Ella continued, "So until the infant has completed the training, no decisions shall be passed; Not even any changes in the government regulation would be able to overpower the legacy that has been present since ages. That's why you will always find the heir to be well protected, especially when the next to-be expected heir is young as an infant. But like every other curse, this can also be broken." Now Nick looked genuinely awed at what Ella was speaking about. This type of information was not known to many, save for some important lineages. He himself never knew about this.
"The legacy won't be applicable, once the next heir has aged 25. That means the next heir doesn't have to wait for the previous one to die, but will be able to legally accept the throne, without any obstacles."
Ella then said quietly, to which Nick pulled his chair slowly towards her to listen ensuring she felt comfortable to speak with him, "That was the day when I was going to be introduced to the corporation as the next heir. I was kept safe and away from the world since I came into this world. I was taught that I shall be the next one to ascend the throne, I trained my whole life Nick. And then, I was termed as incapable and untrained for managing the throne. Evidently after that, papa died. It was a plot, though it was termed has a natural death. But I know what the truth was." At this point Ella seemed to be talking to herself than to anyone else. As though putting out her bottling emotions on the platter. "That's why I have to hide until I'm twenty-five. Can't have myself killed by then. It would raise a whole new havoc."
Nick asked her one burning question in his mind, "What does this have to do with Roy Knight? He's the CEO now. And in the business, it's the CEOs who conquer the most."
"That's the cover of the Kings'. The business world looks up to CEOs for supreme authority. Even if Roy is the acting participant in the corporation, he can't make any decisions. And he knows that. He had been doing all the work that a CEO is supposed to do except for the main thing 'Execution'. The Execution is up to the heir, always. The Kings' has actually never grown since the past two years. And Roy is taking all the advantage. The lucky bastard."
"If that's the case, then why is he searching for you? He should be enjoying his supreme authority until you claim the throne!?", asked Nick.
"So that he can keep me on his leash and save up till the last." That confused Nick. He had no idea what was going on in their minds.
But Ella was well aware of what was happening. With Roy taking up interviews and coming out publicly, meant that he was desperate. Desperate to find her. He was waiting for her to show up, so that he could kill her and maintain the profile of being the Supreme authority. The night of her eighteenth birthday, her father died and it was termed as a Heart Attack, followed by accusations that it caused because her father Mark Kingsley imposed Ella Kingsley as the incapable one to ascend the throne. It broke her heart at the time when her father had actually said that. Not a week before her birthday, was she praised and rewarded from him; then for him to go to such lengths specially on her birthday, had scarred her forever. It didn't help that Roy was in favour of him. And she understood later, that it was all a planned motive. She didn't know whether to be angrier with her father or her past lover.
Nick grabbing her hands interrupted her thoughts and she looked at him who was already looking at her intensely. Food long gone cold and forgotten, Ella hardly had any appetite left. She took the glass and drowned the champagne at one go. She had certainly not forgotten the humiliation, the betrayal. She remembered everything and she planned to act at the right time. All she had to do was study her enemy and wait.
"You shouldn't be back here soon. I'm very sorry, but this is how it's going to be. I can't stay with you forever. I guess you should find yourself someone who would be able to stay with you, for you. I don't deserve you, Nick."
"You deserve a lot, Ella. And you will achieve that." He tightened their hold and continued, "I will get you to your desired place, Ella. If what you say is the fact then it is important for you to ascend the throne and eliminate such possibilities. But why can't you show yourself and claim it now?"
"If I came within the radius of anywhere near London, I'll be kidnapped and given to Roy. He will never want me out of his sight. He might even trap me and let the world know that the heir has not yet claimed at the age of 25. After that there will be a chaos, because the lineage will have to be changed, unless anyone wants to make the whole world remain hungry and unemployed. The government will agree to it immediately."
Nick was amazed at how each factor affected in so many ways. How did Ella manage to stay strong and go through it all alone, was a mystery to him.
"And if you did reach 25, how can you be sure that they still won't be after you?"
"They won't. Unless they want to be hanged along with their families, by the very corporation itself."
Ella got up from her seat and pulled back her hands from Nick's, going to stand at the railing of the place overlooking the town. She was expecting Nick to be frightened and running off to the hills or maybe out of here, but there he was offering his help. As sweet as she would consider it to be, it would be a primal suicide for him. And she has sacrificed enough for her to lose another friend.
"Why won't you let me help? Am I not enough? I can provide you all that you want Ella", said Nick exasperatedly standing and going over to her, hoping to convince her. He didn't think he would be able to sleep properly after tonight as he would always think of Ella's safety. Not, when he was in love with her.
"Do you love me?"
If there was a moment for 'Falling on your butt', that was what Nick was experiencing in his mind. He was speechless. Was this woman a mind reader? He had to enquire about how different were the Kings'.
"Nick?", Ella's questioning eyes looked at him, but something told him she already knew the answer.
"Why are you asking when you know the answer Ella", it came more of a statement. Now that it was out in open, he didn't know why but he seemed to be possessed and more relaxed now. He didn't have to pretend to hide anymore. He stepped forward to Ella who was standing close to the railing and leaned on the railings with his arms on either side of Ella, holding on to the railing. This led to them coming close to each other in the way that their lips were only inches apart. Surprisingly Ella stayed put and Nick would have thought she wasn't affected, if not for her sharp intake of breath the moment he was close to brushing her lips with his. "Tell me Ella. What do you think?"
Ella was clutching her hands before Nick stepped too close, leading her to let her hands down to her sides. Ella moved her face slightly to her right and said, "I think it's just your attraction towards me Nick."
"You think?"
"I know it, I-I guess." Now Ella was completely looking at her right side. The small lamps seeming to be more interesting to her at the moment. This wasn't what was supposed to happen! She was supposed to blackmail him in leaving her side forever. But it was all going wrong, thought Ella.