Taming The Wild CEO novel Chapter 69

B O N U S C H A P T E R 7 : C R A C K I N T H E F A M I L Y

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

Ella had just put down the receiver back on its place when Javier entered her office and said, “I am sorry.”

With confusion written on her face, she asked him in return, “What for?”

“For the family drama you have to bear witness,” answered Javier. He looked embarrassed that she had to see the interaction between him and his brothers. He knew he should not feel this way but he could not help himself sometimes.

Ella gave him a reassuring smile. “I am pretty sure if my family is not just me and my mom, you will have to bear my family’s drama too. Actually, if you wish to, I can call my vexing aunt and we could have the drama. She hates me and my mom. Just let me know if you want to and I can have it arranged.”

Javier messed with Ella’s hair and shook his head as he chuckled. “No need. I think my family drama is enough for us both.”

“Just let me know. I am sure I still have her phone number saved somewhere.” She gave him a wink then casually unlocked her phone and showed him the message she had just received from Roberto Capaldi. “Roberto sent me a text. He is really persistent about tonight’s dinner.”

Javier tilted the phone towards him and begun to read.

Ella, do you prefer Italian or French food? Red wine or white wine?

Looking as though he was restraining himself from giving any negative or jealous commentary, he simply said, “You can not drink alcohol. Just informed him that you would take juice or something.”

“Or I could just tell him that I am pregnant with our baby,” commented Ella with a small smile. “That way, I could let him know that I am not interested in him.”

Javier looked astounded by her reply. “You would do that?”

His response caused Ella to burst in laughter. “Of course. I love you and I am happy with us. I do not need anyone else.”

“If so, then why did you not want to move in with me?” blurted Javier.

“I have told you, have I not? I like living in my own place and I know that you like yours so I think it is okay for us to live separately. I mean, we practically see each other every day anyway.” She put her hand on top of his and gave him a gentle squeeze. “It is going to be alright.”

“Okay. Since you do not wish to move in to my place. Then how about—” he hesitated at first then took a sharp intake of breath then continued, “how about I move in with you?”

“W-what?” Ella’s brown eyes widened, her mouth parted slightly.

“You know, since you like living in your flat. What if I temporarily move there? You are pregnant, Ella, I do not want you to live on your own. I know you are going to try and reason with me by saying that Damon lives next door and he will come and help you should you need anything, but that does not ease my mind, Miss Stanford.”

“But you like your house. You love it so much. I still remember you were telling me so many times how you actually worked with a team of architects and designed it for months.”

“But I like you.” There was tenderness in his deep blue eyes as he said these four simple words. “I want you to be the first thing I see every time I wake up every morning. I know we do sleepover sometimes but that is not enough, Ella. I want more. I want us to go back every evening to the same home and go to the office from the same home too. Thinking about living with you even made me want to learn how to cook so I could cook for you sometimes when we both are lazy to dine outside. Can not you see how much I want this?”

“Okay,” answered Ella with a hint of a smile.

Javier, who was brainstorming for more reason to make his request legitimate, simply stared at her in silence before finally gave his response, “Okay, what?”

Javier frowned, seemingly unsure what she was referring to. “MIA hours?”

“Yeah, missing in action.” Ella smiled as she tapped his nose with the tip of her forefinger. “Whenever we went to London for business in the past, you were always uncontactable for several hours. No one knew where you went. Did you go and meet your brother?”

“I did. Damn, you are good at putting things together, Miss Stanford,” he complimented then went on with his story, “I have no clue where he went for the past year and then suddenly Maria mentioned him. When you told me about Phoenix Orientem Plc this morning, I contacted my acquaintances in London to find out more about it. Paul Newton who previously owned Newton Uphill Ltd informed me that the person who came and signed the deal was called Draven Cromwell. I knew instantly that it is my brother and judging by the last name, which was my mom’s mainden name, I knew the Cromwell has been backing him up. That is why I informed Thornton and told him to come because obviously, Draven wants him to know too. That it is time for him to let himself be known.”

She glanced down at her feet, there was a deep frown emerging on her forehead. Her eyebrows taut in the middle. Javier who realized something was off, immediately asked, "What is it?"

"I am just worried about you." Ella let out a heavy sigh and looked up to meet his eyes. "What if your family found out that you have been hiding this secret the whole time?"

"My mom knew it from the beginning."

"I know. But what about your brothers? What about Thornton? Clarabelle? Do you think they will forgive you?"

"They are my family. They have to." Albeit his voice sounded so sure, the expression on Javier's face mimicked the worry in Ella's voice. If he was being honest, he was not sure how he would face his siblings. He knew that he had done the right thing by helping Draven but he was not sure whether his family could forgive him for lying to them this whole time. What if they found out that it was Javier all along who had made all their attempts to find Draven fruitless?

Seeing the worries bluntly shown on Javier’s expression made Ella feel bad for bringing this up. She lifted her hand and touched the side of his face, cupping his cheek. “You are right. They love you, I am sure they will forgive you.”

* * *

Dear Gentle Readers, are you curious about Thornton? His book will come at the end of this year. You can also find him in his daughter, Autumn Summers' story "The Bad Nerd Boy". Stay safe and take care!