Taming The Wild CEO novel Chapter 56

C H A P T E R 5 4 : T H E F E E L I N G O F B E I N G A P A R T

J A V I E R S U M M E R S

Javier walked towards the car. He knew that if he faced her, she might feel embarrassed having been caught lying. Yet at the same time, he could not stay here and watch her break down alone. No matter what had just happened between her and his brother, he trusted her. Perhaps even more than he trusted his brother. Thus nothing else mattered as long as she was not hurt, as long as she was not crying. However before he could reach her, she had driven the car away, ready to exit the building.

He pulled his phone out was about to call her when he realized that she was currently driving right after she cried her heart out in the parking lot so calling her might not be a good idea. Feeling a bit frustrated, he shoved his phone back to the pocket of his black pants and strode to the elevator.

By the time he reached his office, Maria Gonzales greeted her. “Good afternoon, Sir.” She offered him her usual smile although she was a bit daring today by trying to help him take off his coat.

He stepped aside as her hands tried to reach for him. “It is fine, Miss Gonzales. I can take it off on my own.”

“Alright, Sir. I am sorry,” she replied then moved behind Ella’s desk.

Javier frowned. Even though Maria was supposed to replace Ella at the end of the month, he could not help but feel a bit odd watching someone else, other than Ella, using her desk. Then there was that fear of his that she would end their relationship once she was no longer working for him. In all honesty, he had considered persuading her to revoke her resignation however he felt that it was best if he let her decide on her own instead of telling her what he thought she should do. “Where is Ella?” he asked even though he just saw her at the parking lot downstairs.

“I think she left early, Sir. I believe she also left you a note on your desk.” Maria gave him another smile. “How was your meeting?”

“It was fine.” Javier walked past the connecting door and into his office. He hung his coat on the coat hanger next to the door. “It was just a business with my brother’s company and since we are brothers. We only want this alliance to work and we pretty much had a good negotiation. Everyone wins.”

“That is really great.” She was beaming and doing a little clap then she threw her arms around him.

“Miss Gonzales,” he warned her. Although his voice was low and his tone was polite, there was no mistaking the warning that lied on those two words.

“Oh, I am so sorry, Sir. I am just so happy that it worked out well.” Her cheeks reddened in embarrassment and he felt slightly bad.

“It is alright.” He sat in his seat and turned on his computer.

“Do you need anything from me, Sir?” asked Maria, her tone was wary.

“Not at the moment.” He turned his gaze to the screen of his computer and started to read the emails sitting in his inbox. He thought he made it clear that he did not need her assistance yet she remain stood there so he glanced at her and said, “You may go, Miss Gonzales.”

“Yes, Sir. I was just going to remind you that Ella’s note is there.” She pointed to the paper on top of the folder on his desk. “I will be at my desk.” She finally turned and left.

Javier sighed. He already knew where Ella’s note was, that was the reason why he had tried not to run into his office but he was going to read it when he was alone. Although he doubted that Ella would leave her note on top of his desk should it contain anything personal. He picked up the note and began to read. His forehead scrunched into a frown and as time passed by, the lines grew deeper and deeper.

Dear Mister Summers,

I am so sorry that I have to leave in the middle of the day. I have important matters I need to tend to. I also have to inform you that as I take my leave, I will not return. I decide that it is best for me to leave now. I do not mind forfeiting my salary. Thank you for letting me work with you. It has been a great pleasure. I shall take what I learned here with me to my next endeavors.

Kind regards,

Ella Stanford.

Eleanor Stanford gaped at Ella, who had forgotten that she had changed her style of dress in the turmoil of everything else since the last time she had met her mother. “You look different,” she said weakly, clearly not knowing what to make of anything yet.

“Different how? Good or bad?” She burbled on, projecting unquenchable enthusiasm.

A wave of belligerent self assertion lifted her chin at her mother’s continued silence. Judgments were undoubtedly being made and any second now they would start raining down on her head. She could only hope some kind of truce could be drawn so this short break was not a complete disaster.

Finally, her mother opened her mouth. “You know, you have worn glasses since you were in primary school,” her mother mused with a little shake of her head. “You look quite lovely without them, Ella.”

The soft comment was so unexpected and nice which was uncharacteristic of her mother and Ella ended up grinning. “Thanks, Momma. I finally decided to get contact lenses. Damon helped me out at first but I am now quite used to it.”

“It makes a real difference to your face. And your red dress is stunning. I would never have dressed you in red but it suits you especially with your hair down.”

Ella’s heart suddenly soared. For perhaps the first time in years, she was finally getting compliments and not criticism. She had thought she would never see the day her mother would finally accept her. “How about putting down that garden hose so I can give you a birthday hug, Momma?”

Her mother actually laughed. The hose, of course, could not simply be dropped. The garden tap had to be turned off. Long time habits were not discarded in one fell swoop, but her mother did move briskly and her arms were open, ready to hug her daughter back when Lucy met her halfway between the car and the tap. “It is so lovely to see you, Ella,” her mother murmured, then pulled slightly away to offer a wry little smile. “It has been months since the last time I saw you.”

“I know. But I will never miss your birthday, Momma,” Ella reassured her in a rush of guilt. “I have just been caught up in lots of things lately.”

A bit of sadness mirrored in Ella’s dark eyes. At that moment, she wished she and her mother were close. She wished that they were so close that she could talk to her about her issues and what was bothering her mind. But they were not and all of her life, her mother had been her severest critic. She knew that once she told her mother that she was involved with her boss, her mother would judge her. Long before she even had a chance to tell her what the real problem was. Just like herself, her mother was not a huge believer in fairytales and happy endings.

She let out a sigh as she let go of that wish, knowing that it was nothing more than mindless dreaming. Even though she wanted her mother to be understanding and listen to her, her mother’s arms being around her, hugging her was enough for now.