Chapter 3

The day was breaking slowly, letting rays of sunlight filter through white, fluffy clouds in the sky. A light breeze was blowing through the half-open window, bringing with it the fresh, fragrant scent of the flowers in the garden.

In Ella's room, the atmosphere was calm and peaceful. Soft, warm morning light streamed through the lace curtains, creating a serene and soothing ambiance. The bed, was covered with a crisp white down comforter and two satin pillows. Next to the bed, a mahogany nightstand held an alarm clock and a glass of water.

Ella stood up from her bed and said her little prayer. When she was done she took her phone only to see two missed calls from Ethan immediately she blushed and wished she hadn't dozed off earlier. She entered her whatsapp and saw the text message that he left her "hello angel sleeping already?" with a love sticker and that made her to blush more, she wondered if she has fallen head over heels for Ethan or if it was just a mere infatuation well time will tell.

She wanted respond to the message or call him back but she decided to play hard a little by ignoring the message. So she decided to go and freshen up before going to prepare her breakfast. But as she was about to make her way to the bathroom she was brought back by the ringing tone of her phone, so she returned to see who was calling only to discover it was Ethan. Immediately she picked up.

"Hello angel already awake?" Ethan asked.

She couldn't believe he called her angel.

"Yes" "yes" she responded trying to keep her calm.

"So how was your night hope you slept well?" Ethan inquired.

"Yes" she responded still blushing "and what about yours?" she asked nervously

"I slept well too my angel, hope you don't mind me calling you that?"

"No" she responded.

"I called you last night but you didn't respond seems you slept earlier" Ethan asked

"Yes I did,I was feeling a little tired" she lied. She felt the urge to tell him that she waited for his call but he didn't call while she was still awake but she brushed the idea away.

"Hope you are feeling energized this morning?" he asked from the other side of the call

"Yes I think so" she responded.

"So do you have any plans for today like are you going anywhere?" Ethan inquired

"No" she responded

"Perfect" Ethan responded ".So do you mind going out with me around twelve pm so that we can get to know each other well?"

"No I don't mind" she responded excitedly

"OK that's perfect send me your location I will come and pick you around 12 pm" Ethan informed

" OK" she responded. "I will send it to you right now"

"OK that's perfect " he responded.

"I'll be expecting you" she informed.

"Ok goodbye" he said before hanging up the call.

After the call, Ella couldn't believe that Ethan just asked her out. Immediately she sent him the address after which she went and freshen up and also prepared her breakfast.

Before eleven thirty am she has already taken her bath and prepared herself and was already waiting for Ethan. She wore a white gown with a black shoe which she matched with a black handbag and a diamond necklace.

She kept on counting every second on her wall clock expecting to see Ethan in some minutes. In a twinkle of an eye it was already ten minutes past twelve and this got her worried because he promised to come and pick her by 12pm. She kept wondering if he had changed his mind or maybe he had forgotten about their rendez vous. The urge to call him kept coming to her mind and finally she decided to call him. Immediately she took her phone and was about to dial his number she had a knock on her door.

. Immediately she ran and opened the door, once she opened the door and saw Ethan she went mute. She couldn't just help but admire how handsome he was, he was putting on a black suit with a brown shoe and and a transparent glass through which you could easily notice his brown eye.

"Hi my angel" he greeted with a warm smile, "sorry for not coming on time" he apologized looking at his golden wrist watch.

"Hi Ethan" Ella greeted pretending to be angry.

"I'm sorry my angel" he apologized again, "I was caught up by the traffic" he explained. "But don't worry, I will make it up to you" he promised. Immediately Ella smiled.

"So should we start going?" he asked.

"Yes of course" she responded. So he led her down to where he parked his car. It was a Toyota Venza model LE AWD (SE).He opened the passenger door for her to which she got in. When he got in she asked him where they were heading to and he told her that it was a surprise.

It was a thirty minutes drive from North bay shore to Antalia NYC restaurant. Antalia restaurant is one of the best restaurants in New York city, it's efficiency and ecstacy is one thing that attracted over hundreds of clients to the restaurant everyday.

When they arrived at the restaurant, the receptionist greeted them politely and led them to one of the best seats in the restaurant after which he handed them the menu and the both ordered their meals which they served them in less than fifteen minutes.

They both ordered a plate of fried rice with chicken but Ethan ordered a bottle of red wine whereas Ella ordered a bottle of vinegar juice. As they were eating silently Ethan decided to break the silence by starting up a conversation.

"Hope you are enjoying the meal?" Ethan asked her

"Yes I am" Ella responded while munching the fried rice with a smile on her face.

"Why didn't you order a red wine like me?" Ethan asked her

"I don't take alcohol" She responded

"And why" Ethan asked quizzically

"The first time I took alcohol in high school during a friends party I woke up the next day in the hospital"

With that statement Ethan smiled showing his white teeth and Ella frowned.

"Hope you are not mocking me?" Ella asked pretending to be angry

"No my angel, why will I do that ?" he asked with an apologizing tone."It's just that nowadays it's hard to see young ladies like you who don't take alcohol".

With that Ella smiled still munching her chicken.

"So can you tell about yourself" Ethan requested taking a sip of his red wine.

Ella cleaned her mouth with the white tissue on the table and took a sip of her vinegar juice ." Well I was born in Brooklyn and was raised by my single mother. I never knew my father.My mum said that he left her when I was still a baby. When I was in high school my mum too passed away"

"Wow, sorry for your loss" Ethan said with a consoling tone.

Ella smiled and took a sip of her juice.

"How have you being coping after your mums death?" Ethan asked

"Well after her decease her bank gave me the little savings that she had and I also took a student loan.That was how I was able to finish my high school."

"Wow very interesting" exclaimed Ethan

"Can you tell me too about yourself" inquired Ella

"Yes of course" replied Ethan.

As he was about to start talking he saw someone approaching where they were sitting, as soon as Ethan saw him his visual expression changed. The man approached them with a smiling face and once he approached them he extended his hand to Ethan for hand shake to which he responded.

"Ethan my friend how are you" inquired the man still holding Ethan's hand.

"I'm fine Mr Bernard " replied Ethan." Please allow me to present to you Ella" Ethan said showing Ella to Mr Bernard."Ella this is Mr Bernard my business partner" Ethan said showing Mr Bernard to Ella.

Mr Bernard smiled at Ella extending his hand for a hand shake to which she responded politely.

"Ethan I have being trying to reach your phone since this afternoon but you haven't being picking up" Mr Bernard said to Ethan.

Immediately Ethan touched his pocket and realized that he left his phone in his car.

"I'm sorry Mr Bernard" Ethan apologized "I left my phone in my car. But how did you know I was here?"Ethan asked quizzically.

"Well you know that this is where I usually come to take my lunch every afternoon, so when I saw your car parked outside I knew you will surely be inside."

"What a coincidence!" exclaimed Ethan

Mr Bernard nodded in agreement. "Do you mind if I talk to you in private?" Mr Bernard asked Ethan

Ethan looked at Ella and she nodded in agreement and he followed Mr Bernard outside.

After like forever Ethan came in and sat down and apologized for staying too long.From Ethan's visual expression Ella could easily sense that something wasn't alright and it had something to do with his discussion with Mr Bernard but immediately she brushed the idea away so that it won't be as if she was meddling in his personal affairs. As soon as Ethan sat down he called the waiter who brought their bill and he settled it and left with Ella.

When they left from the restaurant it was already 4 pm so he took her to one of the best malls in the city and asked her to buy anything she wants. At first she refused but since he insisted she obliged. She only took some clothes,shoes, diamond necklace because necklace because it was her favorite and some makeup kits.

He asked her to pick more things but she refused.She hated taking people's kindness for granted. When he brought her back home it was already 8pm, she kept on thanking him as they were on their way coming back but he told her not to mention it.

After discussing for some moments in the car he wished her goodnight but before stepping down from the car she turned and gave him a deep kiss before wishing him goodnight. After that, she stepped down from the car waved him goodnight and walked into her apartment.Ethan stayed in his car for some moments after she had walked in he couldn't believe that Ella just kissed him. It was just just like a dream for him. After pondering over the kiss for some moments he ignited his car and drove home smiling all to himself.