Chapter 477: Manhattan
Tuesday, February 14th, Late Evening
Dinner had been lovely; they left the restaurant and slowly walked down Fifth Avenue after dinner. They walked along the Museum Mile, heading south; she would look off into Central Park every so often. They huddled together for warmth as they slowly meandered along the main street of Manhattan.
"So, where does the night lead to?" Bietio asked.
"We're going to end this night at my hotel, and I'll be heading back to Tree Hill," Ellie said.
"That sounds depressing, at least for me," Bietio said.
"It is for me too," Ellie said.
"So, why do you have to leave?" Bietio asked.
"I have a contract, I want to finish it, and my brother will be home soon," Ellie said, "I want to be there for him."
"I understand," Bietio said.
"I'll be back when t's all over," Ellie said.
"What brought you to New York?" Bietio asked.
"Originally?" Ellie asked.
"Yeah," Bietio said.
"I was born," Ellie said.
"What?" Bietio asked.
"I was born in New York City; my parents lived in a rented apartment in SoHo. My sister and I were the reason they bought the brownstone," Ellie said.
"But you didn't stay," Bietio said.
Ellie shook her head, "No, my dad went for his master's degree, so we moved to Georgia," she said.
"What brought you back?" Bietio asked.
"After college, I planned to go in as a partner with my friend Jolie's family bookstore," Ellie said.
"I can't see you as a bookish person," Bietio said.
"Oh, I am, very much; I love the written word," Ellie said.
"That explains the journalist career," Bietio said.
"Well, why I came to New York City," Ellie said, "It was supposed to be a two-week visit of my friends Trin, Fallon, and my godson."
"Are Trin and Fallon a couple?" Bietio asked.
"Sisters," Ellie said.
"Your godson is?" Bietio asked.
"Trin's son; Trin is one of my best friends, so when she had her son, I was one of his godmothers," Ellie said.
"So, how did a two-week stay turn into an extended stay?" Bietio asked.
"I had an opportunity to work and stay here, so I did," Ellie said.
"Do you think it was worth it?" Bietio asked.
Ellie nodded, "No matter the struggles, I think it's been the right choice for me," she said.
"I guess it's my benefit you stayed," Bietio said.
"To both our benefit," Ellie said and stopped walking. She leaned her elbows on the fancy wall of stone and concrete that separated Fifth Avenue from Central Park. Ellie looked down into the Central Park Zoo. Being night, no one wandered in the zoo below, and maybe one or two of the animals moved.
"What's on your mind?" Bietio asked.
"Well, you've been learning about Elizabeth Scott, but I've not been learning anything about Bietio Hawk," Ellie said.
"Your name is Elizabeth," Bietio said.
"Yes, where do you think Libby comes from?" Ellie asked.
Bietio shrugged, "I just thought it was an old family name," he said.
"Elizabeth is a family name. One of my grandma's names was Elizabeth," Ellie said.
"Oh," Bietio said.
"Libby is a nickname for Elizabeth, by the way," Ellie said.
"Oh, okay," Bietio said.
"So, how did Bietio Hawk end up in Gotham?" Ellie asked.
Bietio shrugged, "I grew up in Port Washington on Long Island, went to college, and started working where I work," he said.
"So, how did you end up living here?" Ellie asked.
"The long hours and the commute were killing me, plus I wanted to get out of my parent's house," Bietio said.
"So, you moved here," Ellie said.
Bietio nodded, "I found an apartment, moved in, and been living in Brooklyn ever since," he said.
"I've never seen your place," Ellie said.
"Whose fault is that?" Bietio asked.
"True, true, but I'm going to have to fix that," Ellie said.
"It's not your brownstone or anything like that," Bietio said.
Ellie chuckled.
"What's so funny?" Bietio asked.
"I rent it from my dad," Ellie said.
"Your dad?" Bietio asked.
"Yes, my dad, as I said when we lived in New York, that was our home. He kept it for when he comes to New York," Ellie id, in an amusing fashion.
"I thought your dad was a high school teacher who also coaches basketball," Bietio said.
"He is," Ellie said.
"And he could afford that townhouse?" Bietio asked.
"Yes," Ellie said.
"You're not secretly rich, are you?" Bietio asked.
"Well, my dad could be considered rich, but he earned his money," Ellie said.
"Now I'm confused," Bietio said.
"My dad is the author Lucas Scott," Ellie said.
"Oh," Bietio said.
"Between his royalties and some sound investing, he could afford a lot," Ellie said.
"Oh," Bietio said, "Oh wow."
"My original plan was to live with Trin and Fallon when I moved here, but my dad said I have the brownstone and to stay there, so it's occupied, and please don't destroy it," Ellie said.
"What's the catch?" Bietio asked.
"When he comes to New York for business, he stays there," Ellie said.
"Oh, that doesn't seem that bad," Bietio said.
"It's not," Ellie said.
After one last look around the zoo, Ellie left the wall and started to walk down Fifth Avenue. Bietio joined her on the walk. The echoes of Ellie's heels on the concrete echoed in the relatively quiet Manhattan night; she watched him as they match steps.
"You have a show tomorrow," Bietio said.
Ellie nodded, "Yes, I do," she said.
"How long do you plan on staying after?" Bietio asked.
Ellie shrugged, "I don't know, I think Thursday or Friday, it's up to Brooke," she said.
"This is for the new line, right?" Bietio asked.
"Yes, it's for Banríon; I've known the designer for years," Ellie said.
"You do, how?" Bietio asked.
"She used to work for my mom," Ellie said.
"Wow," Bietio said.
"I know, small world," Ellie said.
"I guess," Bietio said.
"I need to head back to my hotel; I have a big day tomorrow," Ellie said.
"Okay, where's your hotel? I'll call an UBER," Bietio said.
"We're not far; let's walk," Ellie said.
"Are you sure?" Bietio asked.
"Yes," Ellie said, "Yes, I am."
They linked arms and slowly walked down Fifth Avenue together.
