MasukELARAI scan the restaurant, looking for anyone watching us, anyone suspicious.But it's packed, dimly lit, and impossible to pick out one person. Damien notices my action immediately. "What's wrong?"I show him the message. His expression goes dark and dangerous. He pulls out his phone and types rapidly. "What are you doing?" I ask quietly, not wanting to alarm Elise and Nathan."Telling Hayes to pull security footage from this restaurant. Someone's watching us. Right now.""Security footage?" Elise leans forward, concern replacing her earlier joy. "Elara, what's going on?"I take a breath. "Someone sent me a threatening text this morning. And now this.""Someone threatened you?" Elise's voice rises. "Who? Lucas is locked up...""We don't know. Could be anyone." I force my voice steady. "It's probably nothing. Just someone trying to scare me.""It's working," Nathan observes quietly. "You went pale the second you saw that message."Damien stands. "We should go. Now.""No." I grab his
ELARAThe workday passes in a blur of hushed conversations and sympathetic glances that somehow feel more intrusive than outright hostility would.By three PM, I'm exhausted from maintaining my professional composure while feeling like a zoo exhibit.My phone buzzes with a text from Elise: Finally back in the city! Dinner tonight? I have SO much to tell you. Also, bringing someone special. 7 PM at Marea?I smile for the first time all day. Elise, my best friend since college, is the one person besides Damien who's been my anchor through everything. She's been in London for the past few weeks on a business acquisition, and I've missed her terribly.Me: Yes! Dying to see you. Ca
ELARAThe next morning, I woke up to already dressed Damien, standing by the window with his phone pressed to his ear."—I don't care what it costs. Make it happen." He hangs up when he notices I'm awake. "Morning.""Who was that?""Contractors. The foundation building." He sits on the edge of the bed and brushes hair from my face. "Construction starts next week. I want you involved in every decision, from the layout, design, and program... everything.""Damien, I still have my actual job. Senior marketing manager, remember? I can't just abandon my responsibilities to focus on the foundation.""So don't. Do both." He grins at my expression. "You're a
ELARASilence fills the room."I hate who I've become," Elena whispers. "The manipulator. The liar. The woman who would help a monster hurt her own sister just to feel superior for five minutes. And I can't blame you for that, Elara. I can't blame Mom and Dad or Lucas or anyone else. This is who I chose to be.""Elena, honey..." my mother starts."No, Mom. Stop protecting me. Stop making excuses." Elena pulls her hand away. "I need to say this also needs Elara to hear it, and I need to hear it myself."She takes a breath and steadies herself."I'm telling you everything I know about Lucas's plans because it's the only decent thing I've done in years. He has a lot of weapons, not just the gun, but knives, rope, and duct tape. He planned to take you from your gym on Tuesday morning when security is lightest. He was going to bring you to an abandoned warehouse in Red Hook and make Damien watch via live stream while he..." Her voice breaks. "While he hurt you. And then he was going to kil
DAMIENWe're halfway to the elevator when my phone rings. Macklin."Talk to me," I answer."Sir, we have a situation. The storage unit Elena mentioned...we sent a team to check it out. It's worse than she described.""How much worse?""There are enough explosives to level a city block. Detailed maps of Cross Enterprises, your penthouse, and even one of the safehouses upstate. Lucas wasn't just planning to kill you both. He was planning to destroy everything you own."I stop walking and pull Elara closer. She can hear every word through the phone."Where is he now?" I ask, voice deadly calm."Still in holding. But sir, with this much evidence of premeditated mass violence, we need to move fast. If word gets out before we can secure everything...""Secure it. Now. I want that storage unit emptied and every piece of evidence catalogued within the hour." I'm already thinking ten steps ahead. "And Macklin? I want Lucas moved. Not to Rikers. Somewhere more... permanent.""Sir, I can arrange
ELARA By Monday morning, I'm deliciously sore, thoroughly marked, and more in love than I thought possible."I need to go to work," I protest weakly when Damien pulls me back into bed for the fourth time that morning."Call in sick.""I've been 'sick' throughout the weekend. People will talk.""Let them talk." He kisses down my neck. "You're the girlfriend of the CEO. You can be sick as long as you want.""That's exactly the kind of favoritism I'm trying to avoid." I push at his chest, laughing. "Come on. We both need to get back to reality eventually."He sighs dramatically. "Fine. But tonight, you're mine again.""Tonight and every night." I kiss him softly. "Forever.""Forever," he agrees. "I like the sound of that."We finally make it to the office by ten, and the knowing looks from the staff are worth the embarrassment. Let them gossip. Let them wonder. I'm happy, safe, and loved.That's all that matters.I'm settling into my desk when the office assistant appears looking concer







