chapter 18:«Honey moon»

Elodie stood in front of the reception desk, her heart racing. She needed an answer, and that evening, she fervently hoped that luck would be on her side.

"Excuse me!" she called out, drawing the receptionist's attention.

"Good evening, Madam! How can I assist you?" the receptionist replied with a professional smile.

"I wanted to know if there is a reservation under the name Mr. Elie SEO, please!" Elodie asked, impatiently.

The receptionist checked her screen. "Just a moment!... Mr. Elie SEO has reserved two rooms, but we just received a cancellation for the reservation."

Elodie felt her heart tighten. "Do you know why they canceled the reservation?" she asked, worry in her voice.

The receptionist shook her head. "Not at all, Madam! I was just informed."

Elodie nodded slowly, lost in her thoughts. *Why did they cancel their reservation? Does he know I'm here and wanted to avoid me? Or maybe he doesn't want me to see him with another woman? Did that woman tell him everything? No, even if that were the case, he wouldn't believe her.*

She took out her phone and tried to call him, but it went to voicemail. Panic seized her. *Why isn't he answering? Did he hear us? What am I going to do?* she wondered as she tried calling again. "Elie, please pick up!"

The next morning, at Elie's place, he woke up to find that he had thirteen missed calls. "She really had time to call me at this hour," he murmured as he picked up his phone to call back.

"Elie, you finally called! If you only knew how worried I was about you!" Elodie exclaimed on the other end of the line.

"I saw your calls, sorry, I was really tired so I fell asleep," he explained in a still groggy voice.

"It's nothing. I'm the one who should apologize for calling so late at night and for ignoring you all this time. You know, I couldn't stand it when I heard you brought a replacement to our wedding. But I know it's for our own good, so I held back, you understand? I hope she won't cause you any trouble!" she said with a concerned tone.

"She's a good woman, so you don't have to worry about that. Thank you for understanding me," Elie replied with a sigh of relief.

"Of course I understand you! I care about you after all!" she confessed tenderly.

"I know!"

"Actually, Dad is calling me for breakfast, so I have to go.

Elie hung up the phone with a sigh of relief. At that moment, Elsa entered the room, a smile on her lips.

"Finally relieved?" she asked, observing him.

"Ah! Since when have you been here?" Elie asked in surprise.

Elsa shrugged, amused. "Let's say since the 'Thank you for understanding me.' You were so focused that I didn't want to disturb you." In her thoughts, she said to herself: *Forget it, it's none of my business anyway.* Then she added, "I've finished my bath; you can go now."

"Okay!" replied Elie, visibly pleased.

Elsa headed towards a wheelchair. "I'll help you down! But later…"

Intrigued, Elie asked, "Yes?"

With a sparkle in her eyes, Elsa proposed, "Do you want to go to the beach after breakfast? Well, if that doesn't bother you!" she suggested, hoping for a positive response.

"Not at all!" affirmed Elie.

"So, is it agreed?" she inquired eagerly.

"I'll think about it!" he replied, keeping a note of mystery.

She looked at him in surprise. "What? But how can you agree and say that afterward?"

"I never said I was okay with it. I just said it doesn't bother me," he explained calmly.

Elsa pouted, pretending to be frustrated. "And if nothing bothers you, then why think about it? Why do rich people always seek to complicate things?"

"You'll have to get used to it; anyway, you get used to everything, don't you?" he retorted playfully.

"Is that a compliment?" she asked him, amused.

"Well, it's an observation! After all, you're the one who told me that. I must say I chose my candidate for this job well. You're so perfect!" Elie complimented with a wink.

Elsa crossed her arms and replied seriously, "Very well! Since I'm playing the role of your wife for your own good, can't you do the same for me? I feel like I'm playing both roles here."

Elie sighed, realizing he wouldn't escape this discussion. "Fine, it's not like you're going to let me off the hook if we don't go!"

With a determined smile, Elsa replied, "Let's just say I'm a determined woman! You'll have to get used to it!"

At that moment, their light exchange resonated in the room, filled with a complicity that continued to grow between them.