Thank you to those who read and/or comment on this story. I am grateful and want to say that it's a great encouragement and does much to keep me going.

Well, here is my story's version of the 'First proposal scene' I hope you will like it.

Elia was already beginning to regret her decision, never had she ever felt so awkward in her life. They walked side by side in silence and Alexandre's demeanour seemed increasingly ill at ease and it was beginning to irritate her. It also reminded her as to why she'd been dreading to work with him to begin with. This was his idea, why on earth did he ask her to join him if he didn't really want to? The man was just plain weird, the sooner she got her answers and called it a day the better! She saw out of the corner of her eye, glance over at her and look away again, then look around at their surroundings. Then he stopped unexpectedly in a doorway that separated two shops.

"Euh, Elia" He began tentatively. "I need to talk to you."

Elia stopped and stepped towards him
"Ok?" She was curious, did he know what she had heard, was he now voluntarily setting the record straight?
"I guess the best way to do so is to say it straight."
"It usually is." She fixed her eyes on him as she waited for him to continue, he looked like someone who had just been accused of a crime he didn't commit and was being interrogated.
"Well," He began uncomfortably. "I want to let you know I admire you, a lot." He paused and swallowed thickly before taking a deep breath.
"Love you, even." He added in a low voice.
Elia stared, astonished into silence, this was the last thing she'd expected him to come out with.
"I've tried not to!" He spluttered. "I've been fighting it for months mainly because of your family. I thought you were like them but my efforts to rise above it has failed. I've realised since that you are not like that and these feelings have increased more than I can bear, It's been driving me crazy, and I need to let them out!"
Elia frowned, this was not impressive at all and she barely knew what to say.
"Well, now you have." She began. "And I hope you feel better for it." She turned to walk away, she'd had enough of being around him and she wanted out, immediately.
"Elia!" He took hold of her arm before she could go anywhere and looked at her questioningly.
"Is that all you have to say?" He asked looking both concerned and anxious.
"What were you expecting?"
"Well not much, but I'd hoped for a little bit more than that."
"More?" She scoffed. "What can I possibly say when you've practically told me I'm so bottom of the barrel that these feeling's of yours are a burden you'd rather be rid of!"
Alexandre sighed and looked down.
"I didn't mean it like that, I'm.."
"Then please correct me!" She interrupted. "I'm all ears, I'm dying to find out what it is about me you find so offensive that you had to fight your own feeling as you put it."
"It's not you!" He insisted. "Sorry Elia, I'm not good at this, it's all coming out all wrong." He paused as Elia waited with incredulousness for him to continue.
"It's the behaviour of some of your family," He went on. "You cannot close your eyes to the fact that their material interests supersede decency."
She took a deep breath to try and calm herself down
"You've got some nerve!" She growled.
"But am I wrong?" He challenged. "It was painfully clear at that BBQ back in the summer, you must have been aware of it. Your parents were desperate to throw any one of you and your sisters at either Carlos or myself."
"That's a lie!"
"How is it a lie? I know what I saw, the worst part was when your mum tried to put your younger sister on me, she's seventeen, right?"
"Yes, and she's a handful, capable of being inappropriate at times but my mum and dad ain't our pimps!"
"Your mum certainly had no objections to it, however."
Elia opened her mouth to object but Alexandre continued on.
"In fact" He continued. "Your dad's answer to the problem was to throw you at me while your mother was preoccupied with hooking in Carlos for Jazmin."
"Oh, is that why you broke them up?" She challenged.
"What other option was there, let them continue in a situation which would have left both of them miserable?"
"No, I believe you were the one to do that!" She snapped."
"Now you're being blind!" He contended. "Tell me how was it an ideal situation. Your sister was being pushed into a relationship by your mother and Carlos meanwhile was falling for her, had this continued it would have been dreadful for him, I doubt your sister would have been truly happy either."
"What?" Cried. Elia. "Are you actually insane?! Not to mention stupid and cruel!" How dare you assume to know what my sister is feeling, what her intentions were. You really haven't a clue and now you've caused heartbreak for both of them."
"I saw her with him multiple occasions Elia, in none of them did she ever have the look of someone who's in love."
"She's shy!"
"So is Carlos yet he still managed to make his feelings known."
"She loved him!" Elia cried. "Yes she's very restrained in letting it show but you had no right to interfere, none whatsoever!"
"Do you know how she really felt?" She went on. "After returning to Paris she was offered a job, one she'd been dreaming of and working towards for years. It was something that meant a great deal to her. But, she turned it down!"
Alexandre stayed silent, looking at her questioningly.
"It would have taken her to another country, far away, outside of Europe even and she turned it down because it would have meant leaving Carlos behind!" Elia paused, trying to control her emotion, Alexandre meanwhile continued to listen in a disquieting silence.
"It was her dream, and she gave up that dream for him, to her he was more important. I begged her not to but she loved him so much and her love for him became more important to her than her own ambitions!"
Alexandre looked pained.
"I...I didn't know" He stammered.
"No, you didn't!" She interrupted bitterly. "You were too busy being an arrogant, entitled wanker!"
"I didn't mean.." He began
"Don't you dare!" She hissed. "You have the nerve to accuse my parents of 'pushing us' towards well to do men but hypocritically think nothing of ruining the lives of others, My sister, Carlos, Joél, your ex-girlfriend and even your own sister!"
Alexandre's face went white.
"Yes, he told me all about it!" She informed him. "How you kept him away from his own dying brother, ruined the happiness he and your sister had together then used and discarded a famous actress to further your own career! Then you have the nerve to try and get around me all the while insulting me at the same time"
"You know nothing about that!" He told her coldly.
"And you know nothing about my family!" She responded. "Yes, my mother and sister are far from perfect but what family is? And my dad? He's the best person I know and don't you dare accuse him of tryna pimp us out, you're not even worthy to even talk about him, he's ten times the man you are. And besides, I know enough to know your a selfish, arrogant, and vile man who has nothing but scorn for peoples feelings so spare me the lies about trying to protect Carlos"
"Elia please!" He begged, taking hold of her hand.
"Don't touch me!" She seethed. "Do you get a thrill out of this, out of hurting people?!"
"No!" He cried.
"I find that hard to believe" She objected. "I saw from the get-go what kind of man you were, granted you almost got me to change my mind for a moment there but I see clearly now. You're the last man I could ever want to be with and throwing your pretty eyes at me won't change that!"
Elia tore her hand out of his and stormed away, tears were starting to well up in her eyes and the last thing she wanted was to be an emotional wreck in the middle of the street. She managed to make it back to her own street before they began to spill down her face. She stormed into her flat and threw her bag across the room in frustration.
Alexandre arrived back in Knightsbridge, where his home in London was located. His mind was reeling from the argument he'd just had, he felt hurt and confused. His belief and opinions had just been turned on their head and now he was at a loss as to what to think. Elia wasn't lying, that much was certain, and it just wasn't that. The conviction in which she spoke and the pain in her eyes and her voice screamed she was telling the truth. That was the thing that stung him the most, knowing he had caused such pain. He'd made a grave mistake and nothing he could say or do would change it. What he could do though is at least try and make amends, starting with admitting his error, showing remorse and explaining his side of the story, especially when it came to Joél and Liza.
Gabi was another matter though, he still had to protect her no matter what the cost, even if it that cost was Elia's forgiveness.

Elia was pretty calm by the time Jazmin arrived home, although seeing her knowing the truth about why Carlos had left gave her a heavy heart.
"How was your day?" She asked her once she was settled
"Busy!" Jazmin sighed. "In a good way though."
Elia smiled and handed her a drink.
"Food will be ready in about ten minutes." She told her.
"Oh, you're too sweet!" Jazmin gushed.
"How was the video?" She asked after taking a sip of her drink." Elia stiffened.
"I'm glad it's over."
"Why?"
"The man is vile!" Elia told her flatly. "Simple as that."
Jazmin smiled sympathetically.
"Sorry to hear that."
Elia shrugged "Not your fault" She assured her.
"I guess I was hoping it would go well and we'd see him again."
"Why would you say that?"
"I don't know." Jazmin replied with a shrug.
Elia looked at her questioningly.
"Well," Jazmin began." Maybe I do." She paused sheepishly for a moment.
"I guess I was hoping he'd keep us updated on Carlos.
Elia felt herself go cold.
"But you have Christina for that." She reminded her.
"She doesn't seem to have the time." Jazmin sighed.
"What do you mean?" Elia demanded. "She certainly had the time when we visited before!"
Jazmin shook her head sadly.
"I don't know, I guess business for her is busier right

now, or she feels awkward around me, either way, she gave the impression she didn't want to see me or even speak to me."
"Jaz I'm so sorry." Elia sighed, giving her sister a hug. "truly I am!"
"It's ok!" Jazmin insisted, smiling bravely.
Elia was disappointed that her suspicions about Christina seemed to be coming true, she also felt torn, she wanted more than anything to tell her sister the truth about Carlos, Jazmin deserved to know. She knew however it would break her heart, Elia knew she'd have to tell her soon enough, but maybe not just yet. With the conversation ended and the pair busied themselves with serving up their dinner.
She got a Whatsapp message from Joél later that evening, asking how she was and how the video went so she filled him in on the basic details, telling him that she hated what he had done to her sister and how he looked down so much on the rest of her family. He'd responded sympathetically, admitting it sounded typical of him.
'He's acting worse than I'd expected though.' He wrote. 'I didn't think he'd interfere that much when it didn't involve his family. I should have known, I'm sorry!'
Elia assured him that he could not have predicted Alexandre's actions
'However' She wrote back. 'I'll be happy never to see or hear from him again, ever!'
Joél responded with a smiley emoticon and promised to be in touch soon.