258 Stubborn-Headed Ella

historical

“Ella, what’s wrong? Are you not coming?” Denise, who had initially gone ahead of Ella walked back to her.

Ella chuckled bitterly as she alighted from the car and handed Denise her phone.

“Can you imagine this young man’s audacity?” Ella said in a slightly raised tone.

“Ella, I need you to calm down. Let’s get to your office before we talk about this,” Denise said in a soothing tone as she gestured to the message on Ella’s phone.

Ella took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Okay!” She smiled.

“That’s my girl! Denise beamed. “Now what I want you to do next is very important because a lot of eyes are focused on you right now.”

“Yeah!”

Ella smiled as she observed some of her employees and early clients gawking at her. While some were whispering to one another and smiling, others pretended to be doing something else while stealing furtive glances at her baby bump.

“Assume that you are currently on the runway and work majestically to your office while flaunting that beautiful baby bump,” Denise said in a thrilled tone.

.....

“I’m going to do just that,” Ella replied and swung into action.

Before Ella stepped into her company reception hall, the rumors of her pregnancy had already spread like wildfire.

Some of her employees who were bold enough walked up to her and started congratulating her. While others who were mindful of the strict boss-employee relationship simply greeted her in high spirits.

Ella received all the warm complementaries and greetings with excitement. She was over the moon to finally move around with her pregnancy without fear of someone finding out.

Before she entered her office, she instructed Joan, her secretary to schedule a meeting for 10 AM, with the fashion creative department.

Finally, inside the comfort and privacy of her office, Ella jumped on Denise and embraced her warmly.

“Oh, mama bear! Thank you! Thank you!! Thank you!!!”

“You are welcome, sweetheart,” Denise cooed into Ella’s ears, causing her to giggle.

They both chatted about the beauty of pregnancy and motherhood before Ella finally brought up the issue of Leon’s text message.

“You know what?” Ella said in a slightly riled tone as she reread the message for the third time.

“What?” Denise’s eyes sparkled in anticipation.

“I think Leon is about to see the other stubborn and hot-headed side of me.”

“Ooh! Tell me about it!” Denise dramatically shook her body, thereby making Ella giggle.

“You know, all this while, he has been enjoying my sweet-natured personality. Ella is always forgiving, always loving, and always massaging his ego. I virtually do everything within my power to please that young man. But, right now, I’m about to become a mother and he’s about to feel a mother’s fury if he messes with me as my first baby.”

“That’s my girl, talking!” Denise sang in a thrilled voice.

“Imagine the way he even started the message!”

Ella’s face reddened as she read the first line of the message out loud from her phone.

‘Ella, what the hell is wrong with you?’

“I mean, who says something as harsh as that to his wife? What does he take me for, one of his employees?”

“Exactly my thought!” Denise hissed. “Girl, I don’t want to sound like a bad friend but, you need to show that young man who’s boss. You need to stamp your authority as the lady of the house. He needs to start respecting you as his wife and the future mother of his kids. I don’t mean to brag but if it were my Tom, I would deal with him squarely if he pull that stunt on me.”

“Don’t worry, mama bear,” Ella said in a vengeful tone. “I have had enough of taking trash all because I got pregnant for him. I have endured enough heartaches from his mum and sister, to have him treat me this way.”

Ella stood up and paced up and down the office, lost in thought. Then, she turned to Denise with a fiery glint in her eyes and said.

“Yesterday, I felt my life was over when he left me crying my eyes out. I have never done anything wrong in this marriage except getting pregnant for him. He left me hurt and broken without even checking up on me. He didn’t care if I survived the night or passed out due to pain. As we speak, I have no idea where he is. All I know is that he didn’t spend the night at home.”

“Well I don’t mean to get you all worked up but I think you are strong enough to hear this,” Denise said. “Yesterday, when I came to see you, I saw Leon leaving with two of his luggage and a briefcase. John should have an idea where he went because he was the one who dropped him off.”

“Leon left the house with some of his things!” Ella’s eyes widened. She placed her hand on her chest and slowly inhaled and exhaled to control her breathing.

“Ella, are you all right?”

Denise quickly walked up to her and started stroking her back gently.

“I’m fine! I’m fine!! I just need to catch my breath. I think I need to sit down.”

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have told you, yet. I was waiting for you to be very strong before I tell you what I saw.” Denise said in a weakened and disappointed tone.

“Don’t feel that way, mama bear.” Ella turned around and hugged Denise. “if you hadn’t told me, I would have been mad at you if I found out on my own. I never knew he took some of his things and left. I thought he just stormed out of the house to clear his thoughts.”

At that very moment, Ella’s phone started ringing.

“It’s Leon’s ringtone!” Ella stared at Denise with a puzzled expression. She allowed it to finish ringing and didn’t take the call the first time.

“You should hear him out! You need to know what he has to say.” Denise encouraged her as the phone started ringing for the second time.