Chapter 2-Better cards to play

COLE

As soon as the door shut behind Xander, I turned towards the sofa where Elena was hiding and sat down.

If my brother and Elena had broken up, why had he asked her to wait in my room last night? And why was she hiding from him as though she'd done something terrible?

“You can come out now. He's gone,” I called, settling onto the sofa.

She cautiously lifted her head, but the embarrassment I'd seen earlier had been replaced by something else. She looked like she was struggling to hold herself together.

Could she still be in love with Xander?

“Are you still in love with my brother?” I asked.

She straightened, clutching her shoes. “What do you mean by that?”

I stretched my legs out, watching her face.

“He's getting married in a few days. Whatever you two have going on, it's probably time to let it go.”

A bitter look crossed her face before confusion took over.

“I don't believe we're talking about the same Xander,” she said slowly. “We were still together yesterday, and he almost proposed to me before…”

Her voice trailed off.

Well, well. She was finally putting the pieces together.

“Looks like you're beginning to understand. He had his fiancée over yesterday”

She let out a small gasp, but no tears followed. Instead, she stared into nothing, as though she couldn't quite process what she'd heard.

I couldn't decide whether to admire her composure or wonder how badly my brother had hurt her.

Either way, my interest in her hadn't disappeared with the sunrise.

“My offer still stands, by the way.” I spread my arms in an exaggerated gesture. “If you need someone to help you get over him, I'm available.”

She didn't even look at me.

I chuckled. I wasn't used to being ignored, especially by a woman I'd spent the night with, but Elena seemed far too preoccupied to appreciate my charms.

Before I could try again, a knock sounded at the door.

My amusement vanished.

I knew that knock.

Dad.

What the hell was he doing here this early?

My gaze darted towards Elena. The last thing I needed was for him to find her in my room and start drawing conclusions.

“You need to hide,” I said, moving towards her.

She frowned and pulled away when I tried to steer her towards the closet.

“Why should I?”

“Because it's my dad, and he can't find you here.”

“It's your dad, so?” Her voice sharpened. “I don't care who sees me anymore.”

I barely had time to respond before the door swung open.

Dad stood in the doorway, his gaze moving from me to Elena. I stepped away from her with an awkward chuckle, but the disappointment on his face told me I'd already lost whatever argument I hadn't even started.

“Good morning, Dad.”

“Good morning, Mr Maddox,” Elena greeted politely.

He ignored both of us.

The silence was uncomfortable enough, but Dad's expression made it worse. He'd clearly drawn his own conclusions, and I doubted anything I said would change his mind.

Elena shifted beside me before stepping forward.

“I'll take my leave now. Goodbye, sir.”

She gave him a slight bow and walked out. Dad watched until she disappeared into the hallway, then turned to me.

“Dad, I can explain…”

“Cole, we had an agreement.”

I swallowed the rest of my words.

“Stop sleeping around, and I'll consider giving you a position in the company. That was the deal.”

“I tried,” I protested. “I've stayed away from women for two months.”

“And now you've broken that agreement.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. I'd worked hard to keep my promise, but I had walked in on Elena in my room last night, and one thing had led to another.

I wasn't going to pretend I regretted every second of it, but I knew Dad wouldn't care about my excuses.

“So, what now?” I asked. “Are you taking me out of the company?”

He chuckled, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

“Why would I do that when I have better cards to play?”

I narrowed my eyes. That expression never meant anything good for me.

“Then what's my punishment?”

“You'll find out when we get back. Get dressed. We're leaving for the meeting in thirty minutes.”

He turned towards the door, then paused with his hand on the handle.

“Don't keep me waiting.”

The warning in his otherwise casual voice was unmistakable.

I watched him leave, wondering what he had planned this time.

Knowing Dad, whatever he had in mind wasn't going to be as simple as a punishment.