Ella packed her bags, taking her father's private jet once more, she landed in Salt Rock.
The air hostess looked at her in confusion and the driver that had fetched her two days ago, when she looked like a mess was baffled."Miss Woods, right?" The driver asked. The expression on his face was priceless.Ella tipped her sunglasses and looked at him, " yes."" Are you sure you are not Mr Ray's daughter? The one I picked up a few days ago."He stared at her in the rearview mirror."Well. Yes I am. I am his adopted daughter, Ella Woods." Ella replied." The resemblance is remarkable." He scratched his chin."Let's just say, my father has good taste." Ella laughed. She enjoyed watching the driver scratch his head. She just wondered how much havoc she is going to create in Salt Rock.Turning into Time Boulevard, Ella could not help but stare at all the luxury boutiques. This place was fairly new but also upmarket for her. She had only seen pictures is the magazine's but it was definitely more beautiful in reality.The driver stopped outside the main entrance of the hotel.She stared at the sign." Le Ella Hotel." She said loudly." It is stunning."The driver opened the door for her and her slender legs in high heels, touched the ground silently like she had practiced.She had chosen a yellow summer dress with a fur trimmed dummy jacket. Her high heels matched the dress with yellow sunflowers on the band's.A bellhop rushed to her side and started to carry her bags." This is like in the movies." Ella thought, taking in all the beauty of the glass doors and the high ceilings as she walked to the receptionist.The large porcelain water feature in the centre of the foyer caught her eye, it was almost mesmerising. The finest features and the most crafted curves made the sculpture almost life like. It was a sculpture of the teapot my mom used to use when I was a child. When we had just enough food to make it through the week and when my dad worked hard to make the ends meet.I walked up to the teapot and touched it's delicate handle. I never expected to be brought back to such sad but meaningful memories. A memory of when we had little but our last love was enough." Do not touch that." A guard screamed as he ran towards Ella.Ella pulled back her hands and turned to face the security guard. " What are you shouting for?"With one swift motion, he grabbed both her arms and cuffed them behind her back, dragging her to the security office."Get your hands off me." Ella kicked her legs and wriggled.He sat her down on the chair and took a seat in his own chair across her, planting his legs on the desk, arrogantly." How dare you, come to my hotel and touch my ornaments. Do you know how sacred that sculpture is?" The man dragged his words, making sure she heard every bit."Sorry. Let me get this straight. This is your hotel?" Ella questioned him in a polite yet sarcastic voice." Listen missy, don't get cocky with me. The owner is coming today and I don't need little girls like you, messing it up for me." The guard clicked his fingers." Ok. So what exactly have I done? To be humiliated in such a way , in front of all those people?" Ella asked."You touched the hotel decorative property." He replied."But there weren't any signs that said "no touching"" You can make up all the excuses you want, you will just rot here until after our boss arrives."The guard said as he dangled the key in front of her.An hour passed and the guard returned. " Your little drama caused me to miss the arrival of our boss. I have been waiting to meet her. Maybe she could promote me from this stinking job."" So you are taking out your anger on me because you don't like your job?" Ella asked him." Oh just shut up." He barked at her.The receptionist barged through the door," The boss has checked in. Well atleast her luggage has checked in but she hasn't. "She looked at Ella on the chair."Hi. Do you mind undoing these cuffs on me. My luggage seems to have checked in without me." Ella rolled her eyes.The security guard looked at Ella and then at the receptionist." Oh dear." The receptionist gasped. " Miss Woods?""Yes. If you don't believe me, in my purse is my identity card."" I don't believe her one bit." The security guard dug through her bag, spilling things onto the floor."There is no identity card here. Liar!" He shouted loudly. His voice ringing in her ears making Ella angry. She took three long, deep breaths to calm herself from turning into a wolf and ripping him to shreds." The small zipper." Ella growled." Oops. I see it now. Miss Ella Woods." The guard looked like he was going to faint."Just release me so I can get on with my day." Ella said irritably." I am so sorry. I didn't know." The guard begged for an apology." How many other people have to disgraced this way?" Ella asked." None. I just thought that today I would make myself mighty in the eyes of the boss and get a promotion." He said in desperation." This hotel had opened up three months ago. How long are you employed?" Ella asked curiously." Well I am employed as off yesterday when they had reopened as Le Ella Hotel." He replied hanging his head in shame. " I heard only the wealthy own this part of the town and only the wealthy come here to shop. "" I know where you are getting at. Today I will not be talking this problem, I will part it for another day. I have too much on my plate at the moment. But don't think your off the hook." Ella warned.Ella jumped onto the king sized bed in the centre of the room. She was on the last floor of the building, the penthouse suite. After all she was the owner and this could easily be home for her if she wanted it to be.Just like her restaurant back in Palm beach, the room was elegantly decorated in white and gold. She felt like a princess. She wished she had taken the offer from her father sooner, but her love for Bobby kept her rooted in Salt Rock. Now she regretted even knowing him and wished she could turn back the hands of time. Her blood boiled whenever his name came to mind. He was a topic that made her heart blacken. Her eyes grew dark as she remembered the betrayal." May I help you?" A slender old woman asked in a frail voice, dressed in a black formal skirt suit. Ella looked up at the grandmotherly looking woman, she did not even know she was in the room. Ella wondered why was somebody that was at the retirement age still working here. She should be home baking apple pies.
Ella heard the police sirens in the distance, it was getting closer by the second and she knew within five minutes or less, they would be at her door.A few minutes later , Brook smirked. " Do you hear that? Soon you will be in handcuffs and this whole nightmare you have created will be over. You will be the one behind bars."Ella sat smiling as she gulped down the last drops of her wine.A gentle knock on the door made Brook jump up from the couch.She opened the door fiercely." Here she is officer. The liar. She isn't missing. She is here. Summer Ray.""Calm down, Miss Wilds." The officer held up his hand. " Are you sure this is Miss Ray?""Look at her. This is her." Brook insisted." Miss Ray?" The officer looked at Ella."Miss Wood's. Ella Woods." Ella introduced herself."She is lying." Brook shrieked." Can I see some identification?" The officer asked politely."Sure. Ella picked up her hand bag and rummaged through its contents, finally pulling out her wallet.She handed over
The officer dragged Ella into the police station," looks like I just solved the missing person's case,boys!"Cheers erupted all around her but the captain didn't look too pleased." Officer Duke, do you know who this is?""Yeah, boss. It's Summer Ray. The girl that went missing a week ago. You should be happy. Your daughter is of the hook for kidnapping and possible murder."" You idiot. Do you not read the paper. It is Miss Ella Woods. The investor of the new upmarket hotel and mall on the southside of town." The captain barked. "Sir. That's what I initially thought but your daughter insisted I bring her in." Officer Duke replied." You are listening to my eighteen year old daughter who barely has the knowledge of frying an egg." Captain Wilds lifted an eyebrow.Officer Duke shoved Ella into a cell and slammed it shut. He pulled Mr Wilds aside and began a conversation of persuasion.Ella's Luna senses heightened as she concentrated on hearing."Just think about it. She will be frame
Ella sat down on the bench and stared at the two officers. She couldn't believe that they were treating her as a criminal.A woman barged through the doors and immediately Ella recognised her mother. "Where is she?" Mrs Ray said frantically."Sorry miss. But who are you looking for?" Officer Simon's asked leading her to a chair."My daughter. Summer Ray." She replied.Her eyes met Ella's and she immediately rushed to the jail cell."My poor baby."Ella held a confused expression. Her heart hurt and she knew this would hurt her mother but she did it anyway." Mrs Ray?" Ella asked."Mrs Ray? What's wrong with you Summer? Do you have amnesia?" " I have heard so much about you from my dad. You look the same as you did ten years ago. I saw a picture." Ella replied innocently.Mrs Ray took a closer look at Ella. " Who are you?"" I am Ella Woods. Mr Ray's adopted daughter." Ella replied. She knew the words cut through her mother's heart but this was her identity now. " Patrick's daughter
"Are you an imposter?" Officer Simon's shouted loudly.His voice rang in Ella's ears.Her eyes grew dark and nostrils flared for a few seconds before she replied calmly," no,sir."He wasn't worth getting angry over." Are we done here?" Ella asked politely." Wow. You are really in a hurry to get back to your beautiful jail cell. The smell of roses on a dewy evening and the pink coloured wallpaper, with pink flamingos seems really attractive." Officer Simon's grinned.Ella rolled her eyes at his sarcasm. He was really starting to annoy her."Are you two ready for the results." Mr Luke interrupted."Of course. Finally I can prove that she is an imposter and get my promotion." Officer Simon's brushed his auburn hair from his forehead.If he wasn't such a douche bag Ella would have found him attractive. He was well built with grey eyes and Sparling white teeth. He could easily get a job as a model or actor, but here he was, causing unnecessary trouble for her.At first Ella thought it w
"Do I know Summer Ray?" Ella questioned."Girl. Can you not be so frustrating. You are repeating everything I say like a parrot. If you want to ask the question, ask it in your brain and then supply me with the answer." Officer Simon's pulled his hair. " Stop beating around the bush. Answer the questions."" Is she the girl that you think I am? Only because I look like her?" Ella asked dumbly."Answer the question!" Officer Simon's screamed out so loud that the female officer opened the door and peeped in." Is everything alright in here?" She asked politely."Just get out. Everything is fine." Officer Simon's replied rudely.The officer closed the door quickly. Ella could here her footsteps scurrying away." Someone's got a temper." Ella joked. She was enjoying watching him crack." Miss Woods or Miss Ray. Which ever one you believe to be , answer the questions!" Officer Simon's cursed under his breath." I only heard about her on the news. I didn't know her personally. Do you think
" I'm here to represent Mrs Woods!"The words were precise and silence fell upon the room. Officer Simon's stood frozen. He did not expect an attorney to be present in the police station for this lying imposter. He had made sure that she had no access to her cellphone and she wasn't allowed to make her one call.Officer Simon's gained his composure," Go straight through to the boardroom Mrs ? Sorry I didn't get your name." "Mrs Smith." She replied sharply." Alright, Mrs Smith, I will just be putting the prisoner back in her cell. I will be with you in a minute." He stuck the key in the keyhole."I don't think so, officer Simon's. Ella Woods is my client and I would prefer her in the board room with me. She is not a prisoner." Mrs Smith eyes squinted as she stared holes into him."She is guilty." Officer Simon's turned the key." Innocent until proven guilty. I would like to see your proof." Mrs Smith shut the gate firmly. The swift movement made officer Simon's jump.He had taken he
I snuck into the house, like a thief, making sure not to awaken my mother. She did not know that I had snuck out just hours ago. I looked at the silver clock above the arch , it was already 5am.Jumping straight into the shower I scrubbed myself until the skin broke and droplets of blood oozed out. The pain from the bruising could not compare to the pain o felt inside.I dressed in my pajamas and headed straight for bed. Drawing the blinds shut, I drifted into a dreamless sleep.3months later.I spent three months of my life crying. Who would want a pregnant ,tainted woman like myself. I was spiralling down into a deep dark place. If it was not for the baby I carried in my womb, I would have ended my life.It broke my mother's heart when I finally found the courage within me to tell her the truth.I never went back to the mansion after that day. My mother,being a single parent was like a superhero but I felt the depth of her wound. She blamed herself for my misfortune." I have made