Ella

ONE YEAR LATER

It's been a year since me and Mr Maxwell got married.

Things have since been normal for us, but for the Skin by Nature group of companies, there have been excellent improvements and remarkable growth.

Skin by Nature was hosting an annual get-together right there on the company's premises.

"Ella." Called Maxwell my husband.

"This night is going to be lit." He said.

"Sure baby, especially as you have made the party open for hirecorps staff to participate," I said with sarcasm.

"Sure why not? Hirecops are part of us, so we have to invite them."

"Yeah, hirecorps is part of us, but they have really weird staff and inviting them to our party is going to make things weird," I said.

"Ella, you don't have to be like this, you have always been so critical," Maxwell said ignorantly, and I felt pity for him.

"But hey Max, that girl acts kinda weird," I said thoughtfully.

"Which girl?" He asked.

"That girl at hirecorps."

" Which girl exactly? " He asked again.

"Well, the girl, the red-haired, the one with the denim jacket the last time we visited hirecorps. She had these large intense green eyes that kind of pierced into you. She's pretty, I know, but there's something weird about her, she's not the kind of girl you see in a day."

Maxwell laughed at me.

"And what's so funny, I don't understand?"

"You are just showing your insecurity, Ella."

"Wait, what do you mean? What insecurity are we talking about here? I asked Maxwell truly confused.

"You are just worried that she's pretty, that's all and it's a different kind of pretty. Ella, you have nothing to worry about. I am yours and will always be yours." Maxwell said and gave me a kiss on the lips. He was such a sweet man.

"If you say so then, I rest my case." I said, giving up.

"You know babe, we have been planning this night for weeks and I don't want this night to be ruined. It's a big deal for me."

"Ella, everything has been put in order and all arrangements have been made, you Ella, do not need to worry yourself, you just have to show up looking beautiful as you have always done," Maxwell reassures me.

*****



SKIN BY NATURE HEAD OFFICE PREMISES

ANNUAL GET TOGETHER



Maxwell and I stepped out of our car, a Limo!

I wore a shiny black dress. It was just all black actually, but it was adorned in shiny and glittering silver.

Maxwell wore a suit, as he should. He looked really smart, cute, and handsome. His dreads suited him most this night.

He had on an all-black outfit but had a silver handkerchief tucked into his breast pocket. The silver handkerchief was just to match my own outfit, giving us a unique and uniform look.

This was what I wanted in my man, a man with a great fashion sense to match mine.

We stepped out of our Limo in style, holding hands to hands and waving to everyone on the premises.

"Oh she's so beautiful, oh they look so cute together." I could hear them say.

"Such a lovely couple!"

"Oh, thank you, Ma"

"You look beautiful, Mrs Ella."

"Oh, thank you, Jackie!"

"Mr Maxwell, good evening, you look perfect."

"Oh thanks a lot, Jackie, you look good too."

I pulled my man to the center of the stage and to where the exclusive seats were arranged and we both sat there.

Everywhere looked beautiful. I have never seen office premises look this beautiful. It was fully decorated with colored lights, white lights, ribbons, and pure white balloons.

Everyone dressed their best, but of course, I the queen of skin by nature, own the show, I own the spotlight.

The Master of ceremony picked up the mic to speak after I and Max had sat down.

"Good evening everyone, this is another season of Skin by Nature annual get-togethers. You all look beautiful and ravishing this lovely evening and on behalf of my boss, Mr Maxwell Russel, and his exceptionally beautiful wife, Mrs Ella Russell, I say welcome."

"Hey!" applause filled the arena.

"This night, like all other nights, as this is going to be memorable. More so, there's more to be celebrated in Skin by Nature this season. After how many years, Skin by Nature has seen massive progress this year. " The Mc kept speaking.

"We have had a lot of growth in many factors, and it's attributed to our young and diligent CEO and his beautiful wife."

There was more applause and cheering. Max and I were reveling in the attention and praise poured on us but suddenly my eyes caught Jill's.....

She looked furious.

She was wearing a pink velvet gown with a huge, cute bow on its back.

She stared at me so intently, and I could see bitter anger written all over her face. She never blinked once and refused to look away.

I got really uncomfortable and wanted an escape.

"Baby."

"Yes, honey."

"I have to go use the restroom."

"Okay, my love."

"I will be right back," I said and stood to leave and to my shock, she followed me.

I walked away and headed to the main entrance of Skin by Nature company, but it was locked since we were not using the inside of the building for our party.

"Hey Bruce, come here," I ordered a security man.

"Yes, Ma'am." He ran along to me, slightly bowing his head.

"Take these are the keys and open the door," I ordered.

"Yes, Ma'am." He replied, taking the keys from me.

He opened the doors and stood guard at the entrance.

I walked in, looking back to see if Jill was still following me- she was!

****

"I'm sorry, Ma'am but you cannot go in." I heard the security man say.

"Why can't I, I work here!" Jill asked.

"Go back, Ma'am, you can't go in."

Jill had wanted to follow me into the building, but the security man had stopped her.

"Thank the Lord!" I inhaled deeply as I saw Jill leaving with disappointment.

I went straight to the restroom and stared at myself in the mirror.

"You look so pretty girl, being rich has always looked good on you."

I said, smiling at myself in the mirror.



MOMENTS LATER

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

"What are you doing here? You are not meant to be here, you're meant to be downstairs with others at the party." I said, visibly shaken.

"I should say that of you too, girl."

"Who let you in? Please get out of here now!" I screamed.

"Baby..."

"No, please just leave now! I don't know who let you in!" I exclaimed, truly horrified.

"You don't know who let me in? You seem to forget that I was your boss before you married Mr. Maxwell." Daniel said to me. He was visibly hurt.

"Please Daniel, go back downstairs. You can't be here with me in the restroom please." I pleaded.

"And why can't I Ella? Just tell me, why can't I?"

"Daniel, please don't make things difficult for me." I pleaded.

"It's you making things difficult for yourself love, give me what I want and everything will be alright," Daniel said.

"Daniel you know it's not possible!"

"F***k that!"

"Dan please...." I called, trying to cover his mouth.

"Get off of me!" He fired.

He then smiled at me, licking his lips.

"I will get it, you know that Ella. It's all fine, even you can't resist." He nudged me with his arms before leaving.



***

I have a secret, a past life that I want to leave but has refused to leave me.

Mr Daniel keeps reminding me of that past and any moment from now, if nothing is done against it, my past will leak its way to my present, devouring my life and all that I have achieved.

"I cannot let that happen!" I said under my breath.

I held my chest, bowing my head, I was still in the restroom, and I was trying to catch my breath.

I stood there in the restroom thinking of all Mr Daniel had said, and then I heard my name.

"Ella.."

"Can you please get out? What the hell are you doing up here!" I screamed at the top of my voice.

"Ella, it's me. It's me your Maxwell!"

I turned back and saw my husband and burst into tears.

"Max, I'm so sorry. I didn't know it was you. I don't know what's wrong with me. I think I'm so stressed."

"Come here, my baby, you don't need to apologize."

Maxwell pulled me close to himself and gave me a hug. I fell into his arms, closing my eyes and taking deep breaths.

"Let's go back downstairs, everyone is waiting for us. I waited for several minutes, but you were not back from the restroom, so I had to check up on you myself." Maxwell said.

"I'm so sorry baby."

"It's fine. Let's go back downstairs, everyone is waiting for us. We can go home after our special speech," Maxwell said.

"Yes, baby," I replied, already relieved.

Maxwell lifted me up and placed me on his shoulders...........