CEO Of My Heart

Ellie shrugged as she put away her book, How to Manage Rich, into her knapsack .   She stood up to quickly hug her friend before quickly sitting down . "You know, I have spent so much time recovering, I"d almost forgotten that I used to live by myself .   I feel like I need to reclaim me as I used to be a little bit . He did tell me that he doesn"t mind if I wanted to bring you over whenever . "

"When you get back to his home, it"s fantastic of him to have paid for my plane ticket to come back here .   I was in business cla.s.s this time so I was literally the most comfortable person on the plane . If he does these lil things for your friends, he must treat you so well .   You"re very lucky you know . "

"I think he feels guilty about my withdrawal .   I stayed at his house during the worst of it so he definitely saw me at my absolute worst .   Henry"s just trying to figure out how to help me out with these small gestures . You probably would have been even more taken care of at the Wong Building .   At first, it feels wonderful . You don"t even have to think . But, over time not having to think can make you feel irritable . " Ellie shifted in her seat uncomfortably as she grabbed her coffee cup .   "But, enough about my own issues . I actually got a shock just before I was about to meet you . I"m going to be planning my brother"s wedding with my sister in law to be very soon . "
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"That"s such good news .   I"m so happy for you and your family . " Helen clasped her hands in excitement . "I can"t believe just a couple months ago you were talking as if you could die any day, but you"ve managed to beat all of your obstacles .   It"s a real miracle to see you well, Ellie . I"m so in awe of you . You were in a hospital bed and you"ve done so well in settling yourself and your brother . "

"Settling myself?  I don"t know if I would say it"s a blessing, I"ve just got a lot more things in perspective now that I understand health is not permanent .   I should remind Nolan that I"m the reason he met his future wife in the first place . But, that"s not why I called you here . Um, I know we were friends in our youth .   What I was going to say before has changed a bit now that I"ve got this news . " Ellie bit her lip as she finally made a decision . "I know you are a professional racer as well as I"ve decided to sell my stock car and retire .   I know that"s it"s pretty sudden . I"m not pregnant or Henry hasn"t forced me too . But, I recently was offered--I think calling a job would be generous--but I have a project that should keep me occupied . I inherited it I guess . "

Helen looked at her with a blush .   "Inherited? Is that your sneaky way that you"re telling me that your planning on starting a family with your man, the perfect Henry Wong?  I know that I heard you wanted to make the relationship more about family and the future . "

"I wish I was making more progress with my goals . " Ellie tried to warm her suddenly cold hands with her coffee cup .   "Do you remember when I first moved to Rochester, I told you my dad lived in a castle in England?  All the neighborhoods didn"t believe me, but you were the only one that did? I told you how I had two evil step sisters and that was why Cinderella was my favorite fairy tale?"

"I mean we were kids, Ellie .   You can"t blame the other kids for not believing you .   I"m sure it was their parents telling them that it couldn"t be true . "

Ellie shrugged .   "What I didn"t tell anybody was that the reason why my dad lived in a castle was because he was an English baron as in a member of the old aristocracy . "

"No way?  Are you serious?  That"s insane . "

"What"s even more insane is that just an hour ago, I found out that I am a Baroness because of some weird law that my ancestors did with the queen that whoever is next in line will inherit .   I found out my parents were married, but by the time I started school my mom just changed my last name to hers so I never knew about it . All of my step sisters have pa.s.sed on so I"m now responsible for--"

Helen gasped . "--you"re not going back to racing because you have to go to Europe to take care of your castle .   I should probably start calling you Lady Ellie . This is the best story I have ever heard . Something like this would only happen to you, you always have that type of luck . "

Ellie eyebrows met as she felt a surge of disgust .   "Do you not believe me? I thought you of all people would understand . "

Helen quickly shook her head and touched Ellie"s hands .   "I do . I meant I of course can"t understand what it"s like to be what you are .   I"m not you, but I know that no matter what happens to you that you"ll stay the old Ellie .   I know your relationship with Henry isn"t going well . It"s really good that you have something to move towards as you untangle yourself . " Her thumbs rubbed soothing circles into the back of Ellie"s hands . "It"s ok, I know your hands get cold when you get scarred . "

"I am .   I can"t help how these quick changes are making me uncomfortable . " She made a face . "My relationship isn"t in the best place and I am happy that I can stand on my own two feet now .   But, it"s still weird knowing I have a safety blanket now, I"m so used to having little . "

"Ellie I know, I was there when your mom was bagging groceries and shopping with my mom at the thrift store .   I know that it"s not going to be easy these couple months . You have my number so you can call me any time and we can discuss anything .   I"ll always make time to be there for you . I"m glad I"m in a place where I"m not super stressed so I can offer you that . It"s scares me to think about all those tabloids picking up on such a high profile relationship .   You becoming aristocracy does sound like somethings news outlets will love . But, I do think that it"s good that this has happened . "