Chapter 8

Elena had spent the entire morning telling herself that she was not going to Vale Tower. She had even gone as far as making coffee, opening her laptop, and spreading the documents across the hotel desk with the intention of investigating Vantage Meridian herself. Forty minutes later, she was standing in front of the very building she had sworn she wouldn't visit, glaring at its black glass entrance as though it had personally betrayed her. The problem was that she had found something during her investigation, something she couldn't make sense of without Lucien's help. She hated admitting that. After everything that had happened with Adrian, the last thing she wanted was to become dependent on another powerful man. Still, she had learned one thing during the past few days: pride was expensive, and she could no longer afford it.

When she entered Lucien's office, he was seated behind his desk, reading a report. He glanced up once, and Elena immediately knew she had made the right decision and hated that fact.

"You came back."

"Don't sound so disappointed."

"I was expecting you tomorrow."

Elena dropped her handbag onto the chair opposite him. "Why tomorrow?"

"Because yesterday you agreed to stop investigating for twenty-four hours."

"I changed my mind."

"I noticed."

She narrowed her eyes. "You knew I'd change my mind?"

"I knew you wouldn't last twenty-four hours."

"That's insulting."

"It's accurate."

"You've known me for three days."

"Three very informative days."

Elena pulled the chair out and sat down. "You know, most people try to make a good impression when they meet someone."

"Most people don't have your personality."

She stared at him.

Lucien continued reading.

"Was that supposed to be an insult?"

"No."

"Then what was it?"

He finally looked at her.

"A compliment."

She wasn't sure whether to believe him.

"You're terrible at compliments."

"I'll practice."

"Please don't."

A faint smile appeared on his face before disappearing again.

Elena placed a folder on his desk.

"I found something."

Lucien closed the report.

"Tell me."

"The transaction used my authorization, but the authorization was created two hours before the transaction itself. The IP address came from Vantage Meridian."

His expression changed slightly.

"How did you access that information?"

"I asked questions."

"That wasn't my question."

"It was my answer."

"Elena."

She leaned back. "I didn't hack anything. I called someone who used to work for the company."

"Who?"

"Mr. Bennett."

Lucien went quiet.

"You know him."

"I know of him."

"He was frightened."

"Did he tell you anything?"

"He told me to stop asking questions."

Lucien's fingers tapped once against the desk.

"And naturally, you continued."

"Naturally."

"Why?"

"Because I'm tired of everyone telling me what I shouldn't do."

"That isn't a reason."

"It is when everyone telling me that is somehow connected to the people who ruined my life."

Lucien studied her for a moment.

"Fair."

She hadn't expected him to agree.

"You don't think I'm being reckless?"

"I think you're being reckless."

Her eyebrows shot up.

"But I understand why."

"That's almost worse."

"Why?"

"Because now I can't even argue with you."

Lucien leaned back in his chair.

"That's never stopped you before."

Elena smiled despite herself.

Then she noticed his gaze had dropped to her hand.

More specifically, to the empty finger where her wedding ring had been.

"You took it off."

She looked down.

"I did."

"When?"

"This morning."

"Why?"

"Because someone told me to."

His eyes lifted.

"Someone?"

"You."

"I didn't think you'd listen."

"I didn't either."

For some reason, the answer seemed to amuse him.

"Do you regret it?"

Elena looked at her bare finger.

"No."

"Good."

She tilted her head. "Why do you care?"

"I don't."

"You just spent ten seconds staring at my hand."

"I was thinking."

"About my finger?"

"About the fact that you're finally starting to let go of something that was hurting you."

Her expression softened.

"You're surprisingly observant."

"I'm observant when something interests me."

"And I interest you?"

Lucien didn't answer.

Elena waited.

He continued looking at her.

Finally, she smiled.

"That was a very long way of saying yes."

"It wasn't an answer."

"It was."

"You're assuming."

"I'm good at that."

"That's dangerous."

"Maybe."

She picked up the folder again and opened it.

"There's something else."

Lucien's attention returned to the documents.

"The company that received the money is connected to Vantage Meridian, but I couldn't find the actual owner."

"You won't."

"Why?"

"Because companies like that aren't built to have owners people can easily find."

"So you know who is behind it?"

"No."

Elena frowned. "You really don't?"

"No."

"That surprises me."

"Why?"

"Because everyone talks about you like you know everything."

Lucien gave a quiet laugh.

"Everyone talks about me?"

"You've never heard the rumors?"

"I've heard some."

"They say you're ruthless."

"I am."

"They say you destroyed three families over a business dispute."

"Two."

Elena blinked.

"You actually corrected me?"

"The third family destroyed itself."

She stared at him.

"That's not reassuring."

"I wasn't trying to reassure you."

"They also say you once bought an entire company just to fire one man."

"I bought the company because it was profitable."

"And the man?"

"He was incompetent."

"And you fired him."

"Of course."

Elena shook her head.

"You know what's strange?"

"What?"

"You don't seem like the man everyone describes."

Lucien's expression became unreadable.

"That's because you don't know me."

"Then tell me."

"About what?"

"About you."

He looked genuinely surprised.

"No."

She laughed. "Why?"

"Because you ask too many questions."

"Fine. I'll answer one of yours."

"I didn't ask one."

"Ask."

Lucien considered her for a moment.

"Why did you marry Adrian?"

The smile disappeared from Elena's face.

"That's your question?"

"Yes."

She looked toward the window.

"Because I loved him."

Lucien said nothing.

"I know how stupid that sounds now," she continued. "Everyone keeps looking at me like I should have known. Maybe I should have. But when I married him, I didn't think I was making a mistake. I thought I was choosing my future."

"And now?"

"Now I think I chose someone else's."

Lucien's gaze remained on her.

Elena looked back at him.

"Your turn."

"I don't believe in marriage."

She raised an eyebrow.

"That's not what I asked."

"It's my answer."

"Why don't you believe in it?"

"Because I've seen too many people promise forever when what they really mean is 'until something better comes along.'"

The words were colder than she expected.

"Someone hurt you."

"No."

"You're lying."

"I don't lie."

Elena laughed.

"That's the biggest lie you've told me."

Something shifted in his expression.

"You think you know me very well."

"No. I think you're just as bad at hiding things as I am."

He leaned forward slightly.

"And what exactly am I hiding?"

She held his gaze.

"I don't know yet."

For several seconds, neither spoke.

The silence wasn't uncomfortable.

That was what made it dangerous.

Lucien broke it first.

"You're staying for lunch."

Elena blinked.

"Was that an invitation?"

"Yes."

"I thought you didn't like me."

"I don't."

She smiled.

"Then why lunch?"

"Because I dislike eating alone."

"That's almost human of you."

"Don't spread that rumor."

She laughed.

Lucien stood and reached for his jacket.

"Come."

Elena rose.

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere quiet."

"Why?"

"Because if we're going to discuss your family, I don't want anyone overhearing us."

She stopped.

"My family?"

Lucien looked back at her.

"Did you think I was finished investigating them?"

Elena's curiosity returned immediately.

"What did you find?"

A small smile appeared on his lips.

"That depends."

"On what?"

"Whether you can make it through lunch without interrogating me."

She stared at him.

"You're asking the impossible."

"I know."

He opened the door for her.

Elena walked past him, trying not to smile.

For the first time in days, she wasn't thinking about Adrian, Vivian, or the humiliation they had left behind.

She was thinking about Lucien.

And that, perhaps, was the first problem she actually wanted to have.