Chapter 26
The kitchen buzzed with morning sounds. Plates clinked. Coffee brewed. A faint lavender scent. Sophia's shampoo.
She sat at the island. Her small legs swinging. She smeared cream cheese. On her bagel. Like a young artist. Leaving streaks on her cheeks. And the counter.
I wiped some off her face. With a napkin. My laughter was soft. Despite the ache in my chest.
Alexander walked in from his office. His presence sudden. And strong. He had mumbled something. About a call. Then vanished. Leaving me to manage breakfast. Alone.
Then his phone rang loudly. From the bedroom. Not his usual quiet sound. But a sharp, unfamiliar ring. It cut through the calm morning. It seemed odd to me. He always kept his phone close. A link to his dark world. Of secret deals. And threats.
I worried he would miss something. Something urgent. Tied to the tension. He had felt all week. I did not hesitate. I darted down the hall. My bare feet slapped. The cool hardwood.
I grabbed the ringing phone. Off the nightstand. My breath was uneven. From the sprint.
"Hello?" I said. Pressing it to my ear. My voice steady. Despite my pounding heart. The line crackled with silence.
For a moment. A hollow hum stretched. Across the void. Then a voice rasped through. Low and slow. "Hello? Where is Alexander?" The man's English was rough. With an accent. I could not place. Eastern European, maybe? Each word. Pulled out. Like a reluctant confession.
"He is busy," I replied. Glancing toward the office door. Still open. "Can I take a message?" A pause followed. Heavy and long. The silence thick. With unsaid meaning. "No, I will call back..." His voice slowed. Curiosity in his tone. "What is your name?"
Alexander stormed in. Like a thunderclap. His presence was sudden. And overwhelming. Filling the room. His hand shot out. Ripping the phone from my grip. With force. That made my fingers sting.
His knuckles whitened. As he crushed it in his fist. His jaw was like steel. His gray eyes burned. With dark fury. It pinned me in place. A predator eyeing its prey.
He pressed the phone to his ear. His stance rigid. His power radiated. Like heat from a furnace.
"Who the hell is this?" he snarled. His voice a low, deep growl. It shook the floorboards. Sending a shiver down my spine. His free hand clenched. Into a fist. Veins bulged. Beneath his skin.
His glare flicked to me. Sharp and unyielding. I shrank back. My breath caught. I could not hear the reply. Just a faint buzz of a voice. On the other end.
But Alexander's face hardened more. A muscle ticked. In his cheek. Like a bomb counting down. He spat something. In a language I did not know. Harsh, guttural sounds. That sounded like a death sentence.
Before slamming the call to an end. With a jab of his thumb. The phone cracked against his palm. Like a gunshot.
He whirled on me. His eyes blazing. His power suffocating. As he stepped closer. Towering over me. His broad body blocked the light. From the windows.
"What the hell were you thinking?" he roared. His voice cut through the air. Like a whip. Echoing off the bedroom walls. "You do not touch my phone, Elena. Ever. Do you know what you have done?" His hand shot out.
Gripping my arm. With a force that made me gasp. His fingers dug into my skin. As he yanked me closer. His breath hot. Against my face. "You think this is a game? You think you can meddle. In my world. And walk away unharmed?"
I flinched. My heart slammed. Against my ribs. I tried to pull back. My voice trembled. Despite my efforts. "I... I was worried. You would miss something important," I stammered. My words tripped. Over each other.
As his grip tightened. Unyielding. "It was ringing. And you were not here. I was just going to take a message. I did not mean to-"
"Do you know who could have been on that line?" he cut in. His voice rose. To a thunderous shout. Each word a hammer strike. Driving me down.
His words cut into me. Sharp and unending. I dropped my gaze to the floor. My cheeks burned with shame.
Tears pricked my eyes. The polished hardwood blurred. Beneath me. My breath hitched. As his grip on my arm tightened. A silent order to look at him.
I had only wanted to help. To be useful. Not this. Not this towering fury. That made me feel like a child. Caught trespassing. In a forbidden place.
His glare. All raw anger. And barely held rage. Shrank me to nothing. A speck of dust. In his huge, untouchable empire.
Tears welled up. Hot and unstoppable. When he reached out.
To grab my chin. His fingers rough. As he forced my head up.
To meet his gaze. I jerked away. My skin prickled.
Where he had touched. "I am sorry," I whispered.
My voice breaking. As I hugged my arms around myself.
My body curled inward. "I did not know. I did not mean to-"
A heavy, ragged sound. And dragged a hand through his dark hair. Messing it into wild peaks.
His eyes flickered. With something. Frustration, yes. But something deeper. Something raw and open. Trapped behind the storm. "I need to go. I have work to do. Stay here. Do not move. I will deal with this later."
Without another word. He turned quickly. And stormed out. The bedroom door slammed shut. Behind him. With a thunderous bang. That rattled the frame. The sound echoed. Through the penthouse. Like a cannon shot.
I stood frozen. My pulse racing. My chest tightened. As the echo faded. Leaving me alone. With the weight of his anger.
My legs buckled. I crumpled to the floor. The hardwood cold. Against my knees. I pulled my legs in tight. Wrapping my arms around them. As I buried my face in my hands.
Choking back sobs. That clawed their way up my throat. I had only meant to help. But that look. Those blazing eyes. That sharp voice. Had stripped me bare.
It dragged me back. To the family dinner. Months ago. When he had turned. That same cold fury. On his mother. Banishing her from the table. With one harsh sentence. That left the room silent. Was that my fate too?
How long. Before he tired of my clumsiness.
My innocence. And cast me out? I was tied to him.
My home. My role with Sophia. My fragile life here.
And I had nothing else. No job. No savings.
No safety net. The thought of losing it all.
Of standing on the edge. Of that deep hole again.
Sent fresh tears. Spilling down my cheeks.
Time blurred. As I sat there. The penthouse silent. Save for the city's distant hum. Beyond the windows. My mind spun in frantic circles. I need to be stronger. I need a plan. I need to stop crying.
But every time. I pictured walking away. Leaving Sophia's giggles. And Alexander's rare, quiet smiles behind. The sobs broke free again. I was too entangled. Too attached. And I hated myself for it. For letting my roots sink so deep. Into this shaky ground.
The sharp creak of the front door. Jolted me upright. My heart jumped. As I braced for Alexander's return. For another attack. To shred what little calm. I had gathered.
But it was not him. Rachel stepped inside. Her red hair spilled. Over her leather jacket collar. Her green eyes narrowed. As they landed on me. Crumpled on the floor. She had come to pick up Sophia. For a planned aunt-niece outing.
But she froze mid-step. Her boots tapped. A halting rhythm. Against the hardwood. As she took in the scene.
"Elena?" she said. Her voice sharp with confusion. Then softened. As she crossed the room. In quick strides. Dropping her bag by the door.
She crouched in front of me. Her gaze flicked over my tear-streaked face. My trembling hands. "What the hell happened?"
Before I could answer. Alexander's voice cut through the penthouse.
From the office down the hall. Loud and commanding.
A growl. That carried through the walls.
Talk to Marcos. Told him that I answered his phone.
Then a sharper bark. "Yes, Elena. She does not know what she is doing. She is not part of this. Fix it."
Rachel's brows shot up. Her head tilted toward the sound. Then back to me.
A knowing glint sparked. In her eyes. As she put it together. "Oh, damn," she muttered. Her voice low. A mix of sympathy and frustration. "You answered his phone, did not you? And he lost it."
I nodded. Wiping my tear-streaked face. With the back of my hand. My voice raw and small. "I feel so stupid," I admitted.
My words trembling. As I met her gaze. "It was ringing. And he was not here. I thought it might be urgent. And he just... yelled at me. Like I had done a terrible sin. He grabbed me, Rachel. He was so angry. I thought he would-"
She sighed. Settling onto her knees beside me.
Her jacket creaking. As she leaned closer.
Her hand rested on my shoulder. With a steady warmth.
"You are not stupid, Elena. Your kind and caring qualities.
My brother desperately needs more of. Even if he is too stubborn to see it.
But he is a fortress. Walls up. Bridge locked tight.
He has been hurt before. Betrayed by people he trusted.
And it has made him. This control freak.
Who thinks he can control everything. Even you. Especially you."
I blinked up at her. Curiosity cut through my sadness.
"What do you mean?" She tilted her head.
A sly, knowing smirk. Pulled at her lips.
Though her eyes softened. With something sincere.
"I mean he is different with you, Elena.
Cracks show. He is more weak. And it scares him badly.
Because he cannot control it. I have seen him with business partners.
Ex-girlfriends. Even me. He is never this shaken.
You affect him. In a way he does not know how to handle.
And that is why he lashed out. He is terrified. Of what you mean to him."
Her expression firm. "Yes, really. He is a storm, Elena.
But you are the lightning. That keeps striking through it.
And he does not know what to do with that.
" She stood. Brushing off her jeans. And held out a hand.
"Come on. Let us get out of here. I need air.
And you look like. You are about to drown. In this place."
I hesitated. My fingers trembling. As I stared at her outstretched hand. Then, with a shaky breath. I took it. Letting her pull me to my feet. My legs wobbled. But her grip was steady. Grounding me. As we stepped toward the door. Leaving Alexander's storm behind. For now.
The city air hit me like a wave. As we left the penthouse. Crisp. Laced with the faint smell. Of exhaust. And roasted chestnuts. From a vendor. Down the block.
Rachel linked her arm through mine. Her stride confident. As she led me down the sidewalk. Past glass shops. And honking cabs. "So, tell me, Elena," she said. Her tone light but probing. "What do you really think. Of my brother?"
My cheeks flamed. I ducked my head. Watching my sneakers scuff the pavement. As I tried to seem calm. "I... I do not know what to think of him, Rachel," I mumbled. My voice showed the chaos. Swirling inside me. Anger. Fear. And something warmer. I could not name.
She laughed. A sharp, happy sound. That echoed off the buildings. Her sly smile spread wide. "Oh, I think you do, Elena. I think you know exactly. What you think of him. And maybe, deep down. What you feel too."
I met her gaze. Her knowing eyes locked onto mine. My heart skipped again. Caught in the pull. Of a truth. I was not ready to face.