Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 217: The Frightened Bird

Chapter 217: The Frightened Bird

"Ellie, Let’s not disturb the Princess anymore. Shall we leave?" with his tone gentle, Archibald asked Marcella.

And just like that... Marcella started to shiver again, looking at the room card in her hand. She had realised something.

"You booked a single room for us both?" Marcella asked, her voice trembling.

"It’s a Presidential Suite. Just like always. Booked the room in my name with you as my missus, as always. Come on, let’s go," Archibald didn’t even act like he has done anything weird.

In fact he knew what he has done. When he felt like his feelings towards the sister of his best friend changed, he knew what he must do to make her come closer to him.

His world that felt desolate, although surrounded with riches, countless women and every nice thing money can afford, got filled with the sweet chirp of a spring bird. And from then on, she became his melody and he became her admirer.

This little hummingbird gets startled by anyone getting close to her. He found out about this as he watched closely... So he stayed unmoving, watching her and giving her little snacks to gain her trust. As he expected, little by little, she got used to his presence and everytime she wants to go out, he’d go with her and she didn’t mind.

She is not someone who worries a lot about mundane details. She always hovered flower to flower, scared and at the same time aloof, gathering nectar. The petri dishes were her flowers and watching those microorganisms, she’d look astonishing. He couldn’t take his eyes off her and there were countless times he had lost time just watching her, watching the microorganisms. He wanted her to look at him with the same adoring gaze when she looked in the microscope.

Saying that her presence might bring very bad people who might want to hurt her, he’d book a single suite for them, when she travels. And everytime they stayed together, her name will be registered as Marcella Wallace. It might be juvenile for him to do that, but it gave him immense pleasure. Soon he wanted to make that name legally hers; if she wishes to add his name behind hers, that is.

As for marrying him... She has no choice. She has to... He’d change her mind somehow.

There were countless nerds he had to swat off from getting close to her.

How dare they, when he is around?

She is a microbiologist and he has one of the biggest pharma companies. He had the perfect excuse to be with her whenever she wanted to and wander around in the same circles. Even now, he can give the excuse of visiting their factory here as an excuse. He sure did not follow her here.

As for why she left suddenly.... Well... He miscalculated. Or... He simply couldn’t hold back his feelings the other day and kissed her.

Well... It’s been two years he’s been with a woman. Ever since he found his Ellie, he didn’t want to be with another woman. He didn’t feel like he gave up his pleasures or lost anything by keeping away from other women. He just didn’t find sleeping with another woman enjoyable, after love blossomed in his heart. And watching her gave him immeasurable pleasure than any wild s*x he ever had before. He’s been going behind her like a fool, and he enjoyed every second of it.

That day, in the elevator, the soft fragrance of roses from her hand sanitizer filled the little room. Her shoulders were rubbing against his arms. She used to be wary against him in the past and these days, she wasn’t scared of these little contacts between them. His heart raced and his mind filled with various thoughts.

Is she having the same feelings as me?

Ellie...I love you... Do you?

He called her name in his heart and for some reason, she turned and looked at him. Her greyish blue eyes, that looked like the deep sea, were so mesmerising and her lips she painted red, were plump and juicy like a strawberry ready to be plucked. That moment, he forgot everything around him.

He bent and placed his lips over hers and she was too stunned to move as he expected, but he couldn’t back off. He depended the kiss. He had kissed countless times before. But none of the kisses were as precious and as memorable as this kiss. The feeling this kiss gave, aroused from his heart and not from his stomach.

He should agree, even after she pushed him back, he couldn’t let her go and she had to slap him for him to pull himself together.

It is understandable if she thought of him as a beast and he knew that he scared her witless. She ran away, with her eyes and face red, like a frightened little bird. It broke his heart.

Realising his blunder and knowing she’d complain to her father, he took the initiative and talked to her father about his intention of marrying her. He even explained the incident at the elevator. He was wiling to get punched by her father.

But oddly, Mr. McAllister didn’t say much except warning that this would be the last time he’d force her to do anything she doesn’t wish to do.

And the next few days, she hid from him and he missed her terribly. Just when he was about to catch her... Here she is.... In another country!

This little bird!

He still had no plans to break her wings to make her stay with him. He does have the power and the twisted mind to execute a plan flawlessly if he puts his mind to it; to cage her.

But he doesn’t want to. This hummingbird will fly as much as she wants as freely as she desires. He just wanted her to be his hummingbird flying around; his alone. That’s all. He’d follow her around as always.

"I think Ms. McAllister doesn’t want to leave with you. She is frightened, Archibald," Talia said.

For some reason, she is in the middle of a lovers spat and she didn’t have the heart to leave this thirty two year old woman who was frightened like a three year old who had lost her parents in a crowded mall.

" Who are you to come between us? "

Archibald wanted to ask, but he held his tongue. The one in front of him is Brunton’s precious granddaughter and she is not being nosy, but it was his Ellie who involved her.

Talia’s eyes were focused on Archibald and both were staring at each other and were silent. Archibald did see the protective stance of Talia, with her eyes like burning fire and he couldn’t help but compare that glare to that of Lord Brunton’s glare. He’d have the same glare. The glare that would make one tremble and kneel.

He moved his gaze towards Marcella. She’s the one he needs to convince.

"I don’t want to date you," Marcella, hiding behind Talia spoke sensing the tense atmosphere.

"Why?" he asked.

"I don’t. Isn’t my refusal enough? "

"I need the reason for your refusal."

"But I don’t want to.. "

"You have to!"

"No, I don’t!"

"Yes, you should. If not how will I back off? Why should I back off?"

Both Archibald and Marcella went to and fro and Talia sitting relaxed on the sofa, didn’t know what her role in all this. They seemed to be getting along well and she felt like a third party listening to a secret conversation.

Why am I here again?

Archibald’s tone was gradually getting impatient and Marcella’s tone gradually got more confident.

"How can I be with someone who slept with my sister?" Marcella asked... More like shouted, making a couple of other people in the lounge look at him.

Talia bowed her head, concealing her shock and she could hear the sound of knuckles cracking and the gritting of teeth.

Uh-oh! Archibald really got enraged!

Talia looked at Archibald and felt her heart skip a beat. He looked like he was about to beat up someone.

"You think I’m the kind of guy who sleeps with a woman and wants to marry her sister?" he sounded offended and enraged.

"That why I’m surprised you want to date me. I was not wary of you at first because I thought you and Lizzy-"

"Lizzy and I are friends. Friends! F-R-I-E-N-D-S! How hard is it for you to understand that? Friends don’t sleep with each other!" Archibald spoke in a low tone, trying to control his anger. He was aware he is in a public place and he cannot let out his anger to frighten this little bird more.

He just wanted to punch something hard right now.

" But... "

" Ms. McAllister, I think you should believe Archibald in this... Unless your sister said otherwise..?" Talia held Marcella’s hand and made her look at her.

She felt like if those two talked now, they might say something they will regret.

Archibald took in deep breaths to control himself. His frivolous ways... He never thought it would bite him in the arse like this. But he was more offended by the fact that Ellie thought this lowly of him. There were many who accused Lizzy and him like that, and he settled it by other methods; methods that involved his fists and shoes... But for Ellie to say this... His heart hurt.

"My sister said the same, but..." Marcella really was confused.

He was always around me the past few months... Has it been two years already? Wow! And I never thought that he had feelings towards me... He could have any woman he wants. Why me?

Talia knew why she trusted Archibald in this one. This reaction he had... Cyrus would have the same reaction and she herself would want to slap them hard when someone talks about her relationship with Cyrus.

For some people, it is hard to grasp the fact that even frivolous playboys don’t want to sleep with some women since they consider them as family, or as friends, or they simply don’t like them.

"I think she needs some time to think." Talia looked at Archibald. She wasn’t scared to look at him and she could watch him calm himself down almost immediately. His eyes softened considerably looking at Marcella.

Guess, he really fell for her hard.

"He forcefully kissed me," Marcella pulled Talia’s sleeves and whispered in her ears.

Talia looked at Archibald with her mouth slightly open. "Oh, Archibald... You cannot scare her or force her. That’s wrong!" she said, her tone strict.

"Ah..!" Archibald rubbed his forehead.

He knows. He knows...