"You got into a fight today?", Nick asked Elsa at dinner time. They were seated next to each other in the dining hall, and since he came back from work she seemed to be avoiding him. Elsa, who was trying to not make any noise with her cutlery, was shocked by the sudden question. Lowering her head, she nodded shyly.
Silence ensued for some seconds before Nick elegantly wiped his lips before standing up and glaring at her sternly he said, "Darling, I need you to promise me that this won't happen again".
Quietly drinking some juice with an embarrassed expression, she nodded. Nick, satisfied with the answer he got, was about to head up to his study room when he heard a light cough behind him. Turning back, the girl's shy expression came to view.
"Nick, tell me, when did I learn how to fight?", she asked him quietly, bowing her head to take a sip of the juice, missing the change in expression of the man before her. Looking up, he still remained the same.
"You did take some combat classes. They were for....self-defense". Another vague answer. But she was used to it now. Pouting, Elsa nodded at Nick to show her understanding before she made her way into the kitchen.
...…
The following day, Nick had something very important work to do at work and had to leave earlier than usual. Elsa was left home alone bored when she heard the doorbell ring. That was a first, no one ever really came here except the cleaner who was currently on leave. Shrugging, she made her way towards the door and opened it.
"Hey, Nic…..", a young man at the door began. He was quite tall and had model looks to him. But immediately upon seeing who had opened the door, he looked speechless…..scared…. and even excited.
"May I hep you?", Elsa asked, seeing the change in the expressions of the man that made her feel uncomfortable.
"Elsa….it's me", the man said, grasping her hands into his. Elsa immediately pulled her hands back and this time it was the man's time to frown.
"Elsa…it's me, Joaquin", he said again, unsure of what he himself was saying seeing the confused woman before him.
'It's her, it has to be. That voice, that face, that frown, it's definitely her', Joaquin thought to himself before going back to staring intensely at Elsa.
"Don't you remember, we were co-…..", before Joaquin could complete his sentence, a cold voice came from behind him.
"Co- workers at the bank you used to work at", Nick said, walking calmly towards his wife.
After finally getting an explanation, Elsa immediately understood the man's initial reaction and sighed in relief. She turned to look at Nick, asking him why he had returned so early.
"I forgot some….items", he replied curtly, looking at Joaquin with a double meaning laced in his words.