Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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The voice was feminine. Soft and familiar in a way that made Marcus’s entire face change.
Genuine joy lit up his expression. He turned around and the woman threw her arms around him. Marcus hugged her back without hesitation. Very tight, it was like an ex-girlfriend that you break up with on an amicable ground.
Elara stood there feeling like an idiot.
The woman was beautiful. Beautiful was an understatement, she’s literally a goddess, her skin glowed, it was as if she used the most expensive skincare in the entire world, literally glass skin actually. Long blonde hair that fell in perfect waves. A red dress that hugged her body and showed her hourglass shape. Around the same age as Elara based on her face. Mid to late twenties maybe.
But she looked like she belonged here. Like she’d been born into this world of champagne and diamond and charity galas and billionaires.
She looked like Marcus’s type. More than Elara ever would.
Elara’s stomach turned. Insecurity and low self esteem crept in fast. Unwanted. Unwelcome.
She cleared her throat.
Marcus finally turned to face her. Still smiling. Still holding the woman’s hand.
“Elara, this is Aurora. Aurora, this is Elara. My go
“Wait, your girlfriend?” Aurora looked genuinely shocked. Her eyes went wide. “Since when do you have girlfriends, Marcus? You’ve always been so anti-relationship.”
She turned to Elara with a bright smile. “It’s so nice to
meet you.
Dan jy by Mayorale’s mentioned you a few times.”
Big lie. Huge lie. Did she think Elara was stupid?
Before Marcus could respond, Aurora spotted
“Dante! Oh my God, it’s been forever!”
away.
She hugged him too. Just as tight. It was as if they we wykly gathe Blues
all familZZ B G & G Gu,
Dante hugged her back. “Aurora. Looking good as always.”
“You too. We need to catch up properly.”
The
and Elara is the only outcast.
Elara stood there watching. Feeling more and more like an outsider. Like she’d crashed a high school reunion she wasn’t invited to.
Nobody had yet told her who this woman was. Just that it was evident enough that Marcus cared about her. That Dante knew her well. That she belonged in their world in a way Elara didn’t.
12:08 Fri, May 8 N
Chapter 33
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Marcus and Dante both looked uncomfortable suddenly. Tense. Like they were caught doing something they shouldn’t be.
Marcus gave Dante a look. The normal bro codes. A signal Elara caught immediately.
Dante nodded. “Aurora, come with me. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
“Oh. Okay.” Aurora smiled at Elara again. “We’ll talk more later. I want to hear everything about how you two met.”
Dante pulled her away into the crowd.
Elara opened her mouth to ask Marcus who the hell that was, but before she could get a word out, two people appeared beside them.
Penelope. And Marcus’s father.
“Wait.” Penelope’s voice was sharp. Condescending. “Your girlfriend? Her? Your assistant?”
Marcus’s father looked equally confused. “We saw you three days ago. You didn’t mention anything about a girlfriend.”
Marcus’s jaw tightened. “Well, I wonder why that is.”
“Stop this nonsense,” his father said.
Penelope stepped closer. Her smile was cruel. “This isn’t because of the clause in your grandfather’s will, is it? Because if we find out this relationship is fake, you’ll lose everything. You know that, right?”
Marcus ignored her completely. Took Elara’s hand and walked
They moved through the crowd.
“You okay?” Elara asked quietly.
“I’m calm.”
“If you want to talk about….”
A man appeared in front of them. He seems stressed.
way without responding.
“Mr. Thorne, you need to attend to this. It’s urgent. It’s a board member issue.”
Marcus’s expression changed immediately. Back to business mode.
He turned to Elara. “Wait here. I’ll be right back.”
Then he was gone. Pulled away by the man into another part of the hall.
Elara stood there alone. Again. Surrounded by people she didn’t know. In a dress that made her feel like she was playing dress-up. Pretending to be someone she wasn’t.
12:08 Fri, May 8 N
Chapter 33
She didn’t want to just stand there looking lost. Looking pathetic.
She spotted French doors leading to a balcony. Walked over. Pushed them open.
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The night air hit her immediately. It was so cold and kinda comforting. A relief after the stuffiness of the hall.
She stepped outside and closed the doors behind her. The noise from the party was now muffled and came in the distance.
The balcony overlooked the city. Lights everywhere. Buildings and rooftops stretched into the darkness. Beautiful in a way.
Elara leaned against the railing and just breathed.
She was lost in thought when she heard footsteps behind her.
“You always slip away.”
Marcus’s voice. Warm. Amused.
She turned. He was standing in the doorway. Jacket unbuttoned. Tie loosened slightly. Looking at her like she was the only person in the world.
“But thank God this time it wasn’t a fire exit,” he added. Smiling.
Elara felt herself smile back. Shy a little bit.
They stood there for a moment. Just looking at each other. The city lights reflecting in his eyes. The cold air making her skin feel alive.
Then he stepped closer. Held her face in his hands.
And kissed her.
Soft at first.
But Elara had been waiting for this. Wanting this. She grabbed his shirt and pulled him closer. Kissed him harder. Deeper. Like she’d been starving for it.
His hands moved to her waist. Her back. Pulling her against him. The kiss turned desperate. Real. Like they’d both forgotten this was supposed to be fake.
She felt everything. His heartbeat against her chest. His hands on her skin. The way he tasted. The way he breathed her name against her mouth.
For a moment, it felt real. Intimate, Like they were actually in love instead of playing roles.
Then she heard it.
Clapping. Laughter. Voices.
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Chapter 33
Elara pulled back fast. Turned her head.
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A small crowd had gathered by the French doors. Guests from the party. Watching. Smiling. Taking photos.
“So cute!”
“They’re perfect together!”
“Finally, Marcus Thorne found someone!”
Marcus stepped back. Dropped his hands. Adjusted his jacket.
Right.
Of course. It was Marcus.
He saw that people were staring, and he decided to take advantage of it, what was she thinking? That he’s starting to feel for her?
Lmao.
It was all just for show, and then camera.
