The Hellman

Chapter 10

Elaine sat in her office and let out a deep breath. She was spiraling, and she didn’t know what to do. she clutched the necklace in her hand and released it again as the groves began cutting into her skin. After leaving Alexander’s parent’s home, she had gone straight home to cry. He hadn’t understood why she was sad or why she looked so pale but now as she looked down at the necklace his mother had shoved into her hand before they left, she couldn’t help the tears that rolled down her cheeks. She looked down at the locket and saw her parents smiling up at her. She had so many questions, but there was no-one to answer them.

Did his parents recognize who she was? Of course, they did, if his mother hadn’t, then she wouldn’t have given Elaine the necklace. Did they know her parents? If they did then, how did they know them? Had they spoken to them since she arrived, and could she talk to them?

“Michelle”

She looked up suddenly as Laura walked into her office. She remembered then that she had promised to go for lunch with her before meeting up with Alexander later that night.

“Hey,” she said, “I totally forgot you were coming”

She slipped the necklace into her pocket and stood.

“I figured as much.” Laura said, “Alexander must be happy to have you all to himself?”

Elaine blushed. Since she started dating Alexander, his siblings had become even more friendly. It was as if she became another sister. The closest ones were Laura and William who were friendlier than Theodore who was mostly serious and Jamie who was focused on himself.

“I wouldn’t say that.” She replied, “we keep it professional in the office.”

I bet you two do.” Laura teased, “you don’t have to tell me I already know.”

Elaine laughed and picked up her jacket. Laura was taking her to lunch so that Elaine could meet her most recent boyfriend. She had learned a lot about Alexander’s sister and the more distinct thing was that she loved falling in love. There was never a time she went more than a few weeks without a man in her life.

“Let’s go,” she said when she had donned her jacket and collected her purse, “I should tell Alexander I’m going for lunch.”

“Sure, I’ll wait here” Elaine replied,

She walked over to the connecting door to his office and knocked. She didn’t know if he was with someone or busy with something.

“Michelle,” he said, “I’ve told you that you don’t need to knock.”

She blushed when Laura giggled from behind her. Pushing open the door, she saw him looking towards her.

“Hi,” she said walking in and closing the door behind her. He was just as handsome as ever and more handsome than she could dream.

“Hey” he replied, “are you feeling better?”

He had asked her that question a million times since yesterday and still, he didn’t seem convinced that she was.

“I’m fine” she replied,

“Come here,” he said

She walked over to his desk and he stood and pulled her into his arms.

“How about a movie later?” he asked

Se relished in the warmth of his arms around her and smiled.

“You don’t watch any good movies” she replied recalling a few of the movies that he told her about.

She was rewarded with hearty laughter.

“I will watch whatever you select” he replied

He looked down at her and in his eyes, she felt safe. She let out a sigh of satisfaction and soon she felt his lips on hers. He kissed her as he always did and made her world shatter.

“In the office?”

She turned swiftly to see Laura smiling over at them.

“Get out,” Alexander said throwing a disapproving look her way.

Laura didn’t need another warning, she left and as the door closed, they both burst into laughter.

“I almost forgot why I came in here,” she said

“Why’s that?” he asked,

“I’m heading out for lunch with Laura” she replied, “so you’ll have to have lunch alone.

“That’s fine,” he said, “I’ll just sit here and have my lunch alone, all by myself, with no company.”

Elaine laughed. She was discovering a side of Alexander that she wouldn’t have guessed existed in her wildest dreams. He was a sensitive man, more than she had imagined, and it was just adorable.

“Try not to choke on that self-pity,” she said reaching up to pat his cheek. “plus, I’m going to see you later.”

They were taking their relationship slowly. It was mostly because she had no idea what real relationships were like and secondly because she didn’t want to get too deep with him. He was charming and thoughtful, and she was alarmingly close to losing her heart to him which didn’t help when he thought about the fact that she was lying to him.

“Fine, go have fun with my sister but don’t believe anything she says and do not let her corrupt your poor sweet mind.”

“I promise I won’t let her corrupt my mind” she replied, “but I will believe all her stories about you.”

He laughed and kissed her on the forehead before releasing her. She went back to her office where Laura was waiting for her.

“You two get nasty in his office. I knew it” she said

Elaine wanted to say something, but she knew it would be futile with Laura who believed exactly what she wanted and nothing else.

“Let’s go,” she said

They left the offices and took Laura’s car to a restaurant nearby. When they arrived, they found out that Laura’s boyfriend was already there. She smiled nervously wondering why she was so keyed up to meet yet another person in the Hellman circle. When she got to the table she stopped. For a moment she recognized the man but she couldn’t place his face. He looked up at them and gave them a genuine smiled.

“Hi, darling.” He said reaching out to Laura who threw her arms around him for a hug.

Elaine raised her brow; she wasn’t used to seeing Laura like this.

“Hello, Clinton.” Laura said, “this is Michelle, she’s like a sister to me.”

Eline blushed at the description. She wasn’t used to being referred to as anyone’s sister. Clinton looked towards her, and once again, she began to wonder where she had seen him before.

“Hi, Michelle.” He said, “nice to meet you. You’re all Laura talks about.”

She blushed yet again,

“I could say the same thing to you.” She replied

Together they sat and placed their orders.

“So, how did you two meet?” she asked

“Well, I was on my way home one day when I realized I had a flat tire.” She said, “I pulled over and began changing it when he showed up and insisted he wanted to change it for me.”

Elaine smiled, at least he was chivalrous.

“That’s not how I remember it,” he said, “the moment I got out of my car she dropped everything and said ‘thank God’”

They both laughed, and Elaine could see a mutual attraction.

“I may have felt a bit relieved to see you,” she said, “and then he asked me out and now we’re here.”

“That’s how love stories begin” Elaine teased, “what do you do?”

“He’s a real estate agent” Laura replied, “a very good one at that.”

Something in the back of her mind didn’t quite believe that but she had no reason to doubt him and so she gave him the benefit of the doubt.

“If you’re ever trying to move you can just hit me up,” he said

“Yes, he’s amazing,” Laura said, “I went to a house he was showing the other day, beautiful. Michelle, you really should get in on it.”

“No, I don’t have much interest in real estate at the moment” she replied, “I love my place.”

She loved it because it was safe, and she didn’t need to spend any extra money on rent.

“You never know until you take a look,” he said,

She watched as he reached into his wallet and pulled out a business card. He pushed it across the table and smiled.

“You should come view a place I’m showing tomorrow,” he said, “it’s an undisclosed location. Sellers are hush-hush.”

“I could come with you,” Laura said

She noticed the way he raised his brow and wondered if he really wanted Laura there. Was he trying to cheat on Laura with her? The thought was revolting, and she shifted in her chair so that he was out of her direct line of sight.

“I can’t promise I’ll be available tomorrow.” She replied, “but whenever I can, I’ll try to come by.”

“Great, we’ll make a date of it,” Laura replied

Together they ate lunch, but Elaine wasn’t comfortable. There was something off about Clinton that’s she couldn’t put her finger on and the more he spoke, the more uncomfortable she became. When their lunch ended, Laura made out with him for at least five minutes before they left for the office. She tried to avoid commenting on her suspicions for Laura’s sake. The woman as brilliant and she was a Hellman after all. If someone was she was dating was suspicious, she would know why.

When they got back to the office, she found a note from Alexander on her desk promising an exciting movie night.

“You two are goals,” Laura said,

“Thanks” she replied,

“So, what do you think of Clinton?” Laura asked

“Well, he’s interesting” she replied,

“I know right, he’s such a mysterious guy” she replied, “I feel so lucky to have him in my life.”

Elaine rolled her eyes and smiled,

“Well, if you like a little mystery here and there he seems like the perfect guy.” She replied

“Well, thanks so much for coming to lunch with me.” Laura said, “I want to introduce him to my brothers but I’m not sure what they’ll think of him”

Elaine didn’t think that was a good idea. If she thought the man was oily, there was a high possibility that the Hellman boys would think the very same thing.

“Well, maybe introduce him one at a time” she replied, “you know how your brothers can be.”

“I know” Laura replied, “if you like him I think the others will.”

Elaine tried not to laugh. She didn’t like him but then she couldn’t tell that to Laura. She had never seen her like this before. She was practically oozing love.

“Let me know what happens when you tell them” she replied,

Laura looked up at her and smiled.

“Do you love my brother?” she asked

Elaine was a bit thrown off by the question.

“Umm, I don’t know” she replied honestly,

“It’s just that I’ve never really seen him like this with any other woman and I think he might love you.”

Elaine blushed red. She had never been in love. She didn’t know what it even felt like to be with a man. All this was new to her and she desperately wanted someone to guide her through it. Charlie wasn’t there, she had no mother to call so she only had her instinct to depend on. She had no idea if she was in love with him or if he was in love with her.

She sat in her chair and let out a long breath.

“I’ve never really been in love.” She replied, “your brother’s special to me. He’s nothing like I ever dreamt I could have and more than what I bargained for.”

She smiled as she spoke about him. If she could imagine any man she could fall for, it was him and the very idea that she could never be with him was enough to make her very sad.

“Hey don’t be sad” Laura replied, “you two will figure it out”

“Thanks” she replied accepting the affection Laura showed.

When Laura left, she pulled out the necklace Alexander’s mother had put in her hand and smiled. She would find out why they had it and find out their connection with her parents.