El accompanied Alec downstairs,
"Guys I'm still starving", Ricky exclaimed.
"So am I", El said looking at Alec.
Before El could ask Patty to serve lunch, El said, "Let's go outside for lunch"
Ricky, Alec and El had their lunch at one of Wilson's high-end dining outlets.
Later, Alec insisted on taking El for shopping.
'Great to be rich again' Michelle thought to herself as she bought some expensive designer clothes.
"That's a lot of bags, gold digger", Ricky teased El.
El shrugged and chuckled.
"But are you fine now?"he asked her with a serious face.
"Yeah," El replied in a low voice.
"Really fine?" She smiled and nodded feeling touched with Ricky's concern for her.
"Come on Gold digger" he said keeping his hand across and shoulder and walked away.
They had an unexplained bond between them.
Later they visited Ricky's bar,
" 'Rags and Riches', nice name" El said.
Soon enough El was wasted.
She was leaning on Alec's body while he was caressing her hair.
"Would you abandon me too, Alec?" She asked in a pitiful drunken state.
"I will never" he said and continued to gently stroke her hair.
"Who else abandoned you?" Ricky asked.
"My parents," She said.
"Didn't they die?" Ricky asked.
"Yeah, they died and abandoned me" El said in a clumsy way.
She looked up at Alec and started playing with his hair, she did it intently to avoid Ricky's questions.
"You are so drunk" Alec exclaimed and continued "It's time we leave".
El nodded.
The couple left the bar leaving Ricky behind.
"You are indeed hiding something gold digger" Ricky said to himself with a smirk.
Back at Alwils Villa, Alec carried El and laid her on the bed and she fell asleep soon.
Alec leaned and kissed her forehead. He felt a sense of fulfillment to have her by his side.
The coming two weeks Alec was extensively busy with his work; he also had to face retaliation from the Miller Groups.
Owing to this he wasn't able to spend time with El. By the time he would return, El would be already asleep.
One fine day, El tried to keep herself awake so that she could speak with him.
As he climbed on bed, El slid closer to him and asked,
"What is keeping you so busy these days?" she asked in a soft and sleepy voice.
"Work" he said.
"Duh" she rolled her eyes and asked
"What in work?"
"Don't worry about it." Alec said, he was exhausted with the tiring day he had.
"Tell me", El insisted.
"Its about Mr. Miller. I turned down the business deal with him and now he is retaliating." He said.
"How?" El asked.
"Why do you want to know? It's not like you can do anything about it" he said in an irritated manner.
El felt incompetent of herself listening to what Alec said. She looked at him in an implicating way.
Alec suddenly realised what he said, "I didn't.."
before he could complete El turned over her back to him and closed her eyes to sleep. Alec was feeling too exhausted to coax her so, he let his sleep consume him.
The next day, On his way to work, Alec noticed that he had forgotten his file and returned back to Alwils Villa to get it. When he reached the room he heard El talking,
"I'll pay you when I get my salary, but take care of it right now Mark" she said and hung up the call.
She turned to leave but saw Alec at the door. She kept a straight face and walked across him.
"El.." Alec called her.
"I'm getting late for work, we'll talk in the evening" She said and hurried outside with quick steps.
Alec was feeling confused,
'Pay, Take care?' he thought to himself, trying to guess what she could be talking with Mark.
On his way out he saw the Bentley leave but Robert was still standing outside.
"Aren't you supposed to go with her?"
"Miss El, doesn't want me to accompany her" Robert said.
"Address her as Mrs. Wilson."
Robert nodded and said "I've been following her anyway, Sir. She has had the same commute everyday, work, gym and back here." Alec nodded and said "You may leave now."
That evening,
El walked out of the gym and was pleasantly surprised to see Alec waiting for her.
"What are you doing here?" she joyfully asked.
"Can't a husband come to pick his wife?" He asked in a stern voice, ignoring his tone El said
"Of course he can '' and gave a peck on his cheek.
Her chirpy nature softened Alec's mood.
"Where is your friend, Mark?" He asked.
"He is in the gym", she casually replied.
"I'd like to meet him" Alec was talking in a plain voice which alerted El.
So that he doesn't become more suspicious, she agreed and called Mark.
When Mark stepped out of the gym, Alec was stunned to see him.
Mark was well built with a chiseled body and bulging muscles, tall and had an aura of maturity around him.
"Don't stare at a man like that, Alec", El whispered in Alec's ear.
"Hi." Mark said getting closer to them and towering over Alec.
Alec found Mark's stature capable enough to intimidate any man.
"Alec, this is my friend Mark and Mark, this is Alec Wilson, my husband.
"Hi Mark, it's nice to finally meet you." Alec said, offering a handshake.
"Likewise." Mark replied.
"Why don't you join us for a drink at Ricky's" Alec asked.
"Sure," Mark said.
On their way, "What do you do for a living Mark?" Alec asked.
"I'm a fitness trainer." Mark said.
"Why aren't you married yet." Alec asked.
El glared at him for asking this question.
"I will, when gay marriage gets legal", Mark said plainly.
"It's strange that.." El tugged at Alec's suit to stop him from asking any further questions.