The Happiness of Ella Bloom · Part 5 (5/5)
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“Oh, mom! Colin is so good for me. Look, he got me this.” She proudly shows her iPad. “And look at this place. Isn’t it amazing? I never want to leave here.”
Frank plays with the iPad and agrees it’s very nice. At the warehouse where he is a manager they use iPads too. He likes the devices.
When their coffee is finished Ella and her mom go and sit on the balcony and chat about their lives. Her mother really likes the view of the park and the fresh air.
Frank and Colin linger around in the kitchen and look at each other.
“How do you do it Colin?” Frank wants to know.
“Do what?”
“This, this apartment, the cars. Finding my daughter, that thing in Cancun. Everything.”
He’s more than a little envious actually.
“I just got lucky… And the cars aren’t mine.” Colin smiles. He assumes that Frank thinks that that’s his garage.
“Maybe, but how? You’re from a well-to-do family? You have family right?"
"Just my dad, he's in the US I think. We don't really talk anymore. He'll be about your age? Works in engineering."
"Oh right…" Frank nods.
“But really, I’ve made my own money. I went into crypto early on. When it wasn’t worth shit I got hundreds of bitcoin from everywhere. Nobody cared for crypto back then but I liked collecting it. And as you probably know, each is now worth more than 60,000 quid.”
Frank ‘hmms’. "And how many, eh, bitcoins do you have?"
“531.238 initially.” Colin will remember that number for the rest of his life. “But I've been selling it off. So currently? Mhm, maybe 40 and change? Most of my capital is invested in the Cancun deal. Which so far is working out really well." Colin casually explains.
“Oh yes? What was that about?” Frank wants to know, he never learned what the purpose of the trip was other than ‘real estate’.
“I bought a condo there a couple of years ago and quite liked it. So I set out to own the whole tower. There are 40 units in it. I spent almost all my money on it, along with a fat loan, and when Ella and I went there the deal was finally finalized.” Colin elaborates. “Took like 3 years.”
“Now I’m selling them all one by one for a profit. I can either invest in more, or never work again from the money it brings in. I’m not sure yet what to do.”
Frank nods thoughtfully.
"You’re the first to ask really, Ella doesn’t care at all." Colin continues, "Sometimes I wish she would take an interest in it, you know? So that she understands better what I do or how lucky I, we, are.”
“Yes she’s not that clever I suppose.” Frank admits with a grin. “Not to speak low of her, of-course. But she never cared much about anything. Until you happened along.”
“Yeah well. It doesn’t really matter right? Smart or dumb or knowledgeable or not, I love her to bits and she me.” Colin dismisses the direction the conversation is headed into.
Frank stares at him for a moment. “You're right, and my daughter knows you’re a mega-multi-super-millionaire?”
“Heh,” He smirks. “You make it sound so rich… My money isn’t endless. But ehh, sort of, she never asked. But she was there when the final contracts were signed. And she knows why we were there and that I own the tower. But like I said, she doesn’t care.”
“Geez… Well, I would care. I guess the utility of money is lost on her after, ehh… you know.” He grins with a sad look at the realization. And wants to ask so badly how many millions Colin has.
“Yeah, Ella is a special one.” Colin thinks. “Never met a woman quite like her.”
“Indeed she is.” Frank agrees.
Done talking shop, Frank looks out of the window. “And this? Your estate I presume?” He asks with a smirk.
“Hah, no. That’s just Holland Park. Public grounds pretty much. We like to go for a walk there in the afternoons. There’s a nice cafe in the middle of it too. Nice pancakes…”
“I bet. It looks nice.”
He turns around and looks serious. “How is she doing, like really? I’m worried sick when she doesn’t call… But my wife tells me to relax and leave her alone.”
“Ella is doing just fine. I think she forgets to call because she is happy here.” Colin assures him.
Frank smiles at that. “So I need not worry?”
“Not at all, I think.” Colin says, “Just look around, remember how she couldn’t choose what shoes to wear? Well, Ella chose most of the decorations you see, like the plants and the rug and stuff. All by herself.”
“Really?”
“Yep. I had it pretty bare. Just the couch and TV basically. I noticed Ella thought it was a bit, ehh, spartan. All I did was suggest that she could spruce up the place and I followed her around the shops with the credit card, this is the result.” Colin laughs, “Really, she’s a changed woman…”
“That’s good, NO! It’s excellent. I’m really glad to hear that.” Frank approves.
“She goes outside too, but not as often." Colin sounds proud, "Usually with me, actually. It’s a couple of streets over to the shops, she goes there on her own. But you know, it’s London. Better if she’s with someone. I think so anyway.”
“Yes I get it. It’s a crazy world out there.” Frank looks relieved.
“And that guy downstairs? He’s obviously security…”
“Yep…” Colin confirms.
“Is that really necessary?”
“Nah, but it keeps the rabble out… Solicitors and vendors mostly.” Colin laughs. “We’re quite safe here without them too, I think.”
Ella jumps from around the corner and sits on the kitchen island holding on to Colin, giving him a kiss.
“Talking about me? Hey, we should have lunch in that french bakery place!”
“See what I mean?” Colin laughs, “A changed woman.”
Ella’s mom uses the bathroom and sneaks a peak at the toiletries. Smiling at Ella buying the same shampoo and soap as she has. She then looks for the medicine cabinet, but finds nothing but aspirin, bandaids and disinfectant. No scary looking antidepressants or any serious medication.
When she’s done snooping around she joins the others.
The 4 of them head out for a walk in the park, have lunch at the french bakery Ella suggested. She eats 2 big pieces of chocolate cake and drinks a large coke, feeling nauseous after.
Colin laughs at her greediness and pokes her in the stomach, causing her to almost throw up.
Overall it’s a fun afternoon and her parents head home that evening convinced that Ella finally struck gold.
Frank shares that Colin is a multi millionaire and Ella doesn’t even realize it. Elise laughs at that, telling him that Ella knows, but she doesn’t pay it any mind.
Frank then coursecorrects and tells her that Colin thinks that Ella doesn’t know. At which Elise laughs even harder, thinking they’re both being a silly goose.
Elise knows even more details… Ella had told her that Colin has about 3 million pounds in bitcoin and earns almost 500,000 quid profit from each apartment he sells.
“Fucking hell…” is all Frank can say to that. He does the quick math, 40 times 500,000. “He’s got like 20 million pounds then! Damn!”
10 – The biggest step They have been together for just over 7 months now. He had sold all but 2 of the condos and decided it's enough for now. He’ll keep one unit as a vacation home.
The other one will quietly remain for sale, but nobody makes an effort and he lets go of his expensive realtor.
Maybe he'll give it to Ella's parents at some point… He'll see.
With over 20 million quid in the bank, Colin thinks it prudent to spend all his time with his woman and enjoy life for now.
During dinner he talks Ella into spending a couple of months per year in Cancun.
She had jokingly calculated that if they spend 300,000 pounds or less per year, they’ll have enough money for the rest of their lives.
Colin had laughed at her simplistic calculation, but agreed. And with their current spendings they have enough money for 2 luxurious lifetimes. If they never think of anything productive ever again, they'll still be fine.
With his encouragement, Ella has grown much more confident in who she is. Her dress style improved considerably as more and more clothes got replaced. She looks quite fashionable these days. Some days Ella dresses all girlie-girlie in a skirt and blouse. She took a liking to wearing Adidas sportswear too, leggings, tight running shirts, that sort of stuff. Other days she wears a pair of cargo pants with a t-shirt, just like Colin often wears. It matches his casual rich look, and they make a pretty couple.
She even made a few friends. Women from around the neighborhood that she meets in shops. Colin came home one day finding his home a mess of women laughing and eating bruschetta at his kitchen island. He quickly escaped to the bedroom with a pair of headphones to find his peace and quiet.
Ella and Colin have sex a couple of times a week. They're not super creative or experimental together. In the end Ella likes sex in bed or on the couch the most. Or, in the shower if she feels adventurous. Her senseless energy with it had waned a lot, now that her life has other exciting things going on for her. But Colin doesn’t mind either way, the passion in her love is all he needs really.
And there is plenty of that.
Ella is fiercely loyal to him. Maybe that’s a leftover from her programming, but Colin likes to think she’s truly super in love. He never had anyone be this dedicated to his wellbeing and happiness. It’s super cool, and he thinks he’s a super lucky guy.
For the most part they’ve had an excellent relationship with very few misunderstandings and never an argument.
Until this morning.
A message had pinged into his phone from a woman named Jennifer. Ella had seen it light up the screen. Jennifer had asked him if she could come by, because she’s so lonely.
Ella had felt insecure and immediately knew he was cheating on her. They have been arguing about the mysterious Jennifer for the last 20 minutes.
“Colin! What the fuck? Who is she?” Ella yells at her lover.
Colin sits on the couch looking super frustrated and repeats for the 10th time, “Nobody, don’t worry about it…”
“Don’t worry? What? Why won't you tell? Why is she chatting you up?”
“She’s not, she just sent a message and asked how I was doing.”
“She wants to come over! Are you fucking her?” Ella shouts at him.
“Nooo, of-course not!” He denies her suspicions, “She’s just…”
“What!? Just what? URGH!” Ella growls at him and stomps out of the living room her hands balled in fists. She’s furious.
“Ella! Will you let me finish? Ella! Hey!” Colin yells after her.
Ella buries herself under the bedsheets and lies there sniffling feeling sorry for herself. She never even suspected Colin doing such a thing.
Colin, like most men probably would, at first had denied any knowledge of anyone named Jennifer. Mainly to avoid this whole argument.
But Ella, like most women would, had pressured him until he admitted he used to know someone named Jennifer. When Ella had insisted again and again, he finally gave in and told her that he met her. And so he had dug a hole for himself from which there is no escape.
Colin squats on her side of the bed looking at her teared up face.
“She’s an ex. OK?”
“From when?”
“Before you. I don’t know what she wants now.”
“Then tell her to leave you alone and block her!” Ella bursts out. “Why must I find out like this?”
“Geez Ella, will you calm down? I found out like this too!” Colin doesn’t see the big deal. “Don’t you have an ex that might talk to you?”
“I was kidnapped, remember?!?! I have no ex-boyfriends that can talk to me!” Ella yells from under the blanket.
Colin sighs. “Well I do, and this one kept my number… How is that my fault? Look, if you can’t be rational about this you can just stay here until you calm down. I’ll be in the living room. Just remember that I love you…”
Colin ruffles her hair and leaves her alone. He stares at the TV feeling frustrated at the injustice that's forced on him.
An hour later Ella has calmed down and quietly sits an arms length from Colin on the couch who is now reading his book.
“I’m sorry…” She quietly says.
“Don’t worry about it.” Colin says without looking up.
They sit quietly for a minute.
“That’s all you have to say? Don’t worry about it?” Ella wants to know.
“Yes.” He confirms. “I’m not upset. She’s not coming over and I’m not fucking her. So don’t worry about it.” He flips to the next page in his book.
“Promise?”
“Promise!”
The door buzzer sounds and Ella perks up. “That’s her!”
“It’s not…” Colin says disinterested and rolls his eyes.
Ella walks to the intercom and presses the button. “Yes?”
Jim’s voice comes over the speaker, “There is a woman here to see Mr. Spencer.”
Colin freezes mid page-turn.
“Not coming over huh!?” Ella shouts at him. And she storms into the bedroom again, slamming the door shut.
“Anyone there?” Comes Jim’s voice.
Colin sighs and quickly heads to the intercom and presses the talk button.
“Hey Jim, Colin here. Who is it? What does she want?”
“Oh right, Miss Bailey? Yes. She's here to see you about ehh…” A short pause, “Yell ads?”
Colin rolls his eyes. That must be the worst timing in the history of the world.
“A solicitor? Here? For fucks sake Jim! Please get rid of her!”
“Right away sir, sorry for the disturbance sir.” And the conversation ends.
Colin bursts into the bedroom and yanks the bedsheets from the bed, exposing his poor girlfriend and throwing them in the corner.
“It’s not her!” He shouts out at her. “Just a fucking solicitor from Yellow Pages! I told you she’s not coming! Now quit acting like a child and get over yourself!” And he walks out of the room, slamming the door shut behind him.
Ella doesn’t move and ignores him.
Colin is actually angry now, he’s so not in the mood for this nonsense.
When 4PM rolls around, he has a sudden craving for a blueberry muffin and tells Ella he’s going out to the bakery.
“Whatever…” Ella had mumbled. She had been sulking and thinking on their bed for the last few hours.
The fresh autumn air does him good. He briskly walks to the bakery and gets a box with 4 muffins, 2 blueberry and 2 chocolate for Ella.
He sits on a bench in the park enjoying his first muffin and wonders when Ella will act normal again. He has no experience with this kind of insecure behavior.
Licking crumbs of his hand and sucking the flavor out of the paper wrapper he sits there watching people for a while. Briefly wondering what Jennifer is doing. The silly cow with her stupid friends. He pushes Jennifer out of his head and thinks of Ella, how much cooler she is. But right now he's not really looking forward to seeing her either.
He sighs and slowly walks home.
When he steps through the door his home smells like dinner. Ella is busy in the kitchen. She’s making some kind of fancy garlic bread judging by the smell and the mess on the counter.
He says nothing but gives her a quick kiss on her cheek. The muffins go into the bread bin and he grabs his book again, plonking down on the couch.
When Ella is done preparing dinner she simply says “It’s ready,” and they sit across from each other, eating mostly in silence.
He compliments her cooking, Ella is a very good cook.
She has made a sort of flatbread with tomato and garlic, topped with shredded ham, a few olives and red and green bell pepper. It resembles a pizza, but it’s not. When dinner is finished she silently does the dishes while he continues his book. And she joins him on the couch, snuggling up against him.
He puts his arm around her and idly pinches her nose.
“Colin?”
“Yes Ella?”
“You know I love you right?”
“You sure didn’t show it today…” He quietly accuses her.
“I know… I’m sorry.” She admits fault.
“That’s alright. I got you chocolate muffins.”
“Thanks.”
Ella plays with his fingers and kisses his hand.
“I’ll sleep on the couch tonight, if you want?” She wonders.
“Why would I want that?”
“Because you’re upset with me?”
“I’m not Mi… mad… and even if I was, you belong at my side.” Colin says, correcting himself.
He almost referred to Mike, her evil kidnapper who would throw her in a basement as a punishment.
“Oh.” Ella feels all fuzzy in her stomach hearing his sweet words. She plays with his sleeve, plucking at it.
“Just ask me Ella.” Colin sighs.
“About what?” She feigns ignorance.
“Her…”
“You’re still talking to her?” She immediately asks.
“I didn’t even reply.”
“Is she in London?”
“In Welling, probably.”
“Oh. Why did you break up?”
“Because I saw you on TV…” He stretches his arm and feels the curve of her butt, tracing her waist and belly with his finger, back to her face.
“Oh… Really?” Ella sounds surprised. “Why?”
“Seeing you made me realize she’s not the one for me.” He smiles at her. “Was I wrong?”
Ella shakes her head no.
“Does she know about me?”
“She acted a little like you did today when she saw a draft of my email to you.”
“Oh… And then?”
“I don’t know. She left very angry and we didn’t see each other again.”
“That’s so mean.”
“Yeah I guess…” Colin mumbles.
“Did you love her?”
“I thought I did. At first.”
Ella nestles her head firmer against Colin.
“I’m better than her?”
“I think so.”
Ella smiles and is quiet for a moment.
“How?”
“She was just different. Talked a lot more. Always busy with friends and things. I dunno, in the end it wouldn’t have worked between us I’m sure. I’m way too much of an introvert for someone like her. Seeing you just made it clear to me.”
Ella says nothing for a few minutes.
"So it was love at first sight?"
"Seeing you? Yea I guess. If you believe in that stuff…" Colin confirms.
"What if I would not have replied to you?" She wonders.
"Do you think I would have left it at that?"
She shakes her head no.
"But what if I really didn't want to." She insists.
"I guess I would be here on my lonesome right now. Or maybe I'd be chasing girls in Cancun. Who knows." He sounds sad.
Ella giggles. She can't imagine Colin going after girls like that.
They're quiet for a while as Colin reads his book and strokes her hair. Ella plucks at his shirt again.
“Colin?”
“Yes, Ella?”
“Do you want to have a baby?”
He stops reading and looks at her.
“A baby?”
“Yes, a child.” Ella says.
“Maybe, some day…” He hesitates.
“Yea, me neither.” She knows he means 'no' when he hesitates like that. She thought about it all day and doesn’t want kids either. Not anytime soon anyway.
“Why not?” He asks.
“I’ll be a terrible mother.”
Colin ‘hmms’ “Maybe not?” He thinks.
“I think I would be.”
“Why do you think so?” He wants to know.
“Just look at me. I’m not good at anything. I can't even handle a day like today like a sane person.”
“Maybe your skill is to be a mother…” Colin jokes.
“Hmm… I don’t think so.” Ella thinks.
Ella yawns and changes position so her head is on his lap. Her head is nestled against his stomach as she looks up at her man.
After another pause she starts another line of inquiry, something she’s been thinking about for a while.
“Colin?”
“Yes Ella?”
“Do you want to get married?” She makes it sound innocent and simple as if she’s asking if he wants a cup of tea.
Colin finally stops reading and puts his book aside.
“You know I do… Ever since I met you…” He looks her in the eyes. “Yes!”
Ella feels his hard-on swell against the back of her head.
“Cool! Me too.” Ella casually says.
She gently pushes her head down. “Tomorrow?”
“I don’t know. But very soon.” He nervously smiles at her.
“OK!” Ella smiles with a yawn
He bends down and they kiss. “Love you babe!” He whispers at her.
“Love you too!”
After a few moments of silence he starts.
“Ella?”
But she’s asleep with a content smile on her face.
Colin checks his watch, sees it's rather early but slips out from under her, and carries his lover to bed. Ella sleeps peacefully for a few minutes as he fixes the bed, putting the sheets back on.
She wakes up and watches him work around her, she beckons for him to make love to her.
Without a word he undresses and joins her and pushes into her. He gently makes love to her for the next hour. Ella can't get enough of him and orgasms several times, gasping and moaning quietly as she squirms under him. Their lovemaking is quiet but intense today. When he goes for round 2 she moans a bit louder, into his hand as she covers her mouth with it. Colin scoops her up and they sit up while Ella bounces on him, riding him until he can't stand it any longer and cums deep inside his lover.
They have some of the most passionate sex in months. Ella loves the riding position and being held by the best guy in the world makes it all the more exciting for her.
When they lie breathing heavily next to each other catching their breaths, Ella claims it was the best sex ever.
"Damn straight!" Colin agrees.
Epilogue They get married in Bristol 3 weeks later.
It takes them several weeks to get everything in order, mostly because the venue Colin likes is constantly booked. Plus finding the right dress turns out to be much more difficult than they thought.
In the end her mother helps Ella choose and they decide on a minimalistic white dress that works for Ella’s character. Her hair goes in a small bun with white roses tied into it.
Colin goes for a simple casual black suit with a neat, narrow tie.
For guests, they don’t know many people who they truly care about, so it’ll be a small ceremony.
Ella's parents are there of-course. A couple of police inspectors who helped with her rescue somehow found out about the big day. They're curious to see how she's doing and have come to wish Ella well. A couple of Ella’s new girlfriends and Colin's casual coffee friend attend. And finally Colin's father had shown up being as brooding and grumpy as ever.
Frank has to try really hard to keep his cool as he escorts Ella down the middle of the Council Chamber at the Bristol City hall venue. After the ceremony, Frank can't contain himself any longer and sits down with tears in his eyes. He sees Ella and Colin laugh together as Colin stumbles around with her in his arms as they joke and head for the exit.
For the past year and a half, and especially the first few months, he had been so busy protecting and worrying for his daughter that it had consumed his life. Today a huge load finally drops off his shoulders, seeing his mission completed.
Colin's dad has a drink and wishes his son well and leaves soon after. Colin and Ella don't get a decent chance to properly talk to him. Maybe one day she'll get to know him…
Colin has no hope for that.
Ella had remembered she still has that boring investment account, over the months it has accrued a few hundred pounds on top of Colin's 25,000. Ella decided to transfer the whole thing to her parents as a sort of reverse wedding gift. They can look at the daily deposits and enjoy the extra money for their retirement.
A thank you for all their care and love.
Colin had one-upped that idea and quadrupled the balance with another 75,000 and they set everything up with the bank in advance. After the ceremony Ella gives her dad her bank representative's business card. She urges him to go to the local branch with the card Ella gave him, to finalize the transfer as soon as possible. They’re just waiting for his signature.
She doesn’t tell him how much money is in there.
When all the official stuff is finished, they’re off to get ready at home. Colin has hired Jim the doorman for the afternoon. He'll drive them to the airport. They're going to the Philippines and on their way back travel through Italy, and finally back to London.
2 days later Ella stretches out in bed with a happy groan as she wakes up in a resort on Boracay Island in the Philippines. Colin sits in the morning sun in his swimming trunks.
When he hears her wake up he looks over his shoulder at her with his cute smile.
She is super looking forward to the rest of her life.
~~ End ~~
The Happiness of Ella Bloom · Part 5 (5/5)
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