The next day, Ricky had again accompanied Alec for lunch at Alwils villa.
El told herself to not say anything about his early return so that he wouldn't get annoyed.
When she came downstairs she noticed Ricky was sitting on the living room couch, While Alec was standing near the door attending a call.
" Hi El, I heard you got a job at Nora Fabrics and Designs." Ricky asked.
"Yeah, I'll be joining from Monday." replied El.
Ricky was engrossed in his phone, seeing this Michelle said "You seem busy."
"Yeah, I've been using this dating site, but no luck yet"
"Oohhh, dating. What type of girl would you like to date, or a guy if that's your preference, I'm no one to judge", Michelle said with a genuine smile.
"I'd like to date a Girl.
"What kind Monsieur Reeky?" Michelle asked.
Ricky chuckled and replied "You know the usual kind, gentle, cheerful, but not materialistic"
"What's wrong with being materialistic?" Michelle asked
"What are you guys talking about?" Alec asked.
"Your wife asked me what's wrong with being materialistic," Ricky said.
Alec looked at El with his eyebrows raised.
"Well being materialistic, drives most of the people to work harder. I mean why do people work? To have a better house, eat good food, afford a comfortable living and then luxury. Human lives wouldn't have evolved if they weren't materialistic." El shared her view.
"Wow, I never thought of it like that" Ricky exclaimed.
Even Alec was amazed with her words.
"Go on with your list", El said to Ricky.
"So materialistic is fine, but not a gold digger" Ricky said.
"What's wrong with being a gold digger?" El asked in the similar manner as before.
"You have a defence for that as well?" Ricky asked in amazement.
"I think it's hard to make oneself extremely desirable enough to another person, so that the other person willingly spends a fortune on that person.
Everybody has their own struggle. I just try not to judge" El said.
"You've an interesting perspective towards people," Alec said.
"Are you a gold digger El? Ricky teased El.
"I might be," El said with a mischievous smile.
"What type of guy would you have liked to date if you were single?" Ricky asked El.
Alec's brows furrowed listening to his question. He expected El to not answer the question.
But El said "reliable".
"Just reliable?"
"Yeah, it kinda sums everything up." El answered.
"I believe Alec is reliable, aren't you? Alec" Ricky asked.
Alec only coughed as a response.
In no time El offered him a glass of water. "Thank you," Alec said.
After their lunch, Alec got closer to El and said
"I'll have to leave now, it's something important. I might be late. Don't wait up at night, okay?"
Alec's words were filled with warmth. El had never heard him speak like this.
She nodded.
Alec got further closer to her and kissed her forehead.
It was the first time after his wedding he would be away from El for so long.
Even though it was only a couple of hours now and it was only a matter of time in the future that they would be away from each other for longer hours or days, Alec felt a sense of melancholy engrossing him.
For the past few days he tried to return by lunch time or early evening to just be in her presence.
El, on the other hand, had an eerie feeling immersing her, she was unwilling to let Alec go.
She wasn't able to comprehend what she was feeling, but indeed she felt uneasy, as if something bad was supposed to happen in the near future.
As he left, both Alec and El felt uneasiness consuming them.
After Alec left, Michelle got back to her room and called Mark.
"Have someone keep a close eye on Alec Wilson." Michelle said.
"Why?," asked Mark.
"Just a feeling" she replied and hung up.
Later that evening, after being busy for six hours straight, Alec managed to find some time for himself.
He checked his phone expecting El's texts.
Unfortunately, there were none. 'Seems like she didn't wait at all'. He thought to himself.
Back at Alwils villa, The uneasy feeling was eating El up, she called Mark,
"Any update?" She asked.
"He is just busy with his work stuff, El. Don't be worried"
Two hours later, Patty knocked at El's bedroom door and asked
"Ma'am, should I get your dinner here."
"No, I'll wait for Mr. Wilson to return" El answered in a low voice. Knowing that he must have been busy she waited for him to call.
Alec, didn't receive any texts from El. The realisation that she didn't care for him irritated him.
At almost midnight he checked his phone again and kept it back in disappointment. When he heard his phone beeping.
He quickly picked it up and to his joy, it was El's message.
'When will you return home? It's getting very late.'
Even though he was glad to receive her message. He felt bitter to send his reply
' I've to leave for Castledalle tonight, I'll be back by tomorrow evening' he typed and reluctantly hit send.
' I'll be waiting,' El replied.
Alec felt a sense of warmth reading her text. ' I'll try to come early', he replied.
El replied with a smiling face emoticon followed with a message 'take care and stay safe'.
Alec wanted to continue texting El, it was the first time he was texting her or anyone for that matter during his working hours. He was thinking about his reply when Ben interrupted his line of thoughts and said
"Sir, the jet is ready"
Alec exhaled visibly displeased and walked away.
Back at Alwils villa, The anxious feeling hadn't yet left Michelle's mind and it wouldn't until Alec returned.