Chapter 43

43 Blackmail

Ella woke up a little late feeling enervated and hungry. Her senses picked up a mixture of scrumptious cuisine which made her stomach growl loudly. She lazily turned to the other side of the bed, only to meet Leon’s affectionate and intense gaze. She looked down at the tray of different mouth-watering meals and her stomach growled again. This made her mouth twitch in slight embarrassment.

“Good morning sleepy head.” Leon reached down and kissed her briefly on the lips.

He acted as though they never had a ruction the previous night.

“Seat up, so you can have your breakfast.” Leon assisted her in getting up. He placed a pillow behind her back to make her more comfortable. Placing the food tray on a small fancy bed table, he delicately set the table before her.

The elaborate feast was; roasted potatoes and chorizo hash, pancakes, poached eggs with smoked salmon, sausage and eggs sandwich, pineapple-cucumber smoothie, bacon, spinach scrambled eggs, some muffins, and orange juice.

Ella was too flabbergasted to speak. Her cheeks were still flushed from the earlier kiss. Leon was an unpredictable being. One minute, he is as cold as ice and the next, he is as warm as toast. The thought of toast made her stomach growl for the third time.

Seeing that Ella’s mind was running wild amidst hunger, Leon took the initiative to start feeding her. He took a spoon full of scrambled eggs and placed it on her tightened lips.

“Ella, open up! Your stomach is hurting,” Leon spoke tenderly.

“I know you’re thinking about last night’s incidence. We’ll talk about it after breakfast,” he said reassuringly with an ardent plea.

.....

Ella nodded in silence and opened her mouth. After the first spoon from Leon, she quietly took over feeding herself.

Leon stood up and quietly left the bedroom to allow her to eat in peace.

The different cuisines were just too delicious and captivating, that Ella tasted everything on her tray like a food critic assessing a meal for perfection.

After breakfast, she showered and dressed up in a long sleeveless brightly patterned maxi gown. She was completely breathtaking in her summer look. She stepped casually into the sitting, unaware of her beauty and its effect on Leon.

Leon swallowed hard severally to put his emotions in check. He didn’t want anything to ruin their remaining moments in this enchanting place together. He wanted to make the remaining part of their honeymoon vacation memorable for Ella.

Ella sat down gracefully on the couch opposite him. Her eyes darted around avoiding his gaze.

“Thanks so much for breakfast.” Her voice was as soft and serene as the gentle whisper of nature.

Leon felt overwhelmed and peaceful as his heartbeat tangled with the flow of her voice. “I don’t think I’ll ever let go of this beauty,” he half admitted to his dismay.

“What did you say?” Ella pulled him out of his trance.

“I said you’re welcome,” he stood up and went over to seat beside her. The short distance between them was already stifling him, and he couldn’t take it anymore.

Ella’s blend of Citrus Lily scent filled his system. He wanted to take her into his arms but the rimy look in her eyes made him seat back instead.

“Ella, about last night, I’m truly sorry,” he spoke softly. “I never meant to hurt you that way. I was enraged and needed to calm my strained nerves. I know I acted like an idiot and I also know it makes no sense right now to say I never touched that lady. Although, I did things I’m not proud of at the moment. But, I want you to know that I care a lot about your feelings.”

Ella’s bewildered eyes gawked curiously at him. “Y- you never t- touched her?” she stuttered in amazement. A dozen questions clamored for attention in her head. She gaped at him in disbelief, while resting her chin on her hand like a detective trying to piece together a difficult puzzle.

Leon half smiled. All this while, her anger had been linked to the thought of him having sex with another girl. “No, I didn’t touch her.” Her watchful gaze and probing intensity almost made him chuckle. Whether frowning, angry, curious, or happy: Ella always managed to turn him on.

“If you didn’t touch her? What were you doing behind closed doors with her for that long?” Ella’s eyes flared as she interrogated him. She was piqued at the thought of Leon’s arms on the girl’s waist.

Leon was provoked by her questioning but he didn’t show it. Instead, he maintained a calm composure. He had never verbally stroked himself before a lady the way he did with Ella. He practically called himself an idiot just to please her. Yet, she was still mad at him. He wanted to win her over and not fight with her. But his eyes had a potent undertone of displeasure.

“Ella, I was furious and desperate. When a man is turned on and left without sexual gratification, it could be very dangerous to his state of mind.” Leon’s half-smiling face concealed a caustic volley of fury. On a normal day, he would spew terror, if anyone queried him in this manner. But since he had an undying hankering to please Ella, he swallowed his pride and tried to maintain a calm demeanor.

“What I am trying to say is... You know what, let’s sweep this issue under the rug. I don’t want it to ruin our time together.”

Like a savvy veteran with all the tricks at the tip of his fingers, Leon covered the space between himself and Ella. He ignored her piercing glares.

The way Ella stared at him was a perfect definition of the phrase, ‘if looks could kill.’ Leon’s devious smiles were breaking her veneer of composure. They were so close now that she could feel his breath drifting over her reddened face.

He took one of her hands and interlocked his fingers with hers, smiling bewitchingly. “Ella, you are my wife officially. I can’t deny the fact that I desire you. I like you the way I have never liked any other girl. It makes me feel good that I’m not alone in this...” He paused and lifted her chin. Her eyes were shimmering with tears and passion. He wanted to desperately kiss her. The emotion she was exuding now was driving him crazily in love with her.

“If only you knew how much it kills me to see you hurt? Let’s not quarrel or fight between ourselves. I don’t want you to distance yourself from me. I certainly don’t want you to consider this marriage casually. I want us to act like a couple for...” Leon’s throat was clogged with emotions.

Even though it was the second day of their contract marriage, it felt as though it was the last day. He was suddenly anxious at the thought of losing her.

Ella was overwhelmed by his spirited plea. She was astonished that she had this effect on him. His hand was so warm and she could hear his heartbeat up close.

Her ire receded and was replaced by an unimaginable tenderness for Leon. She didn’t want to see him hurt either.

“I believe you! I know I have gone beyond my boundaries with my questioning. I know deep down, that you are angry about my interrogation. And I’m sorry about that. Let’s pretend it never happened and start all over again.”

Leon smiled and kissed her hand gently.

“But, I want you to know that I also care a lot about you. And I can’t stand you been with... I don’t want you to be... What I’m trying to say is I want you...” Ella’s brows furrowed in frustration.

Why was this so difficult to say, she quizzed herself within. Was she interfering with the conditions of the contract?

Leon smirked devilishly at her intending request. It was confirmed now.

Ella was also jealous and possessive just like him. What a perfect pair they made, his lips curled into a lopsided grin. “I’ll try, but I’m not making any promises.”

Ella smiled animatedly, “thanks. So what do you have for us today.” She snapped Leon out of the thought of a possible couch romance.

“Oh! You’ll have to come out and see for yourself, my dear.” Leon stood and lifted her into his arms like she was a weightless baby. He kissed her tenderly before taking her outside.

[DISCLAIMER: This novel is written exclusively on the Webnovel platform. The author, Tres_Aguila has no bearing with any other platform. Beware of pirates. Thanks.]

...

Richard’s hands trembled like a lifeless leave on the verge of falling. The color drained from his face. His eyes darkened and he wore a haunted look. He bit his lips, feeling as though he was standing at the edge of a vertiginous mountain, with an advancing avalanche.

Why hadn’t he contained his emotions? How in god’s name did he manage to get himself entangled with this malevolent and malicious girl? How would he come out of this situation unhurt? Would Ella ever forgive him if she saw this video? What would this devilish Susan want from him? Certainly, she intended to blackmail him with this video. Richard’s heart raced with a thousand questions.

Susan walked up to him and perked him on the cheek. “Last night was fun. We should do more of that, don’t you think so?” she batted her eyes seductively.

Richard’s nostrils breathed fire like a menacing red-eye bull about to gorge a man with a red cape. He felt like strangling her right there. Unfortunately for him a nosy Olivia and Abigail were behind Susan.

“Richard, why are you staring at Susan that way?” Abigail asked in an alarmed tone. “Has she done anything wrong?”

Susan briskly spun around and shot a piercing glare at Abigail. “What nonsense! Why would you cough out that load of rubbish?! What do you mean by me doing something wrong? Are you out of your mind?” Susan’s scowled indignantly.

“Oh forgive me for caring so much!” Abigail replied scathingly. “You can as well shut my mouth up with a boulder. I don’t give a damn about whatever transpired between the both of you last night that had made you this bitter. But get this into your scheming head. Richard is and will always be Ariella’s man.” Abigail hissed loudly and walked away after giving Richard a scornful sneer.

Olivia looked at both of them and shook her head in disappointment. “You both don’t fool me. When you are done having your lover’s fight, please return to wherever you crawled out from. My mother’s health and well-being are of great importance to me.” She sighed woefully and walked away.