Running Away to London

by Geiza Stefany de Oliveira

“I need you to come with me.”

  I nod without hiding how sad I am. I follow him out of London at the same moment.

  Chapter 19

  We took one jat the out of London, after walking a lot and silently. And I let myself be distracted for a moment with the view of London falling behind and Ireland rising before me.

  Elliott holds my hand all the time. He does not look at me and does not talk either. I can recognize when he is sick I realize now that this look of intense sadness is just a highlight of what is already on him every day. I feel even more terrible and guilty...

  When we leave the airport I can only see a darkness because of the green. We are in the middle of nowhere! It is so peaceful and beautiful to me. Now I understand why Elliott brought us here.

  “This is Dublin. My father's father bought the property, remodeled the house and now stays for our Christmas days and other holidays. The whole Pollentier family comes together, always.”

  I watch fascinated until his car arrives... I better stay silent and it works. Elliott sits next to me and fastens me to my belt like I'm a 5-year-old. Then we began to travel through the darkness.

  All the time he keeps an eye out for me. If danger came, I think he would be able to throw himself over me. I take a deep breath noticing my tired eyelids, but the images of the party quickly come over me. When I open my eyes, Elliott is waking me up.

  “Come, we arrive.”

  First of all, this is the most beautiful house I have ever seen in my entire life! She is huge, a beautiful country house! We walked into her at the same instant. I lose my voice until Elliott opens the front door and we come across a huge and spotless hall...

  “Who's there?”

  We listened to somebody after steps down the stairs. The voice seems to be that of a woman coming down the stairs highlighted even by the reliefs of the white wall. It is like seeing Mia after 30 years... she wears bobs on her head, has a copy of Pollentier Magazine in hand and an impatient look at us.

  “Mother.”

  Elliott says and then approaches leaving me a few steps behind. Mrs. Pollentier is approaching too, but keeping an eye on me and my dress.

  “My duke!”

  She finally smiles at Elliott and kisses his forehead, so they turn to me.

  “Meet Liz Costa a dear friend.”

  “Honey, it's a pleasure! Do you accept tea? I’m boiling the kettle.”

  I smile at Mrs. Pollentier, but the smile quickly fades from my face. As I drink tea in the living room — wonderfully inspiring — Elliott talks to his mom a little away.

  “And I will come back to London immediately.”

  I hear it unintentionally. I curl up on the couch until Elliott appears.

  “Elliott, I'm so sorry for everything that just happened.”

  I say already standing. He approaches slowly and stares at me still gloomy — I have a feeling he wants to explode at any moment.

  “I will be forever grateful to tell me the truth every time.”

  I lower my head a little, remembering the party, but still, staring at him.

  “I will.”

  “Great. My mother is coming back to London, let me show you to your room.”

  Fear surrounds me, it looks at me in a dark way that I do not know what to do... things are not good here at all.

  Chapter 20

  I follow him up the stairs. We walk a little down a hallway full of family pictures until Elliott opens my bedroom door. I just look at the stupendous place. I love the walls, the spacious bed, the wooden wardrobe, and the desk.

  “Good night, Liz.”

  He says behind me, I turn right away with my hand on the door, not smiling.

  “Good night, Elliott.”

  He moves anywhere else. I stand alone, between sighs. God help this family! Maybe in any other reality, this could be a beautiful night for me in a house like this in Dublin, dressed in Dolce & Gabanna.

  The weather is heavy, I think the only thing left for me is to have a shower and sleep. I turn back and forth on the bed thinking about the mess I made in my life.

  I should not be afraid, because what I am doing is right. I just hope Kim told me the truth... there is a baby in the middle of this story! I decided to call Kim before I finally sleep.

  “Kim, please...”

  “Blimey! And I was sleeping!”

  “Excuse me, but say you were right about Benedict?”

  “I think so... You know, I just didn't call you first because you were close to Mia and she's not happy with you and Elliott.”

  “This does not matter! She doesn't understand reality now, for that man deceived her, he is a scumbag.”

  “He got her pregnant on purpose... a 17-year-old girl! It's disgusting what that man did, Liz. You set their apart, but now you have gained 2 weight enemies.”

  “I don't care, at least not anymore. What matters is that Elliott knows the truth.”

  “Oh, Elliott... must he know how crazy you are about him?"

  “Good night, Kim. I'm going to sleep.”

  She laughs and I turn around once more in bed, falling asleep knowing that I've done the right thing. I have a deep sleep all night until I feel someone caressing my face.

  “Elliott, leave me alone!”

  I say angry still with my eyes closed. I hear his hot laugh, his hand still on my face. Now I realize that he sinks the bed a little bit by my side...

  “Thanks for making me laugh now.”

  I open my eyes, my heart is clenching to see him inches from me, pulling his hand away. Elliott turns around and looks at the ceiling. I find myself face down on the deck.

  “How are you?”

  “I'm worried about my sister, that she's pregnant and not even 18 years old. However, we will face it all together, as a family.”

  Immediately he gets up.

  “You're a good brother.”

  I look at him, leaning on my elbows.

  “I swear I'm working on it.”

  Elliott makes me look at him suspiciously. I do not know much about him yet. Now it makes sense.

  “I'm rooting for you, not only because you're my boss.”

  He smiles, like a good friend. I get up instantly in the pajamas of someone I found in the wardrobe.

  “Mrs. Fernsby has prepared our coffee, come on.”

  Who is Mrs. Fernsby? Elliott stares at me with a kind smile and as a good friend tries to fatten me up with the best British breakfast I have ever eaten. Mrs. Fernsby is a British lady and I have never seen anyone in London cook like her.

  She soon disperses into her cold clothes and white hair. I remember then that Elliott's mother is no longer here, so we are alone.

  “Tell me you'll take me to know Dublin?”

  He raises his eyebrows as he smiles at me.

  “Later, I promise. For now, I want to show you this house.”

  An exciting tour! I want it. Elliott gives me his arm and I follow him through the huge house, admiring what his family holidays should be like here.

  “People are always watching everything aesthetic in my family, with good reason, but they rarely know what happens internally.”

  Elliott says as we sit on chairs, in the garden. The day is bright and Dublin too, we drink iced tea here still in pajamas.

  “Is it that bad?”

  I ask, worried about him. Elliott stares at me right after drinking the tea. I notice the thinning beard on his face.

  “A little, Liz. My father was always very dedicated to work, so the family came second, for a good cause. I grew up making my own rules because my dad wasn't around to lecture me.”

  “So you were a wayward teenager in the 2000s!”

  He smiles at me like he's done a lot.

  “You too?”

  “No, my father was a strict man and my mother even more so.”

  I shift my gaze away trying expelling the memory of that man.

  “How interesting! Do you know what surprises me? I am just like my fath
er in everything.”

  I turn to Elliott, a little worried. God, I should imagine! He speaks with disgust.

  “You know it doesn't have to be.”

  “I swear I'm trying, Liz. Finding your way can be very difficult. I hated him when he died, to be honest.”

  Elliott looks into my eyes deeply. I do not know what to say...

  “Why?”

  “I lost Jordan and would still have to take over the magazine. What lay before me was the obligation to work tirelessly to show my father that I was not the lazy and clumsy son he thought.”

  I see him take a deep tired breath... God, now I understand everything!

  “Do you know that makes sense?”

  Elliott smiles at me. Right now I understand him because I know what it is like to have a bad dad and it kills anyone.

  “Yes, I do. Do you know, Liz, that I've spent my whole life not giving a damn what my dad said? Anthony was just the guy who ran a fashion magazine and always had got friends to care about more than family. However, when the disease leaked I thought that in the last days of his life things would be different. My dad tried, we all tried, even Mia. I promised my dad to take care of the magazine.”

  I smile at him, I want to hug him, but I hold back.

  “You're one of the brightest people of your generation, you know that, aren't you? I'm just reminding you of the result of the last months.”

  He smiles looking at me.

  “I am, and I will never apologize for it but I need to take care of my family. The magazine is no more important to me than them, no more.”

  “That's good to hear. If I were that man I would be scared to death now.”

  Elliott looks at me seriously.

  “Benedict Petit is the name of that bastard, and he'll be legally responsible for everything he's done once again.”

  “Wait, Elliott, do you mean he's tried something before?”

  “In the magazine building months ago, I communicated with the police what happened when security people informed me. His family has been trying to buy the magazine. They are filthy rich and for some clumsy reason, they want Pollentier Magazine. Using Mia was all they needed to do to see the worst of me.”

  God, I have no idea who this man is! He looks dark and vengeful... it is terrible. He stands and extends his hand to me.

  “Elliott...”

  “Come on, Liz. It's time to go to a decent place to have lunch.”

  Chapter 21

  In the wardrobe have got a very 80s tailoring set. I am a big fan of that, and I think this room is from some Elliott aunt. My cell phone rings, Rebekah seems worried about me, but I reassure her without saying I am in Dublin. I do not even tell my mom.

  Kim ignores me for some reason, but right now the only thing that interests me is Elliott. I know I am starting to get away from what I think I can. The idea of going to London was pure to escape my problems.

  I found out how expensive living there is, but not just that. Also, I figured out how much fun could be joining the fashion world would be for me. At least a little peace and distraction after all my dad did with my life!

  I do not think I've ever felt so trapped and limited, even though it seems like I've never been so free in a demanding and perfect world. Elliott, however, seems to change my life without even realizing it. I fall in love with him when I see him decent. After all that has happened in the last few hours...

  Here it seems like a break from my boring and sad reality. I walk next to my boss and best friend man. He is so handsome, so charming and demanding that he exaggerates everything. At no point did he say why he brought me here, but the truth is that our friendship is good. So, I'm happy now.

  “This place isn't Italian, is it?”

  Elliott stares at me curiously.

  “Oh yes, after all, it is in Italy that you eat fish and chips in every pub with beer!”

  I smile disdaining.

  “I just wanted to make sure. It's clear to me that the people of Dublin are better than anyone about fish and chips, but you have an obsession with Italy.”

  He bites some more of the potato before answering, so elegant in his brown blazer. Elliott suits this place because everything here is brown. The floor catches my eye because. The wall in brown blocks too.

  “So you don't know much about me?”

  I look at my boss with disdain.

  “No, I'm not one of those models who chase your life to try to win you over, but I know you're obsessed with Italy.”

  Maybe because of Jordan... God, why did I have to talk about this?

  “I have a lot of fans, Liz. But what matters is that I studied in Milan in my mid-20s. That's why I love Italy, but I don't trade London for it.”

  I smile, pleased with the answer. Like a little more delicious fish...

  “There is no better place than home, so Brazilians often think.”

  He tilts his head to one side after sipping some of the wine.

  “Are you obsessed with London? After all, you left Brazil to stay here.”

  “I had got a very serious reason for that, Elliott. You know, if I could I would go back to Brazil because I love my nation and I miss it so much.”

  Suddenly he rests his chin on his fist... now he looks at me very curious and I feel cold in my stomach.

  “So if things get better with your father, would you go back?”

  I sigh.

  “If I don't fall in love here, I think so.”

  Elliott is worrying and I start to feel foolish.

  “Didn't you fall in love after breaking with Jordan?”

  He looks me slightly different and fun.

  “Yeah, I did. But it was a bad idea. I want to grow old on someone's side, and most are running away from having to plan for the next decades for a family in the first place.”

  “Oh, the family is the most perfect thing in the world. I think you imagine yourself with a beautiful baby on your lap, without the part that he won't let you sleep at night, and your beautiful wife who will do everything for you but will put on some weight and not be 20 years old forever. Then you will also have dozens of splendid models at the same time making you feel like these days when it seems like the world is in your hands and you can do anything, anywhere, anytime with anyone. The beautiful woman who has chosen to love you will have given up many things for you in vain, and will still find herself alone with a child dependent on her. You know, we are so smart and we have everything these days, we fantasize about amazing things and we don't even realize how much we fail because the truth is that we are so selfish.”

  Yes, it came out of the depths of my heart with a terrible hurt that I had gotten used to living with and did not even realize anymore... the trigger of marriage, of course! What am I doing here? Oh no! Elliott looks at me strangely.

  He rises in his chair, puts his index finger to his lips, and the silence lasts a while. I stare at him extremely hurt trying not to cross my arms now or cry. Elliott still sees me a strange way.

  “I'm not your father, Liz.”

  I smile at him nodding and a swirl of memories pops into my head. I can not stand here... I get up without saying anything and toss the napkin on the table.

  “I swear if you run away you're fired.”

  Suddenly, I remain stunned without facing him. The tears on my cheeks are beginning to fall and I do not know what to do... Elliott gets up instantly, throws the money on the table and pulls me as he entwines his fingers with mine. I swear I want to slap him, but I do not do that. We walked side by side in silence until he opens the car door for me.

  I come in and put my hands in my eyes trying to control myself because I do not stop crying. It is hard and it makes me very angry with myself because the last person I wanted to cry in front was Elliott.

  “Hey...”

  He pulls me inside the car kindly. Elliott hugs me and his hug is so hot. He comforts me in a way that I needed so long ago. My chin quivers, my throat hurts and my cry is a little lou
d. Elliott holds me tightly stroking my back and I squeeze him tighter.

  “Why did he have to do that to us? I would never expect that from him because he was the person I trusted most in my life.”

  “He blew it, Liz. He was short and cowardly what he did instead of acting like a real man. You and your mother deserve to be truly loved and protected by him, even if it cost him his life.”

  “Oh, Elliott .. I wish none of this had happened. No matter how much time passes, this pain does not pass, but it seems to only increase...”

  I can not stand talking anymore.

  “It will pass, duchess, I promise.”

  For a moment, I try to trust him. My days used to be so much worse a year ago, and now things are working out for me. I can not let my dad take my happiness now, especially here with Elliott... that man is not my dad.

  Oh damn! My father seemed to be a perfect man, honest and good every day. He even went to church on Sundays ... now I wonder how I can turn my heart over to someone other than is not like my father. It is so hard.

  “Let's go somewhere else.”

  He says still hugging me.

  “Yes, let's go... Dublin is so beautiful!”

  I recompose me, the Elliott hug is so good. I pull away and don't stare at him for a moment.

  “You will like.”

  He turns the key in the car making me a little anxious. My anxiety lasts about 1 hour! We move forward, in curves and without tolls. God, I only see green! It is beautiful! We have been through so many places that I think this is a Dublin tour.

  “You're not going to tell me?”

  I ask, after quite a while as he passes a roundabout and starts toward a hill.

  “No, I am not. However, we are already arriving.”

  I stare out the window while my back hurting. I bun my messy hair. I see his smile, it even seems to make me a prank.

  “You're having fun, right?”

  I ask crossing my arms.

  “I am having fun and so are you.”

  I take a deep breath a little mad at him. I see the houses by the road and imagine myself living here. It is insane! The street starts to get a little narrower and the hill slopes a little more. Elliott keeps telling me some of his Milan affairs, we are past those of horror, romance, and now embarrassed.