Is this destiny?

Chapter 917 - After The Fashion Show (2)

Inside the dressing room, Ellie is happily checking latest fashion-buzz while waiting for Jasper to come and pick her up. He said that he is running a bit late (due to traffic) and that she should wait for him inside so that she does not stand on the street. October is cold in Chicago.

The show was a big success. All this fashion noise means that another great season is ahead of her.

One fashion blogger highlighted Aiden as the new face of EY. Ellie rubbed her chin while wondering, is he too handsome or are her designs losing their edge? Those people should be blogging about clothes, her designs! Not about models. And he is not even a real model… Eh, she felt like crying a bit. But other sites she checked were focused on clothes, that made her feel better.

She heard noise at the door and looked up with a big smile on her face, ready to greet Jasper.

Ellie's smile faded when she saw five men enter the dressing room. She assumed they came to clean up after the show.

"I will be out in a second.", she said politely while getting her purse. She will wait for Jasper outside.

"No need to rush, sugar.", one man said lazily.

Ellie felt goosebumps wash over her. Why are these men making her feel uneasy?

She collected herself. Jumping into conclusions will not help no matter what the case is. "Can I help you?"

The second man snickered. "We will help ourselves."

Ellie frowned. These guys are definitely bad news. Only then she realized that at least three of them have some bats in their hands. Are they here to demolish the place, or… to hurt her?

Ellie inhaled. 'Don't panic. Don't panic. Think. Think.'

"Are you sure you are in the right place? I am just a designer."

"Yes, we are in the right place. Miss designer for EY."

Ellie opened her mouth to say something, but the man in the middle interrupted her.

"Don't even try. We are here for Ellie Young. And we know that is you."

"What do you want?", Ellie's shaky voice showed how anxious she is.

"For us, it's nothing personal. Somebody does not like you... enough to pay us to hurt you." Man walked toward Ellie with a sinister smile on her face.

Ellie made two steps back and tripped on a cable, making her stumble backward and fall on her behind.

"Ellie!", Aiden cried from the door and rushed toward her, ignoring the five guys.

"Are you OK?", he helped her get up.

"Yeah.", she gave a small smile, relieved that Aiden showed up. She was embarrassed that she fell so unceremoniously. 

Ellie glanced at five men and in her mind practiced her self-defense moves.

"I can take one. Maybe two."

Ellie's brave announcement made Aiden chuckle.

"If I let you get in contact with any of these filthy men, Jasper will not forgive me. Please take few steps back, but make sure you don't trip."

Ellie swallowed non-existent saliva. He saw her trip and fall! How embarrassing. But... it's five of them, and three of them have bats. Will Aiden be OK?

The man in the middle who was approaching Ellie previously, narrowed his eyes at Aiden and rushed toward him.

Aiden welcomed him with few swift blur-appearing punches and his signature kick in the chest which sent the man flying backward to the other side of the dressing room. The man fell limply on the floor and didn't move.

One man from the left swung his bat toward Aiden, and Aiden grabbed it and kicked the man in the left knee, breaking his kneecap instantly. Aiden frowned at man's wails and hit him with the side of his palm in the neck to keep him quiet. The man lost consciousness… so he was quiet.

Other two men with bats attacked at the same time. Aiden handled them with ease, kicking them next to the first man, like he is playing a game of bocce, but with people instead of balls, and with vicious leg kicks instead of precise hand tosses.

While Aiden was dealing with two men with bats, the fifth gang member realized that he is over his head and rushed toward the door. He bumped into confused Jasper who was holding an oversized bouquet of red roses.

"Stop him!", Aiden bellowed before kicking the fourth guy.

Jasper reacted immediately by grabbing the man's collar and tossing him back into the dressing room.

With one glance, Jasper saw four men on the floor, and he looked at Ellie. "Are you OK?"

Ellie forced a smile and nodded while focusing on the fifth guy who is sitting on the floor and his eyes are darting between three people who are standing in front of him.

Ellie didn't want to show that she is super-anxious. Those five guys appeared unexpectedly. If Aiden didn't come when he did, she would be hurt.

Ellie took a deep breath. "They were after me. They said that someone paid them to hurt me."

Jasper frowned and walked toward the only conscious man on the floor, but Aiden blocked him.

"Take care of Ellie."

Jasper pulled Ellie into his embrace and felt that she is trembling. 'Silly girl, acting all brave.' He didn't want to expose her. He tightened his hug and watched what Aiden will do.

The ruffian was shivering uncontrollably while looking at Aiden.

"I don't know who paid us! Only boss knows that!", the man yelled before Aiden reached him.

Aiden believed him. The man was scared witless. "Who is the boss?"

The man pointed toward three men who were on the floor next to each other.

Aiden raised his eyebrows indicating that he needs more information.

"Red jacket.", the man clarified.

Aiden exhaled. It's the man who attacked him first and he got the most beating.

A minute later, Aiden, Ellie and Jasper are looking at the boss-man who is not moving. They tried slapping him awake, but it didn't work.

"How do we wake him up?", Ellie asked.

"I can do it, but I need to get my things from the villa.", Aiden was referring to the container which is filled with JoAnna-made variety of products. Sarah and he are always carrying one each.

Three of them agreed to take the unconscious boss-man with them.

Jasper gave flowers which he previously kept on the side, to Ellie. "I heard that the show went great, so I got these for you."

She was touched. "Thank you."

Their kiss was interrupted by a horrendous scream of the fifth ruffian when Aiden broke his leg.

"You didn't think that he can go without injuries, right? He attacked Ellie.", Aiden justified his action.

Even if the man didn't know whom he is attacking, going to hurt others for money is not OK and he should be taught a lesson. That was Aiden's reasoning.

Ellie and Jasper didn't complain about the action itself, they just thought that it was noisy. And it interrupted their kiss.

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