Chapter 99
Elara’s Pov
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Marcus had prepared and left for work early that morning, kissing Elara’s forehead before heading out around seven thirty. He’d asked if she’d be okay alone, and she’d nodded, assuring him she’d be fine. But the moment the door closed behind him, the silence of the penthouse felt oppressive.
Elara had wandered around for a bit, made herself breakfast that she couldn’t really eat, tried to watch TV but couldn’t focus. Finally, she grabbed her phone and texted Mimi.
Elara: You free today? Can you come over? I need to talk to you about something.
Mimi: Of course babe. Give me like forty-five mins, I’ll be on my way soon.
That had been almost an hour ago. Elara was sitting on the couch, staring blankly at the muted TV, when her phone buzzed with another text.
Mimi: I’m close. I’m like five mins away.
Elara felt some of the tension ease from her shoulders. She needed her best friend right now, actually needed someone who knew her, really knew her, and wouldn’t judge or manipulate or play games.
A few minutes later, the knock came. Elara sprang up from the couch and rushed to the door, yanking it open with more enthusiasm than she’d felt all morning.
“Hi, my baby!” she said, throwing her arms around Mimi and pulling her into a tight hug.
“My love, how are you doing?” Mimi said, stepping fully into the house and wrapping her arms around Elara just as tightly.
When they pulled apart, Mimi immediately cupped Elara’s face in both hands, studying her with concerned eyes. She leaned in and gave her a peck on both cheeks, then pulled back again, her frown deepening.
“You look pale. What’s wrong? Are you sick? Have you been eating?” The questions came like a rapid-fire, genuine worry coating every word.
“Man, I’m not fine. Can’t lie,” Elara said, turning and walking back to the couch. She sank into the cushions like all the energy had drained from her body.
Mimi followed and sat down close beside her, turning her body to face Elara fully. “Give me the gist. What’s going on?”
Elara took a breath. “It’s that Aurora girl. She’s moved in.”
“What?” Mimi’s eyes went wide. “So Marcus really allowed her to stay?”
“Well, see me too, I’m as shocked,” Elara said, throwing her hands up. “She’s in the guest house downstairs though, not in the main penthouse. Marcus promised she wouldn’t be a problem.”
“But she already is a problem,” Mimi said flatly.
15:03 Mon, May 11
Chapter 99
“Exactly! And you know we’re keeping this pregnancy a secret, right? I just don’t know how I’m supposed to hide it if she ever decides to be all up in my business. Like, what happens when I start throwing up unplanned? What happens if I have morning sickness and she’s around?”
Elara shook her head, frustration building in her chest. “But that’s by the way. The Aurora thing is annoying but quite manageable. What I found out this morning is worse.”
She pointed upward, toward the ceiling. “Penelope stays in this same building. Top floor.”
Mimi’s mouth fell open, she immediately jumped up from the couch, covering her mouth with both hands. “Nooo. You’re lying.”
“I wish I was lying,” Elara said. “Even me, I found out today and I was shocked as hell. Apparently, the whole building is owned by the Thorne family and Penelope has the entire top floor to herself.”
“So she’s been living right above you this whole time?”
“Yes! Only God knows if she’s been monitoring me. That woman is a problem. A serious problem.”
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Elara paused, trying to figure out how to phrase the next part. But before she could continue, Mimi cut her off, raising her hands and gesturing for her to pause.
“Wait. There’s more?” Mimi looked genuinely shocked now. “How did all this happen in one day? That’s why you look so pale. What else happened?”
Elara took another breath. This was the part that had been eating at her all morning, the thing that felt most threatening.
“This is the worst of it,” she started. “Luca came with Penelope today. They went upstairs together.”
For a moment, Mimi just stared at her. Then she ran, actually ran, dramatically to the kitchen. She came back a few seconds later with her hands on her head, looking like she’d just witnessed a tragedy.
“What do you mean Luca came with Penelope? Your father Luca?”
“Yes, my father Luca, the almighty drunk Luca. And here’s the thing that makes it even worse.” Elara leaned forward, lowering her voice even though they were alone,
“He was dressed in a suit. And he was cleaned up. Like, actually cleaned up. Shaved, hair cut, nice clothes, the whole thing.”
Mimi sat back down slowly, processing this information. “Luca? Your drunk, gambling, deadbeat father Luca cleaned himself up?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know how surprising and suspicious that alone feels?” Mimi’s voice was rising with alarm. “Luca “doesn’t clean up. Luca doesn’t wear suits. Luca drinks and gambles and steals money and disappears for
weeks. So what the hell is he doing getting cleaned up and walking around with Penelope?”
“Exactly what I’m thinking,” Elara said.
“So what was he doing here? Did you talk to him?”
15:03 Mon, May 11 (
Chapter 99
“No idea. I saw him when Penelope was leaving, but he didn’t say a word to me. They just went back upstairs together.”
Mimi sat there for a moment, her brain clearly working overtime to process all of this. Then she turned to look at Elara with an expression that was part concern, part fear.
“Penelope and Luca are a bad combo. Like, really bad. Don’t you think they’re up to something?”
“Of course they’re up to something,” Elara said. “But what? That’s what I can’t figure out.”
“Think about it,” Mimi said, leaning closer. “Penelope hates you because you’re married to Marcus and she wants control of the company. Luca hates you because you cut him off and won’t give him money anymore. They both want you gone for different reasons.”
“So they’re working together.”
“They have to be. Why else would Penelope be helping Luca clean himself up? Why else would they be spending time together?”
Elara felt her stomach turn. The implications were terrifying. Separately, Penelope and Luca were manageable problems. Annoying, stressful, but manageable. But together?
“Imagine two people who hate you coming together and teaming up.
Disaster!
AD
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