Chapter 24 24

Chapter 24 24
Elliot’s POV
I stood outside the biggest hall in Houston, with Nessa by my side. The lights were bright and cameras flashed non-stop. Reporters were everywhere. The name “Sally Group” glowed on a giant banner above the hall.
I clenched my jaw in anger. Sally Group; My  company’s biggest rival.
They were finally opening their branch in Houston and they were so cocky they had the guts to send me an invite after stealing my sticks and investors.
"Are you okay, sir?" Nessa asked softly.
I turned to look at her; she looked perfect. Her hair was smooth and longer, shining under the lights. Her dress was simple but elegant, the color matched her eyes. She wore silver heels, and every step she took beside me made heads turn.
She was… so fucking pretty but this wasn’t the time to think about that. I stared at the hall again. My brother, Asher, had started Sally Group and he was the reason for all of this.
He stole investors from Hayes Holdings and somehow he succeeded and celebrating the huge and opening of his company. I had wondered where he got the money when I found out he had a partner; A very wealthy woman and nobody knew who she was.
I was going to find her tonight;  I didn’t care who she was. I would seduce her and take back my company stocks no matter what. 
I took a deep breath. "Come on," I said to Nessa. We walked into the hall. It was beautiful I can’t lie. White curtains hung from the ceiling, soft music played in the background, and expensive wine flowed like water. Everyone looked rich and powerful. Nessa held my arm tightly and I knew she was nervous.
“You don’t have to stay with me,” I said. “You can have fun. I won’t hold anything against you. I know you are dating Asher, you should celebrate with him.”
She looked at me with wide eyes. "I don't.."
“It’s okay,” I cut her off. “Just enjoy yourself.”
I left her standing near the bar and made my way through the crowd; I could already see Asher.
He was laughing surrounded by people acting like he had done nothing wrong.
My stomach turned and I pushed through the guests and stood in front of him.
“Asher,” I said coldly. His smile dropped a little, but he still looked smug. “Well, well, Elliot. You came.”
“I had to see it myself; the betrayal.” He gave a short laugh. “You’re so  dramatic Elliot, you know it’s business.”
“How could you do it? Steal from Hayes Holdings? From your own family? I stepped up and saved you when you wanted to ruin us all and the company and this is how you repair you family.”
His face changed and his smile vanished. He leaned in close and said in a low voice, “A family that doesn’t see me as part of it isn’t my family.”
“What are you talking about?” I snapped. “You were part of it you had everything and ruined it being a criminal!”
“No, you had everything, Elliot,” he whispered. “You were always the golden son and once I messed up father was more than happy to throw me aside. I was just the backup and you were waiting for the first opportunity.” He hissed. 
“That’s not true and you know it.”
“It is; you should be happy for me now I built something on my own.”
“With my investors!” I hissed. “You took them behind my back.”
“They left you, Elliot;  I didn’t force anyone.”
I looked around. “Where is she?” I asked. “The woman you started this with.”
He smirked. “She’s close. Very close.”
I turned to scan the room there were so many women. Beautiful, classy, mysterious but no one knew who she was.
“Tell me who she is,” I demanded.
“She’ll make her entrance soon,” Asher said calmly. “Patience, brother.”
I stormed off since I couldn’t breathe near him. I grabbed a drink and started gulping it down. One glass turned into two, then three.
I looked around for Nessa. She was talking to someone near the chocolate fountain smiling softly. She always smiled like that when she was nervous.
It couldn’t be her. She was talking quietly with another guest and looked just as confused as me. The music changed and a  spotlight hit the center of the hall.
A huge five-tier cake was being wheeled in. A hush fell over the crowd. Asher stepped forward and grabbed a microphone.
“Good evening, everyone,” he said. “Thank you for being here tonight. I started Sally Group with someone very special. A strong, smart woman who’s changed my life but tonight, I’m not calling her out because she likes to stay private.”
Everyone began to murmur even I raised a brow.
“But,” he went on, “there’s someone else who means the world to me. Someone I love very much but she hasn’t given me an answer and she is here tonight…”
Everyone laughed “I’d like her to help me cut this cake. Please welcome…” He looked over my shoulder and said, “Nessa, please come up here.”
I froze feeling raw pain in my chest.  She walked forward slowly, head held high. Her dress swayed gently as she stepped up to the stage.
Asher took her hand and smiled at her.
“This is the woman I love,” he said. “The one who’s been with me through it all. Please join us as we cut the cake and begin this new journey.”
They held the knife together and Nessa smiled looking straight at me. They cut the cake and everyone clapped except me.
I stood at the back, stiff and cold. My hand shone and I walked over to the bar and picked up another drink. 
Nessa was standing beside him, smiling. I drank so much and couldn’t remember much after the fifth drink.
The hall started spinning and my  head felt too heavy. People’s voices faded into noise. I heard laughing, clapping and after that nothing.

Nessa’s POV
Elliot drank to stupor and passed out after the  party. 
“Can someone help me?” I asked a waiter. “He’s passed out,  I need help getting him to his car.”
The waiter called over a man in a black suit and they carried him to the car. “Easy,” I muttered, “Don’t drop him.”
Elliot groaned but didn’t wake up. Once we got outside, the valet brought his car. A black, shiny Benz and I opened the back door.
“Where to?” the man asked.
“He has a permanent room at Hayes Hotel,” I said quickly.
I got into the car beside Elliot and he lay across the seat, eyes closed, lips parted, breathing deep. His shirt was wrinkled and his belt was loose. He looked nothing like the powerful CEO I worked for every day and it made me laugh.
I stared at him in silence and felt a little sorry for him; that’s why I didn’t abandon him in that hall.
“You brought this on yourself,” I whispered. The car was quiet except for his soft breathing.
I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. We got to the hotel and tge guards helped me carry him to his room. 
We reached the top floor amd one of the guard opened the door with a key card.
I walked in first; The room was beautiful with Wood floors and White bed sheets. A huge window with a city view. I had never been here before, but I knew he stayed here often.
“Thanks,” I told the guards as they laid him on the bed. . They nodded and left, closing the door behind them.
I stood still for a moment watching him. This was the least I could do after taking his company under his nose. He was half on the bed, his legs still hanging and was breathing deep. 
“You’re lucky I’m not ready to quit my job yet,” I muttered.
I took off his shoes, one by one, and set them by the door. Then I walked back and looked down at him.
His shirt looked tight, like it was choking him. I leaned down and started to unbutton it, slowly. The top three, just to help him breathe better. My fingers moved gently, careful not to wake him.
I stood up and wiped my hands on my dress. I was ready to leave when his hand grabbed mine.
I froze. “Elliot?” He didn’t answer and just pulled.
“Hey..!” I stumbled and before I could balance myself, I fell right onto the bed.
His arms moved around me like I was a blanket. One wrapped around my waist. The other over my shoulder. His face pressed into the side of my neck.
“Elliot!” I gasped. “Let go!” But he didn’t.
He was out cold and asleep heavy as a rock. I tried to lift his arm, but it dropped right back.
I pushed his chest but. I tried to slide out from under him, but his body rolled with me, pulling me tighter against him.
“Elliot!” I hissed. “Move!”
Still nothing, I was stuck.
I could barely breathe and his chest rose and fell against mine. I tried again wiggling, pulling, using my knees to shift, but every time I moved, he just gripped tighter.
“Oh my God,” I whispered. “This can’t be real.”
I looked up at the ceiling frustrated. I was stuck under my drunk boss in his hotel bed wearing heels in my green dress.
I closed my eyes. “I hate this job,” I whispered.