Chapter 6: HELLO, STEPSISTER

"Elena, what exactly are you trying to say?"

Marcus's voice came through the phone.

"I'm saying we should slow down our wedding plans."

"Slow down?" He paused. "Darling, we've been planning our future together for months. What changed?"

"I've just graduated, Marcus. Father wants me to start learning about Hart Group, and I think I should concentrate on that first."

"You're making it sound as though marrying me would stop you from working."

"Would it?"

He chuckled softly. "Of course not. I want you to succeed, sweetheart. You know that."

"Then you'll understand why I need time."

A brief silence followed.

"All right," he finally said. "Take as much time as you need. But don't shut me out, Elena. I love you."

"I'll think about everything you've said."

I ended the call before he could continue.

My relationship with Marcus wasn't something I could resolve in a single conversation. For now, keeping him at a distance was enough.

A knock interrupted my thoughts.

"Elena? Are you busy?"

Chloe.

"Come in."

The door opened, and my stepsister walked in wearing a pale pink dress. Her brown hair fell neatly over her shoulders, and she carried a small gift bag.

"There you are!" she exclaimed. "I've been looking for you."

She placed the bag on my bed.

"What's that?" I asked.

"A graduation present. I know you graduated a few months ago, but I never got the chance to give you something properly."

I opened the bag. Inside was a delicate bracelet.

"It's beautiful," I said.

"I'm glad you like it." Chloe sat beside me. "Business Administration, right? You must be excited about joining Hart Group."

"I'm looking forward to learning how the company works."

She smiled. "Father must be proud of you. I suppose you'll be sitting in board meetings before long."

"Eventually, perhaps."

"Will you have your own office?"

"I haven't discussed that with Father."

Chloe laughed. "Listen to you! You're already talking like a businesswoman."

I returned the bracelet to its box.

"Have you ever considered working at Hart Group yourself?"

Her smile widened slightly.

"Me? I wouldn't know where to begin."

"You could learn."

"Perhaps." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "But I wouldn't want you to think I was competing with you. The company is your family's responsibility."

"There's no reason for us to compete."

"Of course not. We're sisters."

I looked at her for a moment.

"Chloe, there's something I'd like us to understand."

Her expression became attentive. "What is it?"

"I want us to respect each other's decisions. If I choose to do something, I'd appreciate being allowed to handle it myself. And I'd do the same for you."

She stared at me, clearly surprised.

"Did I interfere with something?"

"No. I'm simply saying this because I think it's important."

"Oh." She gave a small laugh. "You're becoming so serious lately."

"Perhaps I've grown up."

"Maybe." She picked up the gift bag and folded its handles together. "But you can still talk to me about anything, Elena. You know that, don't you?"

"I'll keep that in mind."

Her smile faltered for a moment before returning.

"By the way, Marcus called me this morning."

I raised my eyes.

"He did?"

"Yes. He wanted to know whether you were feeling better. He said you two had a conversation yesterday, but you didn't reply to his message afterward."

I kept my expression neutral.

"Did you tell him anything?"

"Only that you'd been busy." She leaned closer. "Is everything all right between you two?"

"We're discussing some things."

"Your wedding?"

I nodded.

Chloe's eyebrows rose.

"Elena, you can't be serious about postponing it."

"Why not?"

"Because Marcus is a wonderful man! Everyone knows how much he loves you. You've been together for so long, and I thought you were happy."

"I'll decide what's right for me."

She fell silent.

For the first time since entering the room, she seemed unsure of what to say.

Then she stood.

"All right. I suppose you know what you're doing."

She headed toward the door but paused before leaving.

"Don't forget about dinner tonight. Father wants us all there."

"I won't."

"Good. I'll see you downstairs."

The door closed behind her.

I looked at the bracelet again before placing it inside the drawer.

Chloe had always been generous with her smiles. I was beginning to understand that I didn't have to respond to every one of them with the same warmth.

For now, I would keep our relationship civil and pay attention to what she did rather than what she said.

There was still much I needed to learn about Hart Group, and I wasn't going to let family disagreements distract me from that responsibility.

I spent the next hour reviewing the documents my father had given me. Some of the legal language was unfamiliar, so I wrote down questions to ask him later.

If I was going to take responsibility for the company, I needed to understand more than its profits and public image.

By seven o'clock, I was ready for dinner.

I went downstairs and found my father waiting in the dining room. He looked up from his phone when I entered.

"There you are, sweetheart."

"Am I late?"

"Not at all." He pulled out a chair for me. "I was just speaking with Marcus."

My steps faltered.

"Marcus?"

"Yes. He called to ask about you. I told him we were having dinner tonight, so I invited him to join us."

I stared at my father.

"You invited him here?"

He looked puzzled by my reaction.

"Of course. He's your fiancé, Elena. I thought it would be a good opportunity for us to talk about your future, especially now that you've graduated."

Before I could respond, the sound of footsteps came from the hallway.

Then Marcus appeared in the doorway.

He wore a perfectly tailored navy suit, and a familiar smile spread across his face when he saw me.

"Elena, sweetheart."

He walked toward me as though our conversation that morning had never happened.

Then he leaned down and kissed my cheek.

I stiffened before I could stop myself.

His smile remained, but his eyes searched my face.

"Is something wrong, darling?"

My father looked between us.

"Actually," he said, taking his seat, "there's something important I'd like us to discuss tonight."

Marcus pulled out the chair beside mine.

"Of course, Mr. Hart. I'm listening."

My father folded his hands on the table.

"It's about Elena's future at Hart Group—and the role I believe you could play in it."

Marcus slowly turned toward me.

For the first time that evening, his smile disappeared.