All the characters are over 18 years of age.
***********
When Alex came down for breakfast he saw his mother and Mrs Mason sitting at the kitchen table, sipping tea. What he did not know was that they were talking about how he kept on talking about Ellen yesterday night, never letting the conversation move to another topic. It was Mrs Raymond who had seen her son talk so obsessively about a girl and she felt amused and happy by this as she always thought Ellen to be the perfect girl for her son.
"These cookies are delicious Lucie," Alex said as he bit on one of the cookies kept on the table as he sat down "Your baking skill has improved since I last came home."
"My baking is what it used to be Alex, Mrs Mason said with a sly smile "You should thank Ellen for these cookies."
"Oh!" Alex said embarrassed, as he munched on the remaining cookie.
Alex's parents had decided that he should take a break before joining the office two weeks later and during this time he should catch up on some sleep and old friends as once he joined the office he wouldn't have much time for that.
Alex was excited the join the company as it's vice president, taking up his mother's vacant position from which she had retired last year citing too much work and lack of pleasure in her life.
Alex spent the rest of the day at home relaxing. Around midnight when he was taking a stroll in the rose garden he found Ellen sitting on the huge swing all by herself immersed in a drawing pad with heaps of fresh and crumpled sheets surrounding her.
A look at her left Alex's insides jumping with excitement. He was mesmerized by her beauty, as he looked at her sitting alone in her baby pink night suit with her waist-length brown hair cascading down her back with some at the front. She looks like an angel he thought.
"Hey," Alex said, "Can I join you?"
Hearing a very soothing and sensual manly voice all of a sudden shocked Ellen and she jumped up as the pad fell on the grass with a soft crunch.
"You almost gave me a heart attack!" Ellen said as she got a hold of herself.
"I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if something happened to you," Alex said with a grin.
"Then please don't sneak up on me like this ever again," Ellen said blushing slightly.
"Well, can I still join you?" Alex asked tentatively.
"You can sit wherever you want," Ellen said as she started piling up the sheets "You own the place after all."
Alex at once bent down help Ellen and said: "I don't actually, it's my father's property."
"Well, it's still the same thing," Ellen said "You're still better than me." she sat on the swing with crossed legs.
"How exactly an I better than you? Alex said as he sat on the swing facing her.
"You don't know how awful I feel thinking I can never repay your parents for all they are doing for me."
"Well, You don't need to feel bad about any of this, you are a very talented young woman who had to stop pursuing her passion because of what circumstances and that bitch of a stepmother did to you."
"Yeah maybe you're right, but still I feel burdened by all the kindness and care they have showered upon me," Ellen said looking sad.
"You don't have to, they want you to be happy and they would not want you to burden yourself."
"Yeah, I guess," Ellen said and suddenly looked at the time on the watch and shrieked "Oh gosh it's very late, I really should leave now."
"Oh, okay," Alex said shocked by this sudden change of subject " Well what time you leave anyway?" as he got up and extended his arm to her which she took getting up.
"Her hands are so soft and delicate," Alex thought lost in his thoughts, as he felt electricity pass through him the moment Ellen touched his hand.
"I take the 6:25 am a bus," Ellen said snapping Alex back to reality "So I leave my quarter a 6 am sharp."
"Why do you need to take the bus so early in the morning?" Alex asked.
"Because I have an early morning class tomorrow and the bus takes a while to reach FIT," Ellen said.
"Well I presume, you don't have breakfast so early in the morning?" Alex asked.
"No, I usually eat an apple on the bus and grab a coffee when I get time," Ellen replied.
"Well, I am disturbed by the fact that you skip meals, no wonder you look so thin," Alex said seriously.
"Excuse me?" Ellen said visibly angry by his remark on her appearance.
" Thin but beautiful," Alex said rectifying his mistake immediately, making Ellen blush.
"My my someone is blushing!" Alex said teasing Ellen and plucked a rose behind his back so that Ellen could not see it.
"No, I'm not!" Ellen said blushing even more.
"Yes you are and it's beautiful," Alex said smiling innocently "and this is for a very beautiful young lady," he said offering her the rose.
"Thanks," Ellen said shyly hiding her face away.
"My pleasure!" Alex said, kissing her knuckles without warning.
Ellen turned crimson and immediately ran away leaving him rooted to the as he marvelled over the unexpected move he had made.
**********
The next morning Ellen woke up with difficulty and dragged herself to shower. It was quite obvious she thought as she had been awake very late into the night thinking about Alex and his kiss.
As she was hurrying towards the gate she heard a voice call behind her "Not so fast."
She turned around to see Alex running up to her, dressed casually in a white shirt and Jeans looking strikingly handsome. The sight of him turned Ellen into jelly and she just stood where she was.
" What?" Ellen asked Alex the moment she regained her composure and realized that she was incredibly late.
"Well, that's a nice way to say good morning," Alex said catching his breath.
"Sorry, I'm getting late," Ellen said making a puppy face that cold melt hardest of rocks.
"Well, you'll be forgiven if you join me for breakfast," Alex said faking anger.
"Sorry, but I need to catch my bus-" Ellen said but was cut off by Alex.
"Don't worry, I'll be going that way and drop you," Alex said.
"You don't have to, I'll manage," Ellen said.
"Please, I insist," Alex said and realized that his voice was almost pleading, but he didn't give a damn about it.
"Um, Okay," Ellen said and they both went into the dining room of the mansion.
"I tasted your cookies yesterday, and I must say they are the best I've ever had," Alex said as they settled down for breakfast.
"That's too much flattery," Ellen said.
"Na! I'm telling you the truth, they're delicious." Alex said digging into his eggs.
"Thank you." Ellen managed to say as she blushed furiously.
"You're blushing again!" Alex said half teasing, half accusing.
"No, I'm not!" Ellen said and the rest of the breakfast passed away happily with both of them talking and getting to know each other better.
"I'll arrange for a driver to drive you to college in one of our cars so you don't miss out on meals for attending classes," Alex said as he drove Ellen to her college.
"No, please don't, your mom already offered," Ellen said, " This is too much to ask for and I don't want to get used to luxury."
"Why not?" Alex asked looking at her for a moment.
"Because I receive support from your parents till the time I'm studying and once I finish my studies I need to work and earn on my own," Ellen said with slight exasperation.
Alex knew she was right and it was better her left this topic as it is, and drove on in silence.
