Chapter 48
Big blogs. Celebrity gossip sites. Insta**** pages with millions of followers. All posting the same images Her and Marcus outside that small church. Kissing, smiling and looking like two people actually in love. If only they knew it was fake.
The captions were all variations of the same thing.
Billionaire CEO Marcus Thorne Marries Mystery Woman in Secret Santorini Wedding
*Who is Elara Vance? Everything We Know About Marcus Thorne’s New Wife*
*From Assistant to Mrs. Thorne: The Love Story No One Saw Coming*
It was nice to see. Surreal. Like looking at someone else’s life instead of her own.
But she was scared. Hoping her mother didn’t see these before Elara got a chance to explain. She wouldn’t forgive herself if her mum found out this way. Through gossip blogs and paparazzi photos instead of from her own daughter.
The flight continued. Eleven hours of silence. Marcus was still working, he still hadn’t even glanced at her, was he really that hurt?
She’s at fault though, so she has to find a way to sort this. When they finally landed in New York, it was late afternoon. The plane taxied to a private area of the airport. Away from the main terminals.
The moment they came down the stairs, chaos erupted.
Cameras. Microphones. Reporters shouting over each other.
How did they even know they were coming back today? How did they find out which airport? Which time?
“Mrs. Thorne! Congratulations!”
“Elara! How was the wedding?”
“Did you marry him for money?”
“How long have you been together?”
“Mrs. Thorne, look here!”
Her name was being screamed. Butchered. Shouted from every direction. Elara froze. Her body locked up. This wasn’t something she was built for. This life. This spotlight. This chaos.
Marcus was walking in front of her. Moving through the crowd without acknowledging anyone. Then he stretched his hand backward. Didn’t turn around. Didn’t look at her. Just reached back and waited.
Elara grabbed it.
His fingers laced through hers, pulling her forward through the mess of people and cameras and questions she didn’t know how to answer.
They navigated the paparazzi without saying a single word. Just moved together like they’d done this a thousand times. Like they were actually a team.
14:45 Mon, May
Chapter 48
A black tinted SUV was waiting. Marcus opened the door. Helped her in first. Climbed in after her and shut the door..
The noise became muffled and distant immediately. Like it was happening to someone else, just fainted echoes.
Elara let out a deep sigh of relief.
The SUV pulled away from the airport. Through the city. Back toward the penthouse.
The Elevator ride was silent, they were just like two strangers.
When they finally arrived and the doors opened into the penthouse, Elara dropped her bags immediately and kicked off her shoes. Collapsed face-first onto the couch.
God, she’d missed this place. Missed the quiet. Missed not being on display.
She finally looked at Marcus. He was standing by the entrance. Loosening his tie. Still not looking at her.
“Are you going to talk to me now or are we going to continue like this?”
Marcus pulled his tie off completely. “I don’t have the time.”
“We’ll create one.” Elara sat up. “You’ve been pissed since yesterday and I said let me explain. Yet you haven’t even given me a chance to.”
“Well, I asked you yesterday.”
“No, you didn’t. You accused me of sleeping with someone. Of cheating. I got angry and decided to let you run with your narrative.” She crossed her arms. “This marriage is empty as it is. I’m not about to add malice to my list of things to deal with.”
That got his attention.
Marcus turned immediately. “Empty?”
“Yes. Empty.” She repeated it. Louder this time. Making sure he heard.
He stared at her, his eyes were dark now, like he was hurt. Then he started clapping. Slow and sarcastic.
“Wow.” Clapped again. “Just wow.”
He turned and walked away. Climbed the stairs until he disappeared into his room without another word.
He banged his door loudly.
Shit.
Elara collapsed back on the couch. Stared at the ceiling with her face in her hands.
Did I just make him more mad?
14:45 Mon, May 11
