The Real Game Begins

ELENA’S POV

The rest of the afternoon passed in a fog. Noah chattered endlessly, his tiny hands waving as he described every detail of his day, while I forced my attention on him, pretending the storm of thoughts in my head wasn’t threatening to drown me.

Maria’s words echoed: Master Roland. The fight. Morris switching allegiance. Five years ago…

I sank into the quiet corner of the living room after Noah had gone to bed, nursing a cup of tea that had gone cold. My mind replayed every fragment of memory I’d managed to suppress for years. Roland. That tattoo. The hotel room. The night that had shattered my world.

And now he was here, in the same city, in the same orbit as me… and Noah.

I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms. How could the universe be so cruel, bringing him back into my life without warning? My fingers trembled as I ran them over my face, desperate to shake the nausea that had settled deep in my stomach.

I couldn’t let him know I remembered. Not Justin. Not Noah. Not even Maria. The past had to stay buried, no matter how much it clawed at my chest.

But answers were calling to me, insistent and merciless. I had to know the truth about that night. About Roland. About Noah.

...............

My phone buzzed, pulling me out of my thoughts. A message from Justin’s secretary flashed:

"Report to Mr. Justin immediately. He wishes to discuss arrangements for Noah."

My pulse quickened. Arrangements? What could that mean?

I left my cup on the table, grabbing my bag and heading out. The compound was quiet, the sun dipping lower, casting long shadows across the marble drive. I spotted Josh, Noah’s driver, waiting patiently near the car.

“Miss Elena,” he greeted politely. I returned the nod, climbing into the back seat.

The ride was silent, the hum of the engine filling the void. My thoughts, however, refused to be silent. Roland. Noah. Morris. All threads tangled together in a web I couldn’t yet untangle.

Finally, we arrived at Justin’s office. I stepped out, smoothing my dress and taking a steadying breath. The door opened before I could knock, and Justin’s sharp gaze met mine immediately.

“Sit,” he commanded, motioning to the chair across from his desk.

I obeyed, heart hammering.

Justin leaned back, steepling his fingers, eyes fixed on me. “I want to know… why you wanted this job.”

I blinked. “Sir?”

He didn’t soften. “You didn’t have to come back here. You didn’t have to take the position. So why? What’s your endgame, Elena?”

I hesitated, carefully weighing my words. “I… needed a job, sir. Stability. A chance to provide… for myself. And for Noah.”

His gaze sharpened, scrutinizing every flicker of expression. “Do you expect me to believe that’s all?”

I took a deep breath. “It’s the truth. I’ve… been through a lot, sir. I just want to do my job properly and ensure Noah is safe.”

He leaned forward slightly, voice low, deliberate. “You know, most people would run at the first sign of… complications. But you came back.”

“I—” I swallowed hard, forcing calm into my voice. “I didn’t run. I wanted a fresh start.”

Justin tilted his head, studying me like a puzzle. “Fresh start. Or… revenge?”

I flinched, caught off guard by the accuracy of his words. “Sir?”

“Don’t play coy with me, Elena,” he said, voice clipped. “I can see when someone has a personal stake. You’re here for more than just the job, aren’t you?”

I held his gaze, refusing to crumble. “I’m here to do my job. That’s it.”

He smirked faintly, not mocking, but sharp. “We’ll see.”

Then his tone shifted, colder. “Listen carefully. Noah will start attending the weekend program I mentioned. You will accompany him at all times. Understood?”

“Yes, sir,” I replied, masking the pounding of my heart.

“And Elena…” His gaze bore into mine, unyielding. “If you so much as endanger him......even slightly, I will make sure you regret it.”

I met his eyes steadily. “I won’t, sir. I promise.”

Justin exhaled slowly, leaning back in his chair. “Good. I need someone I can trust with my son. You’ll have your chance to prove yourself. Fail me, and there will be consequences. Do you understand?”

“I understand,” I said firmly. “And I won’t fail.”

There was a long pause as he regarded me, weighing my words. Then he finally nodded. “That’ll be all.”

I rose to my feet, offering a slight bow. “Thank you, sir.”

As I left the office, my mind raced. Weekend program… constant supervision… Noah’s presence would bring me closer to the people tied to my past. Roland could be there. Morris could be there. And maybe… just maybe… I’d finally uncover the truth.

A shiver ran down my spine. One thing was certain....I couldn’t run from my past anymore.

And now, the real game had begun.