Charades

"You have improved in lying."

"I had to give them something to be engaged in," Ella replied while walking with Roy in the garden.

"And when are you going to indulge in the actual problem?"

"Soon. Tonight." He could have been surprised at her readiness but he didn't show anything in his face. With the way things ended between them the last time, it was a clear indication to not stray to that topic, as they both didn't know what will happen if it takes place again.

"Then we have a lot to prepare," Roy said while watching her; Ella looked back in his eyes and nodded.

Reaching the palace into Roy's room, Ella sat at the chair near the ceiling high window and waited for him to speak.

"The Saudis are having the backing with the Faceless, and they want the backing of the throne now. It would become too overbearing to stop them after that," He said while pouring two glasses of whiskey for them.

"Ella took the glass and intended, "We know that the group is a part from each continent handling the affairs globally, as you have deduced. It means that there is already someone from Europe in that operation. And we have forty-three countries to put fingers at."

"Hm. Who do you think to be the most likely one to take up the initiative? That country should be having enough power to have a mass work out their orders."

Ella looked into his eyes answering, "Russia." He nodded and continued, "We have our first Face."

"Not to forget there is a traitor among us. In this very corporation. How many new members have joined?"

"It's not necessarily the new ones who raise havoc. The old and rooted ones have the most influence." Ella understood that Roy was saying not to trust the oldest members in the corporation as well.

"I'll check about them."

"No worries. I'll do that."

"I would like to see your theory as you had made."

"It wasn't just a theory; it was the truth."

"What if we are not able to control it within two days?" She asked concerned and worried to think that prospect.

"We will have to."

Ella didn't say anything after that, retreating from his room. He wasn't exactly being open to her and she could feel it, just like the rejection she had given to him few days ago. She was heading to the room allotted to her only to hear a commotion outside the palace. Curious she made her way towards the entrance.

"Get out of my way! I will see him. Where is he?" The voice stopped Ella on her tracks. She did not intend to go any further for she knew exactly who was the face. But it didn't help her either way, because the voice came nearer and closer to her.

Coming face to face with Ella, Nick used all his strength to get past those guards usually stationed outside the house. He landed right in the arms of the frozen Ella hugging her so tightly that she started feeling numb.

"I missed you so much." He said it repeatedly in between his kisses on her neck, her shoulder. After he finally let go of her, he gazed in her eyes to see them blank. He continued, "Don't believe him Ella. He is using you just like he did to me. Now he has robbed me of my estate, my career, he took away everything. He is not what you think him to be. Please believe me Ella." By the last sentence he was cupping her face in his hands to make her believe.

"I believe you...," She answered him coldly.

Relief rushed his face, "I knew you would believe me."

"Not completely." He went still at that, but recovered the next moment. She continued, "You are right about him. I believe that. You are wrong about yourself; I know that."

"No, no Ella, I am the one who loved you. I still love you. So much."

"Weren't you given the task to bring me here?"

"Yes but-"

"Weren't you told to convince me?"

"Ye-"

"Didn't you love your career so much to harm me and my family? You just went so blind in getting what you want that you destroyed everything along with it."

"Ahhh!" He yelled in frustration, "I did do that. I agree. But I loved you really. I love you still, that's why I was adamant to convince you not to come here. I, I fell for you and wanted to keep you for myself. I was planning everything to get you away. Please trust me."

"Do you hear yourself? After everything you are asking me to trust you. Maybe you deserve what has happened to you." Ella said that going away from him. Her heart was beating the entire time since she heard his voice up until now. She had been so dependent and so blind that she was risking everything. Her thought didn't go past much because her arm was grabbed from behind after taking two steps away, only to be crashed under Nick. Earlier it could have made her feel special, but all she felt was betrayal.

"Ella, don't do this. We all do mistakes. Give me another chance."

"Nick, let go of me."

"I love you Elle." She stopped struggling from him after she heard that name.

"Don't call me that!" Now she was getting angry at him.

"He isn't what he shows to be. Believe me."

"Nick, let go!" He was clutching her arms so tightly that Ella was sure it would leave marks.

"He is a killer. Bloody psycho-," the next moment Nick let go of her arms with him lying on the floor. The sudden reaction of Nick led her to fall too, going off-balance until her waist was pulled from behind just like the first time it had happened when she arrived here.

This time he slowly turned her towards him, supporting her the whole time to not let go of her. The spectacle here had left Ella exhausted for which she was thankful to Roy in helping her stand upright.

The groaning sound brought her senses back and she let go of Roy to look below.

"You have displayed enough entertainment here. Get out." It was Roy who stated clearly.

"Don't you dare come near to her. I won't let you do anything to her."

"Worry for yourself mate. I'll take care of her, solemnly," he replied as though taking an oath.

Nick had got up by now, only to attack Roy. Under no time both were indulged in a fist fight.

"She will not be with you," Nick yelled while punching Roy. Not a second later Roy revolted back with equal force.

"She is with me. Even before you."

"You are just using her. You bastard."

After that Roy pulled out his gun from somewhere, it just happened so fast that Ella couldn't make out when and where. Clicking the safety lever, he looked into Nick's eyes; Throwing him afar Roy warned, "Get out before I put an end to your filthy affections."

It wasn't her duty to be interjecting in between all this, but she hoped that Nick did as he told. She didn't want to live up to another guilt of blood in her hands. Thinking about it she was reminded of her father; after living with no definite explanations about his sudden death she had come to realize that it was her fault for her father to be dead. It was just a gut feeling, which glistened her eyes at that moment. Not caring of what was going on in the present, she was so deep in those thoughts that it overtook her into a black hole.