Ella

"Babe, you look really down." Said Max.

I was at home and after all the craziness and drama at work, I was worn out. Besides being worn out, I was so scared about the outcome of me and Mrs Mia's conversation.

"Please dear lord don't let my company be blacklisted by The BBA, it's going to be such a big mess." I prayed silently.

"Honey," Max called again.

"Oh, babe!" I said, coming out of my thoughts.

"You look really down. What is on your mind, love?"

"I don't know Max. I feel like Skin by Nature has narrow chances of winning any awards this season."

Max looked at me thoughtfully.

"What do you mean, Ella?" he asked.

"Nothing Max, I just have this really bad feeling."

I really did not want to let Max know about the incident with Mrs Mia earlier today at work.

"Ella! Why do you have those feelings, why are you speaking this way??" He asked. He walked close to me and sat by my side on the bed.

"I don't know Max, I said, facing him."

"Those kinds of feelings don't just come like that, Ella. Is there anything else you would want to tell me?"

"No." I lied.

Max stared at me doubtfully.

"Oh, Max..." I said, falling back on the bed. " This past few weeks has been beyond stressful," I said and a single tear escaped my eyes.

"And I want it all to pay off Max," I said.

"It's fine Ella. It would definitely pay off. All our hard work most especially yours, would definitely pay off."

"Yes, Max."

"Come here baby, you do not need to cry." He said pulling me close to himself.

"Skin by Nature has experienced the most growth this past year, and it's only fair we got an award this year. We deserve it. "he said.

"Yes, Max."



***

I was in my silk pajamas..it was purple, and they gave off luxury, wealth, royalty...

It was night, so I had to wind down and relax for the night before falling asleep, and to do that I needed a bowl of protein smoothie....

I loved my smoothies hot so I had to boil the oats, soy, and cocoa powder together.

Then I added evaporated milk to the mix. On second thought, I added peanut butter and blended dates to the mix.

I took my protein smoothie to the living room, getting ready to watch a movie, when my phone rang.

"Hello!"

"Hello! Who's on the line."

*Line breaks.*

"Hello! Who am I speaking with??"

"Hello, it's me Ella, your Dad!"

There was tense silence for a moment at both ends.

"Dad??"

"Yes baby it's me. How have you been??"

This was the first time in months since Father had talked to me.

"Ella dearest, how have you been??" He asked.

"What happened??" That was all I could mutter.

"Well baby I cannot explain now, but I promise I will...."

"Are we going to meet Da?" I asked almost in tears.

"Yes... Ella, but not now. I still have a lot to sort out, but I promise you dear that I am safe."

"Ok, dad." I said wiping my tears. "But please do not take so much time."

"Sure. I have missed you dear."

"I have missed you too Dad, and I love you so much."

"I love you, my baby, I will get back to you soon. I just wanted you to know that I'm fine, and I wanted to hear your voice too, you know." He said.

"Thanks, Dad but....."

*He had hung up.*

I dropped my phone on the living room couch and sunk down to my feet. I cried so heavily that it called my husband's attention to the living room.

"Ella!! Oh fuck. What happened??" He ran straight to me and carried me on his body."

"Dadd....." I uttered and cried much more.

"Mr Mathew??" Maxwell asked and I just nodded, still crying.

My father had traveled immediately after my wedding with Max and ever since then, nobody had heard anything from him.

"Out of nowhere Max, he just called me after all these months, what do you think happened??" I asked my husband.

"I do not know Ella, but I am truly happy he called. At least we know that he is alive."

"But is he safe??" I asked, crying some more. "Max, is he safe? Max!"

"Ella I could not possibly know but we both have to hope for the best."

"I do not know Max, crazy things keep happening to me."

"I understand dear, and I wish I could do something about it." He said to me consoling me, but I kept on crying. I tucked my head on his bare chest.

"I do not know what to do Max. Why do bad things keep happening to me, Max? I hate my life!"

"Now don't say that, Ella. You hurt me by your words. Are you saying that I have not done enough for us, for you?"

I looked up at him, shocked at his selfish question.

"And what do you mean Max?" I asked him.

"I am the one whose dad has been nowhere to be found for months and all of a sudden he calls me from nowhere..... To make matters complicated, he can not give me his exact location or details of what happened to him, Max!"

I had stood up ready to attack Max.

"And how is that my fault, Ella!!" He fired back, screaming fiercely at me.

"How dare you Max?? You're literally the cruelest and the most selfish person I have ever set my eyes on."

"And you are the most ungrateful!!"

"Ungrateful.... really Max??" Tears filled my eyes yet again.

"Yes, Ella." He replied without guilt or emotion.

"I toil day and night for our sake."

"So I don't toil??" I asked him.

"I make headways for this family..."

"And I don't do that too??" I asked.

"I am the head of the family, Ella. All responsibility lies on me."

"Oh stop all that crap...." I fired back, anger filling my heart.

"Speaking about crap I picked you up from trash!!" He screamed too at me.

"Max!!!" I screamed at the top of my voice.

"Ahhhhh" I kept on screaming.

"Ella stop!" He said to me. He was about to touch me, but I stepped back.

"Ella!!" He called again the second time.

"I am trash, right?" I fired, pulling away a tablecloth, making all the objects on it scatter to the floor.

"Max you called me trash?" I screamed and cried some more, destroying things in the house.

I had poured my smoothie on the expensive couch and broke some really expensive items in the living room.

"Ella!!" Called Max in utter horror.

"Ella please.."

"Don't come close to me!"

"Ella I'm so sorry."

"I said do not come close to me. I don't want you close to me."

"Don't be like that girl. Please."

He drew me close to myself, but I stepped away from him, freeing myself from his grip, and before he could come close to me again, I had already run away.......



MAXWELL

I took a bottle of gin from my wine cabinet, something to make me come out of this terrible mood.

I had called Ella to no avail.

I took a big gulp of the liquor even without a wine glass. It was not long before I started to feel dizzy.

"Why is my life this way? Why can't things go easy with me." I thought to myself. I had only wanted to make things easier for Ella and not to complicate her life.

"Ella!" I called.

I walked up the stairs and went to our master's bedroom.

"Ella!" I called again.

I opened the door only to see Ella curled up underneath the bedspread.

"Ella. I am so so sorry dear." I walked up to her. I sat close to her on the bed.

"I am so foolish for speaking to you that way. I never meant a word I said."

She did not reply to me.

She was still underneath the bedspread sobbing.

"You are right you know. I'm indeed selfish." I said.

"I was only thinking about myself and my selfish interest. You are right Ella, you have not had it easy. I recognize that now and I want to help. Please forgive me."

She still did not respond.

"Ella I want you to know that I would do anything to find your dad."

After some moments, I knew Ella was not going to speak to me that night. I decided to take my leave.

I walked straight to the door and before leaving I told her:

"I do not think you are trash or crap whatever, you have always been a wonder to me! Anything but crap... And I love you Ella, so much." I said and closed the door behind me.