Forever Mine (Joe & Ella 2)

“Chris and Colin did their fair share too.” I added.

“Oh I’ve no doubt, but it was your concept wasn’t it? Am I right?”

“Yes.” I grinned and turned to hold Chris’s arm again, and that’s when I saw him.

It felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room, and all activity around me had stopped dead. I was frozen to the spot, I didn’t know whether to look away or go over to him, my brain went into a jumbled mess, I felt paralysed. I could hear my heart beat thumping in my ears so loudly I was sure the rest of the marquee could hear it too. My limbs started to shake and my breathing became short, erratic and panicked. The butterflies that I had tried to push away were running amok and multiplying at a rapid rate.

“You okay chick?” Chris whispered into my ear so no one else would hear.

“I don’t think I can do this.” I said dragging my eyes away from his grey sparkly ones and looking at Chris in fear. My fight or flight response was in full flow and my body was at war with itself trying to decide which mode to deploy.

“You can chick, stay strong.”

I knew he was coming over to us without even looking. I could feel his presence getting nearer, I could always sense him. Like a magnet he could pull me to him and render me helpless to resist.

“Mr Madden, Joe! So lovely to see you. I hope everything is going smoothly for you?” Eric and Frank shook hands with him but I kept my head down and focused on keeping my breathing steady.

“It’s phenomenal, so much more than I expected.” He replied, his deep velvety voice making my insides tremor and my tummy flip.

“Ella, I didn’t know you were back.”

He was addressing me directly now, and I had no choice but to answer, it would look rude and unprofessional if I didn’t. I lifted my face to gaze into his eyes. He looked as handsome as ever with his dark stubble and soft waves falling on his forehead. He took my breath away. His brow was wrinkled as if he was deep in thought. But his eyes were sharp and sparkling like diamonds, drawing me into him. The smell of expensive aftershave and Joe invaded my senses and sent my head into a spiral of confusion. The black suit that he wore looked gorgeous on him and he had a white shirt, gold tie and gold pocket square which matched the theme and me perfectly. He shuffled on his feet and I could see he was nervous, which helped to settle my own shredded nerves.

“I…spent time away…looking after my Nan, but yes…I’m back now.” I was stuttering, I needed to get a grip.

“It’s good to have you back, you look beautiful tonight Ella.” He said staring right into my eyes as if he was trying to say something to me without using words, trying to connect to my very soul.

“Doesn’t she just.” Frank piped up, “Always stunning our Ella, she’ll be fighting them off later.” I nearly choked for the second time tonight as Frank said that. This was a work event, did he think I was going to be trawling the dancefloor for a man? Sometimes the lines between boss and cute adoptive uncle were blurred where Frank was concerned.

“Hardly, I am still working for the company tonight.” I argued and blushed in embarrassment.

“Nonsense, you’ve had a tough time lately, you deserve a night off and some fun. We’ll get the networking over in a bit then you can have the night to yourself with young Chris and Kim here. I’m sure you’ll find enough dance partners to fill your card hey Ella.”

I was stunned into silence. I had no intention of answering Frank, I hadn’t a clue what to say and I couldn’t bring myself to look in Joe’s direction because I knew exactly what his reaction would be.

“Yes, I’m sure.” Joe snapped in that pissed off voice of his. Then with a casual, nonchalant glance around the marquee he turned on his heels and strode off confidently to the hall without a backwards glance at the rest of us mere mortals.

“What’s got his goat?” Kim joked, making us all laugh at her crazy turn of phrase.

“He’s a moody one he is. You never know what you’re gonna get with him. You deserve a medal for dealing with that all these months Ella.” Eric said shaking his head in disgust.

“Doesn’t she just!” Chris exclaimed, grabbing more champagne for us both from a passing waitress.

I just blew out a long sigh of relief, thankful that the first meeting with Joe was over, and hopeful the rest of the night would go without incident.

We were stood chatting and catching up on office gossip in the buzzing marquee when Max approached us. He walked straight up to me and grabbed me into a massive bear hug for slightly longer than I felt comfortable with.

“I’ve missed you.” He whispered into my ear so only I could hear. Then he stood back and smiled that dazzling kind smile of his.

“When Joe told me you were back just now I had to come straight over to check for myself. You look absolutely beautiful Ella.”

I just grinned back at him, “Here I am, back home.”

“Ella you are a popular girl tonight.” Frank joked, shaking hands with Max and introducing himself.

As they exchanged pleasantries I glanced over Max’s shoulder to see Joe stood in the corner glaring at Max, his arms folded over his chest and his stony face frozen into a surly expression. Something between jealousy and fury, I couldn’t tell. When his eyes met mine his expression softened and I felt my frosty heart start to thaw against my own wishes. How could he do that? Make me go from hate to want in seconds all with a single look? Would he always have this hold over me? I dragged my eyes away from him and back to where Max and Frank were deep in conversation. They must have been talking about me as they were both smiling over at me, but I had absolutely no idea what they’d said. I’d been sucked into Joe’s hypnotic bubble from across the marquee and the rest of the world always ceased to exist when that happened.

“Would you excuse me for a minute, I need to freshen up in the ladies.”