FRAMED BY DESTINY

THE GIRL HE COULDN'T FORGET

Alexander's black Mercedes sped through the busy streets of the city. His jaw remained clenched as one hand rested firmly on the steering wheel while the other repeatedly tapped against it

His mind refused to settle

Every seconds, the same image replayed itself

A pair of frightened hazel eyes

A quick apology

"I'm Sorry"

He tightened his grip on the steering wheel

"Damn it"

The traffic light turned red forcing him to stop. He leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes

Why was he thinking about her?

She had barely spent two days in the house

Yet somehow...

She had managed to turn his entire morning upside down

The light turned green

Alexander drove straight to Kingsley Group Headquarters, one of the largest real estate companies in the country

The moment his car entered the underground parking lot, security guards straightened immediately

"Good morning, Mr Kingsley"He simply Nodded

No smile No greeting Nothing!!!

That was Alexander Kingsley

Cold Professional

He stepped out of the elevator on the top floor. Every employee who saw him greeted him respectfully

"Good morning sir", "Morning Mr Kingsley"

He ignored every single one of them

His footsteps echoed through the corridor until he reached the large wooden doors leading to his office

He pushed the door open. Usually the view calmed him

Today.. It did nothing

lexander walked to his desk tossed his phone on it and loosened the knot of his tie . He sighed deeply before dropping into his own chair

What is wrong with me, He said

He rubbed both hands over his face

The image returned again

" Elara"

Standing in the hallway

Looking up at him with those innocent eyes after bumping into him

She looked so small....So harmless

So........ Beautiful

Alexander groaned in frustration "No"

He stood and walked towards the window, I can't do this, he said .His reflection stared back at him

"You have controlled yourself for years"

'So why now?'

His heart answered before his mind could

"Because she's here"

She's under the same roof , sleeping just a few doors away

His eyes closed "Damn"

He laughed bitterly "I'm doomed"

For five years....

He had watched from afar

Not in a way anyone would understand

Whenever his mother mentioned visiting Elara and her family he found excuses to ask questions

How was she doing?

Was she still studying?

Did she love reading novels?

Had she finally learned how to cook after almost burning down the kitchen at fifteen?

Whenever Liam accidentally showed him pictures from family gatherings

He looked longer than he should have

Whenever Mrs Victoria spoke proudly about the young woman Elara was becoming

He listened

Every Single time, Without anyone noticing

Without anyone knowing

She had grown from a cheerful teenage girl into a breathtaking beautiful woman. And he had fallen harder every year

The problem was.....

No one knew

Not even his mother

Not Liam

Certainly not Elara

He had planned to keep his distance

He had convinced himself it was for the best

But then..... She walked into his house yesterday, Smiled politely , Apologized when she bumped into him Looked at him with those innocent eyes

And suddenly, Every wall he had built around his heart started cracking

"So I yelled at her instead"He laughed at himself

"Brilliant Alexander"

"You frightened the very girl you have spent years trying not to love"

A knock interrupted his thoughts. He immediately straightened his posture "Come in"

The door opened. A tall man in a navy blue suit walked inside

"You look Terrible" Alexander rolled his eyes, Good morning to you to, he said The man chucked *You ignored everyone outside*

He dropped onto the chair opposite Alexander's desk " That's usually my sign that something happened" Alexander sighed " I'm not in the mood Ryan"

Ryan Carter

His best friend since university

Business Partner And unfortunately... The only person who could read him better than anyone else

Ryan leaned forward "So..... what happened" Alexander remained silent, Ryan smiled knowingly

"It has something to do with a woman" Alexander looked away

Ryan raised his eyebrows"Oh.."

"Now I'm interested"

Alexander rubbed the back of his neck

"She's staying in the house"

Ryan blinked

*What*

My mother brought her home"

Ryan frowned in confusion "Who?"

Alexander hesitated, then quietly answered

"Elara"

For two whole seconds Ryan simply stared. Then he burst into laughter. " You have got to be kidding me"

Alexander glared at him , Is something funny he said.

Ryan was still laughing " The girl you have been secretly crazy about for years......is leaving in your house?

Alexander sighed heavily "Yes" Ryan shook his head in disbelief " You lucky i***t" "Lucky"

"You have spent five years trying to ask your mother about her whenever she came back from visiting" Alexander remained silent "You pretended not to care every single time"

Still silent

"You nearly snatched Liam's phone once because he has one picture of her" , I did not snatch it, Alex replied

"You almost did"

Ryan laughed again. "And now she's living with you'

Alexander dropped his head into his hands "That's exactly the problem" Ryan leaned back comfortably , "No... the problem is that you have absolutely no idea how to act around the woman you love"

Alexander looked up "Is it that obvious"

Ryan smiled " You yelled at her this morning, didn't you?. Alexander said nothing. Ryan groaned dramatically" You actually did" Alexander replied I didn't mean to, "But you still did" Ryan said

Alexander sighed "I don't know why" Ryan smiled knowingly " I do" Alexander looked at him

"You are scared"

"I'm not"

"You are" Ryan folded his hands "You have loved her quietly for years now she is close enough to touch and instead of telling her how you feel..You push her away"

Alexander looked out of the window again

His voice barely else above a whisper

"What if she hates me"

Ryan smiled "At this rate you are going....She might"

Meanwhile back at the Kingsley mansion. Elara sat quietly on the edge of her bed absentmindedly tracing invisible patterns on the bedsheet with her finger. The room was silent

Too silent

No matter how hard she tried to distract herself, Alexander word from breakfast kept replaying in her mind " If you are going to sit at this table at least learn basic table manners"

She sighed heavily" Maybe I really embarrassed myself"

A gentle knock sounded on the door "Lara" It was Bella. You can come in Elara replied

Bella pushed the door open carefully carrying a tray with a steaming mug of hot chocolate and a small plate of cookies. " I thought you might need this"

Elara looked up forcing a smile "You didn't have to"

"I know" Bella placed the tray on the bedside table before sitting beside her "But I wanted to"

For a few moments neither of them spoke. Bella studied Elara's face "You have been crying". Elara quickly wiped the corner of her eye "I'm fine"

Bella raises an eyebrow

"You know....I have lived in this house for years I've become very good at knowing when someone is pretending"

Elara gave a small defeated laugh " Is it that obvious"

Bella nodded, It is "

She gently nudged Elara's shoulder"So... Tell me what exactly happened this morning"

Elara took a deep breath *I accidentally bumped into Mr Alexander in the Hallway*

Bella winced"Ouch"

"I apologised immediately"

"And"

"He still shouted at me"

Bella sighed "I figured and then??

Elara looked down at her hands *I embarrassed myself during breakfast*

*What happened*

"I wasn't used to using the knife and fork properly My form made that horrible scraping sound"

Bella nodded knowingly

"And he got angry" Elara laughed bitterly"Very Angry ". Bella remained quiet for a moment before asking softly "Lara....have you ever offended him before"

Elara frowned "Offended him" Bella nodded "I mean before you came here" Elara slowly shook her head *No....Never* Bella looked confused"So today's behaviour doesn't make any sense"

"It doesn't" Elara leaned back against the headboard "the only time I met him before now was years ago"

Bella looked interested *When*

"I was fifteen"

Bella smiled"What was he like?. Elara couldn't help smiling at the memory "He hardly spoke"

So exactly the same, Bella Laughed

"Almost" Elara's looked out the window remembering

"He had just returned from university...I remembered walking into the living room and seeing him for the first time" Her cheeks warmed slightly " I couldn't stop staring"

Bella's smile widened "Oh?

"He was..... Elara searched for the right word

"So handsome" Bella burst into laughter"I knew it"

Elara covered her face with both hands " Please don't laugh"

"I can't help it" Bella was still giggling. "So... she leaned closer " Did little fifteen year old Lara have a crush on him?

Elara slowly nodded without looking up

Bella laughed even harder "Oh this is priceless"

"I used to get nervous whenever he walked into the room ... I even remember changing my dress three times before dinner because I heard he would be eating with us"

Bella wiped tears of laughter from her eyes"You had it bad"

"I really did" The room fell silent again. Bella tilted her head slightly "What about now"

Elara froze "What do you mean. Bella smiled knowingly "You have seen him again, Sooo..... Do you still like him?

Elara didn't answer immediately, Instead she stared at the mug of the chocolate in front of her "I...." she sighed "I don't know" Elara admitted quietly "a part of me still does"

Bella eyes widened "Really" Elara nodded " I know it sounds ridiculous.. after the way he treated me this morning....I should probably dislike him" She gave a sad smile"But every time I look at him I remember the boy I admired years ago"

Bella reached over and squeezed her hand gently" maybe there's more to him than he lets people see"

Elara looked doubtful "I don't know...He looks at me like I have done something terrible"

Bella frowned " I have worked here for almost five years, I have seen Mr Alexander angry, I have seen him quiet, I have seen him stressed, But...." she paused "I have never seen him react to someone the way he reacted to you"

Elara blinked " What do you mean"

Bella shrugged "It's strange, He notice everything you do, You bump into him He loses his temper, You make a little noise with your cutlery....He can't ignore it"

Elara frowned thoughtfully"I don't understand"

"Neither do I" Bella smiled softly" But one thing is certain"

" What"

"Whatever his problem is... It's definitely not because you are invisible"

Elara let out a small laugh" I guess that's true. Bella stood up "Now finish your chocolate before it gets too cold. Yes ma'am, Elara replied

Bella laughed " I will come back later" As she reached the door she turned around "ohh If Mr Alexander says anything rude again....Tell me"

Elara smiled"And what exactly will you do" Bella folded her arms proudly "I will glare at him "

Elara laughed for the first time that day "I will pay to see that" Bella winked before leaving the room

Silence returned

Elara picked up the mug and took a slow sip of the hot chocolate. It was warm and comforting. She walked towards the window and looked out at the cast garden stretching beyond the mansion

"I don't understand you Alexander Kingsley, She whispered. "Why do you hate me so much.... when we barely even know each other?"

Miles away in his office, Alexander was asking himself a complete different question. "Ho

w am I supposed to stay away from the woman I loved for years...... when she is living under the same roof as me"

Neither of them knew it. One belied she was hated. The other believed he could never deserve her

And the beginning of the fate just started.....