The horn blurred again, sharper and louder this time.
The security guard rushed over looking panicked "Sir,please you need to move " she told Carlos "Mr Blackwell need to get through"
Carlos expression shifted instantly from amusement to cold,protective and seriousness. He didn't look at the car, he looked at Elena, gently taking her elbow to guide her out of the way" I will move" he answered quietly.
Elena watched as Xavier's car surged forward without looking at her, the moment the pact was cleared ,behind the gate like a predator returning to its den. The moment his car was out of sight Elena rushed towards Carlos window as he prepared to leave.
"How much do I owe you for all this ?" She asked as she clutched the reminanat of Tge ice cream and the steak paper bag.
Carlos frowned "You don't owe me anything Lena, just stay safe and be careful, and always call me when you need anything at all okay ?" Carlos said and a smile tugged on her lips.
"Thank you" She mummured.
She waved him off and turned back to go inside, the sweetness of the ice cream now a bitter memory, lost in thought of what is probably waiting for her in there. She didn't realize she was now inside.
She hasn't even get to the stairs yet when a sharp voice, cold as a winter wind stopped her in her track.
"Elena"
She turned, Xavier was standing there, his silhouette towering and framed by the afternoon sun. He didn't look just angry, He looked lethal. He stepped closer to her invading her personal space forcing her to tilt her head back to meet his glance.
The silence between them heavy and suffocating , she gripped the paper bag until her finger tore through it and but her skin.
"I don't care who you spend your time with Elena, But do not ever bring your little flings to my property and contaminate it " His cold baritone voice vibrated with dangerous edge.
"He is not what you think it is, Carlos is just a—-"
"I don't care what his name is " Xavier sneered , Cutting her off " Let me make tgis very clear to you Elena, Do not ever bring another man to my house, if I see him here again once more, You can pag your bags in advance because I will not hesitate to drag you out to the street, Am i clear ?"
He turned around and left without waiting for her to explain that she was just hungry or that she was craving and lonely or that Carlos was the only person treating her like a human being that actually exist, the only person that coukd help her run her craving errands because she get that a lot nowadays.
He just simply turned around and walked away like her words does not matter neither dies she matter, leaving her standing alone trembling.
Elena gripped the edge of the cold stairs rail rod, her knuckles white as another wave of morning sickness had just subside. Like a thunderbolt she had been startled awake by a churning stomach and a bitter throat . She felt hallow as her leg trembled from the exhaustion.
After splashing cold water on her face and rinsing her mouth, she retreated to her room and sat on the edge of the bed. She let her hand rest tentively on her stomach, this has turned to her routine now.
Her stomach was still flat, showing no outward of the sign of the life in it,but she could feel the change in her soul and body.
"Baby, don't make it hard on mommy okay?" She whispered to it in the silence of the room "it's just us, just me and you alone in this."
The isolation was becoming heavy on her as she needs to visit her OB-GNY soon, her previously prescribed vitamins clearly weren't argreeing with her anymore. She had briefly fantasize about asking Xavier to accompany her, so she could also feel like other women's whom their husband's come along with them on their visits. But the memory of his snarked warnings from the night before acted like a bucket of ice water that woke her up. She couldn't stomach any of his verbal harshness today.
Elena glanced at the clock, she saw it was only six in the morning. Her sleep was lost cause of her morning sickness, so she slipped out of her room. She cast a lingering look at Xavier's closed door , The barrier between their two worlds,before heading downstairs to the kitchen.
Clara and the other staff were already in a blur of motion, The aroma of brewing coffee abd frying bacon filled the air.
"Good morning ma'm " Clara greeted looking up with a surprised smile.
"Can I get you a glass of water or cup of coffee ?"
"Milk please, Clara" Elena replied , her hand instinctively shelding her midsection "Coffee… isn't really good for me right now"
"Ofcourse ma'm, my apologies.i forgot for a moment"
As Elena sipped her milk, she watched the rhythm of the kitchen. The way they cooked and a spark of an ideal flickered in her mind.
" Clara, do we have Red wine braised short ribs ?" She asked as she pictured something in her mind.
Clara's eyes widned "Cravings ma'm ?" Clara ask with a wide eyes,She knew her cravings had hicked up recently.
"No, it's for Xavier " Elena said as she offered a sad smile.
She knew it was Xavier's favorite . Chloe had mention it countless time back, when she used to ask Elena to help prepare it for her,slow and tender not over cooked just the way he liked it,passing the meal off like she made it, Elena was a trained culinary artist, She had a dream of owning a small bustling bistro but that dream had been put on a hold and she doesn't even know if she will ever get to fulfill it,but she still hoped that one day she can and with a family of her own support.
Despite the situation, she still wanted to do something to show she care, but not with words, but the one thing she truly mastered,Cooking.