful eyes. A radiant smile grew on her lips multiplying her charm by thousand folds.

Alec felt the corners of his lips slightly curve up.

Was that a smile, on his ever stoic face?

God! What was this woman doing to him? That too two days before his wedding.

Alec felt a wave of overwhelming emotions consuming him. He stared at her as the chatter from behind turned incomprehensible.

"El, help me with these bracelets." Elena said out loud.

Both of Elena's friends hurried to her side.

Alec stood fixated at his spot, Is her name Elizabeth? He thought to himself.

If so then the guy with her is her husband not just a boyfriend.

Waves of rage coursed through Alec heart as he reached that realisation. For some reason he even felt disheartened, which made him wonder, what other unfamiliar feelings would this woman arouse in him in the future.

Would she be the source of eternal bliss and pleasure for him or would she be his doom?

Or was she just another insignificant presence in his life?

May be that was it. May be all he felt for her was only infatuation.

It was easy for Alec to assume that. To trivialise the storm in the form of an unnamed woman that would bring forth a chaotic farrago in his life which he himself would summon.