Chapter 59 Chapter Fifty-Nine
Elena’s POV
The line went dead, and for a moment, I just stared at my phone, as if I kept looking at it long enough, it would ring again, like he would call back, like he would say wait I didn't mean that but nothing happened, my screen dimmed, the silence stretched, and then my vision blurred. A single tear slipped down my cheeks, "I was such a fool," I whispered, my voice sounded small, pathetic, then another tear followed, then another, "it's like I'm throwing myself at him." Before I could stop myself, a quiet sob escaped my lips
Shannon moved instantly. She sat beside me and pulled me into her arms, her hand gently rubbing my back, "You're not," she said softly.
I shook my head against her shoulders, "I am," I insisted, "I kept calling him, texting him like I don't have any pride."
"You like him," Shannon replied simply, this time, I didn't even argue with her because it's obvious I was falling for him, and his not giving me attention hurts me.
"That doesn't mean I should beg for his attention."
Her hand paused slightly, then continued soothing, circling on my back, "You weren't begging," she said, "you were only trying to build a friendship." I parted my lips to say something, then my phone rang. I pulled from Shannon, my eyes fell on the caller, "he is calling back, go on and take it." Shannon urged me, and I grabbed my phone before I could answer; the call ended. I hissed. "Maybe, you should..."
I shake my head, interrupting Shannon, "I don't think he wanted to call, and I’m done trying to reach him." My voice came out croaky this time, and colder. I pulled away from her and wiped my face quickly, "I'm never going to bother him again."
Shannon watched me carefully but didn't interrupt me. I looked down at my phone again; his name was still there. That band that had made my heart race for days now made my chest ache. Without giving myself time to think, I tapped the screen and blocked him. Just like that and I let a sharp breath, "I didn't want this friendship anymore," I muttered. The word felt heavy, but I think those are the words I needed to hear. Shannon didn't say anything; she just watched me quietly, and I knew that look; she understood I was still trying to deny that I was falling for him, and that made everything worse, because I wasn't supposed to. Because there was already someone else in the picture, no matter how much I tried to pretend, the truth is, Nikolai was right, we can't be friends.
Shannon didn't push me to admit it; instead, she stood up suddenly and clapped her hands lightly, "Alright," she said, "enough of this."
I frowned, "What?"
"It's almost New Year's," she continues, "and you look like someone just canceled your birthday."
I rolled my eyes at her, "Shannon,"
She giggles, "c'mon, let's go shopping for the new year."
I blink, "What?"
"You heard me."
"But I don't feel like it."
"You need a distraction, even if you don't feel like it." She crossed her arms around her chest, "and I need new shoes."
I stared at her, "Are you some baby that needs shoes for the holidays?"
She nodded, pouting like a child, "I do" she pulled my hand slowly, "please.. "
I giggled at her action, "You are unbelievable."
"I know," she winked at me. I hesitated for a moment, then sighed. Maybe she was right, sitting here and thinking about him wasn't helping.
"Fine," I said finally, "let's go."
Her face lit up instantly, "That is my girl."
I grabbed my phone and stood up, "I will inform father."
Shannon groaned, "Do we have to?" I know that tone; she didn't want us to go with a bodyguard. Informing father that we are going out is automatically asking for a bodyguard. Even though I don't like those men around me, the incident in Italy hasn't fully left my mind.
"Yes baby girl," I said firmly, giving her a little pat on her shoulder as I quickly dialed his number. He picked up almost immediately, "Hello, dear!"
"Dad!"
“Yes?"
"Shannon and I are going shopping, we just called to let you know."
"Oh! I will make a transfer to you now."
"That's perfect, Dad," I said in excitement winking at Shannon.
"It's nothing." He said casually, "If I don't take care of you, who will?"
"No one!" I replied cheerfully, "Shannon and I will go now."
I said, wanting to end the call when his voice came up, "Wait for Buckley."
I sighed. Buckley is like my father’s adopted son. He had lived with us when I was barely eight, and then he was fourteen. My father had brought him home when his stepmother attempted to kill him after poisoning his father. Although the matter was swept under the carpet, everyone knows she was the one behind everything. If there is anyone Father trusted to protect me, it was Buckley, and he never failed, but I don't want him to go with us. Not because he had done anything wrong to me, but he always makes Shannon uncomfortable. I think he likes Shannon, but he is just hiding under. I had to protect her, just like you. More like my uncle Carson.
"Dad, we will be fine."
"Wait for Buckley," he repeated firmly.
I glanced at Shannon, she was already shaking her head, but I couldn't tell Father to send someone else because he would ask for a reason, "No!" She mouthed.
I pressed my lips together, "Fine!"
The call ended, Shannon threw her hands in the air, "Seriously?"
"It's just for our safety."
"I don't need a bodyguard following me around while I shop especially Buckley."
"Well, apparently you do."
She groaned loudly, "I hate this,"
"You will survive."
She glared at me, "I might not." I laughed, "I can't believe I am going to be shopping for undies and a man will be standing behind me?"
"Shannon, you said shoes not undies."
She shrugged, "Aren't they the same? What if I wanted one?"
"Then asked for his opinion."
"No way!" She snarled, and I laughed, Shannon ended up laughing as well.
About thirty minutes later, Buckley arrived. The tall silent, intimidating man stood beside the car. The man is handsome and calm, but his calmness is as dangerous as the things he does, for once, he reminded me of Nikolai. They both share the same aura. Their presence alone commands fear. Shannon looked like she wanted to argue again, but one look at him and she decided against it. "Let's just go," she muttered. We got into the car and headed into the city, the shopping district was already buzzing with energy, decorations hung everywhere, lights, music, and laughter. The air carried that familiar excitement that came with the end of the year. And slowly, very slowly my mood began to lift.
We walked into the first boutique, and Shannon immediately dragged me toward a rack of dresses, "This one," she said, holding up a glittering piece, "you need this."
I raised a brow, "For what? A royal ball?" I asked.
"You never know, maybe a prince could invite you."
"Like I'm so Cinderella," I muttered then laughed softly. For the first time after that call, my laugh felt genuine. We move from store to store, trying on clothes, shoes, and accessories. At some point, I forgot about my phone, forgot about the message, about Nikolai, "try this!" Shannon said again, tossing another dress at me.
“You are going to make me go bankrupt.”
"You are rich, your dad wouldn't mind if you bought the entire world." I rolled my eyes and disappeared into the fitting room. When I came out, Shannon's eyes widened, "Okay, that one is dangerous."
I smirked slightly, "Good, dangerous?"
"The best kind."
I glanced at myself in the mirror, for a second, I felt confident, light and carefree, like I always had been before, "get it," she insisted.
"Fine," as we continued shopping, bags started piling up, and even Buckley ended up carrying most of them. Though his expression never changed, not even slightly.
After a while, we stopped at a jewelry store. Shannon was busy trying on rings like she was about to get married, when I leaned against the counter, lost in thought again, just a few seconds, but it was long enough for his face to flash through my mind. I clenched my jaw, shaking my head, I wasn't going to do this again. I had made my decision, I had blocked him end of story, "Elena,"
I blinked, "What?"
"Do you like this one?" Shannon asked, holding up a bracelet.
I nodded absentmindedly, "It's nice."
She squinted at me, "You are thinking about him again."
"No, I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You are." We argued like two kids.
I sighed, "Can we not talk about this?"
She studied me for a moment, then nodded, "fine," but I could tell, she didn't believe me. We paid for our things and stepped out of the store. The sky was beginning to shift into evening, the streets were even busier now, "Oh, I forgot, I want to get a sanitary napkin." Shannon declares ready to turn into the mall again, when Buckley's phone rings.
He stepped aside to answer it, his expression didn't change at all, but then something shifted, his posture stiffened slightly, his voice dropped lower, "Yes!" A pause, "I understand," another paused, "right away," he ended the call and turned towards us. "Miss Elena..." Something in his tone made my stomach tighten, "We need to leave"
Shannon frowned, "Why?"
"Now?" His word came out firm.
"But I still need to get something." Shannon protested.
"I will get it for you but we need to go." His eyes were everywhere as he threw the things into the car. I exchanged a quick glance with Shannon.
"You can't get what I wanted." She scoffed.
"What is it that you want to get, undies?" He asked, Shannon glared at him, "fuck!" He cursed suddenly.
"What is going on?" I asked
Buckley didn't answer immediately, he just gestured towards the car, "We need to go." In a blink, he pulled out his gun, and then he screamed, "Get down!"