The Marvelous Elijah's Return novel Chapter 76

A cold day in hell

With the sunlight beaming on his face, Elijah stood outside the motel, hands in his pocket, eyes on the sky 

His head was still swimming from all that had happened recently, his mind still reeling with the fact that he was getting married again, and it kind of wared him just a little bit 

So deep in thought, he didn’t hear the door open and didn’t connect with reality until Peach hugged him from the back, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head flat on his back 

“Hey,” she said softly, and he could feel the smile formning on her lips even without furning around to look at her “What are you doing out here?” “Thinking.” Elijah answered truthfully, his voice barely above a whisper as well. 

“How much of what Madam Jewel said did you hear yesterday before walking in *** 

“A bit.” 

Silence followed after his answer as her heart frowned at the thought that he might have been hurt by all the awful words Madam Jewel had pwed. 

“Elijah, you don’l.” Peach trailed off, uncertain worse to go from there, ter brow furrowed as she tried to find the right words.” __you know you can talk to me about anything right ** 

There was a brief pause and then the vibration of his phone in his pocket interrupted their conversation, causing Elijah to sigh and pull out his phone And when he saw Bryan Check’s name, he drew a deep breath and then answered the call.” What’s up? 

“Can you join me for lunch?” Bryan’s voice sounded almost hopeful, but there was also a nervous edge to it. “I got an update, so can you rrjeet me to talk about it. ** 

“I can,” Elijah replied after a moment of hesitation 

“Great! We can meet up at ‘Hotel Del Rey’… I spent my night here, so I am waiting for you.” 

“Sure. I am on my way.” Hearing those words, Peach’s hands pulled away from his waist and fell to her side as she just stood there, remembering rule one 

When Elijah turned around to meet her eyes, a faint smile graced his features when he noticed her staring intently at him. 

“I know that I can talk to you about anything.” Elijah repeated, his thumb brushing against her knuckles, “but I can’t promise to always do so.” 

“How hard is it for you to take simple instructions,” Elijah demanded, “and do as told?” 

Gritting his teeth together, Mason struggled for a moment or two before saying, “You’ll pay greatly if you don’t let me go, right this instant!!” Without replying, Elijah rested his palm against Mason’s head, pressing it again on the wooden surface, and he finally mumbled, “My patience is very thin for people like you, Manson… very little!” “Elijah?” Bryan’s voice broke through the tense silence that had settled over the area, and both Matt and Elijah quickly snapped their heads towards him, watching the look of confusion on his face. 

Drawing a deep breath to calm himself, Elijah released Mason from his grip and stepped back, his expression smoothing itself out into something neutral. When Mason finally lifted his head from the counter, he glanced between the three men standing in front of him and said, “Check, you know this… this piece of crap that isn’t worth your time!” 

A frown itched his face as he glared at Elijah and then stared back at Bryan when he added,” What could you possibly see in this scumbag anyway? This asshole just put his hands on me… he should be thrown out of this hotel… And maybe, from now on, you should watch who you are hiring…” “Mason,” Bryan called out, annoyance laced in his voice, “enough, okay? Also, my membership with our club is revoked, and I don’t think I would be investing in your project for the manufacturing center anymore.” Furrowing his brows at Bryan, Mason shook his head and let out, “But that is bullshit!! I came here so we can talk about the next step for this project, and eighty-eight percent of the kickoff for this to happen depends on you!” “Well, I don’t think I want to fund your company any longer, alright?” Bryan snapped back at him, and Elijah watched as a small vein protruded on Mason’s forehead. “You should leave.” 

“It’s not fair!” “It’s my money, Mason… you should leave.” Frowning, Mason watched Bryan look over at Elijah and utter, “Please come with me this way. 

“Who the hell is he to you, Checks?!” Mason screamed at Bryan, still glaring daggers at Elijah. “Why are you choosing the Hayes’ useless ex-son-in-law over me?! What value does he have for you to make a decision like this over me?!” 1 “Mr. Mason, I will advise you to stop shouting because you are disturbing others.” The receptionist warned, glancing at him. “And it’s best if you leave.” “Where the heck did I go wrong?” Mason muttered, letting out a groan. “This sucks! I mean seriously. He’s a nobody. Why are you siding with him instead of me, Bryan?” 

A sense of worry and desperation crossed his face as he watched Elijah and Matt leave with Bryan, and he hurriedly pulled out his phone and stroked through his contact, stopping at,” Dean.”