CHAPTER 9- THE INVITATION

POV: Elena

I didn’t go straight home after that. I walked two blocks past my building first, hands shoved in my coat pockets, replaying the way Mike had said “It’s not a request”. The words still sat under my skin. By the time I finally unlocked my door, the irritation had turned sharp.

I dropped my bag, kicked off my heels, and called Nadia before I even turned on the lights. She picked up on the second ring.

“Please tell me you didn’t agree to anything stupid.” She said,

“I agreed to a company dinner tomorrow night.”

She remained silent for a short while. Then her voice came sharper. “Elena.”

“I know right?.”

“Don’t ‘I know’ me. You threw wine on the man. You almost kissed him in a broken elevator. And now you’re going to sit at a private dinner with him and his rich friends?”

I sat on the arm of the couch and pressed my fingers against my eyes. “He said stakeholders from the deals I’m reviewing will be there so my insight could matter.”

“And you bought that?”

“I didn’t have a clean way to say no without looking unprofessional.”

Nadia let out a short breath. “You’re already in too deep. I can hear it.”

“Girl I’m not.”

“You are. The fact that you’re explaining it like that tells me everything. Anyways, what are you wearing?”

“I haven’t decided that yet.”

“Wear something that says you don’t need him or his money. And text me when you get home so I know you’re breathing.”

“Yes, Mom.” I said sarcastically.

“I’m serious. That man looks at you like he’s already made up his mind about something. Watch yourself girl.”

After she hung up, the apartment felt too quiet. I tried to sketch, but the lines came out wrong. Every few minutes I caught myself staring at nothing, hearing Mike’s voice again.

POV: MIKE

Across the city, I sat in my office long after the building had emptied. Elena’s summary was already in my inbox. Clean, precise, no wasted words. I should have moved on to the next set of files. Instead I stayed at the window, replaying the moment she had pushed back in the conference room. The way her voice stayed steady even when her eyes flashed. The way she set her conditions like she still held the upper hand.

I hated how much I wanted her in that room tomorrow night. Not for the stakeholders, I could handle them alone. I wanted her there because the idea of another full day without seeing her felt unacceptable in a way I refused to look at too closely. I poured a drink and left it sitting untouched.

POV: ELENA

The next evening the car arrived at exactly seven. Black and expensive. The driver opened the door without small talk. I sat in the back and watched the city slide past. I had chosen a simple black dress with clean lines, nothing that tried too hard. Hair down and minimal makeup. I looked like myself, that had to be enough.

When the car stopped in front of the private venue, a renovated townhouse in a quiet, expensive stretch of the city, I stepped out and smoothed the dress once. A woman with a tablet waited at the door.

“Name, please.”

“Elena Martinez.”

She scrolled, then gave a polite smile. “Of course. Right this way please.”

I followed her into a warmly lit entrance hall. A large printed guest list sat on a table near the door. I glanced at it without thinking. My eyes caught on a name halfway down the page.

Sophia Martinez.

I stopped walking and the woman with the tablet turned back. “Is everything all right?” she asked.

I stared at my sister’s name. What was Sophia doing on the guest list for a private Laurent company dinner? She had never mentioned knowing anyone in this world. She definitely hadn’t mentioned Mike Laurent.

My pulse started hammering, something felt off. I had walked into this dinner thinking the only problem was Mike, now I wasn’t so sure.