Chapter 4 NIGHTMARE II

   El curled on her bed with her knees close to her chest. Her body was still trembling with trails of tears on her face. As she sat there, images from her dreams flashed in her head and more tears rolled down her cheek. She felt pain and emptiness like she had never felt before.

        She had been having these nightmares for a while now but it ended when the truck hit the car and she would wake up, but last night, it had lasted longer and she had the nightmare twice. The pain she felt when the two vehicles collided felt real and her body felt numb for some time before she slowly recovered.

      She cried till dawn, not because of the nightmares, but for the fact that she could not recall the incident that triggered her PTSD, or the people from the incident even if she felt there was a connection between them. She started having nightmares when she was twelve and had been seeing a therapist since then, but there hasn't been any difference.

        After crying for a long time, she decided to stop crying and slowly picked up her phone from her desk close to her bed. She dialed a number and waited for the person to pick up.

   "Lisa, I want an appointment."

       "I'll be available before noon." 

      "Okay."

       El hung up and stood up from her bed, letting her gown fall to her feet, as her sexy black lingerie was revealed.

        She walked to the bathroom and stood in front of her mirror, and when she saw that her eyes were slightly red and swollen from crying, she frowned. Her face was pale, but that didn't hide her beautiful white skin. She remembered the last time she cried like this was when her ex-boyfriend cheated on her.

        He was the first man she ever loved. She had longed for him and wanted him, but that all changed when she saw him cheating on her with her friend. Never again was she going to be fooled by a man. She couldn't remember the last time she let a man close to her.

       She walked to the bathtub and removed her black lingerie which slid to her feet as she entered a roman chamomile bath. She took her time to inhale the scent from her bath and it calmed her nerves. She could feel her uneasiness relief inside the water and she closed her eyes letting herself enjoy the bath.

      As she walked out of the bathroom, she went to her closet and took out a pair of white jean trousers and a shirt from her closet, which she put on. After wearing her clothes, she walked to the living room and picked up her laptop from the table.

      As she went through her schedule, she heard a knock on the door and when she opened it, it was her personal chef, Raphael.

   "Good morning Miss Welsh." 

   "Morning Raphael." She greeted warmly as she walked back into the room, sat on the couch, and continued what she was doing.

      Raphael walked into the room, closed the door behind him, and walked to the kitchen to prepare her breakfast.

   "Miss Eleanor, breakfast is served." He came out of the kitchen after an hour.

       "Okay, I'll be right there in a second." El closed her system, walked to the kitchen, and sat down at the table in the kitchen as he served the meal.

      She looked at the meal served and her mouth watered. He had been her chef since she started living in the hotel at eighteen, but she could never get tired of his services. He knew how to entice her with his dishes. She quickly dug in and started devouring the food, while he stood there watching her. He could never get used to her large appetite.

.

       Ethan woke up and went to the gym in the hotel for his daily exercise. When he got back, he went to the bathroom and showered. He changed into a new white shirt with black trousers and went to the living room where max was waiting for him.

   "Good morning Sir." He nodded to his greeting and walked to the kitchen where his breakfast was served.

       He sat on the chair and took the brewed coffee on the table gulping it slowly first, before eating other dishes served at the table. After eating to his satisfaction, he walked back to the living room with his eyes peered at his phone, and sat down on the couch crossing his long legs.

There was silence in the living room before Max broke it.

   "Your grandfather has called for a family gathering, and your presence is required, Sir." Max paired, waiting to see a reaction from him, and when he didn't see any, he continued. "The gathering is to be held this evening by eight at the mansion." 

    Ethan's gaze left his phone to the man standing in front of him. "I won't be attending it. Prepare the jet, I'm leaving for a business meeting."

   "I'm sorry sir, but the chairman has canceled all your business appointments and has banned you from leaving the country for today. He also posed a threat that failure to attend the gathering will cost you ten investors from your company." 

   "He did what?" His anger was evident in his once calm voice.

       This was the first time Max had seen his boss show an expression, he was always very calm, and this scared him because no one knew what he might do next. He had worked with Ethan long enough to know what he disliked the most, which is someone ordering him.

   "Get the car ready. Let's go pay the old man a visit."

   "Yes Sir." Bowing, he left the room.

.

     After having her breakfast, El went to get dressed. She had an appointment to keep. Without wasting any more time, she went to her wardrobe, brought out a white Chanel gown, and wore it. It showed her curves and fit perfectly well with her white glowing skin. She then put on her jewelry and walked out of the room with a black Luis Vuitton shoe and bag. 

   "Going somewhere?" A voice spoke behind her as she closed the door of her room which startled her.

   "It's not nice to sneak up on a woman, Adrian. Has anyone ever told you that?" She said facing the figure that was behind her. 

   "I wasn't sneaking up on you, just asking a question. I'm a little surprised you know, 'cause today's a Saturday and you seem to have an early appointment which is unlike you." He said folding his arms and resting his back on the wall behind him.

   "I have something to take care of now, I'll tell you about it later. Don't wanna be late for an appointment." She said walking to the elevator.

       "Okay," Adrian followed her to the elevator "Just wanted to inform you that Dad's in the country and he wants to have lunch with you this afternoon."

      She paused for a second but quickly pressed the button on the elevator. "He is? I thought he wasn't going to come back till tomorrow?" She said nonchalantly as the elevator door sprang open.

   "Well, he came a week earlier, but I found out today. His secretary said he had something urgent to take care of in the country." He said as they got into the elevator.

   "What is the location of the diner?" 

   "Just get ready, he said a chauffeur will pick you up by two."

       She nodded. She couldn't tell how she was feeling at this point. A part of her was happy because she was going to see her father after a long while, and another part of her was feeling guilty about the fact that she left their family house when she was eighteen despite her father's disapproval.

   They got out of the elevator to the first floor, and a limousine was already parked outside with a chauffeur who was waiting for her. "I'll see you later Addy." She hugged him and entered the limousine, and the chauffeur drove off.

.

      A man stood behind the glass window and stared at the moving cars on the road which was a hundred feet under him. He was wearing a diamond ring on his middle finger which was carved in the same shape as the symbol on the diamond stick he held to support his weight.

       He wore a zebra-striped suit which fitted perfectly with his black leather shoe, and a diamond wristwatch on his left wrist. There was no one in the room, except for him and it was filled with complete silence until a knock was heard on the door.

     "Sir, Mr. Ethan is here." A man said standing close to the door.

   "It's about time the little brat showed up. Let him in." He said without turning to look at the man.

        "Yes sir." The man bowed and left the room.

     "Griffin," Ethan called out nonchalantly.

      Hearing his name in that voice made him turn with a sigh. "You haven't seen your old man in seven years and you greet him this way? Where are your manners, my boy?"

        Ethan smirked.

      Griffin walked to the chairs at the center of the room, sat down, and gestured his hand to a chair close to the one he sat on and Ethan sat on it.

       "I see you decided to pay me a visit," Griffin started, staring at Ethan's face.

   "I didn't have a choice. What's with the meddling in my business? I thought we agreed you would never do that?"

     Griffin smiled. "Coffee?" 

   "I'm not in the mood."

   "Well, I am," Griffin gestured his hand, and coffee was served to them. He took a sip of it and turned to look at Ethan sitting beside him. "If I didn't do that, how then will a spoilt brat like you listen to me?"

    Ethan smirked. "Do yourself a favor and save your threats for your incompetent minions."

      Griffin's laughter filled the room in echoes. As he laughed, his white perfect teeth could be seen and the resemblance between both men surfaced. Ethan was the replica of his grandfather and he also reminded his grandfather of his willed and determined younger self.

   "Don't meddle with my business ever again," He narrowed his eyes at Griffin. "I guess I'll be seeing you around then Mr. Griffin." He stood up and was walking out of the room.

   "Tonight I have a special announcement," Ethan paused and looked at him over his shoulders. "Do not be late."