Chapter 11

Elle’s POV

Soft morning light filtered through the cracks in the curtains. I stirred slowly, the warm weight of an arm curled around my waist.

A small smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I shifted slightly and looked up at Raymond.

He was already awake.

His blue eyes met mine with a tenderness that never failed to melt me.

“Morning, Princess,” he whispered, brushing a loose strand of hair from my face.

“Morning,” I replied, my voice still husky from sleep. “You’ve been watching me?”

“Guilty,” he murmured, leaning in to kiss my forehead. “You look too peaceful to disturb.”

We stayed like that for a while, just wrapped in each other’s arms. It was moments like these that made me feel like the world outside didn’t exist, just us.

But it did, and eventually, duty called.

We took our time getting dressed, teasing, and sharing kisses in between buttons and ties.

Raymond helped zip up my dress, his fingers lingering—brushing against my skin—and I had to gently push him away with a laugh.

“Stop it,” I muttered playfully, slipping on my heels. “We both have work to attend to.”

“You sure we can’t cancel the day?” He asked with a boyish grin.

“Tempting,” I said, grabbing my bag. “But no.”

Soon, we were in the car. He drove, one hand on the wheel, the other occasionally reaching for mine.

It was quiet, comfortable, and warm. When we got to the office building, he pulled up at the curb and turned to me.

“I won’t be going in for now,” He said, his tone suddenly more serious. “There’s something urgent I have to handle. I should be back before the day ends.”

I tilted my head. “Something urgent?”

“Nothing for you to worry about,” He assured with a soft smile. “I’ll fill you in later.”

I nodded, kissed him on the cheek, and stepped out.

“Love you,” he said before I closed the door.

A flush of pink crept up my cheeks as I replied, “Love you more.”

***

The moment I entered the building, I felt it—eyes—all on me.

It wasn't the usual glances of admiration or envy I’d been getting since the promotion, but something heavier.

Some of the workers even quickly looked away when I caught them staring.

I blinked, confused for a second. But I brushed it off. It had to be the new position. People always whispered when someone climbed the ladder quickly—especially someone like me.

I smiled politely, lifted my chin, and walked confidently toward the elevator.

Let them talk. Let them think about different scenarios of how I seduced Raymond and got him onto my bed. It wasn't like their words were going to change anything.

By the time I got to my office, I’d almost forgotten about it. I mean, I pushed it away. The last thing I needed was for something as ridiculous as that to bother me.

I kicked off my heels and sat at my desk, reaching for my phone. I hadn’t had a moment to scroll through the photos from our recent trip. Raymond had taken me to Lake Como for the weekend, and the pictures were nothing short of magic. He kept making me feel special like nothing else mattered in the world but me.

I opened the gallery, smiling at our goofy faces in sunglasses, the candlelit dinner by the water, and the short clip of him dancing terribly just to make me laugh. It was such a fun moment.

I was still glancing through the pictures when a notification popped up above the screen, catching my attention. Then I tapped on the news app, just out of habit. I wasn’t expecting to see what I did.

But there it was.

"Gold-digger CEO Wife Exposed: From Marital Scandal to Seduction Scheme."

"Sources Confirm Elle Orlando Slept Her Way Into Billionaire Marriage"

"Ex-Husband Speaks: 'She Betrayed Me For Power'"

I froze.

My thumb hovered over the screen. My stomach dropped and my heart pounded so loud I could barely hear the hum of the AC in the office. Dozens of photos were plastered beneath the headlines—photos of me in the past—some old, some recent, all twisted with false captions.

Some were of me leaving Richard’s old apartment, a blurry photo of Raymond and me in Paris, and also a photo of me back at the company’s old cafeteria—paired with a caption labeling me “manipulative and ambitious.”

I couldn’t breathe. I tried to, but it was a lot harder than expected.

My name, my face, and my history—all splayed online, manipulated into something vile and disgusting. They said I left my husband for power. That I seduced Raymond as part of a ploy. That I had cheated, lied, and schemed my way to the top. They had dug up pictures from years ago, twisted the timelines, and used half-truths to paint me as something I wasn’t.

Just then, the door burst open.

“Ma’am!” Jessica, my assistant, rushed in with a tablet in her hand and a pale look on her face. “I just saw some news online and...I don’t know if you—”

“I’ve seen them,” I said softly, not looking up.

She hesitated at the door, stopping in her tracks, unsure whether to approach or not.

I finally lifted my gaze, meeting her eyes. She looked both worried and pitiful.

I sighed. “It’s okay. You can go.”

The last thing I needed was for anyone to pity me.

“But… should I alert the PR team? Maybe they can take it down. Or should I call Mr. Orlando?”

“No,” I said quickly the moment she mentioned Raymond's name. “Not yet.”

She nodded and muttered, "Okay Ma'am," and then backed out, closing the door behind her.

I sat there in silence.

Only one person could have done this, and that was...Richard.

I should’ve known his silence was a trap. He had gone too quiet after Raymond’s last warning.

So this was his plan.

This was war—and he had thrown the first grenade.

I stared at the headlines one more time, my anger hardening into resolve.

If Richard wanted a scandal, he was going to get much more than he bargained for.