Chapter 18
Elena
By the time evening arrived, the office was practically humming with the sound of people wrapping things up.
Desks were being cleared, laptops were snapping shut, and employees stood around in coats, completely ready to leave the second the clock hit five.
Lights started switching off in the early-exit departments, and the usual stressful daytime noise faded into the energetic chatter of everyone planning their night.
After calling her driver to bring the car around front, Elena slipped her phone into her handbag and made a break for the elevators.
She was already mentally mapping out tomorrow’s schedule—and desperately craving a glass of wine—when a panicked intern suddenly materialized, hurrying toward her with a mountain of documents.
"Ms. Waldorf! Sorry. Could I get your signature before you leave?"
Elena stopped. The poor girl looked terrified.
"Of course."
Setting her handbag on a nearby reception table, Elena took the documents and quickly skimmed through them. It would take less than a minute. Her eyes stayed glued to the paperwork, not paying attention to the elevator that dinged open right behind her.
"You can't ignore me forever."
The deep voice hit her before she even turned around.
For one ridiculous moment, her heart forgot how to function properly.
It gave one hard, traitorous thump against her ribs before deciding that apparently it still hadn't learned its lesson where Carter Evans was concerned.
Honestly, after everything he'd put her through, her heart should've developed some self-respect by now.
Slowly, Elena looked up.
And there he was.
Standing several feet away as if he belonged there.
The blue suit looked unfairly good on him, tailored perfectly across broad shoulders that seemed even broader than she remembered.
A faint shadow of stubble covered his jaw, softening the sharp lines of his face just enough to make him look dangerous instead of merely handsome.
Success and confidence seemed to cling to him like a second skin.
Unfortunately.
So did arrogance.
"Oh," she said lightly, handing the documents back to the intern. "Mr. Evans in the flesh. To what do we owe this honor?"
His mouth twitched. The man actually looked amused.
"You could've just sent another handwritten note," she continued sweetly. "You seem to love those."
Okay.
That was petty.
But judging by the way Carter's smile widened, he seemed to enjoy it far more than he should have.
"We need to talk."
The words instantly erased whatever amusement she'd been feeling.
Elena folded her arms across her chest.
"Funny. You didn't seem particularly interested in talking when I was asking questions."
Something shifted in his expression.
Not enough for most people to notice. Elena noticed. She'd spent years loving this man once.
"And I have a feeling," she continued quietly, "that you're still not planning on telling me the truth."
The silence that followed was answer enough.
There it was again.
That hesitation.
That look that said he was carrying something he refused to share.
A week ago she might have begged for answers.
Today she was just tired.
"Elena..."
"I don't care anymore, Mr. Evans."
That wasn't entirely true.
Unfortunately.
The slight flicker of pain in his eyes proved he knew it too.
Carter dragged a hand through his hair and released a slow breath. "Whether you believe me or not, there was a reason. Can you please give me some time before I can tell you?”
What was so mysterious that he needed more time?
Was he just playing with her curiosity or something?
As Carter seemed ready to continue, movement caught Elena's attention.
Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Aunt Julia emerging from her office.
Before Carter could speak, Elena grabbed his wrist.
"What are you doing?”
Ignoring him completely, Elena marched him directly toward Julia.
"Aunt Julie!" she called cheerfully.
Julia looked up and smiled.
Then she noticed who Elena was dragging behind her.
The smile disappeared so fast it was almost impressive.
Elena stopped directly in front of her aunt and finally released Carter's wrist. Looking between them, she felt a level of satisfaction that was probably unhealthy.
"Perfect timing," she announced.
Then she pointed between them.
"You two should talk."
Julia blinked.
Carter went completely still.
Elena's smile widened.
"Aunt Julia, this is the investor you've been dying to meet."
"And Mr.Evans, this is the board member who's been desperately trying to corner me into arranging that meeting.”
And with that, she happily left both of them to suffer together.
****
The elevator doors slid open with a soft ding, and Elena stepped into the hallway leading to her apartment.
Honestly, she had fled Waldorf Fashions so fast that if anyone had checked the security footage, it probably would've looked like she was escaping a small fire. The second she'd dumped Carter and Aunt Julia together, she'd practically teleported toward the exit.
The problem was Carter Evans.
Ever since that kiss at Aaron and Ivy's wedding, being around Carter had become genuinely dangerous to her peace of mind. She hated how easily he affected her, hated how one look from him could make her remember things she had spent years trying to forget.
Elena was worried Carter might talk her into doing something equally reckless again.
Even worse?
She was worried she might happily let him.
"Ugh," she muttered to herself.
Elena was angry with him. She still had unanswered questions. She still hadn't forgiven him for disappearing from her life without explanation.
Her heels clicked against the polished hallway floor as she approached her apartment door. Digging into her coat pocket, she reached for her keys without really paying attention. Then her hand froze.
Nothing.
Her brow furrowed.
She checked the other pocket. Still nothing.
Slowly, a feeling of dread settled in her stomach.
"No."
The handbag.
Her handbag was still sitting on that table near the reception area, containing her keys, phone, wallet, and basically every item required for survival in modern society.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me."
Elena closed her eyes briefly and resisted the urge to bang her forehead against the door. This was Carter's fault. Logically, she knew it wasn't Carter's fault. Emotionally, however, she felt very comfortable blaming him.
"Looking for something?"
The voice behind her shattered the silence.
Every muscle in Elena's body tightened instantly. A cold feeling slid down her spine as she turned around. Something about the voice felt wrong before she even saw who it belonged to.
Kyle stood several feet away near the elevator. His expensive suit jacket hung open. His tie was loose and crooked around his neck. Even from the distance between them, Elena could smell alcohol.
Fear immediately replaced irritation.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded.
Kyle smiled.
The expression didn't reach his eyes. If anything, it made him look stranger. More unpredictable.
"What kind of greeting is that for your husband?" he asked.
Elena's stomach twisted.
Soon-to-be ex-husband.
That was the correct title now.
"How did you get this address?" she asked.
The question came out sharper than she intended. This apartment was supposed to be private. Very few people knew where she lived.
Kyle shrugged casually.
"Do you really think I wouldn't find out?" he asked. "I have my ways. You can't hide from me forever, Elena."
Something about the way he said it made her skin crawl.
Elena suddenly became very aware that the hallway was empty. And she had no phone with her. The elevator doors were closed. Nobody else appeared to be around.
"You need to leave."
Kyle ignored her completely.
Instead of listening, he continued walking closer. His movements weren't perfectly steady, which only confirmed her suspicion that he'd been drinking.
"I want you back," he said.
Elena stared at him in disbelief.
"You cheated on me."
His jaw tightened.
"It was a mistake."
"It was a choice."
Kyle's expression darkened immediately. For a moment, something angry flashed across his face before disappearing again. That brief glimpse frightened Elena more than she wanted to admit.
"Three years together should mean something," he said. "People work through these things. Couples survive worse."
Elena folded her arms.
"You should've thought about those three years before sleeping with other women." Her voice remained cold and controlled despite the fear slowly building inside her. "Now leave."
Kyle's eyes narrowed.
"No."
The single word hit harder than she expected.
Not because of what he said. Because of how he said it. Like her opinion didn't matter.
Elena's pulse sped up.
"Kyle."
"I said I want you back."
"I said leave."
Then Kyle closed the distance between them.
Before Elena could react, his hand wrapped around her arm. His grip was firm enough to hurt. Panic immediately flared inside her chest.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm trying to talk to my wife."
"Let go."
Kyle didn't.
Instead, he stepped even closer. His free hand settled against her waist. The contact made her entire body tense with disgust.
"Stop touching me."
His grip tightened.
"No."
Fear exploded through her system.
Elena shoved against his chest. Kyle barely moved.
"Let me go!"
The words echoed down the hallway.
Kyle ignored them.
He kept talking about second chances and fixing their marriage. He kept acting like this was some tragic romantic moment instead of a situation where she was actively trying to get away from him. The disconnect between his words and actions was terrifying.
Then he leaned down.
Elena immediately turned her head.
His attempted kiss missed.
Revulsion rolled through her so strongly she nearly felt sick. The stench of alcohol mixed with expensive cologne made her stomach churn.
Think.
She needed to think.
Panicking wouldn't help.
Her eyes darted around the hallway desperately searching for options. Then she spotted it mounted on the wall several feet away.
The emergency alarm.
Hope surged through her instantly.
It wasn't far.
If she could break free for even a second, she could reach it. All she had to do was get out of Kyle's grip long enough to make it across those few feet.
The alarm was right there.
Just a few feet away.
She only needed one chance.