The note

With a satisfied appetite, compared from the previous night, Ella felt her mind working sharper. She had pointed out possible remote locations where the Royals would keep a refuge, out of the maps of the city. There was also an alternative for the Prince to have nothing to do with Cora and they were merely chasing a dead end. In that case, finding the girl would prove more troublesome; where in the latter case it could be termed as kidnapping girls in general. She could be sold out or used to do things against her choices. Conjuring up her mind, she was furious at the outcome where the girl could be alive or dead.

A knock resounded on the door, turning to it, Ella checked the peep hole to view a familiar man. Holding it open she greeted him with a smile, "Hello."

"Good morning mam." She nodded. "These were sent for you." The familiar stranger with whom she had bumped yesterday, moved aside to show a bouquet of flowers and a box of dark chocolates, packed together. Inviting him in, the room service man pushed the carriage inside, arranging the gifts in orderly manner on the tea-table opposite the chaise lounge.

Ella waited near the door until he was done, her mind was still working on other prospects of searching the girl, than be busy sorting through the flowers and chocolates. "I couldn't apologize you properly yesterday, Mam. I am sorry about that."

"You don't have to worry yourself," she shook her head at him, since then he was the only man, she met who wasn't afraid of her. "It was me who was walking without minding others passing by."

"I know it was the man with you who was taking you away." For a moment the man became serious, scanning her from top to down, then he asked, "You are not hurt, are you?"

He thought that the man hurt her. "I am alright. He didn't hurt me. He... is with me."

"If you need any help Mam, please ring for the room service. I will be there here or I will send someone for you immediately."

"Thank you Sir..."

"Bently. Harry Bently."

"You are not from here."

"My mother was from here. My father is English."

Going through his sentence she said, "I am sorry."

"That's okay. Everyone has to leave the world one day." She gave him a sincere thanks. After the man was out of the room, she crept closer to the crowd on the small table. Taking a look at the lilies, she was surprised Roy would arrange the flowers in such short notice. She picked the chocolates and was halfway digging in them, holding three square pieces in each hand, she touched the flowers, skimming through every one of them, one or two being half-bloomed ones among them.

During her inspection, something fell from the table. At first, she thought it was the wrappers she had littered everywhere, but then she saw it to be a folded paper. Grabbing it she was amused her fiancé was thoughtful to write notes to her. Sucking her fingers, to lick the chocolate clean from her hands, she opened the letter reading with her jolly expression for his effort,

'I don't think you would be used to the native cuisineHence I took the effort to treat you with your favorite delicacies.

I hope to see you soon.'

The note was not signed unlike the previous one he wrote as 'Soon-to-be-husband' near the breakfast table. She didn't dwell in it longer; carrying the box of never-ending squares, she resumed going through her notes, planning every detail crucially while popping the chocolates in her mouth.

An hour later, Roy was back in the room with burger take-outs and beer cans. "I am starving to eat Americano." He said, walking ahead to the tea-table, Ella waited for him to ask how she liked the flowers. He looked up at her, gesturing her to join him, when she didn't receive the question, she was disappointed, but didn't show it on her face. Probably, she was the stupid one to think of such teensy questions. "I am not going to eat it all, Elle." He called her again, Ella joined him, drinking gulps from the beer, which contrasted with the bitter taste of the chocolates she ate.

"I ate all the chocolates. It was tasty." She hummed at him, who was having his mouth full of food. Halfway in his bites, he frowned to ask, "Chocolates? Where did you get it? There isn't any suiting your taste within three miles from this hotel." The food was stuck in her throat, she poured the bitter liquid to manage it down.

"You gave the chocolates and lilies." He frowned deeper, now seeming genuinely confused, "I didn't, Elle." Keeping her half-eaten burger in the wrapper, she procured the gifts she had received earlier in the morning.

Showing them to him she declared, "These came for me. No one else knows about my likes as much as you do." Roy gave a glance to the box of chocolates, dark chocolates, then the lilies; he was aware of her obsession for the light-colored flowers, specially lilies.

"It could be from the hotel. You are the heir of the corporation this place runs under. I will inquire about it." He was on his feet to call the manager's office when she spoke.

"No. It wasn't from the hotel." Ella was standing near the table thinking of worst cases, now regretting that she ate something given by a stranger. What if it was poisoned? Her fear was spluttered on her face, because Roy was by her side immediately. He checked for any signs of sickness or despair on her, after being satisfied he calmed his senses. "Who came to deliver it?"

He shook her shoulders urgently, Ella replied, "The man. Room service," she was shaking with the thought of being in danger due to her cravings. She had been addictive to sweets, accepting it anytime she would get. She had controlled the desire since she was working in the bakery, and now she was an idiot to fall for it. Squeezing her eyes, she cursed herself, going through the events today.

"The note," Ella whispered.

"That I wrote to have breakfast. What about it?"

She shook her head, "Not that one. There was a note along with the flowers." She faced him, he loosened his hold, taking the indication she stepped to the bedroom's bedside table, shifting aside the small clock's weight to retrieve the folded note. Reading the note again, she noticed it was written by someone who knew her; Who knew she was here and maybe suspected why she was here.

She felt his presence behind her, letting him take the note from her fingers, moving over to sit on the bed, her hands supporting beside. After a moment of silence, he spoke, "Don't worry Elle. I'll check the cameras. And you," he pointed, "will be visiting a doctor."

"There's no need. It's Zayn Khan, the Prince." Came her steady reply, registering each other's thoughts.