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RULE NUMBER ONE: Don't You Fall in Love FOURTEEN
ELLEN "Mommy!" Sophie yelled as I came into the door. She was seated with Kennedy at the dining table going through her assignment. She threw her hands around my neck, and I hugged her back, kissing her cheek and she giggled. I loved my daughter so much that only her laughter brightened me. I was happy that she was happy, but I knew a time would come when she would get tired of not seeing me in her life, especially at the most important moments of her life, starting with her annual ballet dance. I took her to the seat and kissed Kennedy's cheeks. We exchanged pleasantries and I went up to my room to change. Lily was in the kitchen, and she followed me to my room once she saw me. "Hey," she said, closing the door gently behind her. I was on the bed, taking off my shoes. I smiled at her. "Hey, Lily." I knew why she was in my room, but I do not want to bring up anything from work right now. "How do you feel?" "Tired." She came to my bed and sat besid
RULE NUMBER ONE: Don't You Fall in Love FIFTEEN
ELLEN A few days passed in the office, and nothing happened. I avoided Oliver in the best way I could. After he left me in San Francisco and returned to Los Angeles, I called Kennedy to book me a flight back home, because I realized that I also forgot my debit card along with the flash drive. I went to work the next day by myself, evading his driver and drove with my little scrap car which Lily gave to me and he did not act as if something happened. I did not react because it was my fault. But I avoided him more after that day. Today, I was standing by the entrance of the company's event hall, looking at what was going on. My place was supposed to be by my boss' side, but I wanted the slightest opportunity to sneak out from the hall and attend my daughter's ball. I had promised Sophie that I would be there, and Kennedy had called my phone for the one-thousandth time. I told Oliver that I wanted the day off, but he did not agree to let me take the day off. I knew I wo
RULE NUMBER ONE: Don't You Fall in Love SIXTEEN
ELLEN I stood in front of him as he tapped his pen on the desk repeatedly saying nothing. I knew he was looking for the most hurtful words to use on me. I was ready for them, and I had my answer already made up for whatever question he threw at me. After the San Francisco incident, I went to work on my own. I no longer used his driver or whoever he sent, and he understood and stopped sending drivers to my house. That was the first step in breaking free from him. "Miss Knight, do you care to explain why you left work halfway yesterday, without prior notice?" "I had an emergency and I told Mr. Dante Moreno." "Dante did not employ you. I did!" he snapped. "I am sorry, you were all busy and I couldn't reach you directly." Silence followed my explanation, and I was forced to look at him. He was pinning me down with his eyes and I quickly dragged my eyes away. "Did you know why I hired you for this job?" he asked. I shook my head. "Good. I hope you know you are not qualified for
RULE NUMBER ONE: Don't You Fall in Love SEVENTEEN
ELLEN Oliver scrambled up from his seat as I barged into his office, his eyes staring intensely at me. I did not care about the color of wrath he wanted to breathe out, but I would not stick around to explain my rapid behavior because it was a matter of life and death. "Mr. Monero, I am sorry, but I must leave now. It's an emergency." My mission was done, so I turned back and flew out of the office, not giving him a chance to say something. I knew this could bring about my dismissal from this job, but Sophie's life was more important than all the money in the world. I usually carry her inhaler in my purse just in case something like this happens. The mistake I made was not giving her classroom teacher one to hold. On my way out, I texted Lily that I was going to the hospital. I got to the hallway, which was usually deserted by this time, and entered the elevator. I was so panicky and distracted by my phone that I did not notice the person who entered with me. But
RULE NUMBER ONE: Don't You Fall in Love EIGHTEEN
ELLEN Sophie was calm and sleeping when we got there. Kennedy was already in the room, and he stood up when he saw us. His glare at Dante told me he did not take Dante's presence well. "What is he doing here?" Kennedy gritted after I checked on Sophie. Her class teacher had called on the way and said she was taken to a real hospital. I looked from him to Dante who was somewhat confused and stepped in before Kennedy forgot his clenched fist on Dante's face. My guess was he assumed Dante was my selfish, arrogant boss. "Ken, this is Dante from work. Dante, this is Ken, my younger brother." Ken's features relaxed and he took the hand Dante stretched out to him. "I had heard nothing about you," he said. "Same here," Dante replied with a smirk and they both looked at me. I was seated beside Sophie now and holding her hand in mine, glad that she was fine and was only sleeping. I wondered if Dante would recognize her features and connect them to Oliver because
RULE NUMBER ONE: Don't You Fall in Love NINETEEN
OLIVER My head felt like a jackhammer was hitting it. I groaned and tried to move my body that seemed trapped but the pain that shot through me made me relax. My eyes fluttered open, and I was blinded by bright lights. I tried to raise my hand to shield my eyes, but it seemed heavy, so I shut them again. When I opened them again, my vision had normalized, and I realized that I was staring at the ceiling of a hospital room. The accident flashed in my eyes. "Fuck it, that son-of-a bitch," I cursed. I knew that it was a staged accident, but I was yet to find out who did that. "Welcome back," a too-familiar voice said. I turned and saw Dante sitting on a chair beside my bed. I eyed him and sat up in bed. A cannula was attached to my hand and my left leg was wrapped up in bandages making them look big and a splitting pain came from there. "No serious injuries, no internal bleeding, only a few broken ribs, and a broken limb," Dante explained. "Can I get the fuck o
RULE NUMBER ONE: Don't You Fall in Love TWENTY
OLIVER Kids were annoying and messy. I did not know when I would build my patience with them. Even when Sara was pregnant, she made me sign up for a class that taught how to become a better dad to your kids. I did not grow up with the best father, so I did not know how to be one. But I was willing to take that step for Sara and our unborn child. Everything crashed when they died in that accident. I would have loved my kid, no doubt, but I was not sure of how much patience I could exercise around them. I was limping down the hospital reception while Dante was walking slowly behind me, speaking to whoever was on the phone. I was not interested in their conversation. All I wanted was to get home, change and sit in the bathtub for a long while. I hated being handicapped, and I was angry that I had to use the help of others for a while. I hated leaning on anyone so much. As I was almost at the door, someone ran and fell beside my good leg and smeared ice cream all over the hem
RULE NUMBER ONE: Don't You Fall in Love TWENTY-ONE
ELLEN I went to Oliver's house, as usual, the following morning. I knew he had fired me, but I wanted to hear it from him. I brewed the coffee and poured it into his mug, added enough milk and sugar to it, and then I heard him coming down the stairs. It was noisy because of the crutch, and when he cursed, I knew he was not alone. In a few minutes, Dante led him into the kitchen and sat him on a chair. I genuflected and bowed my head. "Hi, Ellen," Dante said. "I have some work to do quickly at the office. You should take care of the rest." With that, he was gone. My heart raced after him. I knew I would face Oliver, but I was not ready to face him alone. I was a little relieved when I saw Dante with him. Once Dante was out of the house, I peeked up and his eyes were already pinning me down. I quickly removed my eyes from him and looked at the floor, waiting for him to say I was fired. "Miss Knight?" "Huh?" I looked up at him. "My coffee." "Oh." I quickly went to the counte
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