“Nope, not happening,” Elijah refused right away the moment Arianna enlisted his help.
“Elijah!” Arianna hissed through gritted teeth, looking around to make sure no one was watching them. Not to talk of eavesdropping on their conversation.
He shook his head, “We are not having this conversation!”
“Exactly,” Arianna took his words literally because the next, she hooked her arm around his and began to drag him away from the reception.
“W-what are you doing?” Elijah was dumbfounded. Where was she taking him? Perhaps, should he cry for help.
“You said we can’t have this conversation here. Let’s go to a place where we can talk better,” She decided.
“No, no, no, not happening,” Elijah resisted her but Arianna was a pretty determined woman and she was not going to let him be a hindrance to her plans today. He wanted a chance for restitution, she was giving him one.
Arianna had a smile the entire time she dragged Elijah along. To the others, it looked like she was having a good time with her brother-in-law, and her mother was occupied with the guest to notice their unholy alliance. It was only Mimi who noticed them and gave her a thumbs up for a job well done. She would join them shortly – after speaking with Ezra.
“This is not going to work,” Was what Elijah told her after she successfully pulled him away from the crowd into the privacy of her room.
.....
“Says who?” Arianna retorted after locking the door. Elijah was not going anywhere until he agrees to help her, even if that warrants forcing his hands. And yes, she has lost her mind. But then, when you want something, you work hard for it, and right now, Arianna wanted to see Marcel so much that it was driving her crazy.
Can’t a girl get a man here?!
“Let’s make things clear here.” Elijah went over her plans again, “You want me to help you escape here so you can see Marcel?”
“Yes,” Arianna nodded her head enthusiastically.
“Have you lost your fucking mind?! I went through all the trouble to bring you and you expect me to send you back to Marcel? Do you even hear yourself?!”
“I’m not leaving with Marcel. It’s just tonight. I need to see him...make things right between us! We can’t just break up like this, Elijah!” Arianna was desperate.
But he shook his head in refusal, “I’m sorry, Arianna but I can’t help you on that one?”
“But you said that you’re sorry and that you had no choice but to do it. Elijah, you said that if there was a way to make it up to me that you would take it.” She reminded him of his words.
“Arianna...” Elijah shut his eyes so he wouldn’t look into her eyes for he could feel his resolve wavering and he didn’t like it.
Arianna took his hands in hers, saying, “This is your chance to atone for what you did, Elijah. Just a chance for me and Marcel to meet and resolve things between us. Or should I remind you that you are the reason that we broke up?”
He groaned, “Please don’t use that sympathy card on me,”
“But it’s the truth, isn’t it?”
Elijah suddenly stood straight and looked at her, “I’m so sorry Arianna, but I can’t help you. I can’t betray Natalie’s trust.”
Tears welled up in Arianna’s eyes, and she sniffed, “Well then, you leave me no choice.”
As if on cue, a knock came on the door and Arianna rushed and opened it, ushering Mimi in before closing the door. Elijah blanched the moment he saw Mimi and he unconsciously took a step back. He still hadn’t forgotten that incident where she nearly took off all of his hair.
“So did he agree or not?” Although the question was directed at Arianna, Mimi had her sight on Elijah and there was a sly smirk at the corner of her lips.
“He said no,” Arianna disclosed to her and Mimi fully turned to Elijah with a sweetly sick smile.
“Hello, we meet again,” She walked over to him but Elijah quickly took up a fighting stance. She added quickly, “Oh don’t worry, I won’t pull your hair out again unless the need arises.”
“Haha, funny,” Elijah laughed sarcastically, “Don’t think that I’m afraid of you. Just because I don’t hit women, doesn’t mean that I won’t make an exception for you.” He told her.
“Aww, that’s so sweet.” Mimi was not even scared of him to his shock, “Sadly, it’s quite a disappointment that I’m not just a woman, but a pregnant woman.” She pointed to her slightly flat stomach and Elijah followed her gaze with his mouth ajar.
“Could you imagine what would happen if Victor was to hear that the same Elijah who conflicts with his family, hit his fiancé and in the worst-case scenario, made her lose her baby,” Mimi gasped dramatically, “That would be a disaster.”
At this point, Elijah was tired. He was defeated and his hands hung limply at his sides. He couldn’t believe that the girls would sink this low.
“What do you want?” He asked her with a deep exhale.
“You know what we want, Elijah, just help us girls out,” Mimi draped her arm around Arianna’s shoulder and pulled her to her side.
“Well, I can’t,” Elijah threw his hands in the air in surrender.
“You can’t or you won’t?” Arianna didn’t believe him. None of the girls believed him.
Elijah began to explain to them, “Natalie is not stupid and she must know deep down that you would try to do something in her absence. So she would have eyes on you and if I’m correct, one of my brothers would do the job. Probably, Ezra, he’s the one with the instinct and he’s been hovering around you all day, trying to sniff you out. And his instinct is right because the both of you together is slippery as an eel. ”
Thanks to that confession, Mimi turned to Arianna with a hurt expression,” And I thought I made a friend. Who knew he was sniffing around me like a pervert?”