He didn’t raise his voice, but it landed like a challenge.
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Elena met his gaze calmly. “I’m just one person. I can’t take on the Kingsley family. If this doesn’t work out, then I’ll donate the inheritance instead.”
Legally, the estate left by Malcolm and Vivian was still under the Kingsleys‘ control.
If Alexander decided to block her, there wasn’t much she could do. “Should we continue the interview?” she asked, switching gears.
Alexander gave a soft “yeah,” and Elena pulled out the next set of questions.
The rest of the interview went smoothly. When they wrapped, he left first. Elena gathered her things and headed out of the conference room. Camille was long gone.
She needed to get back to Swiftline and file the report. When she returned to the office, Camille still hadn’t shown up.
Hannah walked over. “She came in about half an hour ago. Looked like she’d been crying. She told Andy she was taking the rest of the day off. He said okay.”
Well. That explained it. Alexander really had hit her harder than expected.
Elena finished organizing the interview transcript. By the time she was done, it was nearly 7 p.m.
She packed up her things, ready to head home, when her phone rang. Unknown number.
It was Alexander. “I’m outside your building. Want to grab dinner?”
Excuse me?” Elena honestly thought she’d misheard.
She walked over to the window, phone still pressed to her ear. Across the street, parked under the streetlight, was a sleek black Rolls–Royce. Just sitting there.
Elena stared. Seriously?
They’d just had a whole conversation about their arrangement. Everything was clear. Wasn’t it?
She didn’t understand, but she didn’t say no either. “Be right down.”
She ended the call and left the office. She was so focused on the traffic, she didn’t notice the Maybach parked just outside the building.
Nathan had just gotten out of the car–and saw her. He watched, face darkening, as Elena crossed the street and got into Alexander’s car.
He thought about what Camille had said earlier:
“I embarrassed myself at Pinnacle Group today. Elena seemed pretty close with Alexander’s assistant, and he kept giving her special treatment…”
Nathan’s jaw clenched. Whether or not she was really his wife, he couldn’t stand the idea of her getting close to another man.
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09:50 Mon, Feb 9
Chapter 22 Not the Answer She Expected
68%
Florshed
He slid back into the driver’s seat, slammed the door, and called her again. Sitting next to Alexander, Elena could feel the pressure in the air. She glanced at her phone, sighed, and turned it off.
“Sorry, the number you’re trying to reach is currently available.”
The robotic voicemail rang in Nathan’s cars. His temper snapped. He slammed his fist against the steering wheel–and hit the gas too hard.
The Maybach jerked forward and slammed into the bumper of the car in front of him. By the time he looked up, the Rolls–Royce was gone.
Inside the car, it was quiet. Elena didn’t know what Alexander wanted. She’d already made her position clear.
But he didn’t bring it up again.
Instead, after watching her turn off her phone, he calmly opened his laptop and went straight back to work.
Elena sat stiffly for a moment. Then she peeked over at him. He was… focused.
Handsome, yes–but completely immersed in what he was doing, like she wasn’t even there.
Okay, she had to admit, there was something ridiculously attractive about a man that competent. She looked away, a little embarrassed.
Then the car slowed and stopped. She looked up–A bar
The neon lights over the entrance sparkled brightly in the night. She blinked, confused.
Then glanced at Alexander stepping out of the car behind her, perfectly dressed as always. “You come here a lot after work?” she asked.
“Sometimes,” he said simply, already walking inside.
She hesitated. So he has a nightlife?
She followed him in. The music was loud. Way louder than she expected. The place was packed, wall to wall. Elena had never been to a place like this.
She pressed a hand to one ear to block the sound, eyes scanning the crowd to keep from losing him. When she looked up, he was right in front of her, waiting.
She caught up quickly, following him through the crowd. A staff member was already waiting, guiding them to a private booth tucked away in a quieter corner.
The music wasn’t nearly as loud there. Elena sank into the seat, finally able to breathe.
Ryan ordered at the bar, and five minutes later, drinks arrived. One cocktail. One fruit juice.
Elena stared at the glasses. So, was he expecting her to drink?
This was only the second time they’d met. No matter how much he’d helped her, drinking with a man she barely knew just felt… inappropriate.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
