Concealed Love

Chapter-8 Their meeting

         Quickly after his office work was done Aldrich went out of the building by himself not waiting for Jonathan to come thinking that if he saw him the old man will nag at him again saying 'when you're meeting the clients you have to act properly in front of them, try to have a pleasant impression and blah... Blah... Blah...' just thinking of it gave him a headache.

          But in fact Jonathan was a man very much desired by woman in his mid twenties with better than average features, he had gray eyes and black hair with taller and better than average body. 

          Right at that time the man he was avoiding was searching for him everywhere inside the building when finally someone told him that the CEO left just a moment ago on his own.

       Jonathan inhaled a deep breath calming down the urge to shout and curse his boss to death but in order to make himself feel even a little better he calmed himself down by muttering a low 'mother fucker' and went out himself.

..................

          At this time Ella was helping the professional florist, Rita of her flower shop to close the shop's steel shutter, which closed only the see through glass and not the door. She knew about flowers but was not a professional and beside she was too lazy to take care of it so she hired Rita, it was not a very big shop just a few walks away from the Empire company. The sun had already set and the lights of the shop were switched on. The shop had an upper floor but it was only used as a living room as Rita had her own little family house right down the ally where she live with her son, her husband had died not long before their marriage. Her house according to her was small but cozy.

                 As Rita was picking up her thing to go home, the bells in the door tingled and someone walks in. A guy with light brown hair, some of it was slid back in a bit of a messy way, bluish-gray eyes which gave off a cold aura, he was wearing a white shirt and black waist coat with black pants, his dress could not completely hide his muscular body, and his already devine features were well supported by his tall height and well proportioned body and devine aura. 

           The guy was Al, who ran from Jonathan and had taken out his outer coat and ruffled his hair continuously in the car on his way due to the hot and humid weather.

             Ella came down from the stairs and stood still halfway down the stairs as she saw Al walking in and greeting Rita, she accidentally called out 'Al' but her voice died down immediately died down.

Al: My phone is blinking non-stop right now, that shitty Nath(Jonathan) must have went to inform dad about me ditching the dinner with Minerva. 

             As I walk in the shop which was already half closed, an older women but not that old, probably in her 30's was standing by the counter. I greeted her and asked were the owner was but before I could get an answer a small voice from the corner of the room called out 'Al', the sound immediately died down. I shifted my gaze at the source of the voice and saw her, she walks up to me like the sound before never escaped her lips but I'm sure I heard it.

Ella: " Hello there, good evening " She said with a composed face. 

             Her clear amber eyes reflecting the yellow lights and her dark black hair which makes her eyes shine even more. She was wearing a frilled white shirt and a black knee length skirt and her staff which never leave her.

Al: " Good evening miss Ella, pardon my sudden intrusion. My assistant was supposed to come but he had an urgent work suddenly so I came instead. Hope you don't mind? " He gave her a small work smile.

            Both of them had a proud attitude, not willing to humble themselves just to please others. So they spoke on equal terms and were able to talk casually with one another.

Ella: " Oh, that's no problem, I'm glad you came. Please take a sit" She said holding out the chair in the side of the room, and sitting down herself as well.

             There was a round table and three chair. She turn towards Rita and asked "Sorry Rita but can you make some iced tea for the guest?"

Rita: "Sure miss" She said cheerfully and thought 'The man's so handsome, it will be great if miss can date him, ah! But will he be able to cherish how our miss. She's so kind and beautiful anyone will love her, she could have chosen anyone but she choose me when she saw my condition. My son is in kindergarten and I needed a job near my home and also a good pay but it was difficult as I was not a famous florist and most flower shops are owned and manage by themselves.'

             Al lays out the files on the table and explains the contract to her, she sat opposite to him listening to him talk, when Rita went up to them to serve the tea, Ella told her to go home as her son was alone and her working hours were done so she went home leaving Al and Ella by themselves.

Al:"..... And that's all bout the contract, please see if there's anything you're unsatisfied with ".

Ella: " Oh that's quite okay". She signed the contract without even reading the content.

Al: 'Seriously, she's not even gonna read? '. "Are you sure you wanna sign that without checking the contents?"

Ella: "Oh, you've explained it to me so clearly and I trust you won't scam me over this" She said smilling and added " I hope? "

Al chuckled lightly saying " No miss Ella, I won't, thank you for your thrust. And can I be so bold as to ask, have we met before? Before the party? "

Ella: 'Does he remember something?, I don't think his memories should be coming back yet.' Looking up at him with an incomprehensible look " No I don't think you've and please just call me Ella, Im not one for formal conversations".

Al: " Okay than you can call me Al as well".

             He was saying that a bit teasingly and hoping to get something out of her but he did not expected her to look up at him with that face. She looked at him a little bit surprised but there was some hint of awe and 'pain'? Al couldn't understand the meaning behind those eyes and end up staring silently.

             Ella blinked and brought herself back to her senses and with the same composed smile as before said " I think that will be presumptuous of me to do so"

           "No it's not, I really hope for us to be friends, ever since I met you I had this feeling that we will get along really well. Hmm... Maybe I owe you something in my past life" He said with a small grin.

             Hearing his words Ella gave out a genuine soft laugh saying " Maybe or maybe I'm the one who did".

              Her small laugh took Al by surprise making him stare at her with wide eyes.

               Seeing his unmoving dumbstruck face she called out " Al? "

               Her voice snapped him back to reality and he said hurriedly " Oh ya... Umm.... It's getting late sorry for taking up so much of your time" He ended up with a small awkward laugh.

Ella: " It's fine, thanks for visiting, let me walk you out the door".

              They both stood up and walk to the door, before he left Al turn back and asked " You will be there at the auction, I prefer? "

Ella: " Yes, certainly"

Al: " Then, may I have the pleasure of having you as my partner on that day? " He gave her an unsure smile, telling himself in his mind 'Well Aldrich, congrats in asking out a girl for the first time, well it's just for one day'.

Ella: " If you don't mind, than the Pleasure's all mine".

Al: " Thank you" He smiled and seeing her smile he unconsciously gave her a pat on the head. "Ah..... "

Ella: "...... " She stares at him blinking widely.

Al: " Ah... Well... That, sorry my hand just moved on it's own" His ears were a bit hot and red 'well Al there goes another first in your life today's. Her hair just looked so soft with one and half head shorter than me.'

Ella: 'Haaaa.... For a moment there I thought he was back to the old him'. She chuckled softly and said " It's okay, it happens."

Al: " Hehe, I'm off than, good night my lady" He said teasingly with a big smile bowing a bit and went out the door.

Ella: " Good night, Al."

              He went away and Ella tightens the grip on her staff showing a wide smile. " He really have many emotions and words now, I'm so glad... ^ _ ^"

              Al on the other hand grinning with his fingers on his temple, " I have a feeling that I'll share a lot of my 'first time ever' with her".