A few days later Ella, accompanied by her father Levie Waverley, made the unexpected visit to his office. He was anticipating his father-in-law present but was taken aback by her sudden appearance.
He had expected this meeting to be a straightforward business discussion, but the presence of her altered the dynamics. As they entered the meeting room, he tried to maintain his composure, greeting his father-in-law with a polite nod. But inside, she knew he was seething, annoyed at this unexpected development.
He raised an eyebrow, surprise evident on his face. "Ella why are you here?", he asked, his tone carefully neutral.
Before she could respond, her father chimed in with a smile "My daughter wants to accompany her father", he said his voice was filled with authority.
"In fact she is my heir before she becomes your wife Evan and as such, is deeply involved in matters concerning our business".
Ella's lips curled into a subtle smirk, her expression betraying her inner thoughts after hearing her father's words.
He noticed her smug expression, quickly regaining his composure. He couldn't let her get the better of him, not in front of his father-in-law. He gritted his teeth, but before he could respond, her father continued with his agenda, steering the conversation back to the business at hand.
This left him with no choice but to put aside his annoyance for the time being. Then her father gently ushered her out of the meeting room, requesting her to wait outside, she reluctantly stepped out, her mind racing with irritation and impatience.
Back at the meeting room Levie Waverley took a deep breath before speaking, his tone heavy with sincerity "Evan", he began, "I made a promise to your father before our families joined through marriage. Though it was my second daughter you married and not the first one, I'm committed to honoring my words".
He paused for a moment, looking at Evan directly in the eyes."I'm willing to give you 10% of my share, but I will reserve the right to decide on the remaining 10% at the later date, depending on how the future unfolds".
He sighed "Only if my Charlotte was with us", he said with a grief sorrow. "Anyway remember, though, that we live in a world where appearance can be deceiving", he continued, his voice growing serious.
"Do not trust your surroundings blindly, Evan. There may be dangers lurking around us, and we must remain vigilant at all times. And lastly I won't force you to love my daughter Ella but please do take care of her".
With that he concluded his speech leaving Evan to contemplate his words. Evan knew that his father-in-law's advice was well intentioned, but he couldn't shake off the feeling that something more sinister was at play.
As both of them stepped out of the meeting room, they saw Ella deed in conversation with his brother Richard Lancaster. Levie saw it as a normal interaction, but Evan's eyes narrowed with the slight jealousy and unease.
He couldn't help but wonder what she and his brother were talking about. He tried to brush off his feelings, reminding himself that their conversation was probably just casual small talk.
But as he watched them, he noticed a hint of laughter in her expression, and a knot formed in his stomach. Was she enjoying her conversation with his brother a little too much?
He couldn't help feeling a pang of jealousy even though he didn't have any real reason to be. He took a deep breath and tried to compose himself. He didn't want to make a scene or show any signs of vulnerability in front of his father-in-law.
....☆...
Later that evening, he found his way to her room. He glanced towards the bathroom, hearing the sound of running water. She was taking a shower. With a mixture of curiosity and unease, he settled on the edge of her bed waiting for her to emerge.
He could hear the sound of water droplets hitting the floor, and his mind raced with thoughts of her. He knew he shouldn't feel this way, but he couldn't help but dwell on the image of her in the shower.
His emotions were in turmoil, confusing him even further, he knew he should probably leave, give her some privacy, but he found himself unable to leave.
She stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in a bathrobe and let out a startled cry as she saw him sitting on the edge of her bed.
She didn't expect him to be there.
And the slight of him sitting on the edge of the bed in the dimly lit room, his black hair slightly tousled and messy, the front strands falling over his forehead. He was still dressed in his office suit, the jacket slung over his shoulders in a haphazard way.
The dim light cast shadows on his face, accentuating his chiseled jawline and adding an air of intensity to his appearance. His eyes, fixed on her making her heart skip a beat.
She composed herself quickly, crossing her arms "What are you doing in my room?", she asked, her voice laced with frustration.
He looked at her, his eyes filled with a mix of desire and defiance " Just enjoying the view in front of me", he replied, a slight smirk playing on his lips.
"You took so long but I must admit you'd looked good in the shower. Can't blame a guy for wanting a front seat to the show", he said with a smirk.
Her irritation grew and she scoffed at his audacity "You're unbelievable, Evan", she muttered, her tone acidic."Can't you respect my privacy at least in my room?"
He chuckled, unfazed by her annoyance. "Oh, come on, Ella", he replied, leaning back casually.
"Don't pretend you didn't enjoy having an audience, I could see it in your expression, the way you posed for me in there, you loved it".
Her face widened in disbelief and anger welled up inside her. "You're delusional, Evan". She snapped her tone sharp " I have no interest in indulging your twisted fantasies".
He sat up and walked closer to her leaning forward, his eyes locking with hers. "Oh, I think you do, Ell", he said, his voice laced with wickedness.
He lowered his voice, coming out more like a whisper "I think you thrive on this game, in this battle of wills between us. You pretend to hate me, but deep down, you can't resist the thrill of our verbal sparring. You get off the way we push each other's button".
She clenched her fists, her heart pounding in her chest. She despised how he always managed to provoke her, to rile her up with his crude and crude insinuations.
But a small part of her couldn't deny the truth in his words. She hated him, yes, but there was an undeniable magnetism that drew her to him despite herself after staying together with him for all these past few months.
He spoke up, his tone playful but authoritative. "Ella", he drawled, "Get dressed. We're having dinner together today"
With a smirk plastered on his face he continued again. "And I want to taste your special creation again. No excuses, no delays. And wear something that screams delicious for me".
Her eyes widened in surprise, her previous irritation temporarily forgotten. His commands ignited a mix of irritation and a strange excitement within her and she hated it.
"Fine", she replied, her voice a mix of defiance and begrudging acceptance. "But don't think this means I'm at your beck and call".
With that, she turned and disappeared into the bathroom, leaving him to savor his momentary victory. As she closed the door, she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of anticipation, wondering what awaited her at their dinner together.
.....☆.....
He stood near the kitchen, his eyes fixed on the staircase as she appeared, descending with a mixture of grace and composed.
Her hair, a dark brown and wavy cascade, cascaded down her shoulder, framing her small frame.
She was undeniably beautiful, though he would never admit it aloud. He watched her, his gaze unwavering studying her every move, observing the way her steps were light and measured.
He couldn't help but notice the way her clothing hugged her figure, highlighting her delicate curves and the smoothness of her skin. Despite his usual nonchalance and casual indifference, he found himself drawn to her, captivated by her presence.
Yet, he quickly shook off any notion of vulnerability that threatened to surface. He reminded himself that he was immune to such things.
As they sat down to dinner, the tension between Evan and Ella lingered, the air charged with unspoken words and unresolved desires. Despite their attempts to maintain a normal facade, their glances kept meeting, their hands brushing against each other as they reached for the same dish.
With each touch, a jolt of electricity coursed through their bodies, a reminder of the raw attraction that burned beneath the surface.
They tried to ignore the growing tension, trying to concentrate on the meal, but the palpable chemistry between them seemed to permeate the room.
Evan couldn't resist the opportunity to taunt her, reminding her of the previous time she'd added excessive spices. He teased, "Ella, are you sure you didn't forget to add extra spices this time? I didn't want to miss out on your signature feisty flair."
She rolled her eyes, trying to hide her amusement. "Very funny", she replied, her tone dry. " But rest assured, I've kept the spices level in check this time. Can't have you complaining."
"Besides", she continues, a sly smile playing at her lips, "I know exactly how to spice things up if I want to."
He chuckled, thoroughly, enjoying their verbal banter. "Is that a threat or a promise, Ell? I dare you to try and add more spice next time. Let's see if you can handle the heat."
She leaned in closer, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "Be careful what you wish for", she whispered, her breath tickling his ear. "I might just surprise you with a level of spices that'll have you begging for mercy. But then again, maybe that's exactly what you want."
He felt a shiver run down his spine at her words, a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty swirling within him. He knew she was a force to be reckoned with, and he couldn't resist the challenge she presented.
He raised an eye brow, a hint of admiration in his gaze. "Well, well, it seems like you've grown up and learned how to throw back at me", he remarked, his tone playfully surprised. "Where did you find this new found edge? I must admit, I'm impressed."
She smirked, enjoying the slight boost to her ego. "Let's just say I've had a good teacher", she replied, her tone laced with playful sarcasm.
He raised an eye brow, a wary smile playing on his lips. " A good teacher huh?" he repeated, a hint
Of sarcasm creeping into his tone. "Are we talking about someone I know, or is this a new mentor in your life?"
She met his gaze evenly, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Oh, just someone who provided ample practice opportunities that's all", she replied, a touch of mischief in her eyes.
.....☆....
After the dinner later that night Ella was in her room, getting ready for bed when Evan suddenly burst into her room without even bothering to knock.
She spun around, her eyes wide with surprise and irritation. "What the hell?" she exclaimed, her voice laced with the annoyance. "Ever heard of knocking before barging into someone's room? What do you want?"
He grinned, undeterred by her reaction. "Just thought I'd drop by for a little nightcap", he replied casually as if this were an everyday occurrence. "Your door was open, so I figured I'd invite myself in."
She crossed her arms, the irritation still clear in her expression. "That doesn't give you the right to waltz in here unannounced", she retorted, her tone firm. "Have some manners."
He smirked, his confidence unwavering. "Actually, sweetheart, this house is mine, so technically, I can 'waltz' whenever I please", he replied, a hint of arrogance in his voice.
Ella's eyes narrowed. "That may be true, but it doesn't give you the right to invade my privacy whenever you feel like it", she snapped her words sharp as a blade.
Evan leaned against the wall, his eyes never leaving hers. "Oh, come on, Ella", he said, his tone laced with a playful challenge. "Where's your sense of adventure? Don't you enjoy a little unexpected company?"
She huffed, her patience wearing thin. "What I enjoy is privacy, something you seem to have a hard time understanding", she replied, her word dripping with a sarcasm.
With that, Ella turned and stormed off to her bed, determine to get some rest and temporarily escape the chaos he always seems to bring.
He smirked seemingly undeterred by her outburst. He approached her bed, his intention clear. "I guess I'll be crashing here tonight", he announced, a hint of mischief in his eyes.