Ella

"Stop Max!"

"Max drop me down!"

"I won't!" Maxwell carried me on his shoulders back into the party arena.

"People are going to see us, Max."

"So let them."

"Hey!!!" There were cheers and applauses as Max and I got back to the party. Our guests were visually happy and excited about me and Max, they seemed to love the little show of attention.

"You're welcome, Mrs Ella."

"Thanks, Jackie!"

"You're welcome, Mr Maxwell."

"Thanks, Jackie, hope the night is going well for you?"

"Yes Sir, of course."

Jackie has been acting really suspicious lately. Her overly kind words and too much show of care and concern really bother me.

"Ma'am, can I help you with that?"

"No Jackie, thanks, go enjoy the party."

Jackie offered to pour in my drink, which I found really weird. She didn't need to pour in drinks for me or Max, they were servers already at the party.

"And for the moment we have all been waiting for, we invite our boss, Mr Maxwell, to take on the stage and to talk to us. He is the CEO, ch and the heartstrings of Skin by Nature company and without him, we wouldn't all be here."

Applauses filled the air as the MC called on Maxwell.

Maxwell stood up boldly and headed to the stage.

He looked really elegant in the blue lights, and I was so proud of him.

"Good evening everyone."

"Good evening sir."

"I am so happy to see your beautiful faces. This night is a beautiful night indeed. Skin by Nature has a lot to celebrate. This year has been the year with the most growth." He was saying, and there was silence in the arena.

I suddenly looked by my side and saw Jill staring at me intently again. I looked away from her minding my business, it's not like she can do anything to me here, I'm safe here.

"I am grateful for myself, but more so, I am grateful to someone else. Without her Skin by Nature would not have this kind of success. I am talking about no other person than Ella Russell."

Suddenly, the spotlights went on me, and I was almost deafened by the loud applause.

I smiled and stood up to take the stage with my man.

Everyone kept on clapping. The flashes of the cameras hit my slivery-adorned black dress.

"Well, Mr Maxwell has said it all and there's nothing I can really add. I want to let you all know that this is just the beginning of the progress that Skin and Nature is going to experience, for as long as my husband and I are united, Skin by Nature is unstoppable."

The applause was deafening.

Maxwell held my hands and we both stepped down from the stage together elegantly.





MAXWELL

"Congratulations!"

"Hey, Tilda! I'm so happy to see you."

"Of course yes, most especially as you have been ravishing in all the attention with your beautiful wifeyyy," Matilda said with so much sarcasm, she seemed to forget my wife was just right beside me.

"Oh Come on girl, don't be like that, stop being sarcastic."

"Oh, am I now? "Matilda asked.

"Come on Tilda." I tried to stop her from creating a scene. Especially as Ella is still here with me.

"Don't mind my manners, ma'am good evening." Matilda greeted Ella.

Ella eyed her intently. She couldn't even reply.
"And who are you?" Ella asked.

"Oh, I'm ...."

"Hush, it doesn't matter. Your name doesn't matter, neither is your presence. Were you not taught manners?"

Ella hit her hard.

"I'm sorry ma'am. I didn't mean to be rude.....you also do not need to be rude.." Matilda tried to defend herself.

"Hush!" Ella clapped back at her and I felt truly sorry for Matilda.

Matilda had walked up to us after we had stopped off the stage. She spoke only to me, oblivious of Ella's presence, and that had gotten Ella furious and irritated.

"Ella baby!" I called to her, holding her hands, trying to make her calm.

"Max tells this red-haired bitch to leave our presence this moment!" Thundered Ella.

"Ella, please stay calm."

"Maxwell, I say order her out now!"

"There wouldn't be any need for that, dear. I was already leaving." Matilda gave me one last look before leaving and I felt awful.

****
"Max, what was the meaning of that?" Ella asked me as soon as Maltilda left.

"What do you mean, Ella?" I asked back.

"Right in my presence, Max you don't even have a drop of respect for me." Ella was now acting really dramatically.

"I do not understand what you mean, Ella, you just created a scene here, embarrassing both of us." I was getting a little pissed.

"Matilda meant no harm...."

"But of course she did." Screamed Ella, now in tears.

"Ella stop OK, please stop."

"Is she not that same red-haired bitch with scary green eyes I complained about earlier today?? The bitch from hirecorps??"

"Ella please...."

Ella had walked away. She went straight to the car and I followed her there.

"Baby .....baby...Elle?" It's fine, okay. Matilda and I have known each other literally since childhood, but there's nothing there, there's nothing between us."

I moved close to her in the car and wiped her tears.

"She's nothing to cry about, OK."

"Maxwell."

"Yes, baby."

"A lot of people do not want to see us together. Do you know that Max?"

"Sweetie, I know, but do you think that they can stop us?"

"No." Ella replied, shaking her head.

"Remember the word, we're stronger together....

"......and more fierce than ever, if I'm with you, as long as I'm with you, I would conquer everything." We both chorused together, holding each other's hands.

"I love you Max so much."

"I love you more Ella, my sweets. Don't you see, Ella all that we achieved together in just a year of being together?"

"You're so right Max, I'm so sorry for fixing my mind on the negative things."

We shared a kiss.
"What did I ever do to deserve you??" Ella asked.

"Shhh, don't say that." I said, placing my fingers on her lips.

"It's time to go home Max."

"Of course yes."
I took the driver's seat and we drove away.


*****

ELLA
THE FOLLOWING WEEK AT WORK
"Good morning Mrs Ella."
A worker stood to greet me, but I did not reply to her. I just walked past. I was in no mood for pleasantries this morning.
I came to work that morning for a fight. My husband is not at work yet, and I loved that. It gave me lots of chances to do all I wanted to do.
One! Two!! Three!!!
I clapped my hands three times and everyone stood up to attention.
"Come here, everyone! Gather all around me here!" I ordered.
Everyone walked up to me and stood all around me in a semi-circle.
"Where is Jill?" I asked no one in particular.
Nobody answered.
"Where is Jill?" I asked again, but this time my voice was more stern and loud.
"She's not here yet ma'am." Replied Jackie.
"Of course," I said sternly. "Her mouthpiece! Why won't it be you that would reply to me!"
Jackie was stunned by my words, but I didn't care.
"When she comes back, tell her to see me in my office immediately! Hope I'm clear enough?"
"Yes, Ma'am." She replied almost in tears, but I was still not moved.
I knew I had to instill discipline. I looked over all the bowed heads all around me. I was pleased with their submission. It made me feel more power.
"The get-together party has come and gone and I'm sure you all had fun, but it is over and this is a new day at work.
I expect you all to throw away all the mood and festivities of the weekend and focus much more on your work. " I said, still looking over their heads sternly.
"Attitudes like late coming will no longer be tolerated here at Skin by Nature." I said, looking in the direction of Jackie and eyeing her. Jackie was fully in tears this time around.
"Lastly, there are individuals I would like to punish due to their misbehavior last weekend at the get-together party. If I call your name, just have it mind you're in big trouble......."

****
AT MY OFFICE LATER THAT MORNING
"Jackie told me you made her cry this morning you witch!"
Jill barged into my office without even knocking. She didn't even bother to greet me, she was fuming, and she looked ready for war. Luckily enough for me, I too was ready for war!
"Ever since you became Mr. CEO's wifey you have seemed to have lost your senses!" Jill fumed.
I looked up slowly at her.....
"Jill are you out of your mind or something? How dare you? Who do you think you are?"
"No, who do you think you are ?" Jill screamed back at me.