Chapter 7. Ella detained

Ella packed her bags, taking her father's private jet once more, she landed in Salt Rock.

The air hostess looked at her in confusion and the driver that had fetched her two days ago, when she looked like a mess was baffled.

"Miss Woods, right?" The driver asked. The expression on his face was priceless.

Ella tipped her sunglasses and looked at him, " yes."

" Are you sure you are not Mr Ray's daughter? The one I picked up a few days ago."

He stared at her in the rearview mirror.

"Well. Yes I am. I am his adopted daughter, Ella Woods." Ella replied.

" The resemblance is remarkable." He scratched his chin.

"Let's just say, my father has good taste." Ella laughed. She enjoyed watching the driver scratch his head. She just wondered how much havoc she is going to create in Salt Rock.

Turning into Time Boulevard, Ella could not help but stare at all the luxury boutiques. This place was fairly new but also upmarket for her. She had only seen pictures is the magazine's but it was definitely more beautiful in reality.

The driver stopped outside the main entrance of the hotel.

She stared at the sign.

" Le Ella Hotel." She said loudly." It is stunning."

The driver opened the door for her and her slender legs in high heels, touched the ground silently like she had practiced.

She had chosen a yellow summer dress with a fur trimmed dummy jacket. Her high heels matched the dress with yellow sunflowers on the band's.

A bellhop rushed to her side and started to carry her bags.

" This is like in the movies." Ella thought, taking in all the beauty of the glass doors and the high ceilings as she walked to the receptionist.

The large porcelain water feature in the centre of the foyer caught her eye, it was almost mesmerising. The finest features and the most crafted curves made the sculpture almost life like. It was a sculpture of the teapot my mom used to use when I was a child. When we had just enough food to make it through the week and when my dad worked hard to make the ends meet.

I walked up to the teapot and touched it's delicate handle. I never expected to be brought back to such sad but meaningful memories. A memory of when we had little but our last love was enough.

" Do not touch that." A guard screamed as he ran towards Ella.

Ella pulled back her hands and turned to face the security guard. " What are you shouting for?"

With one swift motion, he grabbed both her arms and cuffed them behind her back, dragging her to the security office.

"Get your hands off me." Ella kicked her legs and wriggled.

He sat her down on the chair and took a seat in his own chair across her, planting his legs on the desk, arrogantly.

" How dare you, come to my hotel and touch my ornaments. Do you know how sacred that sculpture is?" The man dragged his words, making sure she heard every bit.

"Sorry. Let me get this straight. This is your hotel?" Ella questioned him in a polite yet sarcastic voice.

" Listen missy, don't get cocky with me. The owner is coming today and I don't need little girls like you, messing it up for me." The guard clicked his fingers.

" Ok. So what exactly have I done? To be humiliated in such a way , in front of all those people?" Ella asked.

"You touched the hotel decorative property." He replied.

"But there weren't any signs that said "no touching"

" You can make up all the excuses you want, you will just rot here until after our boss arrives."

The guard said as he dangled the key in front of her.

An hour passed and the guard returned. " Your little drama caused me to miss the arrival of our boss. I have been waiting to meet her. Maybe she could promote me from this stinking job."

" So you are taking out your anger on me because you don't like your job?" Ella asked him.

" Oh just shut up." He barked at her.

The receptionist barged through the door," The boss has checked in. Well atleast her luggage has checked in but she hasn't. "

She looked at Ella on the chair.

"Hi. Do you mind undoing these cuffs on me. My luggage seems to have checked in without me." Ella rolled her eyes.

The security guard looked at Ella and then at the receptionist.

" Oh dear." The receptionist gasped. " Miss Woods?"

"Yes. If you don't believe me, in my purse is my identity card."

" I don't believe her one bit." The security guard dug through her bag, spilling things onto the floor.

"There is no identity card here. Liar!" He shouted loudly. His voice ringing in her ears making Ella angry. She took three long, deep breaths to calm herself from turning into a wolf and ripping him to shreds.

" The small zipper." Ella growled.

" Oops. I see it now. Miss Ella Woods." The guard looked like he was going to faint.

"Just release me so I can get on with my day." Ella said irritably.

" I am so sorry. I didn't know." The guard begged for an apology.

" How many other people have to disgraced this way?" Ella asked.

" None. I just thought that today I would make myself mighty in the eyes of the boss and get a promotion." He said in desperation.

" This hotel had opened up three months ago. How long are you employed?" Ella asked curiously.

" Well I am employed as off yesterday when they had reopened as Le Ella Hotel." He replied hanging his head in shame. " I heard only the wealthy own this part of the town and only the wealthy come here to shop. "

" I know where you are getting at. Today I will not be talking this problem, I will part it for another day. I have too much on my plate at the moment. But don't think your off the hook." Ella warned.