5

Wanda sat up and looked at the bedside clock, it was a few minutes to three in the morning. She got out of bed and walked quietly to the door, she was thirsty so she needed to go downstairs. Trying not to wake Elliot up, she quietly stepped out of her room and tiptoed past his room door, as she kept walking, she noticed the third room on the left was slightly open. She peered in thinking he was inside but it was dark in there, minding her business, she closed the door gently and went down the stairs and into the kitchen.

After two glasses of water, Wanda left the kitchen and was returning to her room when she bumped into Elliot coming out of the room she had just closed. She thought no one was inside or had he gone in when she went downstairs?

"Couldn't sleep?" He asked her as he locked the door. She observed him and wondered why he was locking just that room. She was curious, but she didn't let it get the best of her. If she had learnt anything from movies and books it was to never enter the secret room for her sake and Elliot's sake, she would not stick her nose where it didn't belong.

"I was just thirsty that's all." She replied. "You?"

"I couldn't sleep." He didn't try explaining why he was coming out of there, and he didn't need to. It was his house. "Goodnight. Sleep well."

"You too." She said and walked away. She got back to her room, crawled back into bed and slept.

~~~~~

Elliot got up first and made himself a cup of coffee, Wanda was still in bed. What happened early that morning wasn't a big deal but he felt weird about it. When Wanda saw him come out of the room, he could pick up her curiosity but when she didn't ask anything about it, he was both relaxed and surprised. He didn't want to have to explain Tara to her, majorly because he didn't know how she would react if she found out she was just a placeholder for his ex-girlfriend. Taking over the company was one thing but to him, the real reason he decided to go with a contact marriage was that he hoped Tara would hear about it, contact him and want to get back together but he and Wanda's fake relationship was nearing its sixth month and he still hadn't heard from her. Although not a lot of people knew he was with someone now so there was no way for him to know if Tara had heard the news. His parent's charity ball would fix that. Once Wanda makes her first public appearance, everyone would know, including Tara.

Wanda was a nice person and Elliot liked her, he didn't want to hurt her feelings and that was why he decided not to tell her about Tara. He hoped she would serve her time without hitch and leave happily. He hoped no one would get hurt. Drinking the last of his coffee, Elliot began to wonder why Wanda wasn't up yet. Worried, he decided to check her room when he heard the front door open and close, Wanda stood by the entrance sweaty and in sweatpants and a sports bra, she had gotten up earlier than Elliot and went for a run.

"You're up." She was panting. "I went out for a run."

Elliot stared at her, something about her sporty look made his heart race. He couldn't explain it, she was sweaty and tired but he liked it, trying to gather his thoughts, he dropped his mug in the sink and left the kitchen, eyes still on her.

"I thought you were still sleeping, I was just going to check your room."

She wiped the sweat that gathered on her chin and smiled.

"I actually wanted to ask if you would join me " She said in between breaths. "But you were soundly asleep I didn't want to bother you."

Elliot finally gathered his thoughts. "I didn't know you were the athletic type. Next time wake me, I'll join you."

She smiled and nodded. "What are we going to have for breakfast?"

"I was thinking of just ordering something."

"That's fine by me. I'll hop in the shower."

When she left, Elliot picked his phone up to order food for both of them. He didn't know what was wrong with him but needed to snap out of it, getting attracted to her would only complicate things for both of them. Today he was going to brief her on his family members so that when they meet at the ball, she wouldn't be overwhelmed. He heard the doorbell ring and was surprised that the food had arrived so fast but when he opened the door, it was a smiling Maya that stood in his face. He should have briefed Wanda earlier.

"Is that breakfast?" Wanda called as she was coming down the stairs. "I'm hungry."

Wanda's smile faded when she saw a girl in the living room. She didn't know if she should run or stay and smile back at the girl. She looked to Elliot for help and he got it immediately. He walked to her and took her hands and guided her down, he smiled sweetly at her and her heart skipped a beat.

"Babe this is my little sister Maya." He said to her still smiling. She could feel her cheeks turn red, she stuttered a little as she spoke.

"Hi, I-I'm Wanda. It's nice to finally meet you."

Maya dropped the box and bags she was holding and walked up to her brother and his fiancee.

"You're so red. It's almost as if you're shocked by his actions." she said. "I guess your love is new every morning." She laughed at her statement but Elliot and Wanda didn't laugh.

"Maya what do you want?" Elliot was getting annoyed. Maya was sharp and it would only take her at least thirty minutes to figure everything was a sham. It was something he loved and hated about his sister.

"Strange." She walked around the living room. "Not a single photograph of the two of you."

He had enough. "Maya, why are you here?"

She could tell her brother was getting pissed. She retreated and pointed to the box and bags she had dropped earlier.

"Mom told me to bring these. They're for Wanda."

"What are they?"

"Clothes and a pair of heels. She wanted to be the one to get her clothes for the ball. She said she was excited about her."

Wanda felt touched. "That's really sweet of her. I'm honoured and thankful."

The doorbell rang. This time it was their food.

"I guess this is my cue to leave."

"Yes it is Maya."

"It was nice meeting you Wanda. I can't wait to see you at the ball."

Wanda smiled. "It was nice meeting you too."

Elliot saw his sister out and returned with their breakfast, Wanda opened the shoe box first and went "Oh my God." when she saw a pair of Jimmy Choo heels. She couldn't believe it, she had always loved Jimmy Choo's designs but she never thought about owning one, they were just too expensive for her. They were the things she would see, admire and dream of but now she was holding one in her hands and they were hers. She did her little happy dance that earned a cute laugh from Elliot, she laughed too.

"I thought being your fiancee just guaranteed me good money, I never knew there were side attractions."

"Oh, and there will be more. And if my mom likes you, you're set for life."

"I'll check out the dresses later on. Let's eat and talk about this charity ball first."

Today they ate and talked, it wasn't silent. Elliot told her the important things she needed to know about his family members, from his father and mother to his sisters and his uncle and even Toby. They used the time to learn new things about each other so they won't be thrown off balance when questioned about each other's likes and dislikes.

"You're going to like Sarah. She's nothing like Maya."

"I think Maya's cute. She's funny."

"No way. You don't know her yet." He waved his hands in his face. "She's one scary girl."

Wanda used her hands to cover her mouth as she laughed. "Well she did scare me a little."

~~~~~

The next day, Wanda went shopping with Cherry, Elliot had given her one of his credit cards and told her to feel free. She was shy about it but he reassured her and told her she should enjoy herself and so she did. She called Cherry and told her she would pick her up so they could go to the mall together. Meanwhile, Toby came over to Elliot's place alongside another friend of theirs, Keith. They played video games and had pizza with beer, talked about girls, golf and music. Keith wanted to know more about Elliot's new girl, curiosity had been eating at him for quite some time.

"Okay, what'd you wanna know?"

"Is she pretty?" Keith asked.

Elliot stopped, he hadn't really thought about it. He had been trying hard not to get attracted to her he didn't really take note of her physical features. Was Wanda pretty? He thought back to the day she came home after going for a run and how he felt when he saw her. Did he feel that way because she was pretty or because it had been long since he'd spent time with a woman?

"Earth to Elliot." Keith snapped his fingers, trying to get Elliot's attention.

"Oh yeah. Sorry." He laughed shyly. "Wanda is–"

The beeping of the door interrupted him, someone was inputting the security code to his house. It was Wanda.

When Wanda entered the house, she was holding three shopping bags, she had a big smile on.

"I didn't know you had guests." She set down the bags.

"These are my friends, Wanda meet Toby and Keith." He pointed to each of them.

She wiped her palms on her pants and walked to them, stretching get hands out to shake them.

"I'm Wanda. Nice to meet you guys."

Toby, shook her hand first and smiled at her. Keith took her hands after and shook her too, but didn't let go. He was examining her face and smiling. Elliot noticed. Keith was such a womanizer.

"Keith, let go of my fiancee's hand."

Keith chuckled and let her go. "I'm sorry. You're just so pretty."

Wanda laughed hard. She was genuinely surprised. "Wow thank you."

"Did you get everything you wanted?" Elliot asked her in a low voice, he was now standing close to her.

"Yes I did. Thank you."

"Don't mention."

Keith said aloud, "Would you join us Wanda?"

She looked at his friends before going up to her room. "It was nice meeting you guys today but I'm quite tired so I won't be joining you. Maybe some other time." She then disappeared into the house.

When she was gone, Keith fist-bumped Elliot and said , "Damn, she's fine. You struck gold my friend."

Even Toby agreed. "Keith's right. She's a charmer."

Elliot didn't know how to feel, was Wanda really that pretty? Was he blind or were his friends just exaggerating?

"She's an angel." Keith said again, looking at the stairs like he was expecting her to show up. Elliot tapped his friend's head and said, "Well she's my angel."

Toby watched Elliot and how he acted. More than once, he stepped away from them to check on her and anytime Keith made remarks he was quick to shut him down.

Hours later and only Toby remained. Keith had left early. Wanda did come down and he got to know her a bit but she went back to her room leaving him and Elliot alone. Toby watched him watch her, he smirked at his friend.

"When did it start?" Toby asked

"When did what start?"

"You're falling for her."

Elliot paused. "No I'm not. What are you saying?"

"I see the way you look at her and how you act around her." Toby replied. "You might not know it but she's doing things to you. And I like it."

Elliot thought his friend was being ridiculous. "Shut up Toby. Don't you need to go home?"

"Sure I'll leave but it doesn't change anything."

Toby left and Elliot cleaned up. Wanda came down to get a snack when she noticed Elliot was alone.

"He's gone?"

"Yeah he just left." He didn't want to look at her.

"Let me join you."

"No I'm fine." He still wasn't looking at her.

"Are you sure? I can–"

"I said I'm fine." This time he looked her. He saw the shock on her face. "I'm sorry. I just want to be alone now."

She nodded. Maybe they had an argument. "It's okay. Goodnight Elliot."

When he couldn't hear her footsteps anymore, he sat on the sofa and ruffled his hair. If what Toby said was true, then he was in trouble and he needed to step back a bit. He couldn't have feelings for Wanda.