CEO of my Heart 214 214

As Ellie opened the door to the loaded taxi outside, Michael's son stopped her and whispered. "Do you have security hired to help you? I heard that the press was alerted that you had come through customs. You might run into some people who don't wish you safe passage to where you're headed. You're newly landed aristocracy now, it's different than if you were just tourists."

Ellie shook her head as she listened to the concern. "I'm not really used to having security. But, I think that we will manage. I'm confident in my own abilities. I know how to deal with people who are unruly. This is my hometown too that I'm returning to so I know the people. I know the way pretty well too. It's just a train ride which we should be able to manage. There will be security at both ends of the stations that we'll be going to. We're posing as regular folk as well so we should be able to mingle with the crowd. It's no big deal. It's only a seven hours ride so we should get there before it get's dark. It's really nothing that you need to worry about. There's no need for you to take a trip there and back just to keep us safe. You're got young children of your own"

"You seem pretty well prepared." The man finally agreed. He ran his hand through his hair as he looked longingly back into his snug little househouse. Ellie was sure that he hadn't really wanted to go and he was just offering so his father wouldn't make a fuss later.

Henry got into the taxi, after Ellie. He put his arm around her shoulder and leaned close. "I was just talking to that Michael's grandskids, apparently this is the first day in a couple months that Michael's son has come home. It's good that he didn't end up coming with us. That son should be home. I'm glad that Michael is staying to spend time with him, but that means that we're on our own." Henry put his hand around Ellie's nervously as the taxi driver took Michael's direction to start moving. "I know I'm not as good as Michael as taking care of you, but I'll try to do my best."

"I don't need taking care of." Ellie sighed as she rubbed the dust out of her parka. "It's just a train ride. Nothing too bad can happen to us. Michael's such a worrywort over something so simple. I know that he essentially raised you so he's more overprotective than a normal butler. He's very close to you, but he should have some more confidence in you."

Henry scooted closer to Ellie as he whispered into her ear. "I don't blame my father for not having time for me, he was managing the company. I've had people do things for me my entire life such that no one has confidence. My goal with you is never feeling that way."

Ellie sighed, she tried to smile. She tried to appear as if she agreed, but was glad that at the moment her smile would have unsettled him that he was looking out of the window. Henry did have a propensity to take each of her little reactions a little too seriously. It was something that was nice, at times.

The train station was empty luckily when they boarded. Their luggage was handled quickly so there was no waiting around, other than in their comfortable first class seats. Ellie had found the landscape to be interesting as it rolled past her on the way to Lutterworth, Leicestershire. They had stopped close to their destination when the cameras started to flash.

Ellie had her headphones in and was snoozing with drool coming out of her mouth. Through the healing process, she had slowly began to have use of her legs return to her. It was an arduous project that had Ellie do daily stretches and exercise. Doing this type of therapy every morning, caused her to grow tired more easily and due to this she often took naps through the day. Her first instinct that something was amiss was when someone had turned a microphone and was asking her questions, "Do you think that you are deserving of joining the British aristocracy?"

As she realized what was happening she threw off her headphones as the flashes of cameras was blinding. The train shuddered to a stop and the whole occupants of the carriage were jostled back and forth. Henry hadn't been wearing his seatbelt so he was thrown against the opposing seat. Before he could get a proper bruise, Ellie caught his hand so he could brace himself.

Henry pulled a facemask on himself and Ellie as the camera shudders continued to flash. The cameramen began to shove forwards and surround Ellie so Henry pushed through them to get to his shivering wife. Through the window to the station outside he could see a whole horde or policemen trying to clear them. There were red lights as their used their safety pistols to try to move the paparazzi. There was a sheriff with a loudspeaker who was trying to direct away passengers who were shouting at the horde of photographers who were blocking their path. Ellie knew that there were probably close to twenty photographers.

Ellie wasn't sure what the right thing to do was. Was it wise to even allow themselves to be photographed when they had put in so much effort just to be anonymous. Ellie knew that she couldn't let Michael down. She exchanged glances with Henry and knew that he was freaking out more than she was. If this continued on for much longer they would have a more difficult time with getting away from these people.

The other option instead of being complacent was to be aggressive. Ellie knew from her time driving, that if she stared getting loud that it was important to have the largest audience possible. There were a lot of people around them, so it was a perfect opportunity. While everyone was focused on capturing the moment, they were really noticing what was happening out of frame.

"Keep your head tilted down. Try not to stay inside of the seat aisle instead of the walkway." Ellie had always learned that she had to take care of herself. Michael had given her both a taser and pepper spray in case something happened. Ellie took them out, making sure that she was in range before sliding back to the front entrance of the carriage instead of the back. The photographers were occupied with getting Henry's expressions that they seemed not to notice that Ellie had slid out of the camera frame completely.

Chapter end

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