Chapter 29: The Rings

Ella Lattone's POV

I sighed as I was looking at my hands. Well, my left hand. I felt the heaviness of the sapphire stone and my wedding band. It was a nice change on my fingers but I was still wary to show it to everyone. Especially my best friends.

"Ella!" Lea said as she was gripping my shoulder. I turned to look at her as she was eyeing me up and down. I smiled at her.

"Are you okay? You look…a little pale," she said as she was concerned over me. I chuckled at her before I was looking at her.

"Well, I have never been better. I was waiting for Max to meet me so I thought I would do some reading while I wait for him," I said as I was holding the journal that I was supposed to read for Research Methodology class. Lea nodded at me.

"I see," she said before I was itching to get my hands away from the table right now. I see that Lea was not paying attention to my hand.

But I guessed wrong.

"And what's this then?" She asked as she was holding my left hand in front of my face. She was playing with my rings before she was narrowing her eyes at me.

"Well, that's an interesting question," I said as I laughed briefly before she took a seat at the table.

"Out with it,"

I sighed as I was turning to look at her now. I know once Lea was interested in my rings, I can never run away from her now.

"Easy answer, I was married," I said as she was crossing her arms at me.

"Who was it?" She asked. I bit my lips as I was looking at Lea.

"Is he someone that I know?" She asked. I nodded.

"Is he here?" she asked. I nodded. She regarded me for a second before she smiled. She took my hands as her eyes were glistening at me.

"Is he the person that I met at the conference?" She asked. I sighed before I nodded. She squirmed before she was controlling her volume.

"Tell me everything," she said as I was looking at her. Where to begin? Well, at the beginning I guess.

"You know that I worked for WWF right?" I asked Lea. She nodded.

"Well, Cameron was my boss at the time and I have this huge crush in him when I was an intern 3 years ago. Then, I was trying to be close to him. But he was cold as ice. I don't think that he would be caring but," I said as Lea was waiting for me to continue.

"But?"

"Last night, I was assaulted by someone named Silas in the lounge," I said before Lea stood up.

"What?! you were attacked by that good for nothing man. I will make sure that he will not be here anymore," she said as she was picking up her phone. I don't know what she was doing but I was pulling her from the concentration that she was in.

"Lea, it's okay. Cam had it handled already," I said before she looked at me.

"Cam handled it? How?"

"Well, he was the one that saved me and I think he had delivered his message very well last night. I don't think Silas will be coming here when Cam was around," I said as I was trying not to smile at the thought. He was very furious last night.

"What did he do?"

"He punched Silas and thank God for Max to intervene. If not, I think Cam would be suspended. I don't know that he will but you never know," I said as I was looking at the watch and it was time for my meeting.

"Huh, I see," Lea said before I was packing up. She turned to look at me as she arched her eyebrow.

"Where are you going?" She asked.

"It's my appointment. I have to meet Max now. I talk to you soon. Bye," I said as I went to hug her and I was running toward the 3rd floor. I was standing in front of Max's office before I knocked.

"Come in," he said as I opened the door and I was surprised to see that Cameron was here.

"Ella,"

"Cam," I replied as I took a seat beside him. I have told him that I wanted our relationship to remain professional when we're at the campus.

"I was surprised to see you here," I said as I heard Cam smirked.

"Well, I was the TA of the class. Of course, I was here. Where do you expect me to be,"

"At the cafeteria maybe. Looking for someone," I said before Max was clearing his throat.

"If you guys have done flirting in front of me, shall we get on to the business then?" Max said as he was handing me and Cam a pamphlet. I read it and it was a grant for Volcanology research.

"As you can see, the National Science Funding, NSF, has offered a new grant for proposals that will be involving volcanoes. And since you guys proposal was closely related to volcanoes, might I suggest you guys write your proposals and send it for your research funding," Max said as I was looking at him before I turned to look at Cam.

"Do you wish for us to work together?" Cam asked as Max shrugged.

"it's up to you. I mean, you guys would fight at any chance but it would be nice to work with a colleague that you have known," Max said as I scoffed.

"If only you know how Cam works," I replied.

"Hey!"

I was looking at the pamphlet before I was smiling at Max. It was a very nice offer but I don't think I wanted to do research. I might just stick to coursework.

"It was a very tempting offer but I'm afraid I was not cut out for this kind of research. I might as well stick to my coursework." I said as I was smiling at Max. He nodded.

"I understand. With what happened last night—"

"Can we not talk about last night. I don't want Ella to be reminded of that son of a bitch," Cam said as he was rubbing his mouth. I smiled before I regarded Max. He nodded.

"I'm sorry. It must have been hard,"

"Thank you for your help. I hope Silas will remember not to mess with the wrong woman again," I said as I was looking at Cam. He was brooding now.

"He better or else I might kill him after this," Cam said before Max was clearing his throat again.

"Well, then. I think I have done all that I must tell you regarding the official news. For informal business…" Max said as he was eyeing me and Cam. I tensed. What would he say that Cam has shouted I am his wife?

I hoped it was nothing.

"I must say congratulation is in order then? When did you guys get married anyway? Even Mia and Sam did not know that you were, well, married. Carol and I have a theory—"

"That we were not interested to know. Say, cousin, is Dylan home these days?" Cam said as he was looking at his cousin.

Cousin? Wait Professor Maxwell Swift was Cam's cousin?! But they have different last names.

"No, I haven't seen him after that night when he said that he wanted to go out with you to the nightclub. Why?" Max asked Cam before he shook his head.

"No reason, I was worried where he might have gone to," he asked as I was hearing the conversation.

"Well, enough of that. I think I might as well get some lunch. Coming?" Cam asked me as we stood up and went for the door.

"You don't have to ask me twice," I said before Cam was smiling at me.

"Urgh! Get a room, guys. You were making my eyes sick right now with your banter," Max said as he was waving his hand dismissively. We laughed before Prof. Carol who taught Mineralogy was outside the room.

"Is Max in?" She asked before we stepped aside.

"Hello, Carol. Max's inside and he was waiting for you," Cam said as I was staring them.

"Oh my, I should have come earlier," Carol said before she went inside and closed the door.

"What was that all about?" I asked Cam as we made our way to the cafeteria. He shrugged but I think he knows.

Silas Agne's POV

Ugh! I cannot believe that I was being expelled for having sexual assault on that woman. She was not worth the expansion of my expel. But no matter, I will complete my studies even I have to move across the ocean to do it.

Luckily, I have an offer from the University of Cyprus in that matter. And I will be funded completely by them. I was happy that I have a second chance in this life. I have vowed that I will not assault women anymore even though they were interested in me.

But what I did not know was that my adventure to Cyprus will be a mysterious and permanent change in my life forever.