Running Away to London

by Geiza Stefany de Oliveira

  “Liz, wake up.”

  I slowly open my eyes to see Elliott with a charming look at me and a lot of fun. I hear the noise of the rain outside and smell delicious inside... I lean on my elbows watching my boss reach out my hand.

  “I so sorry, I...”

  “It's alright.”

  I hold him in his rather hand. I follow him, barefoot. Elliott pulls me by the hand into the kitchen and as I walk behind him I smooth my hair. I must be spotless, always. Elliott looks flawless in her shirt and pants — no tie. We stopped near the island.

  “Sit down if you want. I will serve you.”

  I smile at him suspiciously.

  “Who are you and what did you do to my boss?”

  Elliott laughs. He runs his hand through the hair that falls across his forehead.

  “I'm at my house, exhausted. Now it's 1 am, so...”

  I frown my forehead. I do not believe it is already dawn. I sit at the same moment, very embarrassed. He turns the deliciously smelling pots making my stomach twitch.

  “Did you just arrive?”

  “Yes, if I could have stayed longer, yet in a few hours I have to be up.”

  I watch him fill a deep dish for what may be a soup.

  “Poor Elliott.”

  He laughs and turns to me with my plate. I am surprised by the appearance of this. God, how can this man cook?

  “Let me help you?”

  “No, be quiet there.”

  He moves away from the island, so he speaks with his back to me because is now serving himself. I pull the drawer down... there is cutlery here and napkin.

  “I may be deeply mistaken, but at home are you... calmer?”

  Elliott turns to me, a blatant smile on his face.

  “In my office, I work hard, Luiza. I am extremely picky with myself and everyone, but my home is a place to rest alone or with the best people in my life.”

  I remain serious as he puts his plate beside me. Once more Elliott walks away to the sink where he has a bottle of wine. I do not want to delude myself, and I should not even that is why I am starting to change the subject.

  “So, how was today?”

  “Don't ask me for highlights, but it was amazing. I liked the creativity of designers, and believe me when I say creativity is what the world supposes.”

  “Lovely, I can wait and see.”

  I see Elliott turn to me opening the bottle of wine. Then comes the pop. I smile, realizing that he will serve me in the most... adorable way of all.

  “I don't remember when I last drank good wine, you know that?”

  He arches a finished brow.

  “I remember the last one in Milan.”

  Oh, that scene of him coming into my room and grabbing me... that was terrible.

  “I had just thrown the rest of my dignity in the trash going after Jordan.”

  Elliott comes to sit down after giving me the glass of wine. I take my first sip with all the anxiety that goes through my body now...

  “When my father was here, my only concern was to enjoy life with Jordan. Maybe that was why I thought I loved her.”

  “And you didn't love her?”

  He looks at me seriously.

  “Try the soup and then I answer.”

  Uh! I try the legume soup and fall a little in love with his hands.

  “It's delicious, now proceed, please.”

  Without smiles or sympathy, my boss drinks his glass of wine.

  “We were always traveling or spending our energy on some parties with our friends in the industry. One day we could be in Australia and the next in Rome. I wasn't working regularly in the last year, just making her fall a little more in love with me about everything I showed her in my life.”

  “I think you did love her, Elliott.”

  I turn to the soup, hungry and he does not even look at the plate. Her gaze is nowhere as she thinks of the beautiful Italian ex-girlfriend.

  “Not quite, because Jordan was with me for the things I gave her.”

  “Oh...”

  “Yes, and I didn't want to see why I had fallen for her. She knew how to hook me.”

  I laugh at myself and I sink deeper into the soup...

  “So you loved the fantasy of her in your head.”

  This time he looks at me.

  “Yes, I loved someone unreal, who was in love with me and who would support me not only in joy but in sadness as well. That was when my father died, and I saw that what we had with each other would not hold at that stage of my life.

  Oh damn! So different from Fernando that he tried to comfort me and I abandoned him...

  “I'm so sorry.”

  “No, Liz. She was not with me for a serious commitment to complicity and support. It just took me a while to realize. When we went to Milan I was still trying as hard as I could to win her back. The sample in the gallery was when she woke me to reality once and for all, after 3 months we had finished, she was already with someone else.”

  “God, Elliott...”

  “So I acted like a teenager at 30 for the last time. I'm so sorry for what I did to you that night, Liz.”

  He looks at me regretfully and I feel embarrassed.

  “I forgive you. If you want to know, just now I'm realizing how much I don't want my life to be just about you.”

  I turn to the soup as he looks at me strangely.

  “Your life is not about me, but what you are striving for with this job.”

  Running away from my father, growing up in professional life... Elliott has some soup now.

  “Yes, you're right. It's just that I have my history in Brazil.”

  I see the smile he opens with curiosity. Those blue eyes twinkle over me.

  “I declare this night of exception, if you want to open up about yourself, go ahead.”

  I smile at him!

  “Well, I think the confusion started when Fernando destroyed my ceiling...”

  Chapter 18

  It is weird one day my boss can be the most annoying man in the universe and the next the most amazing guy I know. It all started that night when we began to open up about our lives and has lasted until today: one year later.

  As much as at first Francesca hated to see me as an executive producer less than 2 months ago, but we became good colleagues. She hated seeing me win the promotion because she thought it was her turn, after all, we both worked hard over the last few months.

  However, I have the training she does not yet have. So she tries to learn from me ever since. I am still measuring how much my life has changed in such a short time, especially here in the meeting room with the editors, including Elliott who listens to me attentively.

  I go to his office then happily while I'm full of work to do. Francesca smiles at me, facing Hisashi who does the same. When it is a feast day they get all the chance to have fun. Who does not get it? Just me.

  I see Mia with her Cocker Spaniel English, in her lap. She talks about the upcoming 18th birthday party, and I interrupt.

  “Hi, Liz! Excuse me, but do you promise me that this time I will be able to greet my fans on the street?”

  I smile at her politely. The last time we left she wanted to stop and greet everyone. Mia is the sort of person who can surprise me every time with humility and spontaneity.

  “I can't, duchess, but I'll try.”

  “Oh, there she goes!”

  “Hi, sweetie...”

  I approach his dog and smooth his fur without facing Elliott. He watches me as usual.

  “Alright, and I don't know how that happened, but here's your invitation.”

  I look at Elliott next and take the gold paper from his anxious hand. Suddenly a fright...

  “Wait a moment, does Mrs. Pollentier want to see me?”

  They laugh with my astonished face.

  “No, if she wanted to, I'd invite you to tea at five.”

  Mia explains.

  “It's just a warm-up before Mia's party with our best friends.”
r />   I look smartly at Elliott who has fun with me internally. I know.

  “So you told her what I did for you.”

  He nods, not saying anything.

  “Sorry, but I'm starting to leave here?”

  Mia insists, raising a finger to speak. Her question is not friendly, but impatient. It would be absurd that Elliott and I had anything but a friendship.

  “Of course not, duchess. I already will, and I will be super honored! I need to go shopping.”

  Elliott smiles at me, resting his chin on his fist on the table. He always does that when I start to get so excited. Mia, this time does not say anything else. She is jealous of her brother, and this is visible.

  I return to my office with the invitation in hand that attracts enough glances. After that Fashion Week with Elliott, I decided to do my best for him. That's why I used his contacts, friends on Instagram, and family professionals. Hisashi helped me in this secretly.

  Massages, dinners with friends, therapeutic places even in Ireland, and other adrenaline encounters... I made a lot of reservations, even contacted the suppliers of the foods Elliott was consuming after talking to his dietitian. I made very few changes, but necessary for him to calm down.

  Elliott needed to calm down, but something about him never changed. Although in recent months the monthly circulation of the magazine has increased. Also, he has made excellent new hires for the company team. I still suspect it is because of his father.

  He did not open up to me about everything. I would like to do more for Elliott, but some things are not up to me. Suddenly he knocks on my now door, my empty place is because the rest of the people are on the street.

  “Hello!”

  I mean, setting my notebook aside.

  “I have something for you.”

  He comes up with a box in his hands and makes me very anxious.

  “Elliott, what is this?”

  My boss laughs with my amazed face once again.

  “Just something from a friend.”

  He puts it in my hands and I want to hug him.

  “Thank you, dear friend.”

  I smile, very touched.

  “It's my pleasure. I leave at half-past six, be ready by then.”

  Before I can question him about after 6 months he finally dares to take me in his car, Elliott shoves his hands in his pocket and leaves me. I open the box full of curiosity, seeing a gold dress.

  I remove it with my heart pounding right now... in my hands are the golden dress of Dolce & Gabanna that I tried on in the wardrobe months ago! With a skeptical laugh, I can not believe Elliott saw me that day on camera.

  God, this dress is perfect! I need to hug Elliott as soon as possible! I change myself, as soon as possible, full of anxiety and happiness. I wait for Elliott in the hallway leading to the elevator and when he sees me, his gaze drifts over me.

  Ah, the smile he keeps giving me covers his face once more. As usual, he just pulls me by the hand. Elliott just drops me in the elevator, where we are alone and then...

  “Are you going to give me a lot of work today, do you satisfied?”

  I smile without believing he is asking that.

  “Oh, Elliott... you are not my father!”

  I flatten myself in the elevator's glass-making him raise an eyebrow. I thank God in thought about the fact that my father did not seek me...

  “Come on!”

  He says going ahead when the elevator doors open. Oh, I can not believe it. I safe in his hand right away.

  “Excuse me, but you'll drive.”

  I mean, and he turns to me without giving a damn.

  “No, Liz. We go on foot.”

  Uh!

  “Elliott, please!”

  I do my best trying to convince him as a little girl. I watch him take a deep breath and pull me closer out of the elevator.

  “We will walk.”

  God, I can not believe it! We left the building, really on foot, side by side. I kill him in thought and silence. God, why does he have to be so protective? Suddenly, I feel boring melancholy.

  After all, what appeals to me about Elliott is that protective way about him. So, we started walking differently...

  “Thank you.”

  I mean finally. We are almost at his mother's house, about 10 minutes walking.

  “What do you thank for?”

  He asks me very carefully along the way.

  “For being the way you are with me.”

  I look serious at him and he returns my seriousness.

  “It's my pleasure!”

  He offers me his arm for me to hold and then we take just a few more steps and finally Mrs. Pollentier's townhouse opens for us.

  God, I do not belong to their world. The number of people here who belong to the fashion clergy is daunting as well as exciting. The townhouse is incredibly beautiful, utterly spotless and sparkles, even more, when Mia — dressed in a white Chanel pantsuit — comes down the stairs pampered by Kim and another girl.

  Her little dog is in her arms and the only thing she wants right now is to get her brother away from me. I smile at her jealousy. Kim quickly approaches me, vibrant in her social outfit.

  “Honey, you look like an angel in this outfit!”

  She exclaims already pulling me closer to the rest of our other friends. We close the couch just for ourselves and catch up. Here are our friends in common on the job.

  Occasionally I look back to see Mia with a new friend, pampering her, and then my gaze meets Elliott's again, unintentionally... I am so embarrassed and afraid that it looks like he is eyeing me. Kim notices and she always does the same thing: she laughs happy for me.

  “Why don't you get a glass of sparkling wine and go to him?”

  She whispers in my ear.

  “Are you crazy? He is among the hundreds of models, rich and perfect friends he has. He's the most coveted guy in here, and my boss too!”

  “Screw they, honey! I don't care, especially when he looks at you like that.”

  I ignore Kim for a few seconds. She has no idea of Milan, otherwise, she would push me into Elliott's arms. That is the problem: I am neither a hobby nor an object for him to do as he pleases. Elliott became my friend and we had lunch and dinner several times.

  I know he is a good man and that out of the office is more friendly and soft-hearted than I could imagine. However, I can not screw it up now. I am not going anywhere, because I have nowhere else to go if everything goes wrong this time.

  Involuntarily, I look back once more... Elliott and his best friend, Lewis, are going to the backyard of the house. That redhead is Elliott's only best friend, and when they get together things can get out of hand. I understand them, they are childhood friends and always go out together.

  “Excuse me, but are you in love with Elliott?”

  “Kim, please!”

  “Honey, I just...”

  “I came here to have fun and that's all.”

  She looks at me smugly. I stop thinking of Elliott to remind me of the good things that what happening to me around here. My life is no longer just about my boss and now I have real goals, like buying a house in Cambridge where I can move soon.

  Maybe I do not get a better and more advantageous job in the area with a letter of recommendation from Elliott. It would be boring having to get away from him and my friends now, but I need to think about my future. Soon it is my birthday and I will be so much faster at 30.

  I have to think the best for myself rationally and not get into an adventure that can be just sexual. Oh no! That would be horrible for me and even for Elliott.

  “You're thinking a lot, and that welsh man keeps playing charm to you.”

  I smile at Mia's whisper beside me. I look at her and shake my head.

  “I can't believe you want to get me a pair!”

  I get up about to go around the couch to hug her. However, I see the beautiful French beside her. I get a scare that can barely be disguised. Kim is already with the man
she told me the other day and they dance together.

  “Do I know you?”

  I ask the man. Mia gives me a surprised look, but I do not care.

  “No, you don’t madam.”

  I roll my eyes at him.

  “Liz, what's wrong with you?”

  I look at Mia, appalled.

  “There is nothing wrong with me, where is Elliott?”

  She gapes at me and when I realize she has no answer, I walk out of the house, as rude as I am now. I just need to find him...

  Elliott opens the door before me and sees me astonished, and he quickly approaches and I stop in front of him wanting to tell the whole truth.

  "Do you know your sister is dating the one who wanted to buy your business? The same one that broke into the office months ago.”

  Elliott closes his eyes at me. His lips form a line. Looks like I went after a lion teasing it. I do not care! The worst thing for a woman is to be deceived and persuaded. I imagine the worst thing for a man is to see the strain of his work crumble under his nose.

  I see Elliott look over my head and then I see what might never happen without my intervention at Pollentier House. I am amazed to see my boss pull the man by the collar and give him three punches in the face, in front of everyone!

  “Do you think you can persuade my sister?”

  He asks slowly as he punches him. Mia squirms, crying, and everyone around is gaping.

  “Elliott, for God's sake, stop!”

  Mia screams and then he lets the man go away. He looks at her, about to give her a protective sermon, but for when his sister puts her hand on her belly and shakes her head.

  Everyone notices. I almost go into shock... oh no, what did I do? Mia looks away, crying and embarrassed. That's when she crosses her gaze with my disappointed one... I still try to remember that I just did it to protect her. As everyone looks shocked at the three of me not knowing what to do I move out.

  I cry, feeling bad for the confusion, but I do not regret it. It seems that things are not as simple as I thought, Mia is pregnant... suddenly I feel someone take me by the arm. I look back thinking it's french man, but it is Elliott with the darkest look I've ever seen in my life.