Love Worth Fighting For

“I know you’re worried about your daughter, but we’ll talk later after we finish eating,” Mrs Camila said softly as she squeezed her husband’s hand that was on the table.

Jody Wilson followed his wife’s advice, he stopped talking and allowed Elena to eat first. Too much overtime made Elena’s body shrink quite a lot and the husband and wife were worried about the condition of their only daughter.

After finishing the glass of warm milk that her mother prepared earlier, Elena then grabbed a handkerchief and gently wiped her lips. “Ok, I’ve finished eating. So now what do you two want to tell me?”

Mrs Camila let out a long sigh. “Is your job as the CEO’s secretary that tough, honey?”

Elena smiled. “At first, yes, but after two months it feels normal. I can manage a lot of paperwork and manage schedules for my superiors neatly without any mistakes.”

“Elena.” With his hoarse voice Jody Wilson began to speak. “Don’t push yourself too hard. We know you’re really enjoying your job, but you also have to keep your body in mind. You’re not too tired, you’re not fully recovered, honey.”

“But I’m fully healed now...”

“The wounds that can be seen by the eyes heal quickly, but not with the internal wounds on your body, Elena,” said Mrs. Camila softly, interrupting Elena’s words. “You remember the doctor’s orders, don’t you?”

.....

Elena squeezed her fingers under the table tightly. “I still remember, ma’am.”

“It’s good that you remember, remember Elena, we’re not like this because we’re both mad or don’t like you working for that company. We’re just worried about you, honey.” Jody Wilson spoke again in his distinctive voice. “We only have you, Elena.”

Slowly Elena lifted her downcast face, looking at the faces of her father and mother who were smiling at her. In Elena’s memory, her parents were never angry with her. They were so gentle when they spoke, just like now.

“Okay, I will refuse to work overtime again starting today,” Elena said hoarsely, Elena became even more hesitant to tell her relationship with Christian to her parents. Elena knew that if her parents were simple-minded people, they would both forbid her from continuing their relationship with Christian, who in fact was very different from them.

Mrs. Camila smiled, her shriveled hand slowly grabbed Elena’s hand from above her thigh and squeezed it gently. “Besides, Christmas will be here soon, it would be better if you were at home when the day full of joy arrived.”

Elena nodded slowly. “I understand, ma’am.”

“Good girl, we’re already so proud of you, Elena. So don’t waste your time working, we don’t need anything from you, honey.”

The tears that had gathered in Elena’s eyes immediately flowed unstoppably, the words her mother had just said really made Elena unable to hide her feelings. Elena knew that her parents were warning her not to work too hard, they both knew that Elena was trying to raise a lot of money so they could live in a more decent place at the end of her life.

“Shhh...don’t cry, honey. We really don’t need anything from you, Elena. Seeing you healthy, cheerful and able to function normally like any other girl has made us both proud, Elena. So don’t work too hard for both of us, think for your own future, dear,” added Mrs. Camila again.

“I..I just want mom and dad not to work anymore, I just want to see you two sitting pretty enjoying your time. Not continuing to work like this,” Elena sobbed softly in her mother’s arms.

Jody Wilson pursed his lips. “We still work not because we don’t have money, honey. We work because we love this world, your mother and I both love baking cakes, so we don’t feel burdened at all. Seeing customers enjoying our cakes is a joy in itself for us. pastry chefs like both of us, which is why we are both still working in our old age.”

“But...”

“What your father said is true, Elena. So from now on, don’t think about buying a new house for us, the place we currently live is still very decent. Remember Elena, there are still a lot of people out there who don’t have a home. So be grateful for what we have right now.”

Elena immediately tightened her arms on her mother’s body, hearing the words her parents just said made Elena even more embarrassed. She felt useless as a child.

Jody Wilson’s big hand stroked Elena’s hair gently. “Remember Elena, not all happiness is measured in material terms and neither of us need that. What we need now is to continue to be with you, take care of you and see you happy living your own life later.”

Elena’s tears broke even more, the words her parents had just said made Elena realize that what her parents need right now is not money. Her parents needed a lot of time with her, not the money she was currently accumulating in her savings account. Elena’s decision to refuse Christian’s request to live together is getting bigger.

Because she didn’t want to be late for work, Elena immediately said goodbye to her parents after she straightened her makeup again. Crying for almost fifteen minutes made Elena’s eyes puffy.

“I have to give Christian an answer today,” Elena said to herself. “I would never be able to leave my parents to please myself by living in Christian’s palace. It would be very selfish if I did that.”

Just about to pick up her cellphone to give an answer to Christian’s previous request, Elena was suddenly startled by a yellow Porsche that suddenly stopped in front of her. Elena almost screamed if the driver didn’t get out of the car right away.

“Christian.”

Christian, who had been in his car, smiled when he heard Elena’s voice.

“You look really excited this morning, Elena.”

Elena furrows her brows as she smells the strong alcohol scent on Christian’s lips. “Are you drunk?”

“No, I’m not that weak, Elena. Just drinking one bottle of wine won’t make me collapse.”

“What? Have you had a bottle of wine?”

Christian smiles. “It’s the only way to calm my messed up last night after my girlfriend turned off her cell phone until this morning,” Christian quips sharply.

“Gosh...my phone!!”

“What?”

All of a sudden Elena actually handed her bag to Christian. “I left my cell phone in the room, I’ll take it and please take care of my bag.”

“Let’s take it together with..”

“No, I will take it myself by running. You don’t go anywhere, wait for me here.”

After saying that Elena immediately ran home to get her cellphone, leaving Christian who was already hugging her favorite bag. Christian chuckled at the way Elena ran, really only Elena was able to return Christian’s smile. Even though he hasn’t slept since last night, Christian isn’t sleepy at all, especially after meeting Elena this morning.

Since the road was getting busy, Christian decided to get into his car. Christian doesn’t want people to recognize him. After ten minutes of Christian sitting in his car, Elena finally arrives. Her breath hitched from running, sweat dripping down her face.

“Enter.”

Elena nodded, immediately Elena got into the car, sat beside Christian who was behind the wheel.

“Wait, didn’t you use this car yesterday, did you?”

Christian purses his lips. “You haven’t forgotten who I am, have you?”

“Tch..so arrogant.”

“I’m not arrogant Elena, I’m speaking the facts.”

Elena immediately turned her face the other way, talking to Christian who was already proud of his wealth to make Elena annoyed.

Christian chuckled amused to see Elena sulking, because he couldn’t bear to see Elena sweating, Christian then gave his handkerchief to Elena. “Wipe your sweat with this, I don’t want you to get sick.”

“This handkerchief is yours?” asked Elena stupidly.

Christian shrugs his shoulders up. “Who do you expect this handkerchief to belong to, hm? A prince on a white horse like in fairy tales?”

“N..no, it’s not like that. It’s just...”

“We’re not working today, Elena. I want to take you somewhere.”

Elena almost choked on her own saliva at Christian’s words, Elena quickly crossed her arms across her chest with a panicked face. “I haven’t given any answer yet, j..so you can’t aaww...”

Elena screams loudly when Christian suddenly pinches her right cheek in exasperation.

“It hurts!!”

Christian smiles. “I’m not a crazy pusher, Elena. Don’t worry.”

Elena’s cheeks immediately felt hot, she was embarrassed because she had bad thoughts about Christian who this morning looked so different. Despite the smell of alcohol escaping from his mouth, Elena could feel the sadness Christian was trying to suppress.

“I want to take you to a place that is very important to me, a place that no strangers are allowed to visit without my family’s permission,” Christian says hoarsely.

“A place no stranger can go without permission from the Clarkes.” Elena repeats Christian’s words in a hoarse, barely audible voice. “What is that place?”

Christian smiles, slowly turning his attention back to the front with his hands directly holding the steering wheel and gears which then sends the Porsche to the highway.

“Christ, you haven’t answered my question!”

“You’ll know when we get there, it’s a very important place for me and my whole family, the Clarke family.”

Elena immediately shuddered in horror, all bad thoughts immediately crossed her mind at this time. Christian Clarke is a man of power and if he is brought to a place that is so important to the Clarke family then...

“Put all your bad thoughts on me, Elena,” Christian says suddenly, as if he knows what Elena is thinking right now. “I’m not going to spoil this beautiful morning by forcing you to be perverted.”

“W..who thinks pervert!” Elena screamed loudly with her face already as red as a boiled crab.

“I can read what you’re thinking right now, Elena. Your eyes say it all,” Christian says quietly with an amused laugh.

Elena who was already so embarrassed then turned her face the other way, trying to end her conversation with Christian. “Don’t talk anymore, drive well. The roads are busy this morning,” Elena said curtly trying to cover up her nervousness.

“As your wish, baby...”