*Olivia*"Ellis, I just don't feel good about whatever this is that is going on between us. Do you like this sneaking around behind Brenda's back? You want to creep here in the middle of the night to see me then creep back home before dawn to make her happy?" I looked at him for his reaction but he just stood still and remained silent. My heart sank. Even though he was trying, the man standing in front of me was just no longer the Ellis I fell in love with. "Eventually you will have to make a choice, Ellis. You will have to make it before your wedding day. Because if you put a ring on another woman's finger it will be too late for us and our family. I'm not saying you have to marry me. What I am saying is that I want more than this. I want you to choose me." Ellis remained quiet and unresponsive as I scooted from the bed and adjusted my clothes. He reached out for me but I sidestepped him and grabbed my robe from the end of the bed. "I never signed up to be the other woman or any
I was shocked as Ellis tossed me over his shoulder. I tried to wiggle and shake free of his hold. He gave a slight shake himself and I bounced against his shoulder. The air left me for a moment and I fell forward, dangling over his shoulder to face his back. When I recovered my breath, I began to kick against his hold. "Put me down, Ellis!" I demanded and was rewarded with a smart wack on my backside. "Ow! What the..?! Ellis! What are you doing?" He didn't answer but followed that spanking with a gentle caress that had me gasping despite my anger and annoyance. I stopped struggling to avoid another wack, thinking that he would just carry me to the room and place me on the bed. I had planned to just wait until then to slap him for what he'd done. I was not expecting him to bypass the room and walk to the end of the hall. He carried me to a back door that had been locked ever since I arrived. I assumed it was a room for the staff to use and so ignored it. But as he quickly unlocked
**Ellis POVIt was not easy looking at the time as it got late and I realized I had to get back to the mansion. Everything with Olivia was so warm and comfortable. Even when she was upset with me I could tell she loved and cared for me. The last thing I wanted to do was leave Olivia alone in the villa. But, I had to get back to the mansion in order to get up early in the morning, shower and get dressed for the office. It seemed like it was a little harder to breathe as I walked out the door and got in my car.The closer I came to the mansion the more alone and unhappy I felt. I knew that part of this feeling was because I was going to have to end my engagement with Brenda. I knew I had to have that difficult conversation with her and I was not looking forward to it.But the more I thought about it the more I realized I didn't really know Brenda all that well. She was smart and ambitious. She gave great advice and was eager to please me. But, when I woke up in the hospital I didn't rem
**Olivia POVThe morning after Ellis took me to the new playroom, I woke up feeling tired and a little achy. Throughout the day I began to feel a little sick and stayed in bed, hoping that Ellis would come soon and take care of me.I woke in the dark of night to find that he had not come. I felt sad and lonely. I told myself that he must have been very busy with work and he would certainly make sure to come and see me the following day.When I was able to get out of bed, I went to find his driver.“Can you run to the store for some medicine?” I asked.“Of course,” he answered.“And, please tell Mr. Peterson that I am not feeling well.”The driver gave me a hesitant nod but I was too tired to question it. I went back to the room to lie down and fell asleep again.I took the medicine when I woke up. It helped push away the growing body aches and I was able to eat a little bit of the chef’s food that night before bed.“Do you think Ellis will show up tonight?” I felt foolish asking.
I held Olivia in my arms the entire way back to the villa. I became worried as her cold, pale skin became flushed and hot. I took her to the bedroom ordering the servants to prepare a warm bath for her. I quickly worked to remove her wet clothes and marveled at how slim and light her body was.Has she always been so small? No, she was petite but her body had been strong and healthy, full of life the last time I was with her.Once she was undressed, I lifted her and carefully put her in the waiting bath. She groaned a little and began to move as I submerged her body but she quickly calmed down and relaxed against the tub.“Would you like some help, Mr. Peterson?” a servant asked from the door.“Where was your help before she left here?” I snapped. “Just prepare some warm tea and listen out for the doctor. I will take care of her.”I knew that it wasn’t their fault. I had given them orders not to talk to her about me or worry me about her. I had no idea what was wrong with me. I knew
For the rest of the day it was as if Ellis couldn’t do enough to make sure all of my needs were taken care of. He called his assistant on the phone to say that he would be at the villa taking care of me for the next several days and only to bother him if it was important.He made sure I took my medicine on time and even insisted on spoon feeding me soup so I didn’t have to worry about my shaking hands spilling it. He smiled at me lovingly throughout the day and even held me until I fell asleep that night.I dreamt again of me, Ellis, and Ken as a family. In my sleep I knew that I was missing Ken terribly, But I also knew that I was closer to bringing his father back home with me. I woke in the middle of the night to find he was still holding me and snuggled even deeper into his embrace.Ellis woke me up the next morning with breakfast in bed.“How are you feeling?” he asked, helping me sit up. He kissed my forehead and used his hand to check for fever. His face showed a little concer
**Ellis POVThe last thing I expected to hear when I walked up to the villa was Brenda and Olivia exchanging heated words.It seemed I had returned to the villa just in time. If I’d known Brenda would be stopping by, I never would have left. I only had a moment to wonder how she found this place before I hurried through the door.I was stunned to see that Olivia was being backed up and confronted by Brenda. She looked very worried and scared. That is the only thing that registered to me. I barely made out what they were saying.I could see the volatile way that Brenda’s body was trembling in front of Olivia as she stepped closer to her. The aggressive pitch in her tone and the threatening clench of her fists were something I’d never seen from her before, and I knew that I needed to intervene.I was just grateful that I was able to grab her arm before she struck Olivia. But her arm was trembling. When she turned her eyes to look at me I could see the anger that burned inside, but quic
**Olivia POVI could see the regret in his eyes as Ellis shook his head.I felt my rising hopes fall to the ground and turned my look of disappointment to my plate. I took a deep breath in and let it out.“Why did you end things with her?” I asked quietly.“Because… it just felt like the right thing to do,” he told me, and I looked back up into his eyes.Although the disappointment was there, I knew that it would still take time for him to remember everything. I knew all the lies that his supposed fiancée said to him. So of course, I knew that he would be relatively confused as to what and whom would be telling the truth.But to prove everything sure would be rather tricky. But just knowing and seeing him there with me made me give him a small smile.It only took a few moments of smiling at each other before I got up and leaned over him. I gave him a hug. Giving a friendly hug felt rather harmless. A hug showed compassion and I had love in my eyes, and I knew he needed that right n