Ellison And Joycelyn: A Love Beyond The Rules

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

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Ellison had looked Joycelyn straight in the eyes as he’d said that, and she felt her cheeks flush almost instantly. She saw the twinkle of amusement in Ellison’s eyes and hurriedly turned her face away to avert his gaze.

“Fancy a couple of drinks tonight? I have a few good bottles of wine in my collection,” Ellison offered light–heartedly. He seemed to be in a fantastic mood.

Joycelyn was a disciplined woman who always kept her cool. She was usually reserved and serious, but when she drank, she’d become uninhibited.

“I can’t hold my liquor,” Joycelyn tried to decline gently. She continued to busy herself to distract her from feeling embarrassed.

“Don’t worry about that, the alcohol content isn’t high,” Ellison said as he picked out a bottle of red wine and opened it. The two newlyweds stood a little away from each other in the kitchen. One focused on cooking while the other poured wine into a decanter.

Joycelyn had pulled out the stops in her menu, the gas range occupied by various pots and pans. She methodically timed, seasoned, and tasted everything, and in about forty minutes, the three–course meal was ready.

Ellison sat at the head of the dining table, sipping on his glass of wine as he admired her swift and efficient movements in the kitchen. He was quiet but focused.

Joycelyn had finished plating the dishes and turned to him to inform him that dinner was ready to be served; only to find that he had his eye on her the entire time.

He was silent and observant, exuding the same intimidating aura he did in the company boardroom.

“Do you have a sweet tooth?” Joycelyn tried to ease the tension that was building up in her as she carried the first dish to the table. It was a rich–looking lobster bisque that she drizzled with truffle oil at tableside.

“I’m alright,” Ellison got up and walked to the kitchen sink to wash his hands, following which he took the initiative to bring the rest of the dishes to the dining table, including a surf and turf of oven–baked fish and grilled ribs, and dessert.

Joycelyn’s plating hadn’t been elaborate or over–the–top, but the smell easily whetted Ellison’s appetite.

Joycelyn took her seat at the dining table as well with butterflies in her stomach. It was the first time she and Ellison were having a meal together at the same table.

“Mr. Grant, did you want to have still or sparkling water?” Joycelyn asked.

“Still water is fine,” Ellison replied.

“Sure thing,” Joycelyn got up again to retrieve two bottles of mineral water from the refrigerator, along with two glasses.

Ellison waited patiently at the table for Joycelyn to return before picking up his cutlery. “Everything looks great,” he commented as he began eating.

Every cut, slice, and poke he made was deliberate and precise. “I poured you a drink, he said as he gestured lightly at the glass next to Joycelyn

food wasn’t to his liking, and she couldn’t get over the fact that she was dining with her CEO. She stole a glance at him

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Chapter 17

with a satisfied look.

smile of relief broke out on Joycelyn’s face. “As long as

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bites. She’d been conditioned to do so while living with the Mercer family. She picked up the drink

she had drank half of it in two mouthfuls. She

of few words, and Joycelyn was not chatty by nature. She didn’t quite dare to

while, Ellison said, “I’m done eating. Thank you

leftovers on his plate and asked

without me Ellison explained before he finished the last sip of his wine. Then he wiped his

well, but seeing the amount of food still left on her plate, she felt

out,” Ellison answered

much too wasteful,” Joycelyn remarked before picking up her cutlery again to have another go at her food. A three- course meal was filling by itself, but she’d been afraid that it wouldn’t be enough for Ellison, so she’d prepared even more than

college days, whether she was at school or home, she’d always eaten very simply on

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a mouthful or two of those at the most, and in school, she simply couldn’t afford such luxuries. Her

tell they were all top–grade items that surely cost a pretty penny. It would go against her conscience to let any of it go to waste.

living room to watch the financial news, leaving Joycelyn to herself at the dining table. Feeling more at ease then, she could feel her appetite increasing, and

finally done, she was stuffed. She slumped slackly against the back of the dining chair, her little tummy sticking out.

again to get another water for himself and saw that Joycelyn had essentially finished

while explaining, “I didn’t want to let it go to waste, so

because the circumstances had forced her

his deep, magnetic voice, giving her the once over as he took a sip of water.

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Chapter 17

Her cheeks felt hot again.

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back from work, I

as she turned her head to

sharp features

He nodded.

dishes instead. I quite like this kitchen, and I feel it’s kind of therapeutic to make food,” Joycelyn said