Chapter Seven: The man they didn't warn her about. Isla POV

Isla pov

“Yes. How can I help you?” Vivienne ended the call and looked straight at me.

“I was coming to see you about something,” I said, shifting on my feet. “But I think I picked the wrong time.”

“Apparently.” Her eyes didn’t leave my face. “What is it?”

“It can wait.”

“Come with me.” She turned and walked into her office. I followed and closed the door behind us.

I was beginning to understand why even the staff moved carefully around her. She didn’t need to raise her voice. A single look was enough.

And I had just walked into something I didn’t fully understand. Something dangerous. One wrong step could ruin everything… not just for me, but for Naomi too.

“Sit.”

I took the chair across from her.

Vivienne settled behind her desk and studied me.

“I don’t like people snooping around my business, Miss Virelli.” She raised an eyebrow. “Now tell me. What were you looking for?”

I tried to find the right words, but nothing came to mind.

“Well?” Her fingers tapped lightly against the desk. “I’m waiting.”

Before I could answer, Lilia stepped into the office.

“Mrs. Hargrove, the arrangements have been made.”

Vivienne nodded, but Lilia leaned closer and whispered something into her ear. Whatever she said made Vivienne’s mouth press into a thin line.

“Leave us.”

Lilia nodded and quietly walked out.

Vivienne turned back to me. “What were you doing at the art studio?”

“I didn’t mean to break anything,” I said. “I was only looking at the paintings.”

“Since when do you care about paintings?”

“The door was open. I wasn’t looking for anything.”

“You still had no business going inside.”

I lowered my eyes. “I’m sorry.”

Vivienne leaned back in her chair. “I don’t like repeating myself. There are things in this family that do not concern you. When I decide you need to know something, I will tell you.”

“But the photograph…”

“No.” Her tone hardened. “It’s not your concern.”

She leaned forward slightly.

“Do not put yourself in situations that have nothing to do with you. And stay out of rooms you’re not supposed to be in. Am I clear?”

“I understand.”

She didn’t look away. “One more thing. I don’t want you coming to my office unless I specifically ask for you.”

“What if I need help?”

“You have Lilia.”

“You’re the only person who knows why I’m really here.”

Vivienne’s eyes locked with mine. “That is exactly why you should listen to me.”

I swallowed.

“Am I clear?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” She stood and picked up a folder from the desk. “Matthew will be waiting downstairs tomorrow. You’re going with Elias to the company’s charity program. Keep him engaged. It will be good for him while he recovers.”

I left without another word.

But as I walked back to my room, the photograph wouldn’t leave my mind.

That man.

Who was he?

And why was Vivienne so determined to keep him away?

—————————————————————————————

The charity event was held at an orphanage outside the city.

The moment we arrived, the sound of children’s laughter carried across the property. Elias changed almost instantly. His face eased as he looked at the children. He crouched down to speak with them instead of standing over them. One little boy grabbed his hand and pulled him toward a group playing with a ball.

“Come on.”

Elias laughed. “Alright, alright. I’m coming.”

A smile pulled at my mouth before I could stop it. For a short while, I forgot about the lies, Vivienne, and everything waiting back at the estate. He looked genuinely happy.

A man in a white suit approached us.

“Mr. Hargrove. Hello. I’m Gabriel Maslow, the executive handling the charity proposal.”

Elias shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“I believe Mrs. Hargrove has already spoken to you about the program?”

“She mentioned something,” Elias replied.

Maslow gestured toward the building. “We should go inside and discuss the next stage then.”

“Celeste.” Elias took my hand without hesitation. “Let's go.”

We followed Maslow into a small office. His assistant had already opened the laptop and stepped outside.

Maslow pulled out a chair for me. “We want to expand the program and bring more attention to it.”

Elias frowned. “Attention from who?”

“The public. The company as well.”

“How?”

“With you and Miss Celeste being involved.”

I looked at Maslow. “Why us?”

Maslow hesitated. “Given everything that’s happened recently, it would help improve the company’s public image.”

“So this is about publicity?” I asked.

“Partly.”

Elias’s face went still. “And the children?”

“They benefit from the program.”

“That wasn’t my question.”

Maslow glanced at his laptop. “It’s a partnership. The company benefits from supporting the community.”

Elias shook his head. “No.”

“Mr. Hargrove…”

“These children aren’t a marketing campaign.” His tone was calm, leaving no space for debate. “If the company wants to support this place, then support it properly. Education. Food. Medical care. Whatever they actually need.”

Maslow pressed his lips together. “I’ll have to discuss that with the board.”

“You should.” Elias leaned back. “And make sure they understand I’m not putting my name behind something that uses children to repair the company’s reputation.”

Maslow nodded stiffly. “I understand.” He signaled to his assistant, gathered his things, and left.

“I didn’t expect that from you,” I said.

Elias glanced at me. “I wasn’t going to let them use those children for the company’s image.”

“Good.” I gave him a small smile. “They needed someone to stand up for them.”

He looked at me for a moment. “I don’t use people to make myself look good. Especially not children.”

Something about the way he said it stayed with me.

I had met many rich men before. Most of them took whatever they wanted without thinking twice. Elias was different. And that made the lie feel heavier with every hour I spent in it.

“Should we go?” he asked.

I nodded.

Before we left, Elias stopped to speak with the children again. He promised to send gifts and told the staff he would make sure the orphanage received the support it actually needed. I watched him wave goodbye, and for the first time I wondered what it would feel like to know the real him… without having to pretend to be someone else.

—————————————————————————————

We arrived back at the estate and I knew something was wrong the moment we stepped inside.

“Elias.” Vivienne’s voice stopped him before he had taken two steps.

He turned. “Mother.”

“I heard you changed the charity proposal.”

“I did.”

“Without consulting me?”

“I didn’t need to.”

Vivienne’s eyes sharpened. “You had no right.”

Elias stepped forward. “The children aren’t there to clean up the company’s problems.”

“You’re being reckless.”

“I don’t have time for this, Mother. Those are children.”

Vivienne let out a short, bitter laugh. “You’ve always been stubborn.”

“And you’ve always cared more about the company’s image than this family you pretend to worry about.”

“I shouldn't have let you handle this.” Her eyes shifted to me. “And you? I expected more from you.”

My shoulders tensed.

“Mother.” Elias stepped slightly in front of me. “Leave her out of this.”

Vivienne opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, the front door opened.

We all turned.

Dark hair. Sharp features. A perfectly tailored black shirt and trousers.

I knew that face. From the photograph. From the portrait. It was the same man.

He stepped further into the room. His grey eyes moved slowly across everyone. First Elias, then Vivienne, then me.

Vivienne’s phone slipped from her hand and hit the floor.

Behind him, Lilia appeared carrying a tray. The moment she saw him, it slipped from her hands and everything in it shattered against the floor.

Silence filled the room.

His eyes found Elias again. Nothing moved on his face. He looked completely unbothered. Then the corner of his mouth curved into a faint smile.

“Hello, brother.”