After Ela left Arthur in a much better condition than she had found him in, she made her way back to the room, locked the door behind her, and got under the covers feeling although less overwhelmed than she had hours before, more exhausted, and was finally able to sleep, but not without her dreams being haunted by memories and fantasies of strong arms and decisive hands touching her body and whispering commands into her ear with her complying obediently.

By the time she finally woke up her nightgown was covered in sweat and judging by the sun's position, it was early afternoon. She made her way to the bathroom and cleaned herself feeling ashamed her own mind was betraying her by entertaining wishes that needed to be discarded if she wanted to recover some piece of mind. After fixing herself and getting dressed she motioned for the door and just when she was about to go out her hand froze on the knob.

She took a step back and discovered she was not nearly ready to face Thomas Shelby or anyone for that matter. Her head faltered down and taking her hand away from the knob she backed away and sat on the desk's chair contemplating her options.

When she was figuring out what to do, a knock on the door startled her and Frances made herself known.

Ela let go of a sigh she didn't realize she had been holding and had to think quickly of something, as the older woman wanted to check up on her.

It was clear this was a disruption in her normal behavior of getting ready early in the morning and being around the house with Charlie by her side, so Frances had gone up to make sure she was alright.

Knowing she was too weak to face the world Ela informed Frances she was starting to feel sick, which was not too far from reality if her paleness and turn stomach were indicators of her evolved anxiety. The woman understood and let her rest with a promise of hot chicken soup later that day to help her get better. Ela thanked her dearly appreciating Frances' concern for her and having found the excuse that would seclude her from the outside.

she took the opportunity to take on her reading, although at first, it had been hard to concentrate on the book she had chosen with constant images flashing in her mind from the previous day's events, Ela managed to purposefully focus on the pages and before she realized it was nighttime. She felt thankful for Frances' soup even when she had not been quite able to enjoy it. Her stomach was refusing to accept any food but she just shrugged it off due to her emotional state.

Not long after she went to bed her dreams once again called out her true desire to be entrapped by the frozen-eyed gangster she yearned for. This time she woke up a few times during the night feeling distressed and sweaty. Inspecting her face in the mirror Ela thought God was probably punishing her for lying to Frances about being sick as now she felt indeed in poor health. The walk in the rain and keeping the wet clothes on were most likely to blame. She changed again and went back to bed.

When Sunday's morning light made Ela rise from her sleep, she was still feeling very under the weather, her complexion was no longer pale as the day before, her cheeks were flushed and she was feeling feverish.

When Frances inquired about her state Ela explained to her she had been recently careless about getting wet and not changing immediately after, she would probably get sicker in the next few hours before feeling better, she could hear the older woman's concern from the other side of the door and wanting to check her closely, but Ela advised it wouldn't be wise for her to get Frances sick too.

Frances agreed even when not feeling inclined to, and after a while, she returned to Ela's room with another plate of soup to help her get better, also informing her that Ada had been phoning the house trying to get a hold of her.

Ela panicked remembering the state Ada had seen her on Friday night.

She squeezed her eyes shut knowing they would have to talk sometime soon, but that time was not now, so Ela thanked Frances and promised to return Ada's calls when she was feeling better.

She returned to bed and drifted in and out of sleep for the rest of the day, finding a drawing that Charlie had slipped under the door of them both in a flower field with a message about missing her and hoping for her to get better soon. She took the drawing to her chest knowing how much she missed him as well.

Monday morning came too soon, and Ela arose from her sleep feeling well-rested; although she was sure her fever had broken overnight her temperature had still not subsided completely, and the thought she would soon have to bear her first encounter since the events from the study with her employer was increasing it by the second.

She put on her clothes trying to find ease in her movements as her hands kept shaking, but her room could not remain a shield from the house she lived in, so she finally went out hesitantly but decided to act as normal as possible.

She found Frances in the kitchen and the woman rushed to her scrutinizing her appearance and asking how she really felt, Ela smiled sweetly and informed Frances she was feeling a bit better but her temperature was still high. The housekeeper suggested she talk to Mr. Shelby asking his permission for a couple more days to overcome her sickness but Ela quickly disagreed shaking her head not feeling capable of meeting him in private, much less in his study even if she kept feeling bad, not even on the verge of dying she could, she would rather convulse in the ground that having to attempt making eye contact with him.

Frances thought it odd that Ela would have such feelings about requesting time off but thought it was normal if her dedication to her job was the reason behind it. They had breakfast together and both parted ways to begin their tasks but Frances made Ela promise she would come looking for her if she started feeling too sick.

Ela agreed and they went along with their days, but before they were too far apart Ela asked Frances if Mr. Shelby was in the house and Frances confided in her that it seemed he had not been in a good mood since Friday because once again he had been locked up in his study since that evening and had gone over to London in the morning but early enough that there had not been light in the sky when he had driven off. Ela nodded and they both walked away with Ela wondering if she had been at least partially the reason why he had gotten upset.

Tommy knew he had experienced an emotional vicissitude type of weekend, from the encounter with Ela to having to take care of the American's drama; enduring Ada's raid on his actions had not been a walk in the park either, he had barely let out a word through their hour-long conversation on the phone despite of her attempts to get the truth from his lips; after that, he had refused to take the calls from Polly knowing they would be even more excruciating and ferocious when Ada had without a doubt told her what she had witnessed.

But above all the most difficult part had been the exchange he had heard between Arthur and Ela leaving him to think what a terrible brother he had been, and how much he wanted to show Ela all the things she was thinking about their relationship and of her were not close to the truth, but then finding out she was ill or pretending to be to remain locked up in her room made him decide for the first time he would refrain his selfish wishes to let her recover peacefully.

He spent the day in his office at Parliament close to the phone firmly believing he would get a phone call from Arrow House explaining Ela wanted to request time off or just informing him she wanted to present her resignation, but when the clock stoke three and not such call happened, he wondered if she was intending to do so in person, but considering her reluctance to face him, it was highly unlikely.

He would have to get to the house and inspect what was the situation between them at present time.

When he arrived home it was past five o'clock and Charlie welcomed him, he embraced his son tightly and noticed Ela's figure looking at them from the living room window without walking to the door to greet him as she usually did. It was evident she was still cautious to interact with him and on alert to his movements.

He made his way to the house with Charlie in his arms and noticed she was no longer in the living room, she had moved away somewhere else to prevent coming in contact with him, but he still relished in her smell that somehow had changed a little from the last time it had been spread around the house, he thought it was peculiarly strong, sweeter even, but perhaps it was his imagination from being away from each other for the last couple of days.

He made his way around the house believing she had retired to her room for the night without giving him a chance to speak, but then he found her looking out the drawing-room window. As she felt his presence she looked warily to the door, and they finally locked eyes.

Ela's heart raced when she saw Tommy. She hadn't realized that amongst her embarrassment and guilt from letting herself behave as she had on Friday night, she had longed so much to see him again, feeling almost comforted and relieved to be in his presence.

-"Good afternoon Mr. Shelby," she said in the most neutral tone she could manage attempting not to look at the door for either shame or submission.

She was a vision standing in front of him, graceful as always, but her cheeks and chest looked flushed, not like they usually did, but from her body temperature, he had to guess she had not lied about her sickness, she did look feverish, and although it was evident she was feeling shy and unsettled, something in her face told him she was also glad to see him.

-"I see you're recovering nicely from your sickness Ela".

-"Yes sir, I'm feeling better" She could not longer stand to be alone in the same room as him, and her fever didn't help, she looked down and realized she had to get away from him.

"If you excuse me, I think I better help Frances serve Charlie's dinner".

-"Is that how you plan to avoid me from now on? through my son? even with tasks that do not correspond to you." He was blunt; if they were ever going to talk he would need to be the one taking charge to ensure they did, even if it might distress her further.

Ela looked to the side not wanting to show he may be correct but he was also leaving her no choice but to return to her old habits of escaping him or avoiding him to prevent further contact.

-"Mr Shelby... I believe we should not discuss this here".

-"I agree, but I think you'll decline if I offer the study as an option" Her resistance to look him in the eye showed him how ashamed she felt, but also how strong her feelings were, knowing she would disclose her true desires even if they contradicted the wishes Tommy thought she also had about a life for herself "So the drawing room is the next best choice".

Ela shifted uncomfortably on her spot and it was evident it came from mortification, but her smell also revealed it was from an agonizing need to relieve the events. She tried to settle and stay polite.

-"Or we could opt out of discussing it at all Sir".

-"I think you know that's not something I will agree to," Tommy said taking a step in her direction and she quickly took one back making it known she was not in the mindset to let him get close to her as it would be too much of a temptation "and you must notice that not talking about it is only helping to make this situation more difficult".

How could he not see how difficult it was for her already? She could barely keep her knees steady.

-"Sir I fail to see how speaking about it will make it easier".

-"The last time we promised to be honest with each other proved to be exactly what helped to make it easier, you still think it won't resolve it now?" He resorted to reminding her of their first real conversation and how the outcomes from it had mended their frustration and the relationship had grown from it.

Even knowing he was right about the time they had managed to become used to each other, the situation was not the same now, they had let their instincts control their actions and their circumstances had completely changed.

-"I do Mr. Shelby".

-"Then I suspect is because you're not prepared to be honest"

Reasoning with her was not working, he was getting more direct than he intended, he only knew about her real feelings from the private conversation she held with Arthur, but if he had to disclose it to get her to talk to him, he would.

-"Have you considered it to be because honesty is not something I want to hear from you either Sir?".

She firmly believed he would at one point tell her he wanted her in his bed like he already had, and he liked her looks and her scent and wanted to know what her taste could awaken in his animalistic self, but that's not something she wanted to hear. It was his truth, and she had seen it, but she would be left even more brokenhearted. Her Omega side was only a part of her, and more than anything she wanted him to love her other side, the one that could not entice him with pheromones, just her.

-"Would you rather I fed you lies?"

Tommy wanted to reach out, take her by the arms, and make her see how he truly felt, but she kept refusing.

-"I would rather you refrained from wanting to discuss the matter further, It'll do us no good".

Hearing him praise her looks or her nature to take her to bed was something she was not about to let happen, she knew too well that as soon as he got a taste of what he really wanted he would toss her aside, perhaps even ending the contract of employment; that was something her heart could not endure.

The smell of sorrow that poured heavily from her made his heart ache and he could no longer understand what she meant. He was bewitched by her, she was like no other woman he had met, and instead of letting him speak, she was keen on silencing him.

-"That's because you don't know what I want to say".

She would fight against his wishes for as long as she had to, or until he got bored and moved on, if this back and forth was all it was going to take, then she would gladly do it, as the alternative would break her spirit.

-"Please Mr Shelby..."

-"Stop calling me Mr. Shelby Ela!" he didn't use his command voice but the tone he managed was an utter revelation of how angry and frustrated he was at them going in circles around the subject without actually touching it.

Ela's head shot up and saw that his eyes were not, in fact, angry, they had a hint of sadness in them, even when he was trying to cover it up she had grown to know him well. And her heart sunk at the sight, she was causing it, but it was better this way.

Some footsteps made themselves known in the room and they both looked at the entrance.

-"I'm sorry to interrupt, I'll come back later" Frances was standing in the hall with a container in her hands and a surprised look on her face seeing how Mr. Shelby was arguing with Ela.

-"No Frances is alright, come in," Tommy said rubbing a hand on his face trying to wash the fatigue and pilled-up frustration from the weekend and the current conversation had managed to push into the air.

-"I have some correspondence that was delivered during the weekend, I didn't get a chance to pass it over" Tommy considered it unusual, even if he had been locked up in the study the entire weekend Frances had access to the room throughout the day to leave it there, and had chosen the worse moment to let him know personally instead of doing exactly that, but he wouldn't lash out at his housekeeper over a simple matter.

-"It's alright Frances just leave it in my office," He said almost dismissing her interruption and waiting for her to leave to resume the conversation that had been paused by her arrival, but the woman spoke again.

-"I'm sorry Sir, yours is already on your desk, these are for Ela" Tommy and Ela looked at the older woman confused, and she got close to Ela with the container that was storing something close to 50 letters on it. Ela eyed them curiously not recognizing the names and addresses from the ones on top, but they were indeed for her as she could read her name written on the delivery.

-"Thank you, Frances," she said and placed the container on the nearby coffee table, not knowing exactly what to do with them at the moment.

The older woman excused herself and left the room, and despite Ela's panicked expression, she closed the door on her way out.

-"Who are they from?" Tommy inquired feeling confused about the staggering amount of letters she had received in a single weekend, even if all her acquaintances had written to her, they would not come close to that amount.

-"I don't know sir, I don't recognize the names," she said taking some of the envelopes in her hands, not understanding who these men were, why were they writing her letters, and how they knew where she lived.

If before Tommy had been careful not to get close to her, he let that fly out the window and rushed to the container, he watched her flinch even when her scent of longing rose from her, but he needed to know who was sending her correspondence.

As soon as he saw the first couple of letters he shook his head with a malicious grin on his face that disoriented Ela, and she had to know what he had noticed.

-"Do you know these men Mr. Shelby?" She inquired and was careful not to get close to him while doing so.

-"You know them too Ela" He tossed the envelopes he had taken into the container almost too forcefully, evidently feeling strongly against the letters.

-"I assure you I don't" She looked at the names again turning her brain upside down but still she didn't have any recollection of talking or even meeting any of them in the past.

-"You don't remember, but it's obvious you made quite the impression on them," He said almost as if spitting venom from his mouth, his tone had turned cold and bitter "They're my business associates, the men you saw at the ball".

Ela felt the sudden need to explain herself, even when she knew he was aware of her every movement from the evening during the hours he had not been in the room.

-"I didn't talk to most people there Mr. Shelby, I don't know why they would be writing me".

-"I thought you would remember most of them are not interested in you talking," he said with a wild look in his eyes and the enraged scent mixed with jealousy from his body was unmistakably strong.

She bowed her head feeling attacked by his words because he also knew she had done nothing wrong, if men wanted to send her correspondence there was little she could have done to prevent it.

-"Mr. Shelby there's nothing I could have done to prevent them from sending me letters, and they are just that, letters".

-"You're only half right," He said trying to regain control of his rage, he was directing it to her when in fact she had done nothing wrong, and even if she had enticed them she was not his to oppose it even if the thought pained him "Aye, It's true, you did nothing to make them, but those are not just letters, they're invitations, propositions, offerings,".

The jealous reaction was softening but it was still strong on him, and Ela could only consider it was because he wanted her for himself, and feeling it would smear her nature if her virtue was taken by another when he wanted to be the only one to take her first.

-"Yes sir, but they're indeed just letters, and I don't plan on replying to any of them".

Perhaps this would be the path to get her to understand why he was so eager for them to talk, why he was so angry that other men were throwing themselves at her, and make her see how he truly felt.

-"Why not? Didn't you imply there was at least a group of men in that room that you considered interesting" Retorting with the same words she had used and breaking them down was all he could do "There's your opportunity to meet them properly".

He didn't say it in an offensive manner, it was all very matter-of-factly, even his expression had changed and had eased up. But of all people, he should understand she was not intent on meeting them, she could not feel less fascinated by their display.

-"I have no interest in any of that Sir,".

-"What does interest you, Ela? Or should I ask who?" he said getting close to her, and even when she wanted to run for the hills, she stayed in her spot, yearning for him to get closer, and even considering how wrong it would be if she raised her hand to grace her fingers along his cheekbones and jaw, stare into the pale pools of his eyes, that terrorized her by their coldness but also dragged further by their lullaby to sink in them; another name had to be invented for his shade of blue, the beauty in them could not keep her thoughts rational "Because I'm thinking, the man you want didn't write you a letter, why would he? he owns the house you live in" he said taking her hand in his and placing it above his heart, where she could feel it racing just like hers.

A shiver with cold sweat rushed down Ela's back and her senses heightened while her eyes grew black, somehow the contact was proving to get a stronger reaction from her than similar touches had in the past, and she felt her temperature rising even more.

She thought about breaking the spell as it was against what she had decided, but although his eyes were going black with lust, there was not only desire in them, something else was lingering in the back, a strong sentiment she couldn't dare to name, and as he put his hand in her waist to close the space between them bringing her closer, she lost balance and moved the table beside them making the container with the letters fall off and spread all over the floor.

Tommy didn't mind and pulled her close but just as a reflex Ela looked down at the mess of paper she had created and her eyes widened at what she saw, her limbs faltered completely and she stopped breathing.

Tommy noticed immediately and caught her from falling down, she would have injured herself if his hands had not been around her, but even then she motioned to get to the floor and sink in the puddle of paper around her.

-"Ela..." Tommy tried to get her back to reality from the trance that she was in and her scent poured a deep panic and anxiety when her trembling fingers got hold of the letter.

He kneeled beside her on the floor, and when she managed to open the envelope and let go of it to concentrate on the letter itself he grabbed it, his own eyes widened at the details from the senders.

Noble House of Dawson.

The tears started falling from Ela's eyes smearing her cheeks. Her parents had found her.

As soon as she finished reading the letter her fingers faltered and it fell on her lap.

Tommy took it in a swift motion and read it quickly before tossing it aside and standing up rapidly taking her hands to try and get her to sit in the nearest chair; scrambling his head on what to say and what to do next he took her chin in his fingers for her to look at him, and for the first time since they had met it was as if she could barely recognize he was in the room, not flinching away, not welcoming his touch, completely lost in thought, looking through him to the great beyond; her trauma taking over.

-"Ela, listen to me, nothing will happen to you, I won't let it, I'll call Polly and we'll fix this," he said but it was unclear if she had at least registered his words; her thoughts were consuming her and was too far gone.

He stroked her cheeks and got out of the room telling Frances Ela would need help getting back to her room, and to help her to bed as some news had unsettled her, he then rushed to his office and called his aunt.

It would be a long few days and he would need the family by his side to sort out this mess.