Chapter 4

Elena's POV

I was still trembling, every nerve screaming in the aftershocks of what had just happened.

Slowly, I reached for the intercom, trying to steady my breathing.

“Can you… please tell Gabrielle Blackwood that I’m in a business meeting and to wait thirty minutes?” I asked, my voice low but firm.

“Of course, Dr. Royce,” the receptionist replied, oblivious to the chaos that had just passed in my office.

I turned back to Walter, my heart still racing. His hands tried to pull me back toward the chair, his eyes dark with desire.

“We’re not done,” he growled, low and urgent. “Neither of us has…cummed yet.”

I pried his hand off me, still breathing hard, and straightened up.

“I need to prepare for the meeting,” I said, my voice firm.

Walter’s dark eyes searched mine, frustrated. “Ten minutes, then. I’ll be quick. I’m still fucking hard.”

I shook my head, starting to pull on my clothes. “Leave me alone.”

He blinked, taken aback by my sudden shift.

“Why the change?” he asked, his tone both incredulous and concerned.

I didn’t answer. I focused on buttoning my blouse and tugging on my skirt. I had less than thirty minutes to prepare, and I knew I looked freshly fucked.

“If there’s a problem, let me know,” Walter said calmly, stepping back. “Or, if you’re not ready for Gabrielle, you can always reschedule the meeting.”

“I never said that,” I replied, finally meeting his gaze. “Why can’t you just let me be?”

He grabbed his clothes, slinging them on angrily, and muttered,

“Elena, you’re acting weird. Meet me at home when you’re done.”

Before I could even open my mouth to apologize, the door slammed behind him. He was already gone.

I dropped my hand over my face, letting out a quiet groan.

How am I supposed to explain this to Walter? I thought, still trembling.

That the reason I snapped isn’t because of him…not really. It’s because I’m jealous.

Because I’m apparently still in love with the same man who hurt me, and hearing him call Gabrielle “Adrian’s wife” made my blood boil.

That woman stole a life that should have been mine. My daughter. My home. Everything I should have had.

I pressed my forehead against my palm, willing myself to calm down.

And now… now I was expected to act professional with the woman who ruined my home.

The thought alone was infuriating, but I had no choice. This meeting had to happen unless I wanted to unleash Walter’s wrath.

The intercom buzzed again, breaking through my thoughts.

“Miss Carter, should I send her in?” the receptionist asked politely.

I straightened my shoulders, took a deep breath, and forced my voice steady despite the storm inside me.

“Yes,” I said.

Gabrielle entered, heels clicking sharply against the marble floor.

I had to swallow the urge to scoff.

Who does she think she is?

I watched her stride in with that smug, self-satisfied air.

I’ll give it to Adrian, he was really a good cheat.

Funny how the two women in his life never crossed paths, not even once.

We didn’t even know what the other looked like, we only heard each other’s names… After all, I was a secret contract wife.

Her eyes swept over the office, her nose scrunching up in visible disgust.

“Well… this is way beyond my expectations,” she said, reaching for a chair and meticulously wiping it down. “You know, you can never be too careful with germs.”

I bit my lip, forcing myself to stay calm. My fingers itched to remind her she was in my office and my rules applied here.

Before we could even begin, we both started introducing ourselves at the same time.

The room filled with the awkward echo of two voices talking over each other.

Gabrielle blinked, realizing it, then let out a short, exasperated sigh. “Fine. You first.”

I raised an eyebrow, letting her feel the edge in my stare.

She shrugged lightly. “I sent in my details earlier this year, and it took five months to get a response. Honestly, I was ready to take my money elsewhere…”

Her words were carefully measured, but I could feel my patience snapping.

“Are you going to teach me my job,” I said sharply, “or do you want to handle whatever brought you here yourself?”

Gabrielle’s eyes flared, and before I could react, she slammed her fist onto the desk.

The sharp thud reverberated through the room.

“You’re so rude!” she spat. “And to think you came highly recommended! Do you even know who I am? If you annoy me, I’ll place one call to the government and this place will be locked down before you can blink!”

I didn’t say a word.

My hands rested calmly on the desk, my breathing measured. Inside, I was right on the edge of losing control but I forced myself to stay composed.

To the world, Gabrielle Blackwood was the owner of an international talent agency.

She managed top models, actors, and performers.

What no one knew was that she was also a money launderer and a drug and human trafficker.

That was the real source of her wealth and the real reason she was sitting in my office.

One of the young celebrities under her management had been found dead in her apartment from a drug overdose.

Before her death, she confessed to a close friend that Gabrielle had introduced her to drugs and manipulated her into selling them.

Her family was ready to press charges, and the media was circling like vultures.

Gabrielle wanted the case swept under the carpet and she had come here thinking she could intimidate me with her stupid, ill‑gotten wealth.

“Do you really think banging your fist and yelling is going to scare me, Gabrielle?” I asked, locking eyes with her.

“You may think you have influence, connections, or power but you’re in my office now. And in my office, I make the rules.”

Gabrielle let out a sharp, humorless laugh and pushed her chair back.

“You know what?” she snapped, standing. “I don’t have to sit here and be disrespected. I’ll take my chances elsewhere.”

“By all means,” I said calmly, lifting one shoulder in a careless shrug. “You can leave.”

“You can leave,” I said calmly, lifting one shoulder in a careless shrug.

Gabrielle opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, her phone pinged with a notification.

“Shit!” she muttered, eyes widening as she glanced at the screen. “Adrian is coming here.”