CHAPTER 17
Elena
I was reviewing the last of the accounts payable and accounts receivable reports, hoping I could finish early enough to pick up Haille on time.
Since Adrian and I both worked full-time, daycare had become part of our routine.
Most days, either Judy or Avery helped us with pickups, yet every extra minute I spent in the office still felt like time taken away from my daughter.
With my glasses still perched at the edge of my nose, I scrolled through the final line of the worksheet. My eyes were starting to blur when a soft knock tapped the side of my desk.
“Lunch?” Harley asked, leaning slightly forward.
I removed my glasses and stretched my neck. “Is it already that time?” I muttered, checking the clock. My stomach answered the question for me.
“Who’s coming?” I asked.
“Just you and me,” he replied casually. “Everyone else already went ahead.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Why didn’t you go with them?”
He blinked, almost offended. “Who said I didn’t want to? I was waiting for you, boss.”
I let out a small exhale. “Fine. I’m starving anyway.”
We headed downstairs, passing through the lobby. I automatically turned toward the café we usually went to, but Harley gently nudged my elbow.
“Not there,” he said. “I’m in the mood for Tacos. There’s a new one across the street and their chicken tacos are insane. Ever tried it?”
“No.”
He clicked his tongue. “Tragic. Okay, come on. My treat.”
I shot him a look. “Harley, I can pay for my own food.”
“Please,” he said, pushing the door open for me. “Consider it compensation for you reviewing my work like a drill sergeant all week.”
“Oh, shut up.” I rolled my eyes, but followed him.
When we arrived at the food truck, I glanced around, expecting to see the others.
“Where are the others?” I asked.
Harley didn’t even bother looking. “They went to the usual café,” he said.
“Oh.”
“Trust me. You won’t regret it.” He winked at me.
And he was right, the tacos were surprisingly good. I ate slowly, savoring each bite. For a moment, it felt nice to eat without rushing, without thinking about the endless things waiting for me at home or work.
While I bit into my third taco, a smear of sauce touched the corner of my mouth. I reached for a napkin, but Harley moved first.
“Oh—here,” he murmured, hand lifting with his thumb slightly extended, as if he planned to wipe it for me.
Reflexively, I leaned back. “What are you doing?” I frowned.
He froze, then raised both hands. “Sorry. Habit. My niece is messy as hell.”
I wiped it myself, pretending to focus on my food. Still... something fluttered in my chest. A sudden flicker of awareness.
When we finished, I started gathering the trash, but Harley stopped me, taking them out of my hands.
“I got it.”
“You’re weirdly eager to help today,” I muttered.
He tossed the trash. “Boss looks tired,” he said lightly. “I’m compensating.”
I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Coffee?”
“Sure,” he grinned. “But I’m paying.”
I gave him a look. “No. This one’s mine.”
He lifted both eyebrows but didn’t argue. “Alright. I’ll at least stand with you in line.”
The line was long. We stood close—closer than usual—but the space was narrow, and neither of us stepped back. Still, the closeness felt noticeable.
Harley leaned forward slightly, speaking near my ear. “The usual?” He asked.
I nodded.
Then he turned to the counter and told the barista, “Can I get a latte, not too sweet, and one black coffee?”
When the drinks were ready, Harley grabbed both cups before handing one to me.
“Yours.”
“Thanks,” I said, taking it.
Our fingers brushed accidentally, and when our eyes met, my heart lurched just enough to confuse me, but I ignored it immediately.
Harley held the door open as we stepped out of the café. I walked ahead of him, shaking my head at myself. He was my junior, someone I’d known for years, someone harmless.
But what was that?
— ? —
Harley
Relationships were never my thing. I never saw the point of building something that could crumble the second you look away. But my perspective started to shift the moment I met her.
It was my very first day at the company, and to be honest, I wasn’t exactly hired.
One of my father’s business associates—a senior executive here—offered me the job.
My family runs a company of our own, and I’m expected to take over eventually.
But my father insisted I work somewhere else first, learn discipline, learn how the real world operates outside the safety of our last name.
The plan was simple: stay here for three or four years, gather experience, then leave.
And then they assigned me a mentor.
Elena.
The first time I saw her, she didn’t look like the type of woman who usually caught my attention. Her beauty wasn’t the kind that made men turn their heads right away. She wasn’t model-slim; she had curves, soft edges, something real. She wasn’t tall, but she wasn’t short either.
But something about her stood out in a way I couldn’t explain. Maybe it was the way she carried herself, or maybe it was the moment she started talking. Because once she did, those hazel eyes locked on you with this quiet confidence, and it was impossible to look anywhere else.
She was frighteningly smart. Calm, controlled, effortlessly composed.
She was kind too, but she never blurred boundaries.
Working with her every day only pulled me in deeper, made me want to know her more.
Each day, I found myself wanting to get closer.
Nothing obvious, just enough for her to notice me.
Call me foolish, but sometimes I’d skip a number in a report just to give myself an excuse to stand at her desk a little longer. Pathetic, maybe. But I kept doing it anyway. Because some stupid part of me hoped she’d fall for me eventually.
All of that shattered the day she walked into the office with envelopes in her hand.
Wedding invitations.
I still remember how the whole office lit up when she handed out those invitations. Her cheeks were a little flushed as everyone teased her and congratulated her. I’d never seen her smile like that before.
And then she placed an invitation on my table.
“I know you’ve only been here for a few months,” she said lightly. “But since you’re my junior... I wanted to invite you. I hope you can come.”
I stared at the card for a second too long. Then I forced myself to lift my head and smile.
“Congrats, Elena,” I said, keeping my voice even.
She thanked me with that same gentle smile, the kind I had secretly started working for. But in that moment, reality hit me square in the chest.
Because I was too late.
Far too late.
And for reasons I couldn’t admit back then, it stung more than it should have.
— ? —
Three years passed.
My father had been constantly telling me to quit and finally step into the family business. And honestly? He had a point. I’d gotten enough experience here anyway.
So yeah, I actually drafted my resignation letter.
I planned on telling Elena first before handing it over to our manager.
But that plan died the moment I saw her walk in this morning with swollen eyes.
She tried to hide it, obviously. But she failed miserably because it was written all over her face.
Anyone with eyes could see she’d been crying.
So I slipped the resignation letter back into my bag and pulled out something else instead.
I placed my Wayfarers on her desk.
Elena looked up, startled. “Harley... what are you—?”
“Just tell people you’ve got an eye infection and it’s contagious,” I muttered.
She actually laughed for a second before replying softly, “Um... thanks.”
I dropped back into my chair, eyes still on her. I didn’t want to know who the hell made her cry like that, but I already had someone in mind. And I prayed I was wrong. I prayed it wasn’t him—the lucky bastard who made me step aside before I ever even had the chance to make a move.
But of course, my instincts were always right.
One not-so-accidental glance at her search history told me everything.
Either he’s stupid or just ungrateful, but that dumbass cheated on Elena.
What the hell else was he looking for? He married the most attractive woman on the planet, she’s carrying his child, and somehow he still managed to screw everything up this badly.
What. A. Fool.
— ? —
Two years later, I was still working there.
Still biding my time, though I didn’t even know what I was waiting for anymore, probably some false hope I should’ve let die a long time ago.
My father had been on my case nonstop, ordering me to quit and return to our company.
I told him soon, buying myself time for something. .. or someone.
Turned out I was wrong.
Even after two years, Elena still hadn’t left that cheating bastard. I got it, they were raising a child together. But I truly thought Elena would divorce him after giving birth and just co-parent with the guy. Forgiving something like that... it never felt like her.
Eventually, though, I realized something was off. She still spaced out sometimes, and when she smiled, I could tell it was forced. Nothing like the easy, effortless smile she used to have.
I didn’t want to cross any lines. God knew I’d kept my distance for years.
But I cared.
More than I should.
And maybe I never stopped.