Ella's POV:

I am here.

I texted Nelson as I parked my car infront of his house.
But, I got no reply.

He usually replies really soon.

Anyway, I got out and walking upto his front door, I rang his doorbell.

He promised to show me his painting today. Just one painting.

His house keeper opened the door and greeted me and said, "Nelson must be upstairs, should I call him down?"

"No, it's okay... I'll go see him myself."

He bowed a little politely before disappearing, not like he vanished into thin air but he just left somewhere.

I climbed the stairs and came across that room where I saw all that canvases.
Thinking that he might be there only, I lifted my hand to knock but all of a sudden, I felt someone's hot breath on my neck.

And then a low voice whispered in my ears, "Are you lost baby girl?"

I immediately knew it was Nelson because he is the only who dares to flirt with me.

He was standing too close, I could feel almost his whole chest pressing against my back, so, I didn't turn around.

And then again he spoke, now in a much husky voice, "My bedroom is not here by the way."

I slowly turned around and in a mood to play along with him, I slowly wrapped my hands around his neck, pulling his face closer to mine so that the tip of our noses was touching.

His eyes widened a fraction on my actions but he quickly hid it.

I don't know where I got so much courage from, maybe because of the glass of wine I had while on a dinner date with Asher just before I came here.

"Yes, Nelson?", I copied his tone and battered my eyelashes at him seductively.

Unwrapping one of my hand from behind his neck, I ran the tip of my index finger along the side of his face down to his jaw line as his eyebrows furrowed his confusion.

Lifting his hand, he extended it towards my face and as he was just about to cup my cheeks, I kicked him with my knees in his stomach (not too hard this time).

"Ow...what the fuck!", he grabbed his stomach moving a few steps back.

"I told you not to flirt with me."

"But I was just kidding and you were the one who started to play along", he complained rubbing his stomach.

"I was just passing my time so that I can decide where I have to kick you. You should be lucky I didn't kick you in your balls", I folded my arms.

He dramatically wiped a few fake tears while looking at me with a sad pout.

"Stop being a drama queen and show me your painting", I ordered.

"Shouldn't you be a little polite?"

"Are you showing me or not?"

"What if I say no?"

I groaned, "Come on, show me! I even left my date early to come here."

And just like that his playful nature was gone as he narrowed his eyes at me.

Then he said in a emotionless voice, "Come."

He turned around and walked towards his bedroom while I followed him.

I wondered why he didn't take me to his painting room but I didn't say anything because all of a sudden he didn't seem like the old Nelson I knew.

We entered his room and in the middle of it stood a middle size canvas on a stand covered with a cloth.

I could feel the excitement running in my blood, I don't know what type of things he paints, even if it's just an abstract painting or some normal scenery, I was excited to see it.

He slowly removed the cloth from the canvas, uncovering the painting.

A small gasp left my mouth.

"That's the Lord's Cricket Stadium, isn't it?", I questioned and he nodded.

He had painted the Lord's Stadium, and it was painted beautifully, like the details were so good.

The famous Lord's balcony and the ground, the pitch, each and every thing was perfect.

"Why don't you show it to everyone? I'm sure they will love it."

He sighed deeply before saying, "My paintings are only to be admired by me. I don't want the whole world to see it; they are too precious."

His last sentence had a deeper meaning which I couldn't comprehend.

"Isn't that a bit selfish?", I raised a brow at him.

He shrugged nonchalantly, "There's nothing selfish in hiding something that's too precious."

"Okay, okay, I understand. So, all your other paintings are similar to this? I mean the subject of your paintings?"

"Yes", he replied quickly.

"Impressive", I muttered and his lips curled up in a small smile.

"Now don't get flattered, okay?", I said when I saw him smile at my compliment.

"Wasn't thinking of it, baby."

I stared at the painting again and said to him, "Can I take its picture?"

"No", he refused immediately.

"Please?"

"No, Resf. You can't click its picture", saying that he picked up the cloth and covered the painting again.

I sighed.

Then I turned around to leave when he said, "I'll pick you up at 8 tomorrow morning, be ready."

I gave him a thumbs up.
_________________________________________

"I recently bought it; I hope you like it, Resf", Nelson whispered in my ears as I entered his so called brand new private jet.

Dad, mom, uncle and aunty were already seated inside.
Since, dad and uncle are the former cricketers and undoubtedly the legends of Australian Cricket, they were also invited.

I quickly moved past every seat and sat at a window seat at the back, alone.

Dad and mom were seated together, in the row beside mine, just a few seats ahead of me while and uncle and aunty were sitting infront of them.

They all were engrossed with each other while Nelson was no where to be seen, must be in the front.

Soon, it was announced that the flight was about to take off so, we all buckled our seatbelts.

The flight took off and unbuckling my seatbelt, I took out my phone and plugged the earphone and listened to songs.

I don't know for how long I was listening to songs but soon, I started to feel sleepy.
My eyes were about to close when suddenly the earphone was removed from my ears.

I glared at Nelson who held my earphones in his hand.
And then he sat down beside me.

"What do you want?", I narrowed my eyes at him.

"I am getting bored", he replied.

"So, what kind of entertainment I am providing you?"

"You are not providing me any entertainment but atleast I can have some company while getting bored."

I made a weird face as I didn't understand a single word he said.

Idiot!

I snatched my earphones back from him and plugged them again in my ears but as soon as I leaned my head back on the seat, he removed them again.

"What do you want?!", I whispered shouted not wanting to disturb every one else.

"You", he grinned.

And I cursed that part of my mind that found his grin adorable. He is actually cute.

"Let me peacefully listen to the songs", I said trying to snatch back my earphone but he lifted his hand up.

Leaning towards him, I tried to snatch it back but I couldn't. It's not that he is that taller than me, it's a just a few inches.

"Give it back, idiot!", I gritted.

"Get it yourself, Resf."

I stood up from my seat and as I extended my hand towards him, he stood up too and again held his hand up.

I groaned, "Keep it. I don't want it anymore!"

I sat back on my seat angrily and stared out of the window with folded hands.

After a few minutes as my anger and frustration subsided, I felt someone poke my cheeks.

"Now what do you want?!", I hissed at him.

But instead of replying he just grinned stupidly, looking adorable as ever.
I mentally rolled my eyes at that thought.

I turned my face back to the window and then again he poked my cheeks.

"Nelson. Stop. It", I said turning my face towards him and this time he poked the tip of my nose.

Not once, but thrice.

I grabbed his finger and shoved his hand back to him.

"Ooo...feisty. I like it", he remarked followed by a wink.

I had enough.

"Dad!", I whined.

Dad turned his head towards me and said, "Yes, princess?"

"He is troubling me!", I complained pointing at him.

Nelson leaned back in his seat and placed both of his hands behind his head.

He muttered, "Talk about an adult behaving like a kid."

"Nelson", dad warned him.

"I am just trying to converse with her, uncle", he said innocently.

Converse, my foot!

"You both are the captain and you are old enough. I shouldn't be teaching you now how to behave, okay?", Dad said.

Glaring at Nelson, I nodded at dad before he turned his attention to mom.

"Don't get so riled up, baby", he said tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

"I am getting bored, Resf", he said.

"What can I do for your entertainment, Mr Andrews?", I battered my eyelashes at him.

He looked at me amusingly.

He opened his mouth to say something but his phone rang; I know what you are wondering but it was an Whatsapp call so, I guess that explains...

I glanced at his phone to see Mathew Hamilton calling.

Atleast he won't eat my head for a few minutes.

I opened my phone and scrolled through Instagram.

"I clearly told her that I have already found a date for me", I heard him say over the call.

"You take care of that, okay? The last thing I want is her falsely acclaiming that I used her or something", he instructed.

"If she wants just pay her. I'll talk to you later."

"Yes, yes...bye."

"You pay your dates?", I couldn't help but ask as he hung up the call.

"You were overhearing my conversation?"

"Yes, I was. Now answer what I asked you."

"Yes, of course I pay them. They won't accompany me to the function for nothing."

"I thought you said that you can get anyone you want."

"Everything comes at a price, okay?"

"By the way, there is something else that they get", he added.

"Like what?"

He leaned closer and said in a low voice, "A night with me." And he winked.

"Ew...", I said pushing him away and he chuckled.

"What? They accompany me to the red carpet, they are there with me for the whole evening/night. What else were you thinking?"

My cheeks heated up and I cringed at myself for thinking that he meant that.

He pulled my cheek saying, "You are blushing."

And then in a dreamy voice, he said, "You are so cute, Ella."

And my head snapped to him.

To be continued from here in Nelson's POV...

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~Ahlam