The next evening at Rags and Riches bar,
"Do you have to go?"
It was the tenth time El asked this question to Alec.
She was feeling tipsy with the effect of alcohol.
"I'll be back in no time." Alec said softly.
She rested her head on Alec's chest and Alec kept stroking her hair as they talked.
"One week isn't 'no time', its 7 days long, 168 hours."
"El, relax, I'll be back as soon as the conference ends."
"But, do you have to go?" El asked, enunciating every word.
Alec smiled and continued stroking her hair.
Ricky looked at the couple with adoration. 'It looks like she hasn't told him the truth, it's better that way for them' he sighed.
El took another sip of her cocktail. "I'm cutting you out, you need to sober up before I leave for the airport." Alec said, sliding the glass away from her.
"But, do you have to go?" She asked again.
"I promise I'll take the next flight the same evening the conference is completed." Alec looked into her eyes and assured her. "Until then you take care of yourself and the thing you were talking about."
El lowered her face,
"Oh, yes the thing. There is something I need to tell…"
Suddenly they heard the sound of glass shattering on the floor.
"I'm sorry guys, I'm feeling a bit tipsy." Ricky said.
Ricky had intently dropped the glass to distract Michelle from revealing the truth.
Ricky instructed the waiter to clean up and get lemonade for El to sober her up.
"Here, have this, you'll feel better." Ricky said, offering the lemonade to El. El drank the lemonade.
"It's time, Let's go home." Alec said.
"It won't be home without you" El said with a pout.
'How can I leave if she is being so loving and adorable.' Alec thought feeling guilty.
The thought of getting away from her was burdening him for a long time and El's longing behaviour wasn't making it easy.
When they reached Alwils Villa he carried her to their bedroom and laid her down as he usually used to do. It had become a habit for him.
The proceedings of the evening were making it harder for Alec to leave. So he decided to not have El accompany him to the airport. Stroking her hair he said,
"You rest well, I will be back soon."
"But do you…" Alec kissed her before she could complete her sentence.
He left after making sure El was asleep.
The next day, El decided to spend the week with her grandmother. It was hard for her as well to stay at Alwils Villa without Alec. Both of them were missing each other terribly.
"Have you told Alec the truth?" Alexandra asked.
"I will soon" she replied perfunctorily
"You should take the master bedroom besides mine. Isobelle has sent you some things and also asked Alma to decorate the room according to your liking all the way from Barnesville." Alexandra said.
Michelle nodded and entered the bedroom.
It was indeed decorated to her liking with walls painted with gradients of blue and Grönby paintings. Isobelle had also sent dresses of her size.
'They for sure are expensive' Michelle thought.
Just then she heard her phone ringing, she took it out from her purse and noticed a paper fall. It was Alec's call.
"How are you doing love?" He asked earnestly.
El blushed, "I'm missing you Alec. Why didn't you let me accompany you to the airport?"
"I wouldn't be able to leave if I let you accompany me." Alec said.
"If that's the case then I should have accompanied you." El said.
"Uh.. El I'll call you back, love you."
"Love you too" she said and Alec hung up the phone.
Michelle noticed the paper which fell from her purse. She lifted it up and saw something written on it.
`Some secrets are better kept unsaid, -Brother R' 'Who is this person?' he perplexed her.
That evening she met Mark at the Crossfire gym,
"How much do I owe you?" She asked to pay him back.
"Nothing, Daniel Ford paid for all expenses associated with Ford's Villa and Isobelle paid for the rest"
Michelle's face fell, "Are you reporting to him as well?" She asked in an agitated manner.
"No, maybe Madam Alexandra told him about it."
El nodded and they continued with their gym routine.
After a few days, Alec returned to South-hills. He was two days early and was planning to surprise El.
But unfortunately to his disappointment, El wasn't there at Alwils Villa.
He tried calling her but her phone was unreachable. He checked the time, it was a bit earlier than her regular returning time, thinking that he assured himself that she'll be back soon. He decided to visit Alexandra in the meantime.
As he entered the Ford's Villa, Alma said ,
"Good evening sir, Ma'am is upstairs".
Alec nodded and headed that way. On his way to Alexandra's room, he heard a voice
"Alma, please pass me the towel." The voice was coming from the room besides Alexandra's.
'Is Michelle here?' Alec thought to himself.
"Alma" the voice came again.
He entered the room. It was huge and lavishly decorated. It was larger than his bedroom back at Alwils Villa.
He heard the bathroom door unlock and Michelle stretched out her hand from the slow gap and signalled to handle the towel.
Alec picked the towel and also noticed a black silk nightdress laying on her bed. The dress in itself looked seductive.
He then placed the towel on her soft porcelain hands.
When he handed her the towel, their hands touched. Sensing something odd, Michelle quickly pulled the towel and locked the bathroom door.
"Who is it?" She asked in a panting voice.
"It's Alec, I came here to visit grandma Alexandra."
Michelle was shocked, 'Isn't he supposed to be here two days later' she thought.
On the other side of the door, Alec touched the smooth fabric of the dress.
"When did you come back Michelle?" He asked
"Uh.. Yesterday"
"How are you and your husband doing?"
"Good," she replied, changing her voice and accent.
"You might not know this, but I was at your wedding," Alec said.
Michelle was confused at what he said.
"I think you are mistaken, my husband and I were wedded in a private ceremony."
"No, I'm talking about the wedding four years ago."
Michelle was stunned to know it, for a long time she had forgotten the reason behind her going into hiding and assuming a fake name.
"Please don't remind me of my fateful past Mr. Wilson.
She was overjoyed at his early return but had to maintain her composure,
"Mr. Wilson, I'm a married woman, it would be inappropriate of you to be here." She said, prompting him to leave.
"Okay, I'll be leaving," he said, stepping towards the bedroom door.
"Mr. Wilson" Michelle made him stop his tracks
"Yes"
"Please don't tell anyone my whereabouts, it's a sincere request."
Alec understood her concern and said "I won't "
Michelle heard footsteps getting distant. She slowly opened the bathroom door and glanced around, Alec was gone. She stepped out, locked the bedroom door and called Alec on his phone.