5. Paris, and the girl who came back

Elena’s pov

"You look happy."

I smiled at Caleb across the table. We were at a cafe in Paris, tourists flowing past, and for the first time in three years, I felt like I could breathe. 

He sat tucked into the corner booth, with a baseball cap pulled low over his face. For an NFL star, it was a poor disguise but it seemed to be working because no one approached us. 

Caleb was unfairly good looking. Tall, broad shoulders, with sun kissed skin and a smile that could melt any woman. His eyes were warm brown, steady and sincere, the kind that made you forget how to breathe for a second.

He’d flown in yesterday to see me. Apparently he couldn’t wait anymore.

"I am happy," I said, smiling faintly.

"Good. You deserve to be." He reached across and squeezed my hand. "So, how’s the real world treating you?"

"The real world" meant being myself again. Elena Sterling and not Damien's invisible wife.

For two months, I'd been traveling everywhere. Paris, London, Milan. Reconnecting with who I was. I'd played piano in a small Parisian club under my real name. I'd flown Adrian's private jets. I'd even done a small film role under my original stage name that I'd abandoned back then when I married Damien.

I was remembering all the parts of myself I'd buried. Sometimes, when the nights were quiet, I still caught myself reaching for my phone. Muscle memory, not emotion. But then I’d remember that there was no one left to call, and strangely, it didn’t hurt anymore.

I was healing. Or at least it felt like I was.

"Adrian says Sterling Global is doing well without me," I said, changing the topic.

"Correction: Adrian says he's keeping your seat warm and he's terrified he'll mess something up before you come back."

I laughed. My brother had been running the company while I was gone, but we both knew I was coming back to take over. Soon.

"There's something else," Caleb said, his tone shifting. "That charity gala next week. The big one. Adrian thinks you should attend."

"As myself?"

"As yourself. Full reveal. Let everyone know Elena Sterling is back."

My heart raced. That meant going public, and that meant Damien finding out, his family finding out and everyone finding out that the woman they'd dismissed was actually...

"It's time," I said firmly.

"You're sure?"

"I'm sure. I've been hiding long enough."

Caleb's eyes softened. "For what it's worth, I think you're the bravest person I know."

"Brave? I ran away."

"No. You escaped. You chose yourself. There's a difference." He stood up, came around the table, and pulled me to my feet. "Dance with me."

"Here? In a cafe?" 

I giggled, but he only smiled and drew me closer. Before I knew it, we were swaying to the faint music in the background.

"Everywhere. I want to dance with you everywhere, Elena." His voice was deep and intense. "I've waited ten years, I can wait longer but I need you to know, I'm here. I've always been here and when you're ready, if you're ever ready, I'm not going anywhere."

My breath stopped for a while. Caleb was so sweet, patient Caleb who'd been my best friend since childhood and who'd watched me marry Damien and never said a word because he wanted me to be happy.

"Caleb…"

"You don't have to say anything, not yet. Just know that someone sees you. Really sees you and has always seen you."

He was right there, right in front of me. This beautiful man who'd never made me feel small, who'd never made me feel invisible or worthless.

But I wasn't ready. My heart was still bruised.

"I just…" I whispered. "I need some time, Caleb.”

"I'll wait," he promised. "I'm good at waiting."

---

The charity gala was in seven days. Adrian had everything planned out. The announcement, the reveal and the moment when Elena Sterling stepped back into her world.

But first, I had one more thing I had to do.

I called Adrian from my hotel room.

"I need you to do something for me."

"Anything," my brother said immediately.

"Pull all Sterling Global support from Blackwell Industries. Every contract, every single deal. I want them struggling."

"Consider it done. Anything else?"

"Invite them to the gala. Damien, his mother, his sister. Make sure they're all there."

"Elena..." Adrian's voice was worried. "Are you sure?"

"I need to see his face. I need to see their faces when they realize who I am. When they realize what they threw away."

"They'll lose their minds."

"Good. They should."

Was I being petty? Maybe. But after three years of being treated like nothing, I'd earned a little petty revenge.

"I'll send the invitations," Adrian promised. "This is going to be nuclear."

"I know." I smiled. "I'm counting on it."

After I hung up, I stood at my hotel window, looking out at Paris. Somewhere across the ocean, Damien was probably still looking for me. Or maybe he’d given up. Probably still thought I was some helpless woman who'd come crawling back.

He had no idea what was coming. 

None of them did.

My phone buzzed. Caleb.

Caleb: Want some company for the flight home?

Me: Always.

Caleb: Then it's a date. My first official date with Elena Sterling.

Me: Don't get ahead of yourself, Harding.

Caleb: Too late. Been ahead of myself for ten years.

Me: You’re impossible.

Caleb: Maybe. But you’re smiling right now, aren’t you?

I stared at the screen, biting back a grin. Damn him, he knew me too well.

Me: Maybe I am.

Caleb: Then my work here is done. For now.

I laughed, shaking my head. He was ridiculous and somehow knew exactly how to make me smile. For the first time in years, the world felt wide open again.

In five days, I'd walk into that gala on Caleb's arm. I'd be announced as the Sterling Global CEO. I'd watch Damien's world crumble.

And I'd do it all while being completely, unapologetically myself. The girl who'd hidden to be loved was gone.

Elena Sterling was back. And this time, she wasn’t leaving.