Twisted Fate

Festus smiled wirily before saying”I was wondering why you are alone in the bar, it’s unlike you”

There was another silence until Festus asked “what’s wrong Alex, what’s bothering you?”

“I almost lost that multiple million dollar contract because of Ella’s defiance…” Alex went ahead and explained it all.

They would have been having dinner with the investors at that moment, but she ruined it.

He was certain that she was deliberate because he had her lecture timetable and for that day, she had no lecture after 10am.

Festus was surprised that Alex was drinking himself up just because Ella wouldn’t do what he wanted.

Now he fully agreed that Ella is the cure to Alex’s excesses. She’s his antidote. A part of him blessed the day Alex met Ella.

“She will surely come around. She might still be upset with your attitude the previous night. You were supposed to stand up for her but you did not” Festus declared.

“That’s because I want Lisa to know that she wasn’t someone she could mess around with. Ella stood up for herself better than I could have done” Alex replied.

That was when Festus understood Alex’s silence. He was deliberate andisa would never forget that encounter with Ella.

“Talk things over with her. She would definitely understand” Festus suggested.

*************

The next morning, during breakfast, Alex kept stealing glances at Ella. He found himself staring at her longer than usual and looked away.

He didn’t stop thinking about her all night. From that bar, he had been thinking of what to do or say to her that would make her feel hurt, but he couldn’t decide on anything.

“You are coming with me for dinner tonight,”Alex said, staring at her like two people who prefer snubbing each other at every single opportunity.

“What if I say I can’t accompany you?” Ella asked, putting her fork down and taking the glass of fresh fruits to her lips.

“You won’t dare to say that. That’s the only responsibility that comes along with our marriage. I am not asking you for anything else but just to stay by my side and answer the title Mrs Foster” Alex snapped at her.

Ella found no word to refute him.

An hour to the time, Ella got dressed. She looked more stunning than the last time she went to a dinner party with him.

Her dress wasore exquisite than the last one he got for her. Her dress was long to her feet with an open back.

Her white stunning skin was exposed. Her curves were alluring and enviable. That day, Alex particularly hired a specialist to assist with her makeup.

When Ella got out of Alex’s car, the latter couldn’t take his eyes off her. He was stunned. Ella was like a fairy Princess.

For the first time, he wished their union were real. That they were truly lovers, a couple and not counting months for their separation.

Alex took Ella’s hand and they walked together to the private room. It was actually a dinner but also a sealing of their deal.

As they arrived there, they met two bodyguards waiting. Alex pulled out a seat for Ella, saw her sit down and next took the seat opposite of her, like a gentleman would do.

Not quite three minutes, when the couple took their seats, the foreign investors arrived, both with their wives.

Alex gave the men a handshake and did the same with the women. But Ella smiled, hugged the women, planting a featherlight kiss on their chin.

She shook hands with the men before they all settled down into their seats. Alex caught one of the men, dtle a glance at Ella’s ring finger.

He subconsciously looked as well and saw she had her wedding band on. Thank goodness, she remembered. And of course, he had his own on as well.

Alex waved to the bodyguards and they immediately left.

He introduced Ella as Mrs Foster and in turn introduced the investors as CEO and Mrs Williams and the other party as Mr and Mrs Melendez.

“Your wife is absolutely stunning” CEO Williams complimented.

“She’s gorgeous and classical,”Mrs Williams added.

“You both are an embodiment of beauty, you definitely would make cute kids” Mr Melendez complimented as well.

Alex and Ella appreciated their compliments and thanked them.

Alex Foster was impressed with their compliments. He also knew how beautiful and catchy Ella looked that evening, it definitely would have been difficult not to pass a compliment.

The waiter came over to take their orders. First, they decided to go for hors d’ oeuvres.

The dining table was soon filled with different snacks and freshly blended fruits. That was going to act as the appetiser.

Alex kept pouring juice into Ella’s glass, an act that impressed the investors.

“I learnt you were married not quite long, Mrs Foster?” CEO Williams asked, propping them.

“Yes,”Ella answered simply and glanced at Alex, smiling at him. “We took our oath barely three weeks ago” she added, taking Alex’s hand, and giving it a light squeeze.

“That’s impressive” Mrs Williams chimed. “How long did you both date?” She asked, smiling at how romantic they both looked.

Alex felt he was going to choke. What answer was Ella going to give that would make them more impressed with her and increase their confidence in him.

“We’ve been together for several months but we got engaged three months ago. I took a fancy to living a quiet and private life.

My husband knew exactly how I loved it, hence we had a low key engagement. And the same thing went with the wedding…”Ella explained briefly.

She seemed prepared to answer those questions that those seated smiled, nodding in affirmation to her intelligent and quiet life.

Ella was feeling the temperature was getting higher and felt she was sweating underneath her dress.

She wasn’t going to give anyone time to ask her questions, that might make her to stammer, hence she turned around and asked her question:

“How long have you been married,?” she asked, staring at Mrs Williams with a smile. It’s obvious the question was directed to her.

Mrs Williams smiled. “We celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary last week..” the discussion continued and Alex was happy that he chose a smart woman for a wife.

Soon the dinner was over and the signing was done. Officially, they had become partners.

As Alex and Ella escorted the investors to their car, Alex’s hand didn’t move an inch from Ella’s waist.

He felt her skin for the first time and he doesn’t want to let go. As soon as the investors left, Ella pulled away from him.

“We need to be in the Foster cooperation for a brief introduction and grandfather is waiting already” Alex announced.

Ella sighed softly. They were heading for another introduction? She hoped she wasn’t going to be asked questions that would leave her tongue tied.

Ella wished she could say no. Rosa was going to see her. She didn’t tell her she was married to Alex Foster.

Alex kept glancing at Ella as if he was afraid of losing her. Or that she would ask the chauffeur to wait and then step out of the car.

He felt comfortable with her. She’s stunningly beautiful and attractive. He was feeling proud having her around him.

When they arrived at the Foster cooperation, Ella wanted to steal a glance at Alex but their eyes locked and she quickly took hers away.

Alex stepped out and walked over, holding the door for Ella to step out. Unknown to her, press men already surrounded the entrance to the company.

They hooked arms together and walked towards the elevator. But suddenly they were surrounded.

“Can you please let us know the kind of relationship that is existing between you and Mrs Foster, Miss Ella Smith?” A journalist asked, placing his microphone on her face.

Lisa sat on her cosy chair and watched the breaking news. She had a grin on her face. She was waiting to hear that question, that would throw both Ella and Alex off balance.

Didn’t he choose this low class over her, then he should be ready for the embarrassment that awaits him.

“Is the rumour true that you both got married quietly?” Another journalist asked, blocking their paths and wanting them to answer their questions.

“There will be a time to ask your questions soon, but first, we have a meeting..” Alex declared.

“Just say yes, it’s a single syllable word. Are you married to Mr Foster?” The journalists insisted and Ella answered “yes”

The bodyguards arrived and forced a pay for them. Alex Foster held Ella tightly and walked past the crowd. He got into the elevator before letting her go.

Only the board of directors were present. They were all seated around a long wide desk.

Two seats were reserved, one for the President and the other for his newly wedded wife.

They all paused in their discussion when Alex walked in. He offered Ella a seat and took his own seat next.

“I’m sorry I arrived a little behind schedule. I was with an investor” he explained briefly.

The only face that Ella recognised there was Edmundo Foster, Alex Foster grandfather.

The old man was pleased and his excitement reflected in his speech. When he gave a brief introduction, he said, he would be officially out of involvement in the company’s affairs in a year’s time.

His grandson Alex Foster will be piloting the affairs of the company alongside the board of directors.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

And they all knew that what can hinder his grandson from taking up so much responsibility is if he remains unmarried.

But they all can see that he just walked in with his beautiful wife Ella Foster, the young madam of the Foster family.

Everyone cheered and applauded him. He beckoned to Ella to rise and she stood up gracefully, full of splendour and gorgeousness.

They all were impressed. Alex Foster had married a beautiful woman whose presence depicts gracefulness.

She befits him, staying by his side and running the affairs of the company together. She looked smart and definitely would be intelligent.

Only an intelligent woman can truly be by Alex’s side. Only such a woman can help curb his promiscuous lifestyle.

“Congratulations” was chorused almost the same time and the sound of it reverberated in the large hall.

When Edmundo Foster was done speaking, they made a toast to the new madam of the Foster family and a congratulatory toast to the newly wedded couple.

They had a sumptuous meal while Alex went round the guests, hand in hand with his beautiful wife. They acted so well that no one would ever doubt if they weren’t in love with each other.

Now that Alex’s marriage to Ella Smith had been disclosed to the board of directors, the meeting came to an end.

Edmundo shook Alex’s hand warmly. That was when Alex understood the importance of being married within that short frame of time as instructed by his grandfather.

He thanked his grandfather and ordered his bodyguards to escort his grandfather to his car.

Now, they could entertain questions from journalists and hence have it go viral. Henceforth, as many as are interested would know they were married.

Several questions were asked by the journalists while Alex stood, his hands around Ella’s waist, their bodies in such close contact that it appeared they were going to merge into each other.

“It was rumoured that Mr Foster was in a lovely relationship with Miss Lisa Anderson and everyone thought they were going to tie the knot.

Are you the third wheel in their relationship? The question came like a thunderbolt.

There were split seconds of silence before Ela said “I am Alex Foster’s wife, the only woman in his life. I don’t feel interested in the past.

We are legally married and anyone who tried hovering around my husband can only be mistress. But as it is now, he loves me only and we are happy” Ella replied.

She felt Alex tightly tightened around her. She in turn tapped his back slightly, reminding him that she can handle them.

“If you claim he loves you and not Lisa Anderson, how then can you explain why he was with Lisa on your wedding night, and why he travelled two weeks with Lisa Anderson when you were supposed to be having your honeymoon?

Ella was dazed. Alex was with Lisa Anderson that night after their wedding? She couldn’t have known because she was in the hospital with her mother.

As this was a public broadcast, a certain man in his late sixties sat in his exquisite sitting room, and was also listening to the news.

If Ella was truly Married now, then he needed to visit her once again…