Chapter 6: The Photograph's Consequences

Elena's POV

The photograph burns into my vision even after Alexander lowers his phone…. me and Marcus sitting across from each other at that café, our hands touching on the table.

"Care to explain this?" 

Alexander's voice is cold, businesslike, like he's addressing an employee who missed a deadline rather than confronting his wife.

My mouth goes dry….

I try to find words that will make this better but I know nothing will

 "It was just lunch, we talked about my literacy foundation, about potential partnerships for the children's programs.”

"I don't care what excuse you've prepared," he cuts me off.

 "You lied about where you were going, you met with a man behind my back, that violates our arrangement."

Something inside me snaps, four years of biting my tongue, four years of swallowing my anger.

 "Our arrangement? You mean this prison sentence you call a marriage?

 At least Marcus treats me like a human being, at least he looks at me when I'm talking."

Alexander's face hardens, his jaw clenching.

 "Marcus Rivera is my business competitor, you meeting with him makes me look weak, makes this family look weak."

"This isn't about family," I'm shouting now, "this is about your ego…. your precious reputation, your need to control every single aspect of my existence.”

His response comes out chillingly calm, "Believe what you want, but there will be consequences for this.

" He turns toward the hallway….

"Mrs. Winters, come here please."

The housekeeper appears within seconds, her kind face worried, "Yes Mr. Harrington?"

"You're fired," Alexander says it like he's commenting on the weather.

 "Pack your things, I want you out by morning."

Mrs. Winters's face goes white, "Sir, I don't understand."

"You helped my wife leave this house without my knowledge, you enabled her deception, that's a breach of trust I can't overlook."

"Alexander no," I step forward, "this isn't her fault, she was just being kind to me."

"That's not her job," he doesn't even look at me.

 "Her job is to maintain this household according to my rules, she failed, she's gone."

Mrs. Winters just nods once, her eyes filling with tears, then walks away, her footsteps echoing on the marble floor.

"You bastard," I whisper, "she's worked for your family for fifteen years.”

"And in one afternoon she threw that away.

" Alexander pulls out his phone, starts typing.

 "Now let me explain the new security measures, cameras throughout the house, tracking software on your phone, security detail following you everywhere."

The room tilts, "You're making me a prisoner."

"I'm maintaining order in my household, you brought this on yourself Elena."

I stare at this stranger who controls every aspect of my life.

 "I despise you, you know that right? I genuinely despise everything about you."

Alexander's expression doesn't change.

 "Your feelings are irrelevant, what matters is that you don't embarrass this family again.

Now go upstairs, I have work to do."

Dismissed like a child, I turn and walk up the stairs on shaking legs.

In my room I close the door and lean against it, dig through my purse until I find Marcus's card, pull out my phone and see his text.

I heard what happened to your housekeeper, this isn't right, you deserve so much better than this, I'm here whenever you need to talk.

I sink onto my bed, stare at his message, right now Marcus feels like the only person who sees me as something other than property.

My phone buzzes again, I mean it Elena, you don't have to face this alone, there's always a way, you just need someone in your corner.

Tears burn behind my eyes but I refuse to let them fall.

I won't cry over Alexander Harrington.

A soft knock on my door, "What?"

Julian's small voice comes through.

"Mama? Can I come in?"

I open the door immediately, my three year old stands there in pajamas, those gray eyes so much like his father's looking up at me.

"Are you sad Mama?"

I crouch down, pull him into a hug, "No baby, Mama's just tired."

"I heard yelling, were you and Daddy fighting again?"

Again…..the word hits me like a punch.

 "Grown ups sometimes disagree sweetheart, now go back to bed."

Julian nods and pads away.

I watch him go, he's the only good thing to come from this marriage, the only reason I haven't run.

I close my door, my phone still in my hand, I should delete Marcus's messages but something stubborn inside me refuses.

Instead I type quickly, Can we meet again, I can't breathe in this house.

I hit send before I can change my mind, then immediately regret it, meeting Marcus again will only make things worse.

Marcus's reply comes fast, Tomorrow, 10am, Brooklyn Botanical Gardens.

 I'll be by the Japanese pond.

I stare at the message, tomorrow I'll be defying Alexander again, but the alternative is staying trapped, staying invisible.

I type back, I'll be there.

Around midnight I hear Alexander's office door open downstairs.

His footsteps pause outside my door but then continue to the master bedroom.

Sometime after one I hear voices.

I slip out of bed quietly, open my door just a crack, his office door is slightly ajar.

"I don't care what it costs, I want a full background check on Marcus Rivera.

 Every business deal, every personal relationship, everything," a pause.

"And increase surveillance on my wife.

 I need to know everywhere she goes, everyone she talks to, real time updates."

I back away from my door, heart pounding, he's not just monitoring me, he's preparing for war.

I close my door silently, pull out my phone, type with trembling fingers.

 He's watching everything, tracking me, I don't know how to get away from it.

Marcus responds quickly, Then we'll be careful, trust me Elena, tomorrow we'll figure this out together.

I crawl back into bed but sleep is impossible.

 I lie there listening to the house settle, listening to my husband in his room, separated from me by walls and years of coldness.

By dawn I still haven't slept….

I watch the sky lighten through my window and make a decision.

I'm meeting Marcus today, no matter what Alexander threatens, no matter what consequences he has planned.

I'm taking back this one small piece of my life.

Even if it destroys everything else.