Dear Husband.

(5)

Ellie:

I couldn't believe that Uncle James just called me in his office to do this humiliation. Wasnt it already enough that my parents had informed me? Did he really had to do this all and in front of Austin? Atleast now he knows whats been going on while he has been partying, quite literally.

I was lost my thought and trying hard to stop my sobs while standing in the lift waiting for it to close, when i felt someone, ran into it and sunk to their knees. Just then the lift closed, i looked towards the person and i was shocked to see Austin on his knees, heaving and sweating.

"Austin?"

He didnt reply. Looked like he was trying to breathe properly, i kneeled beside him and look at him. He was really sweating and he was trying to breathe properly but it looked like a serious struggle.

"Austin?"

I called him again, louder this time. This got him out of the stance he was in and he looked at me, he was still not okay, i was really scared for him. I forgot about my problems and i just wanted Austin to be okay. I thought maybe he was being claustrophobic because of the lift, which is weird because we just went up in the lift together but still wanting to do something i stood up to press the button of the immediate lower floor when i heard,

"No. Dont." Austin said in a really raspy and breathless voice.

I came back to him and sat on the floor beside him. He looked like he was a bit better than before. Still wasnt okay.

"Are you having a panic attack?"

His bloodshoot eyes snapped towards me. Before waiting for him to say anything else, i started running my hand on his back.

"Don't worry. Zack said things will get better. We have sometime to convince our parents about this. Don't worry. Relax. Calm down. Take deep breaths with me. Focus on your breathing."

I started taking long and deep breaths while seeing that he was also focusing. It took some seconds for him to be better than before. He was still not okay, but atleast he was not having trouble breathing anymore. He just seemed really shaken up.

Lift was already on the first floor. I had to go to receptionist and ask her for my floor, as i can't miss my first day just because of this situation, but on the other hand i was concerned about Austin. Yes, we were not best friends, yes, i was hating just knowing him at the moment, but atleast being a human, i needed to make sure that he was alright.

"I need to stop at the first floor. Can you make it to your car?"

He just nodded in answer. I still was not sure what to do, but eventually decided to go to the receptionist. I walked out of the lift when it stopped, until then Austin had sobered up and he looked completely normal, like nothing happened. He was standing by the wall but didn't bother to look at me, when i turned towards him after walking out of the lift.

Going to the receptionist, i asked her about the finance floor, where she informed me that Mr. Maxfield just called to say that i have my day off today, and i can join from tomorrow. I really needed to work to keep my mind off, i decided to call uncle just to make sure about everything and to try and convince him that i can work today.

"James Maxfield."

"Eleanor here. I just got to know that you told the receptionist to ask me to have a day off. I could really use some work today."

"No, you are not working today. Go have a day off, may be utilize it and go buy the ring with Austin. Will see you tomorrow here."

He just hung up like that. Sulking, i walked towards the lift and went to the basement. Reaching there, i saw Austin standing by his car, lost in his thought while looking towards my car. He was also shocked and upset about all this, but i never thought of Austin having a panic attack or something like that. He is always so happy and just himself. Maybe it was first time he had it?

As i was walking towards my car, the sound of my heels got Austin out of his thoughts and he looked at me. I was about to call his name when he hurriedly sat in his car and drove out of the parking lot. Really confused with his behaviour, i decided to let him be and came to my car and sat on the driving seat.

I felt so tried of everything. I was even tried of crying. Seeing Austin like that, had taken my mind off my problem but it just made it clear that no one of us was ready for this thing. Both of us were being forced into this. I felt like chuckling at myself because a guy just had a panic attack only thinking about being with me.

I put my head on the steering wheel and sighed. I had no idea what i was going to do the whole day. I couldn't home, mom will be there, and i know she will continue to talk about this. I could not go to my office. I was just thinking about this when my phone chimed. Some one had texted me. Opening it, I saw that Adam had texted me to congratulate on my new job.

Adam is Zack's best friend and my good friend too. He is always hanging out around our house. Zack and Adam became friends in kindergarten so they were knit tight kind of close to each other. Adam was like a big brother to me and i was a lil sister to him.

I never had a person in my life with whom i could be knit tight with. I had friends through out my life but still i wasnt much of an extrovert, maybe that was the reason. I was always there for all of my friends but i never liked to talk about my problems to anyone. Many of my friends complained about this but i couldn't help it. I always thought that everyone is suffering through something and that maybe they have their plate full with problems and i don't want to add up on that.

Replying thanks to Adam, i exited to go visit Zack in his office. Driving towards his office, listening to music in the background, i thought how my life had turned upside down. This all was not at all how i planned it. I had planned to get my dream job, then get into a good healthy and happy relationship with someone who was worth my time, who was caring about me, who loved me specially.

Reaching my Dad's building, i parked my car and walked towards the reception hall, everybody knew me here, i used to visit my Dad during my school days. Answering people with smile whoever said Hi to me, i made my way towards Zack's Office.

"Miss Russo, He is not in his office, he is in a meeting your Dad."

His personal assistant, Scarlet, called out.

"Oh. Okay. How are you doing, Scarlet? My brother is not causing much problem, is he?"

She blushed at my question, and i swooned in my heart. I really like Scarlet. She was a really beautiful girl, with dark blonde hair, hazel eyes and high cheek bones. She was so pretty and on top of that she was respectful, she wasn't that weird grumpy kind of PA, people usually have nowadays. She put up with Zack so well, he had never complained once about her, she understood him, he even sometimes asked for her advice, she was the first assistant he hired, and she is still here after years of work, that says something. Saying all this, just to justify me shipping both of them in my heart. They will make a good couple. I knew both of them had feelings for each other, but they both were so stubborn, they would never talk about them.

"No, Miss Russo."

"How many times do i have to ask you, not to call me that but Eleanor or even Ellie?"

"Many times, but in my defense, calling you with your name feels weird, you are my Boss's sister afterall."

"Stop with formalities already, Scarlet. Call me with my name, or i won't answer you next time."

"Okay Eleanor."

"That's my girl. How is Caleb doing?"

Caleb is Scarlet's son. She got pregnant during her college, and had to drop out. The father was never in the picture, he left her as soon as he got to know about her pregnancy. She was getting her business degree but left it after she realised that she couldn't handle a baby and her studies together. Though she had some knowledge about the business world, that is why Zack hired her as his PA and asked for her advices time to time.

"He is good. He has made a girlfriend at kindergarten, with whom he shares his lunch, and protects her from a bad boy in the school."

She laughed while talking about his son. I was about to answer, when i saw someone, i never thought i would see again.

A/N:
Ship names for Zack and Scarlet?

BK.