Chapter 9: The Past

Ella's POV

I woke up this morning in my small studio apartment. Today I am going to see Eugene at his work. Alice has dig up everything that the Internet has on Eugene Matthews. I read over her research and they basically were facts that I already came to conclusion. He's rich and came to be successful at a very young age, gradating WSU when he was only 19 years old. He is son of Katherine Kavanagh and Richard Matthews, he inherit most of his wealth from his grandfather, Mr. Kavanagh. His company, in which he is the CEO, is funded both by his grandparents and the Lincolns family.

The Lincoln, the name sound awfully familiar, but then again is a common last name. I turn the pages that Alice had printed out to find pictures of him with Victoria Lincoln, who walked into class late last Monday. I look closely and examine Victoria. She's slender and blond, dress in all designers, Alice & Olivia's flower print dress and Prada's heels. She had her arm linked into Eugene. She looked familiar, Victoria Lincoln, Lincoln, Matthews & Lincoln INC. LINCOLN, what is with this last name, why is it bothering me! And the more I looked into Victoria's eyes in the picture, the more annoyed and bitter I feel. I'm not jealous that she's with Eugene, actually just annoyed with how her small lips curl up in such a devious smile. Then it hit me, her is similar to someone I knew, an older woman to much her beauty resembled, a woman who slapped my mother face and told her she was no good for my father.

I let my mind take me back to a time that I wish didn't happened. The door was locked, I know because my father had turned the lock and told me to stay downstairs. But being young and curious I did not listen to him, I placed my ears very closely to the door to try to listen to the voices and sounds behind the door.

"What do you want Elena?" my father asked.

"You, Christian."

"I told you before that I don't love you, I never did, please just leave my family alone."

"Does she make you happy? Does she let you hit her until she burst into tears? Does she allow the demon inside you to come out? Don't you miss me?" And then I heard a loud slapping sound. I believe the woman slapped my father, for it sounded differently than how my father would slap me.

"Don't you dare touch me again, or…"

"Or what Christian? You like it, don't you? Don't you just want to bend me over this desk and fuck me?"

"No, I love Ana."

"Sure you do, but you have needs she doesn't know how to fulfill. Come on Christian, you know you miss the pain and hard fucking, not that vanilla bullshit sex."

I was a young 13 years old or so, I may not understand everything I heard, but I made sense out of most of it.

"Beside, I could help you regain your wealth, you won't have to leave in this small apartment."

"I live here because of you and your husband."

"No Christian, you live here because your stupid wife couldn't keep her eyes on Ella, and you had to sell off your company."

"Shut up Elena!" I heard my father scream in anger then I heard a sound of a belt hitting that woman. She screamed loudly. I ran to my room, shut the door, locked it and went to my bed.


I decided to wear my mother's Jimmy Choo's wedge today along with jeans and a silk blouse. Wearing's my mother's designer shoe gave me confidence as I feel a part of her is with me encouraging me to be calm and stay strong. Sure Eugene is rich and handsome, but he shouldn't intimidate me.

As much as I wanted to stay causal and uninterested in him, I lost it all in the elevator. He smells so good, a natural refreshing scent; his touch is so firm yet soft along my skin. If the elevator door didn't open, I wouldn't know what would have happened next.

Victoria Lincoln stand with madden eyes glaring at us as soon as we stepped out. I wonder if she worked here with Eugene, it was Matthews & Lincoln INC.

He told her that I was his soon to be girlfriend. My heart skipped a beat when he said that. Perhaps he was looking for more than just a fling, perhaps I was wrong to think that he's a playboy.

Before Victoria could react to his response, his iPhone rang, "Sorry Ella, but I have to get this call, wait for me here, I'll just be gone for a few minutes." I watched him walked into his office, while Victoria's huge eyes couldn't stop staring at me.

She walked toward me with her high heels; she stood taller than me with her 4inch Gucci heels. She circle around me examining me from top to bottom, and then bottom to top.

"So, you are his new toy, nice shoes, but aren't they from seasons ago?"

"Hi, I'm Ella Grey, not his 'soon to be girlfriend' or a 'toy' and yes these are my mother, I would consider them as a classic and antique. "

"So Eugene new toy is a smart mouth, isn't she? Tsk…tsk…tsk…. I'm sure he'll be done with you by tonight. Tell him I say goodbye and that I'll see him tomorrow morning for breakfast."

She walked away, with each steps stronger as if she was making a statement. I wasn't bother with what she said; perhaps she's right that Eugene would be done with me tonight. The two option that he has is one, have it his way, get me into bed, and then leave, or two he can't convince me, thus he will give up and leave. Either way, he'll leave. I'm only here so that he would leave me alone; make him realize I'm not a toy and not the kind of girl he could mess with.

"What are you thinking of sweetheart?" Eugene said as he walked toward me, now dressed in jeans and white linen button shirt.

"You changed…I was thinking of how to make you realize that your pursuit with me would end up nowhere and I'm only wasting your time."

"Yeah I changed, didn't think the 3 piece suit was appropriate to where I'm taking you for our first date. And baby, you aren't wasting my time. We clearly have chemistry. Don't deny it."

Ignoring his statement about our chemistry I replied, "So where are you taking me?"

"I'm glad you are wearing jeans today, cause I'm about to take you on a ride you won't forget."

I was thinking that he was either going to take me on a thrill ride of a racecar or motorcycle. It would have sound very exciting for any other girls, but it wasn't new to me. When our family was better, father would take me on those kinds of rides.

"Sure" I said as I follow him.

Outside we were picked up in a dark blue limousine. "This is the exciting ride you were referring to?"

"Oh baby, have a little patience."

He opened the door to his limousine and I stepped inside, he followed, sitting next to me. Sitting side by side with him in the limousine, I felted really exposed and naked. I thought he was going to make a move, perhaps continue what we didn't finish in the elevator; instead he stayed quiet holding my hands.

The car stopped, and he got out first, reaching in, he help me out. I could smell the fresh nature that we were standing upon. We were at the Sammamish River, and there were two bicycles waiting for us.