CHAPTER 6: DON’T LIE TO ME

The fog swirled around George and Elena. The only light was the flickering lamppost.

And his grey eyes, dark and furious, pinned on her.

Were you going to do it, Elena? he asked again, this time he sounded broken and betrayed.

Elena shook her head. Tears were already falling as she answered; “No. I swear No, I wasn't going to stalk you, nor steal from you just to feed them the information they needed George.

Then why the hell did you sneak out? George asked.his eyes locked into hers like he was searching for the truth.

The text, she choked out. “It said... it said something would happen to my mom. That they would expose you that the marriage was only a contract for you to get the 10.2 billion dollars deal with the Laurent Group, and when that happens my mom's hospital debt would return to normal; so I panicked.

This was half the truth.

George stared at her for a long, terrible second. Like he was trying to see straight into her.

You’re lying, he said finally.

Elena’s breath hitched. No I’m not.

You are. This is not the whole truth behind you coming out to meet with Marcus and Venessa, he said. His voice softened, but it was worse.

He stepped back. Dragged a hand through his hair.

“Fuck, Elena. We are leaving. Now.”

He grabbed her wrist, not hard but firm. And led her to two black SUVs parked behind the trees. He’d been watching the whole time.

George and Elena entered one of the cars and drove out, then his two security guards entered the other and drove behind them.

The ride back to the penthouse was silent.

George drove with one hand. The other never let go of Elena's hand. His thumb kept brushing over her knuckles. Angry. Grounding. Possessive.

They arrived at the penthouse in 40 minutes.

He didn’t take her to the guest room. He took her straight to the kitchen and shoved a glass of water into her hands.

“Drink.”

“I’m not thirsty.”

“Drink, Elena.”

She drank. Her hands were shaking so bad that the water spilled down her chin as she drank it.

George reached out and wiped it with his thumb. The gesture was too gentle for how mad he was as he was trying to get hold of himself.

He leaned back against the counter. Arms crossed.

“Clause 9,” It becomes effective immediately, he said. You don’t leave this building without my notice, You don’t answer unknown numbers, And you don’t keep anything from me. Ever again.

Elena set the glass down. “That’s not fair.”

“Fair?” He laughed, but there was no humor in it. You just met with my enemy and my ex in the middle of the night, Elena. You don’t get to talk to me about fairness.

Tears welled up again in Elena's eyes. “I wasn’t going to betray you.”

Then prove it. George said calmly.

But How?. Elena asked as she was trying to stop herself from crying. Everything was becoming too much for her; first her dad's demise down to her mom's health failing, she leaving her painting to manage her mom's petty business just to have time to take care of her and also sort their bills, then the hospital debt now she's trapped in a threat because of one contract marriage.

George pushed off the counter and came to stand in front of her. He was still in black jacket sweaters and a tee shirt from earlier. He looked tired, and dangerous.

Tell me more about Garden Park,” he said quietly.

Elena blinked. “What?”

You froze when I asked earlier. Why?

Elena looked down and went silent for like a minute and then spoke up. “My dad... he used to take me there. To paint. Every Sunday.” She swallowed. Before Litdom took everything. Her voice carried something heavy. A sadness tangled with something sharper, like a frustration she didn’t know where to place.

The air in the room shifted.

George’s expression flickered. And Just for a second; Regret. And then it was gone.

He tried to change the topic and reached out and tilted her chin up with two fingers.

“I’m not going to touch you tonight,” he murmured. “Not like this and not until you ask me to.”

Elena’s face brightened a little.

And you will be sleeping in my room, George continued. From now on. No more guest rooms. No more distance. If we are going to prove this to the board, we have to make it feel real from within as husband and wife.

He didn’t wait for her to answer. He just took her hand and led her down the hall.

The room was massive. A black silk sheet stretched across a bed large enough to swallow four people whole. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the glittering city below, lights flickering like a thousand silent witnesses. Everything about the space whispered power, wealth… control.

Elena stood still for a moment, taking it all in. It didn’t feel like a bedroom. It felt like stepping into George Herbert’s world; cold, perfect, and far out of her reach.

Her suitcases were already there, neatly arranged inside his closet, as though she had always belonged here.

George released her hand without a word and moved past her, already unzipping his sweater. The ease in his movements unsettled her. The quiet confidence of a man completely at home in his own space and completely unaffected by her presence as he began undress himself.

Elena turned her face away, but not before catching a glimpse of him changing. Her breath hitched, subtle but betraying. She hated that her body reacted before her mind could catch up. By the time she looked back, he was already dressed in a loose, dark nightwear, looking effortlessly composed as if moments ago hadn’t existed at all.

Get a grip, Elena, this is a contract nothing more he said as he walked to the bed and slipped under the covers, settling on one side with deliberate distance. There was enough space between them to draw a clear line.

Elena stood there for a second, watching him.Then she cleared her throat softly. Can I… take a shower first?

Her voice was steady, but she could feel the question sitting between them.

“Of course.” George said. His eyes stayed on her a second longer, which made Elena feel kinda uncomfortable and shy.

Elena quickly looked away and reached for her suitcase, pulling out a pink night wear before heading toward the bathroom. She could feel his gaze on her back as she walked, it was steady as though he wasn't ready to look away.

The door shut behind her, and only then did she breathe properly.

Some minutes later she was done and already dressed. Her fingers tightening slightly at her side before she moved. Her hair was still damp, her skin warm from the shower.

George's eyes lifted the moment she stepped out from the bathroom and this time, they were locked completely on her.

Elena swallowed and walked to her side of the bed, forcing herself to stay composed. She slipped under the covers carefully, keeping the distance he had created between them.

Neither of them spoke nor touched.

“Get some sleep,” George said finally. His voice was calm and charming.

Elena turned slightly onto her side, facing away from him. “Goodnight.” she said.

At 3:17AM, Elena woke up gasping.

It was a nightmare. It clung to her; fragments of her mother’s frail body, Vanessa's deadly smiles and Marcus, then the contract closing in on her like a trap she couldn’t escape.

Before she could scream, strong arms pulled her in.

George. He was already awake.

“Shh,” he murmured in her ear. “I’ve got you. They can't hurt you here.”

Elena's fingers gripped the fabric of his shirt like it was the only thing holding her together.

You are safe here. He said again.

Elena let out a shaky breath and buried her face against him, her body trembling as the fear slowly loosened its hold. She cried into his chest quietly. And George held her tighter until she fell asleep again.

At 7:00AM

Elena woke up alone. She was in the middle of the bed now and the sheets slightly tangled around her with one of George's pillows under her head and his scent lingered on the sheets.

On the nightstand was a cup of chamomile tea. It's cold now.

And a note written in sharp black ink:

“Emergency board meeting 9AM. Wear black, you will join me for the meeting. David will bring you here. Don’t speak to anyone but me. And Elena? I believe you.”

Elena pressed the note to her chest.

David was waiting in the living room. “Miss Thomas. We have a problem.”

He turned the TV on.

BREAKING NEWS: GEORGE HERBERT’S FIANCEE ELENA THOMAS CAUGHT IN SECRET MEETING WITH RIVAL CEO

The photo was clear. Her, Vanessa, and Marcus at the Garden Park at 11:30PM.

Vanessa had leaked it.

Elena’s stomach dropped.

David’s phone rang. “Yes, Mr. Herbert... On our way.”

He looked at Elena.

“The board is calling for your head, Miss Thomas. And Mr. Herbert’s.”

Elena stood. Her hands were shaking as she went back to the room to get prepared.

After she had showered, standing in the mirror George's words still echoing in her mind “wear black”.

She dressed into a fitted midi dress, high at the neck and deliberate in every line, long sleeves framing quiet strength. The fabric moved with her, a subtle slit at her side. In her hand was a small gold purse and then she wore gold jewelry gifted to her by her mom on her twenty-second birthday. She completed the dressing with a black heels.

Elena stood before the mirror for a moment longer, studying the woman staring back at her. She felt encouraged again.

If Vanessa and Marcus wanted a war… they just made their first mistake.