*Ella*

"Financially talking, we have enough to build one more shelter"

"But how much would that leave us?" a colleague asked as we all sat around the meeting table.

"Oh more then enough to build another company. Though we are trying to build while still having that massive amount of money incase things went downhill"

"I like that" my boss nodded, his 62-year-old wrinkles almost covering his eye sight as he smiled my way.

"Thank you Mr Ricardo"

The meeting door opened and in rushed one of Seal Ricardo's men. Leaning down, he whispered within his ear and Seal stood up. "Meeting is done. Leon, work on building this one shelter, Ella, keep ahead of the incomes" he pointed.

I nodded, "Will do" before he left.

I packed my papers and picked up my suitcase before grabbing a few things at my desk and leaving.

I drove home and entered my penthouse.
Tossing my suitcase against the couch, I removed my heels in pain and took a seat on one of the couches by the outdoor pool. Beside me, I popped open a champagne bottle and poured myself some within the cup beside it.
Work was hard, but it always paid off.

My phone rang and I picked up, setting it on speaker beside me as I sipped the wine.
"Ella?"

"Hey Jack"

"How was work?"

"Great, yourself?"

"Fantastic" he chuckled "What are you doing tonight?"

"Uh, actually Seal invited me to dinner with the rest of the crew"

"Really?" he sounded disappointed.

"I mean if you have something planned, maybe tomorrow?"

He sighed "Sure, let me know if you need anything"

"You too"

He hung up.

I took my break.

**

I fit myself into a body-fitted black dress. I was most likely to wear similar dresses with either just different patterns or a different colour. Though I always kept it below the knee and sleeves attached.
I applied a line of red lipstick before making sure my eyeliner and mascara were perfected.
I had to look presentable in front of my boss.

I slipped into my black platform heels and grabbed my red purse.
Red on black? Such an intense mix.

Grabbing my keys, I left.

At first, I knew Seal was going to invite us to a fancy restaurant, I was greeted at the door and thanked God that Seal didn't book the entire restaurant for the crew. It was nice knowing people were around.

"Hey" I leaned down and shook hands with everyone.

"Ella, listen to this" Linda laughed "Frank wants to purchase a helipad, but he doesn't own a helicopter!" she continued laughing.

I giggled, typical Frank. Always wanting more then he had.

We laughed and chatted and made our own night. I kept watch of the time, 7pm to 10pm. Time was flying but little did we know, enjoying our time.

"I think I should get going" I leaned up, taking one last sip of alcohol.

"10-minutes" Seal said "Don't you want to meet my business partner?"

"He's coming?"

Mr Ricardo nodded.

I smiled, I guess I'll sit a little longer. I wanted to see who else was helping us build the shelters.

Ten minutes later, two men in suits walked in and two other men followed.

Then him.

I gulped.

Josh walked in behind four of his men.
Buttoning his suit and straightening his tie, he walked over towards us.

"He's so sexy" Linda whispered beside me.

"He makes males consider being gay" Frank replied to Linda's comment.

My eyes followed his steps.
Goosebumps covered me.
It wasn't fear, it was the fact my hearts pieces slowly began to shiver against the bloody walls, aching to be one again, but struggling to fit together.

"Seal" Josh nodded at my boss.

Everyone at the table stood up, greeting Josh. I remained seated, noticing my cup empty, I grabbed Frank's and gulped the entire thing down.
Gosh Frank had terrible taste in alcohol.

I didn't want to see him.

"Josh" Seal chuckled "Nice to see you around"

"I guess the new business name suits you" Josh replied to Seal.

"It's all business"

I stood up and grabbed my purse, in hopes everyone was distracted by Josh and I could ran away.
As I took the first few steps, Josh's lips uttered my name for the first time in a very long time.
"Ella?"

I gulped, looking at my phone lock screen, I sighed "Will you look at that? It's getting late, I should get home" Avoiding his eyes at all costs.

"You know Ella?" Seal asked.

"Uh, no. I assumed it was her from the files you had given me with each employees pictures attached"

"Thanks for the dinner" I smiled at Seal, quickly dodging everyone and rushing out of the restaurant.

How could I be so stupid? Josh owned so many things, clubs, companies, cars, homes...ofcourse he had to own a fair share of the Environmental Inc. company.

"Ella?" a familiar voice called.

I looked beside me.
"Nicolas?"

"Hey" Nicolas smiled.

"Oh" I frowned "Nicolas"

"You look good" Nicolas smiled.

"As of you" I smiled back.

"What are you doing here?" he took a step towards me.

"Work"

"Uh" he nodded "I've been receiving your posts. Thanks, I think you finished paying the loan"

I chuckled "Don't play kind. I still have ten thousand and exactly fifty dollars left to pay you"

Nicolas laughed "It's good seeing you"

"Yeah" my smiled widened "I should get going" I said, noticing Josh shake hands with Mr Ricardo, assuming he was ready to leave. "It was really nice seeing you. Say hey to the ladies back...home"

"Will do" Nicolas frowned.

I turned around and rushed down towards the corner of the restaurant and through the alleyway, attempting a short way back to the parking lot.

At the end of the alleyway, there was a shoulder high brick wall. I looked around.
The only way was back or over it.

I sighed, removing my heels and tossing them over the wall along side my purse.
I looked around once more before pulling up my dress slightly, making it easier to put my legs over the wall.
I placed my hands against the top, pushed myself up and attempted to put one leg over the wall. While trying to pull my dress down, noticing my panties were showing, I lost balance.
My eyes widened as I fell backwards.

Yelling lightly, I gasped and frowned.

"Why don't you just take the proper way?"

I moved away, noticing I was in the arms of a man.

I puffed, taking a few steps back before hitting the brick wall.
"Josh" I whispered.

"Ella" he nodded.

"How..."

"I saw you turn the corner"

"I..." I noticed my breathing rapid as my chest pumped to the speed of it.
I automatically leaned down and pulled my dress down.

Josh cleared his throat. "You could've hurt yourself"

I licked my bottom lips, grabbed my things and began to walk away, back towards the restaurant.
As I passed him, Josh grabbed my arm.

Facing the exit as Josh faced the brick wall, he kept his fingers tightly around my arm.
"Ella"

I shoved him and let myself loose.

"Ella" Josh called.

I turned around and faced him once more, glad the little bulb in the alley way allowed us to just see enough of ourselves.

"You said you would leave me alone"

"I did"

"By being business partners with my boss?!" I pointed back behind me, as if my boss was standing there.

"I was partners with Sylv...Seal, for years" Josh stated.

"Ugh" I rubbed my forehead. "Leave me alone"

"Ella"

I turned around once more before Josh grabbed my arm and pushed me up against the alleyway wall.

I gasped, my back against the cold, brick wall as his chest lightly touched mine and his hand rested just above my shoulder.

"Josh"

"One year" Josh whispered, looking down.

"Leave me alone" I shoved him lightly.

Josh moved away, taking a step back.
"I need you"

"I almost died within your hands"

"STO-" he stopped himself, taking a deep breathe as he rubbed the side of his head and placed the other hand at his hips. "Stop saying that"

"Not once but a few times" I moved away from the wall.
Standing in front of him, barefoot and covered in goosebumps. "I almost died"

"Ella"

"No!" I pointed at him "You said you would leave me alone, you gave me back my freedom. So leave me alone!"

"Ella, just-"

"Enough" I began to walk away, still keeping our eye contact deep. "Please, Josh...just" I took a deep breathe, "Leave me alone" I said once more, before turning around and jogging off.

"Ella!" Josh's voice echoed the alleyway.

I passed the restaurant, avoiding anyone and everyone.
"Ella?" Nicolas called.

I ignored him and ran off. This time, I entered the parking lot the right way, ran towards my heels and purse and picked them up before rushing back towards my car on the other side of the lot.
I entered my car and sat inside, locking my doors before checking all the mirrors.

Was I checking them because I was afraid he followed?
Or was I checking them because I wanted him to follow?

I gripped the steering wheel tight and gently placed my head against it. I sniffed back tears, but it was hopeless.
My tears dropped, I leaned back and looked up.
Tears streaming down my face.

Oh how painful it was to see him.

I gulped, wiped my tears and turned on my car.
Leaving the parking lot, I turned the corner, driving past the restaurant.

Instantly, I made that deep, eye contact with the same dark, grey eyes.
I pressed down, speeding off and escaping the area.

You still love him, you still think of him. Stop lying to yourself.
No.
Just because he was the first man to ever undress your soul, it doesn't mean it was love.

I continued crying my way home.
Leaving my car outside my penthouse instead of my private parking space, I made my way upstairs.

Trying to control my tears in the elevator, I wiped my eyes.

Could he not hear the voice of my tears, calling him?
God, it hurt like hell.
Witnessing the pieces of my heart shake to his presence, begging to be put together.
A year passed and I keep saying I'm getting there, but I'm still in the same place.
Broken.
I don't know how to sleep without Josh's voice somewhere around, just...him...around me.

Damn, I forgot to purchase new sleeping pills.

Great, a horrible fucking day.

The elevator door opened and I rushed out, looking down at my keys.
Fiddling with them, I looked up and sighed.
"Jack"

"Hey?" Jack took a step towards me "I was waiting for...are you okay?"

Why do people ask if you're okay when you're clearly holding back tears?
Don't you know it makes it harder to hold them back?

I sighed once more, shook my head and dropped everything.

Jack rushed towards me and wrapped his arms around me.
I curled into his arms and just let it all out.

"Hey" Jack whispered, rubbing the back of my head "What's wrong?"

"I don't...want...to...talk about...it" I mumbled through my chokes.

"Alright beautiful" Jack held me tight, making sure I was kept together.

Hey Jack, can you superglue a heart together?
A broken one hurts, the sharp corners are cutting through me.
The outside scars are already enough, now the inside is damaged.

Can you superglue all of me?

________________

I know, im sorry for being a little late. Writing a chapter is harder then reading. Just know I'm always working on my chapters, give me time. I'll start working on another one right now.

Not the best way to meet Josh, but they met. It hurts but... Yes ELLA will see JOSH again in the next chapter, ready?

Fyi: I'm going on a holiday for 2-3 months on the 25th of september, no it will not affect my updates, i will update! like any other day