Chapter 11: The Meeting that Never Happened

Elena's POV

I check my reflection in the hallway mirror one more time, smoothing down my blouse with shaking hands.

 Julian is with the estate nanny playing in the garden..

 I told her I had an appointment in town, didn't mention what kind.

The drive to the coffee shop feels longer than it should.

 Every red light makes my anxiety spike higher.

Victoria Chen said she had information about my marriage, about why Alexander really married me, about things I was never told.

 I need these answers, I need to understand what I've been living in for four years.

I arrive fifteen minutes early, park down the street, walk slowly toward the small café she specified.

 It's quiet inside, just a few people on laptops, soft jazz playing from overhead speakers.

 I order a coffee I know I won't drink, find a table by the window where I can watch the door.

Two o'clock comes and goes, no Victoria…

I check my phone obsessively, refresh my messages, nothing, by two fifteen I'm texting the number she called from yesterday.

Hi, I'm here at the coffee shop, are you running late?

The message shows delivered but no response comes.

 I wait five more minutes, try calling, the phone rings once then goes to a generic voicemail.

 Your call cannot be completed as dialed.

My stomach drops, I try again, same result, the number is disconnected.

Two thirty passes, I'm still sitting here staring at my untouched coffee, people probably think I've been standing up on a date.

They're not entirely wrong, I've been stood up by the truth.

By three o'clock I accept she's not coming, something happened, something changed, or maybe this was all some kind of game.

I don't know anymore, I don't know anything.

Outside in my car I sit with my hands on the steering wheel, trying to decide what to do next.

 I pull out my phone, call Alexander, maybe he knows something, maybe he can explain.

The phone rings twice, then I watch as he declines the call, sends me straight to voicemail without even listening.

I tried again, but the same thing declined immediately.

Frustration burns hot in my throat. 

I'm two hours from home, confused and alone, and my husband won't even answer my calls. 

I stare at my contacts list, there's really only one other person I can talk to right now.

I text Marcus before I can second guess myself.

The investigator didn't show up, I don't understand what's happening, I feel like I'm going crazy.

My phone rings within thirty seconds, Marcus's name on the screen.

"Elena? Are you okay, where are you?"

Just hearing his voice makes something tight in my chest loosen slightly.

 "I'm in town, I was supposed to meet someone, Victoria Chen, Alexander's investigator, she said she had information about my marriage but she never showed up.

 Her phone is disconnected, I don't know what happened."

"Slow down," Marcus says gently, "take a breath, tell me what happened from the beginning."

So I do, I tell him about the phone call last night, about Victoria saying she needed to tell me things about why Alexander married me, about my parents' death, about a real contract I supposedly signed.

 I tell him about driving here full of hope and sitting alone for an hour watching the door.

"And Alexander won't answer when you call?" Marcus asks.

"He declined twice, won't even listen to what I need to say."

Marcus is quiet for a moment, "Elena, I don't want to overstep but this doesn't sound right, you don't deserve to be left in the dark like this.

 Alexander should be honest with you, he should answer when his wife calls."

"I know," I whisper, tears threatening.

 "I just want to understand what's happening, why everything feels like it's falling apart."

"Where are you right now? Are you safe?"

"I'm in my car outside the coffee shop.

I'm fine, just confused."

"Do you want me to come meet you? You shouldn't have to process this alone."

I hesitate, Alexander would be furious if he knew, but Alexander isn't here.

Alexander won't even answer my calls.

No, I should get back to Julian, I've been gone too long already."

"Okay," Marcus says, "but Elena, I'm here if you need to talk, anytime.

I mean that, you're not alone in this even if it feels that way."

"Thank you Marcus," I manage, "really, thank you for just listening, it means more than you know."

"Call me when you get home safely.

 I want to make sure you're okay."

We hang up and I sit there for another few minutes, trying to collect myself before the drive back……trying to understand what just happened, why Victoria would promise answers then disappear.

The drive back to Connecticut feels endless, my mind racing with possibilities, maybe Alexander found out about the meeting and stopped her somehow.

Maybe Victoria got scared and backed out, maybe this whole thing was a setup for reasons I can't understand.

By the time I pull into the estate driveway it's almost five, the nanny brings Julian to me at the door, he runs into my arms chattering about the butterflies he saw in the garden.

"Did you have fun baby?" I ask, holding him tight.

"Yes Mama, where did you go?"

"Just some errands sweetheart, boring grown up stuff."

I pay the nanny, thank her for watching him, carry Julian inside, the house feels too big, too empty, too quiet.

I make us dinner, mac and cheese from a box because I can't focus on anything more complicated, Julian talks about his day and I try to listen but my mind keeps drifting back to that empty coffee shop.

After Julian's in bed I check my phone again, still nothing from Victoria.

…..nothing from Alexander except old messages, I'm about to put it down when it buzzes with a new text.

Alexander's name lights up the screen and my heart jumps, finally, maybe he'll explain.

I open the message and my hope deflates immediately.

Victoria Chen no longer works for me, discontinued her services, you don't need to concern yourself with her.

I read it three times, each time feeling more confused, he discontinued her services, when, why, right before she was supposed to meet me, that can't be coincidence.

I text back quickly.

Why did you fire her? She was supposed to meet me today, what is going on?

Three dots appear showing he's typing, then disappear, then appear again, finally a response comes.

It's handled, don't worry about it, focus on Julian.

That's it, no explanation, no real answer, just dismiss me like I'm a child asking questions above my understanding.

I'm your wife, I have a right to know what's happening, why won't you just talk to me?

This time the three dots don't even appear, he's read the message, I can see that, but he's not responding.

 He's done with this conversation, done with me.

I throw my phone onto the couch, pace across the living room, anger and confusion mixing into something that feels like it might choke me.

What is he hiding, what did Victoria know that made him fire her right before our meeting.

My phone rings and I grab it desperately hoping it's Alexander finally calling to explain, but it's Marcus's name on the screen.

"Hey," I answer, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Just checking that you made it home safe." Marcus says warmly.

"I did, thank you for checking."

"Did you hear anything from the investigator?"

"No, but I heard from Alexander.

" I can't keep the bitterness from my voice. 

"He fired her, Victoria, he discontinued her services, that's why she didn't show up."

"He fired her right before your meeting?" Marcus sounds genuinely shocked.

"Apparently, and he won't explain why, just told me not to concern myself with it, like I'm some child who can't handle adult information."

"Elena, that's not okay," Marcus says firmly.

 "You have every right to answer, you're his partner, his wife, he can't just keep you in the dark about everything."

"I know," tears are flowing now.

I can't hold them back anymore, "I'm so tired Marcus, I'm tired of not understanding anything.

Tired of being treated like I don't matter, tired of this whole situation."

"I know you are," his voice is so gentle, so understanding, "and you don't deserve any of this.

….you deserve honesty and respect and partnership, things Alexander clearly doesn't know how to give."

We talk for another hour, Marcus listens as I process everything, as I cry and rage and question my entire marriage.

 He doesn't judge, doesn't tell me I'm overreacting, just validates everything I'm feeling.

When we finally hang up it's past midnight, I'm exhausted emotionally and physically, but somehow I feel slightly better, less alone at least.

I climb into bed and stare at the ceiling. 

Victoria Chen was supposed to tell me the truth about my marriage today, instead I'm left with more questions and a husband who won't explain anything.

What is Alexander hiding?

 What did his father do, what does any of this have to do with my parents' death fifteen years ago.

I close my eyes but sleep doesn't come, just endless questions spinning through my mind with no answers in sight.