Tea for Two Uncomfortable People
Ella and Rome stayed in Vegas a few more days but had to get back to LA because of Rome’s get-together with the rest of the movie cast. They spent every waking moment together, and Ella couldn’t remember ever being happier in her entire life. While it would’ve been nice to go on a honeymoon to a tropical island, he had work to do, and Ella was still working on her assignments from her father’s business, too.
It was difficult, working for him when they weren’t getting along, and every moment that they spent at odds with one another ate away at her. So, she decided to give him a call and see what they could do to work on bridging the gap.
Her time in Vegas had been wonderful, but Ella knew they couldn’t stay there forever. She’d gotten the locks on her apartment door changed before she came back, and her father promised he wouldn’t send anyone else after her. Just in case, Rome had hired someone to keep a lookout twenty-four hours a day, and Ella spent as much time with him as possible. Most nights, she didn’t sleep at home, just in case her father’s men did show up after dark. If she was home, Rome was there.
In the end, a compromise seemed to be the best way for Ella to repair her relationship with her father. All she needed was for him to start to listen to her again so that she could explain the situation with Rome. The idea that her father might try to make her go back to his house and get to know Henry was a constant worry. It might’ve been easier for her to blow him off and move again, trying her best to become untraceable, but she didn’t want to live looking over her shoulder all the time, afraid that he or his men might show up at any second to take her back to her prison.
She also hoped that compromising would make Tim relax a little. Rome was right to be worried about Tim having a gun. Her cousin was an emotional man who often reacted without thinking. Giving him a weapon of that kind could potentially be a deadly problem if he shot first and thought second.
So she’d agreed to meet Henry Caron at a place where she felt comfortable, her aunt’s home. Tim’s mother had agreed, saying she didn’t mind if that’s what Ella wanted to do, but she hated the idea of her niece being forced to marry anyone. Ella knew if anything ever happened that permanently drove her and her father apart, Aunt Genevieve would be on her side.
Just like everyone else, Aunt Genevieve had no idea Ella was already married. If there was anyone in the world she’d trust with that information, it was her aunts. Both Genevieve and Suzette would’ve been happy for her. But telling them ran the risk of the information getting back to the wrong ears, especially since they’d both want to know who her husband was, and Genevieve wasn’t much of a fan of the Veronas either.
Hopefully, the fact that Rome would be working with Tim would give them a chance to get to know one another and realize they could be friends. It was hard to imagine the two men she loved most in the world were at odds over something so silly that had nothing to do with either of them directly. She knew Rome would do what he could to bury the hatchet, but Tim didn’t see things that way.
On the Saturday that Rome, Tim, and Mark were to go on the fancy yacht, Ella agreed to meet with Henry. It might not have been the best idea--if Henry decided to try something, like force her to go with him, both of the men who would fight to save her would be out in the middle of the ocean. But Henry seemed mild-mannered, and she didn’t want to be untrusting. Besides, she had nothing better to do that day. She couldn’t go as Rome’s guest for obvious reasons, and though Tim had invited her, it seemed odd to be on a yacht with her husband but have to ignore him.
So she found herself sitting in her aunt’s parlor across from the Frenchmen trying to be polite but let him know she wasn’t interested in him at all.
“How do you like your work?” Henry asked her, a cup of tea on the coffee table before him.
“I love it,” Ella said, holding her own cup and sipping it nervously from time to time. “And you?”
He shrugged. “I like parts of it, but there are things I would change. I don’t like having to always do things my father’s way.”
“I can relate.” The words were out of Ella’s mouth before she realized she might’ve come across as rude. “Sorry--I didn’t mean….”
“No, it’s okay. I understand. I got the impression you were not interested in me. But I hoped if we got to know each other, you might change your mind. I wouldn’t have stayed in America for so long hoping to have the chance to speak with you if I didn’t find you so intriguing, Ella.”
The compliment brought color to her cheeks. “I do thank you, Henry, and I assure you, it has nothing to do with you. It’s only… my father doesn’t know every aspect of my life as well as he thinks he does, that’s all.”
“There’s another man, then?” he asked, disappointment obvious in his voice.
Ella nodded. She didn’t need to explain herself more than that, no matter what else he might ask.
Henry looked down at the expensive oriental rug between his dress loafers. “A pity. I would've liked to have had a chance. Perhaps… if things should change, you’d let me know?”
Ella smiled at him, flattered by his pursuit. “Of course.” But she knew in her heart nothing would change. Even though she wasn’t wearing her rings since she’d be seeing so many people who had no idea she was married, it never left her thoughts that she was a married woman now. “I’ll let you know.”
Before Henry could say anything else, Ella became aware that her aunt was screaming. Confusion swept over her as she pondered what in the world could possibly make Aunt Genevieve make such a horrible noise. Hurriedly, Ella set her cup and saucer down on the coffee table and took off to find her aunt. Whatever had happened, it had to be something absolutely horrible.
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