Aim.

Fire.

Bullseye.

I clicked in the 5th magazine and continued to shoot the board.

Every single bullet hit the same exact spot.

4 days.

It's been 4 days since the opening of the club. 4 days since I've left my apartment. 4 days since I've shut off all contact from the outside world.

I took a sip of scotch straight from the bottle and put it down. I did start with a glass- not quite sure where it went.

Picking up a pistol in each hand I aimed at two different targets and repeatedly fired until all the bullets ran out and smoke rose from the center of each board.

I took another sip. Re-loaded my weapon and began to fire.

The door to my training room slid open and closed.

I turned and fired.

A bullet stuck into the wall on either side of Ivan's head. He stilled. Staring at me with hard look. I turned back to my targets and continued to fire.

"You're wasting ammo" he said standing next to me.
"They're blanks. " I said putting the empty weapons down and picking up the bottle. I took a long sip before cocking my eyebrow at Ivan.

"What do you want?" I asked

"I came to check up on you " he said crossing his arms.

"I'm alive whop ti do." I mused taking another swig.

"What the hell are you doing Ella?"
"Drinking scotch " I pointed the nearly empty bottle towards him.
"Want some?"

"No. I do not 'want some' Ella. I want you to stop doing this" he reprimanded snatching away my scotch.

"I don't need a babysitter. " I said getting agitated. "I can make my own decisions. Plus I'm taking your advice and 'letting loose' and what not"

"This is seriously how you're going to act ?" He asked getting agitated.

"Yea. You can leave know" I said .
Ivan threw his hands up in frustration and turned to walk out. "When you're in the mood, show up at the office " and then he left.

I dragged myself into the bathroom and took a hot shower to wake myself up. By the time I was dressed I felt alert.

The wind was chilly so I shrugged on a floor length coat before heading out.

As soon as I stepped on the pavement I felt like I was being watched.

I walked up 2 blocks , made a left.
Another 2 blocks, made a left.
Another 2 blocks, made a left.

By the time I made it back to the front of my building I tracked 4 men who were following me.

I crossed my arms and shifted my weight to my left leg. "Why are you following me?" I asked.
The 4 men didn't answer.

"I really don't like repeating myself " I said glaring at them. All four of them were built like boulders.

Nicolas stepped out from a car that was tailing me the entire time.

"Is he for real?" I threw my hands up in frustration and let them fall back down.

"Boss's order Miss" Nicholas stated.

I took a deep breath before recollecting myself.
"What's he doing today?" I asked

"He's meeting with some real estates agents "

I nodded my head.

"So you're job is to watch me all day?" I mused
"Yes Miss." he quickly answered

"Ella. Call me Ella please " I said
He gave me a sharp nod and I continued.
"You don't mind shopping so you? That's what I was planning on doing"

"My job is to accompany you wherever you need to go " he said robotically. I nodded my head.

"Let's go then" I said and walked to the passenger side of his car and got in.

Nicholas seemed taken back and sat in the drivers seat after a moment.

"Nicholas?"
"Yes?"
"How did you start working for Alessandro "

His intense eyes snapped to me before returning to the road. His hands visibly tightened around the steering wheel.
"I was in a bad place and Alessandro saved my life."

I nodded "what about Viktor?"
"Alessandro got him out of a sticky situation." He curtly answered.

"What about Joseph?" I finally asked "he seems to hate me for some reason " I said looking out the window.

The car stopped at a red light. Another Mercedes was following along. How many men needed to guard me?

"He doesn't hate you Ella." Nicholas stated factually.

Yea and I didn't try to kill myself when I was 19.

The car came to a stop by fifth avenue.
"I didn't tell where to go "
Nicholas shrugged "where else would you go shop? Forever 21?" I shook my head and wrinkled my nose. That store was god awful.

I stepped out of the car and walked towards the first shop with Nicholas following along.

I looked at some items, picked up the ones I liked and refused help from workers. That's how I shopped.

But every so often my eyes would drift to Nicholas. Even standing in the shop looking at clothes he was off. His mind seemed to be stuck in a trance.

I never meddled with people's issues. I couldn't even deal with mine. Maybe the alcohol finally got to me. With a few items in my hand I called out to Nicholas and made sure to keep eye contact.

I stared at me- like I was an idiot. Or maybe he was waiting for me to continue taking? Without a second thought I just started to talk to him.

"What your favorite color" this time he indeed looked at me like I was crazy.
"My favorite color?" He asked after a moment completely weirded out and I nodded my head.

He became quiet and looked at a shirt hanging in front of him.

I let out a small sigh and went off to purchase the items in my hands. I had found 2 tops and an mauve pencil skirt.

Before I could even pay Nicholas was by my side with the bag in his hand and swiped a black card. The cashier finished the transaction he signed and walked out.

I stood flabbergasted. I shook my head and quickly followed him out of the shop. I opened my mouth to say something but he spoke before I could.
"Alessandro said this card belongs to you-"
"I can buy things for myself. I don't want his money " I said arching my brows

"Ella. You're with Alessandro now. His money is now your money. That's how it works in our.. our...family " he said getting quiet at the end.
Family was a touchy subject I guess.

I chose not to argue so I gave him a nod and we continued to the line of shops.

We came across a dress shop and for some reason I wanted to get one.

Nicholas held 5 of my bags and I had one each hand. He refused to give me anymore.

I tried to make small talk with him but he wasn't having it. He preferred to stay within his walls.

My pushed open the door to the dress shop and a cheery woman greeted us.

She asked if I was looking for anything in particular and I just shook my head.
"I'm just looking for something that catches my eyes " I said looking at the manikins.

I walked around looking at some dresses. One has caught my eyes.

It was a deep blue shimmering dress. Practically iridescent. The entire back was bare. There were two straps the crossed in and X and had to be tied by some else. I bit my lip and looked away. I could never wear that.

As I moved away from that dress I felt a pair of eyes burning a hole in the side of my head. It was Nicholas. I ignored him and sifted through some other dresses. Nothing else stood out like that one.

I picked out 3 dresses to try out and the assistant Jen placed them in the dressing room in my size. Jen lead us to the trying room and Nicholas took a seat on the couch outside.

"I can take it from here " I said to Jen
"What if you need to zip up-" she started but I told her I'll manage and she left me alone in the brightly lit dressing room with mirrors all around. Where nothing was hidden from the eye.

I stood in my undergarments staring at the floor. I had no intention of looking at what I already knew was there.

My hands grabbed the short sequin dress that was full sleeve and ended mid thigh.

The entire dress was silver. I looked borderline hooker.

I stared at myself in the mirror pulling the dress down  before a turning and pulling the curtain aside revealing Nicholas. His elbows rested on his knees and he was looking at the ground deep in thought. My sudden movement made him looks up and he cocked his eyebrow.

I smoothed my hands over the sequins.
"So...."

"You..." he seemed at a Lois for the right words
"How bad does it look" I asked getting to the point. I don't even expect him to answer me at all.

He sighed. "You don't look bad... you look like a disco ball" he quickly said.

I laughed. Really laughed. I threw my head back and placed my hand on my stomach catching my breath. "I thought I was a borderline hooker" I said another giggle escaping me.

The smallest smile graced his lips and he shook his head. "Hookers look cheap. You look like a gem in all the sparkle" a warm burst went through my chest. I've gotten compliments before but Nicholas just seems raw and genuine. I smiled before going back into the fitting room.

I pulled off the disco ball and tried on a baby pink lace dress with capped sleeves that ended right above my knees. With great difficulty I got the zipper closed and stepped out again.

Without missing a beat Nicholas narrowed his eyes.
"It's nice" he shrugged
And I looked down at the pattern
"For a grandma" I snorted at his response and shook my head and turned back to the fitting room.

The last dress was a curve hugging olive green velvet round necked price. The sleeves ended right at my wrists and the dress went down to mid calf.

I stepped out once again and Nicholas gave a firm nod.
"It's lovely " he said with a thumbs up.
I smiled and went to change back into my own clothes.

I reached back to pull the zipper down but it refused to move.

Don't panic.

Taking a deep breath I tugged again, and again, and again.

It wouldn't move.

5 minutes of me struggling with the zipper turned to 10.

10 to 15.

"Ella? Are you alright?" Nicholas called out from the other side of the curtain. I stared at me reflection.

"I... the zipper is stuck..." I sighed "c-can you help me"

****
There are literally so many typos don't even get me started.

I'm gonna go sleep now so enjoy ✌🏼

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-LoveBigBooks