At Rags and Riches Bar,
"Who is this handsome hunk?" Ricky exclaimed when he saw Mark with Alec and El.
El introduced Mark and Ricky to each other.
"So you are the infamous Mark." Ricky said.
"Nice to meet you Mr. Mark… ?"
"Smith," Mark replied.
"Mark Smith," Ricky said and nodded.
Ricky escorted them to a private booth and asked
"What would you like to have Mark?".
"Virgin Mojito", Mark said.
"No booze?," Ricky asked.
"No", Mark said plainly.
Ricky turned to El and said,
"El, you must try the new cocktail."
El smiled with an excited face,
"Ye.."
Mark glared at her intensely. Alec saw that as well.
"Uh.. no, No booze for me today" El said hesitantly with a low face.
Alec and Ricky exchanged glances.
'Did he forbid my wife from drinking?' Alec thought to himself.
"El, what were you saying to Mark this morning?" Alec asked.
"Pay you, get it done?" Alec repeated her words.
"Oh that, actually I broke a gym equipment so I said I'd pay him for it when I get my salary. But he needs to replace it now." El lied.
Alec nodded at her reasonable explanation.
Everybody was starting to feel awkward with Mark's presence.
He had a distant and offbeat vibe. Noticing their awkwardness, Mark excused himself and left.
"What kind of relationship do you have with Mark?" Ricky asked.
"He is not exactly like a friend but more like an elder brother." El said.
"I could see that," Ricky agreed.
Shortly after,
"We need to leave, I have a busy day tomorrow." Alec said and left with El.
The next morning, El woke up late and didn't find Alec by her side.
She quickly freshened up and went downstairs to see Alec before he left. Alec was about to leave when El stopped him.
"Alec" she called out, he turned around.
She got closer to him, looking at his chiseled face.
Cutely widening her eyes and parting her lips, she said, "It's Sunday, Do you have to go to work today as well, why don't you stay back?"
Alec was finding it extremely hard to agree or deny her.
At the moment he had to pay a little more attention towards Wilson groups. He lowered his face dejectedly.
Understanding that he had to leave, El said "it's fine," and tiptoed to give a peck on his lips.
"I'll try to come back soon." He said, stroking her hair.
Alec was finding it hard to keep himself away from El but he had to leave.
That noon,
Alec was busy at Wilson Groups when his mother called him. He cancelled the call assuming that she would again pester him about the divorce.
Carolyn called him again and he cancelled the call the second time as well.
She called him the third time without wasting any second, Alec received the call and asked
"What is it mother?".
"Em.. Emilia.." Carolyn couldn't bring herself to continue her sentence.
"What happened to Grandma?" Alec asked anxiously.
"Emilia had a heart attack," Carolyn said in a low voice.
She informed him about Emilia's current condition and Alec rushed to the Carowell hospital.
"Where is Grandma?" Alec asked anxiously.
"She is being operated on," Fred said.
"What did the doctor say?" Alec asked
Fred only lowered his head. Alec felt a lump on his throat with Fred's gesture.
"Tell me dad" he insisted.
"Her condition is very critical and the… the odds of her surviving.. are low" Carolyn informed Alec.
3 hours later,
Emilia was still being operated on and Alec was pacing outside nervously.
"Alec.." he heard a familiar voice from behind, it was El's.
She hurried towards him and asked "How is Grandma?"
Alec embraced her tightly burying his face on her shoulder.
"Gra..grandma" he stammered.
El stroked his back and said
"Don't worry Alec, grandma will be fine. She'll be sound and healthy in no time, alright."
She continued caressing his back to placate him.
Alec undid the hug and whispered to himself, "she'll be fine".
An hours later, Alec was still pacing around while Carolyn sat beside Fred comforting him.
El brought coffee for all of them. She preferred keeping herself busy in testing times like these.
Shortly after the doctor stepped out of OT, Alec hurried to his side and asked
"How is she?".
The doctor lowered his head and said "I'm sorry Mr. Wilson, we couldn't save her."
Alec was utterly disheartened, he couldn't bring himself to come on terms with the fact that his grandmother has left him forever, she was the woman who raised him and looked after him since he was an infant.
The doctor conveyed the rest of the details to Carolyn.
When Alec and El reached back at Alwils Villa,
Alec walked straight to his study and locked him inside.
El thought he needed some time to himself and chose to not disturb him and tried to keep herself busy for the rest of the day.
Soon enough, it was night time, El was starting to get worried about Alec. She tried to get in the study but found it locked.
She called out "Alec, please come out. I'll have Patty set the dinner okay?"
She didn't hear any reply. She called out again
"Alec, please. Please come out, you haven't eaten anything since morning. Alec..".
"LEAVE" she heard him say out loud. El persisted,
"Alec please.."
"Leave me alone", Alec screeched.
El lowered her face dejectedly and stopped at her attempts.
Few hours later, it was midnight and Alec hadn't yet stepped out of his study.
"Alec it's getting late, please come out. You are making me worry now." El said with concern.
"Alec, please" she pleaded and kept knocking the door.