Chapter 8 #2
The food had been prepared by one of Manhattan's finest restaurants, every dish cooked to perfection, yet Xavier had barely tasted any of it. After only a few bites, he'd set his utensils down, his appetite disappearing long before the meal was over.
His thoughts had refused to stay at the restaurant.
Again and again, they drifted back to the scene outside the Chen Group headquarters—the way another male had wrapped his arms around Elise without hesitation, the ease with which he'd held her hand, and the smile that had appeared on her face whenever she looked at him.
Each memory left a bitter taste that no expensive meal could erase.
By the time Benjamin pulled the Rolls-Royce back to the office, Xavier's mood had only grown darker.
He stepped out onto the curb, fastened the front button of his suit jacket with practiced precision, and walked into the building without breaking stride.
By the time Xavier stepped out of the elevator onto the executive floor, his expression had settled back into its usual impassive mask.
Employees greeted him as he strode past, their voices respectful and polite, but he acknowledged none of them.
His attention was elsewhere, his long strides carrying him straight toward the office at the end of the corridor.
The moment he pushed open the door, his eyes found Elise.
She was seated behind his desk, completely engrossed in the contracts spread neatly before her.
One elbow rested lightly on the polished wood while the other hand moved across the page in smooth, practiced strokes, making notes in the margins.
A few loose strands of hair had escaped from her neat hairstyle and fallen against her cheek, and every so often she absentmindedly tucked them behind her ear without ever lifting her eyes from the paperwork.
The quiet domesticity of the scene stopped him in his tracks.
She was exactly where she always was.
Exactly where she belonged.
The knot that had been tightening in his chest ever since he'd watched her leave with another man loosened, if only by the slightest degree.
Hearing the door close behind him, Elise finally looked up. The instant she saw him, her lips curved into a warm, familiar smile that reached her eyes.
"Xavier. You're back."
There wasn't the slightest trace of awkwardness on her face.
No guilt.
No nervousness.
Just the same calm smile she greeted him with every day.
Without thinking, Xavier found himself studying her more carefully than he'd intended.
He crossed the room in unhurried steps, setting his phone, wallet, and keys onto the desk with a quiet clink before stopping beside her chair.
Elise had already risen to her feet.
"As always..." she said with a small shake of her head, amusement softening her voice, "...you forgot."
Before he could ask what she meant, her hands reached for the lapels of his suit jacket.
She had done it so many times over the past year that the movement came naturally.
Her fingers brushed lightly against his shoulders as she eased the jacket from him, careful not to wrinkle the expensive fabric. Xavier remained perfectly still, allowing her to work, his eyes never leaving her face as she stepped behind him to slide one sleeve free and then the other.
She moved around him again, smoothing the jacket between her palms before hanging it neatly on the coat stand near the window. Straightening the collar with meticulous care, she gave the fabric one final pat of satisfaction before turning back toward him.
Only then did Xavier realize he hadn't stopped looking at her.
His gaze drifted over her almost of its own accord.
Her lips.
Still the same soft pink they had been that morning.
Untouched.
His eyes lowered.
The graceful line of her neck disappeared beneath the crisp collar of her blouse, and his gaze lingered there longer than it should have.
He searched without meaning to.
A faint red mark.
The shadow of bruised skin.
Anything that suggested another man had kissed her during the hour she'd been gone.
He found nothing.
The smooth skin at the base of her throat remained flawless.
The tension coiled tightly between his shoulders eased just enough for him to draw a slow, quiet breath.
Elise, completely unaware of the scrutiny she'd just been subjected to, returned to the desk and gathered another stack of documents before looking back at him.
"Would you like to go over these before your three o'clock meeting?"
Xavier didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he slipped both hands into the pockets of his tailored trousers and watched her for another moment, his expression giving away nothing.
Then, in a voice so casual it almost sounded like an afterthought, he asked, "Who was the man?"
The pen paused in Elise's fingers.
She slowly lifted her head, surprise flickering across her face.
"What man?"
"The one you had lunch with."
For a brief second, she simply stared at him.
"You saw us?"
"I did."
The two simple words hung in the air between them.
She lowered her eyes for a moment before placing the documents back onto the desk with deliberate care, buying herself a few seconds to think.
"He's... someone I know."
Xavier's brows drew together almost imperceptibly.
"Someone you know," he repeated, tasting the vague answer with obvious dissatisfaction.
She nodded gently.
"Yes."
Silence settled over the office.
It wasn't the answer that bothered him.
It was everything she hadn't said.
He took a slow step toward her until only the desk separated them.
"And does this 'someone' have a name?"
"Logan."
"And who is Logan?"
Elise hesitated.
Her fingers unconsciously smoothed the edge of the contract she'd been holding before she answered quietly, "Just... someone I know."
The same answer.
The same careful avoidance.
Xavier held her gaze for several long seconds, searching her face for something she wasn't saying.
A friend? A colleague? A boyfriend?
Every possibility that crossed his mind tightened the knot in his chest all over again.
His jaw flexed once before he looked away, forcing himself to remain outwardly composed even as irritation and jealousy continued to churn beneath the surface.
***
The moment Xavier and Elise stepped onto the sprawling luxury yacht, they were greeted by the lively hum of an elite business party already in full swing.
Music drifted across the open deck while the ocean breeze carried the scent of saltwater and expensive perfume.
Crystal chandeliers suspended beneath the upper canopy bathed the yacht in warm golden light, reflecting off polished teak floors and rows of champagne glasses.
Everywhere Elise looked, groups of billionaires, CEOs, investors, and prominent business figures stood chatting with effortless confidence, their laughter blending with the gentle sound of waves lapping against the hull.
For a brief moment, she couldn't help but admire the breathtaking setting.
Tonight, she had dressed for the occasion.
She wore a baby pink dress that hugged her figure like a second skin, the silky fabric accentuating every graceful curve before ending high above her knees.
The color softened her delicate features, while the shimmer of her makeup caught the light each time she turned her head.
Long streaks of glittering pink eyeliner swept elegantly toward her temples, making her bright eyes appear even more captivating.
Her glossy pink lips curved into a polite smile as her long dark hair cascaded freely down her back in soft waves, dancing gently in the evening breeze.
She looked effortlessly beautiful.
Beside her, Xavier looked every bit the billionaire everyone expected him to be.
His perfectly tailored black tuxedo emphasized his broad shoulders and powerful build, while the silver-framed glasses resting on the bridge of his nose only added to his commanding presence.
His handsome face remained composed and unreadable, every sharp angle illuminated beneath the warm lights.
There wasn't the slightest hint of emotion on his features, yet he somehow managed to command attention the instant he walked into the room.
Without a word, he slipped his arm securely around Elise's waist.
His palm settled against the small of her back, silently guiding her through the entrance as guests instinctively moved aside to make way for him.
People greeted Xavier from every direction.
He acknowledged them with little more than a brief nod.
His attention refused to stay where it should.
Again...
His eyes wandered to Elise.
His gaze lingered on the soft curve of her cheek, the graceful line of her neck, the way the pale pink fabric hugged her waist before flowing over her hips. Every few steps, he caught himself looking at her all over again.
It was becoming a problem.
He silently cursed himself and forced his attention toward the crowd ahead.
Only seconds later, his eyes drifted back to her once again.
As though they belonged to someone else entirely.
Elise gradually became aware of it.
She could feel his gaze returning to her over and over again. Unable to ignore it any longer, she slowly turned her head.
Their eyes almost met.
Almost.
The instant Xavier realized she'd caught him staring, he looked away with practiced ease, pretending to survey the guests as though nothing had happened.
His face betrayed nothing.
His hand did.
The fingers resting around her waist tightened almost imperceptibly, drawing her a fraction closer to his side.
The subtle gesture didn't escape Elise. A rush of warmth spread across her cheeks.
She lowered her gaze, suddenly feeling shy beneath his silent attention, her heartbeat quickening.
Before either of them could speak, an excited voice cut through the conversations around them.
"Xavier!"
A woman hurried across the deck toward them, weaving effortlessly between clusters of guests with surprising speed.
"Oh my gosh, you're already here!" she exclaimed, slightly out of breath as she reached them. "Do you know what just happened? You know Devin? Well, he just—"
Her words stopped abruptly.