Chapter 1

Eleanor's POV.

I sit steadily on my seat as I watch him devour the plate of pasta before him.

He hasn't spoken a word since I arrived, just stares and glances showing something close to disgust.

"The pasta must be really tasty," I say smiling, trying to break the silence.

"Well someone who knows how to cook made it," he says wiping his lips with a napkin.

" Would be choking now, if you had made this pasta." He states, throwing me a hard glare.

"Jarvis I'm sorry, it has been days now. You agreed to meet up but you have been ignoring me. " I snap, clearly frustrated.

" I know you worked hard to get the clients from Amsterdam, but the deal wasn't good enough. My paintings are worth way more than what they offered." I look down at my fingers, reminiscing on last week's event.

Jarvis had used his connection to get buyers from Amsterdam.

They offered to pay peanuts for my masterpieces. A couple of thousand dollars for my best work, no way.

I never asked for help finding buyers in the first place but as always, Jarvis did what he wanted to.

I hate when he does that, making decisions for me, but I have never dared to say it to his face.

I love him too much to do so. "Now? Eleanor, you just sounded like a spoiled brat. One whose Daddy got everything covered for her."

He says, raising his voice, catching the attention of an elderly couple sitting a table away.

"You know how open-minded I am.

I want world recognition babe, do you know how amazing it will be to be on the cover of a famous magazine?" I say with excitement growing in my voice.

" I've worked hard to get those people to be interested in buying your paintings, Elle, and you talking about world recognition."

I rolled my eyes at his words, I guess I have to keep apologizing for not wanting to sell my quality paintings for crumbs.

"I'm sorry Jarvis, sorry for not selling those paintings at such cheap rates." I watch his face fold into a frown.

His perfectly shaped eyebrows arched, with loose strands of hair lying free above them.

Hold a fierce gaze, he signs deeply.

"I don't think this is working Eleanor, you are just being hard to love right now. I think we should take a break." He lets out the words slowly as if they were his last.

I swallow heavily as I adjust my bum on my seat, the sudden heat making the restaurant appear smaller.

"What do you mean babe? I already apologized right? I didn't accept the deal because their rates were not up to standard." I say as I feel sobs holding strongly onto my words.

"Not just that Elle, the person you are now isn't the type of person I want as a girlfriend.

Come on sweetheart, I'm Jarvis Roland. You're gonna be Ace to date me.

Right now you are not that person. So I will give you time to redeem yourself. "

I watched as he spat these hurtful words effortlessly.

I'm hurting, I try to tell him how much his words are hurting me but I can't. The prevailing sobs in my throat threaten to sprout out as soon as I open my mouth.

He stands up, attempting to leave. I place my palm on his hand, attempting to stop him.

" You should go home." He says as he hesitantly takes out dollar bills and slaps them on the dinner table.

Removing his hand from my grip, he walks out of the restaurant. Leaving me to the questioning eyes of our newfound audience.

I sit still to gather strength, one wrong move and I'm sure I will be in an ambulance.

"Are you ok dear? That man, is he your boyfriend? Did you two get into a fight?" The elderly lady from earlier asks as she rubs my back gently, causing me to let out a depressed cry.

"I'm fine, just tired. Thanks for asking." I say as I hurriedly wipe the already escaping tears from my eyes.

I stand up slowly from my seat and throw her a warm smile.

Removing my arm from her hand, I head for the exit.

Arriving home I tell my best friend Ciara what happened between I and Jarvis at the restaurant "I can't believe he broke up with you, that jerk," Ciara growls as she paces up and down.

" He didn't break up with me CI, we are on a break," I say more to myself.

" And maybe I need it, you know, I gotta focus on the award ceremony. I will prove it to him, I'm worth more." I meet her judgy eyes, carrying disgust and anger.

" Can you hear yourself, Elle? I'm sure the dude got some other chick. She snaps as she walks towards me.

"I know you don't like him. Jarvis loves me, we just have a little misunderstanding, it's normal you know." The angry look on her face is replaced with a worried one.

Her pupils dilate and her lips curve into a sigh. "He's dating someone else, Elle, already seeing someone else. I saw pictures of them on his Instagram account, but he made sure to hide her face."

I pause at her words, unable to believe them. Rising from the bed, I walk to the window.

Yes, I can't breathe, and yes I don't want her to see the flowing tears on my cheek.

"I'm sorry Elle, never wanted you to find out like this. I just… I'm here for you girl, that jerk doesn't deserve your tears." I turn towards her, placing my head on her shoulder, I let out a loud cry.

My voice echoing, sends more chills down my spine. I sound like a bear, a starving bear.

"Let it out, let it all out." She moans, patting my hair.

I step out of the shower towards the dressing table, patting my hair dry with my towel.

Shopping with Ciara has always been hectic. We spent hours in the mall and my shoulder ached from carrying that many shopping bags.

That's all we do now, it's like a healing mechanism. More shopping, less heartache.

It's been a month since Jarvis and I broke up, well he practically dumped me.

I know I'm not over him, I will be back in his arms as soon as he calls my name. Like a cold cat, scooping for milk.

I run towards my bed to pick up my ringing phone. It's Ciara calling, she can't seem to have enough of me. "Hey girl !!" She says as soon as I answer the call.

"Hey Ci, you calling again, we were together about an hour ago. I spent the whole day with you missy. Stop obsessing over me."

She laughs loudly at my remark, her tight voice turning into that of an ogre. "Well, I called to say I booked an appointment at the salon. We will get our hair and nails done tomorrow."

I raise my head to look at my blonde hair in the mirror, my bangs grown wildly to the side. I do need a haircut. "Yeah sure, but I will have to leave early ok. Mom wants me to help her in the flower garden by evening."

Jarvis' words flash through my mind, a sting of regret resting on my chest. I'm sure I can prove him wrong, I can do that much.

I use my fingers to move my bangs to the side, trying to figure out what style I will wear.

"One more thing Elle, you can never guess who got nominated in the same category as you." My heart begins racing at her words, fear and anxiety cluttering in.

"Who ?" I ask with a light tone.

"The devil herself." She replies with an even tighter tone.