CHAPTER 3: The Penthouse

George stared at his phone screen for a while and then he held the screen up for Elena to see.

It was a photo of Elena walking into Litdom 30 minutes ago and was escorted by George's assistant David. And also a photo of Vanessa Laurent, George's fiancee storming out from the same building in dismay.

The caption underneath read: “A mysterious woman seen walking into Litdom company with Billionaire CEO George Herbert’s Assistant. Wedding rumors already? And the first comment with the most likes was tagged to her @Elena.Thomas.official: “so you are the gold-digger who broke up Vanessa and George?”

George’s jaw ticked.

Too late, he said. The world already thinks you’re mine.

Elena looked up to George, panic rising in her throat but she still remained calm.

Before she could find her voice to speak, David knocked and opened the door. The car is ready, Mr. Herbert. I’ve also sent someone to pack Miss Thomas’s things from her apartment, he said.

Elena stared at him. hold on a second, You went to my apartment?

I told you I know everything about you, Elena, George said simply, already moving toward the private elevator. Don’t look so surprised, George said with a smirk on his face.

"I'm only doing this because of you mum", Elena murmured to herself as she followed him into the elevator.

The ride to Litdom Residences (George's penthouse)was silent as George’s words were still hanging in the air between them. “The world already thinks you’re mine”.

They arrived at the penthouse; David stepped down from the car and went to open the back car door for George and Elena.

The elevator doors opened and Elena stopped breathing.

The penthouse was massive, all glass and black marble and city lights stretching out behind floor-to-ceiling windows like the entire world belonged to him. A grand staircase curved up to the second floor, and through an open door she could see the edge of a king-sized bed with black silk sheets.

This will be your home for the next six months, George said behind her, shrugging off his jacket. Your room is down that hall. Mine is at the end.

Elena nodded, but her throat was too dry to speak.

Tomorrow night we have dinner with my parents, George continued, and his voice was closer now. If we’re going to convince the board and the press that this marriage is real, we need to look like we’ve been in love for months, not six hours, George said as he walked closer to her.

She felt him before she saw him move. His hand came up and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering against her cheek just a second too long to be professional.

Practice, he murmured.

And then he gently wrapped his arm was around her waist, pulling her back against his chest until she could feel the solid heat of him through her thin blazer. Elena stiffened at first, every instinct telling her to pull away but the warmth of him, solid and steady behind her, made her hesitate.

Elena’s heart slammed against her ribs. She was having a confused feeling as to how she isn't happy that she's going to spend six months of her life living with the man who ruined her family and also how u can't control the sensations she gets when he's close to her.

Her heart began to race.

When George leaned closer, his breath brushed her temple, warm and unhurried, sending a quiet shiver down her spine.

Elena swallowed.

“This isn’t part of the contract,” she said, trying to steady her voice.

“It is now,” he replied as he tightened his hold around her waist.

Then he leaned to her ears while stroking his fingers around her neckline and whispered: Like this, Like you want me to kiss you so badly, Like you’re already mine. he whispered, his voice low enough that it vibrated through her.

Her lips parted on a shaky breath. For one heartbeat she thought he was actually going to turn her around to face him and then kiss her, that his mouth would come down on hers and she would let him. She was already losing control of her body and couldn't wait.

The shrill ring of the penthouse phone cut through the moment like a knife.

George let her go instantly, his expression closing off as he walked to the bar and answered it. “Herbert.”

Elena watched his back, her pulse still racing, as his shoulders went rigid.

He hung up without another word and turned to her, his grey eyes unreadable. “That was St. Mercy. Your mother is awake, and she has a visitor.”

Elena was already grabbing her bag. “Who?”

“Vanessa,” George said. She’s in your mother’s room. Alone.

Fear shot through her. Then we need to go now.

“Not like this,” George said, stepping in front of the door and blocking her path. His hand reached out and straightened the collar of her blazer, his knuckles grazing the sensitive skin of her neck and making her shiver. If we walk in there looking like strangers, Vanessa wins. We go in as husband and wife.

just then, His phone buzzed again. He glanced at the screen and his jaw tightened.