Chapter 3

“No!” Elara refused, yet Sebastian compelled the pen into her grip, his gaze intense.

“Fuckin sign it!”

Elara's hand trembled with the pen as she started to sign, her eyes filling with tears. It seemed to her that she was relinquishing her whole existence, her complete sense of self.

However, he wasn't providing her with an option. He wanted it all finished immediately. While signing the document, she realized that her husband she knew for three years could change just the next day.

Elara's voice was only a whisper as she handed the papers back, asking,"Are you happy now, Sebastian? Is this what you wanted?"

Sebastian didn't even bother they were people around, his voice came out cold and detached.

"What are you even saying? You’re the one who cheated on me, you should stop playing the victim card. I'm done listening to you."

He left, leaving Elara by herself in the corridor, the divorce papers gripped tightly in his hand. The audience broke apart, murmuring and whispering to each other.

When Elara looked at Selene, she noticed her stepsister ridiculing her by playfully sticking out her tongue. Elara's hands tightened into fists, her rage and pain bubbling just beneath the surface.

In the meantime, at the hotel, Malik Thorn was completing his morning ritual. He saw an ID card on the bedside table and picked it up, his gaze examining the face on the card.

His eyebrows rose as he read the name, "Elara Quinn".

Malik's expression turned thoughtful, a hint of surprise on his face. So this was the woman from last night. This was the woman whom he had fucked so roughly. He had assumed she was just a random conquest, but now he knew her name, and a lot more to know.

He remembered the way she had looked at him, the way she had responded to his touch. He had to admit, he was intrigued.

Malik's eyes narrowed, a plan forming in his mind. He had a feeling that this wasn't the last he would see of Elara Quinn.

Malik's eyes closed, a hint of a smile on his face as he recalled the events of the previous night.

He had been heading back to his room, exhausted from a long day, when he took a wrong turn and ended up in front of the wrong door. He had opened it, thinking it was his room, and stepped inside.

That was when everything changed.

The door had jammed behind him, locking him in, and he realized his mistake. As he turned to try and exit, a figure jumped onto his body, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Hey, handsome," she slurred, her voice husky and seductive. "I thought you were never going to show up."

Malik's instincts kicked in, and he held her waist, trying to stabilize her. "Whoa, easy there. Are you okay?"

She looked up at him, her eyes glassy and unfocused. "I need your help to unwind," she whispered, her voice trembling.

And then she kissed him.

Malik's mind went blank, his body responding to the touch of her lips. He tried to push her away, telling her she was drunk, but she wouldn't let go.

He carried her to the bed, trying to put some distance between them, but she pulled him back, her fingers grasping his collar.

He fell onto her, and she kissed him again, her lips hungry and desperate. "Please help me," she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Fuck me please…”

Malik's control snapped, and he kissed her back, his body taking over. She was beautiful, and the way her voice sounded in his ear was maddening.

The rest was a blur, a haze of passion and desire. He remembered the feel of her skin, the sound of her moans as he drilled his hard rocked bulge into her, but the details were fuzzy.

Malik opened his eyes, staring at Elara's ID card in his hand. So, her name was Elara. He smiled, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

While he was busy smiling, he hadn’t notice the door open again, Alex standing in the door way. He raised his head up.

“The car is ready, sir.” Alex spoke immediately Malik’s eyes set on him.

Malik nodded, his expression thoughtful, as Alex informed him about the car. "Good," he said, his voice low and smooth. "I need you to do something for me, Alex."

Alex approached him, his eyes curious but wisely kept in check. Malik played with the ID card on his hand, his gaze distant.

"Find everything you can about Elara Quinn. I want to know her address, her job, her family... everything. And get me the CCTV footage of this hotel from last night."

Alex nodded, his expression neutral. "Right away, sir." He knew better than to ask why, especially when Malik's tone was like that.

Malik nodded, his eyes narrowing as he walked past Alex, the ID card still clipped between his fingers.

Meanwhile, Elara was finishing up her day's work, her mind still reeling from the events of the morning. As she packed up her things, she realized that her ID card was missing. She must have left it out of her purse at the hotel.

Panic set in as she rushed out of the office, hailing a taxi to take her back to the hotel. She ran into the lobby, out of breath, and approached the receptionist.

"Hi, I need a favor," she said, trying to sound calm. "I was here last night and I think I left my ID card in the room. Can I get a key card to let myself in?"

The receptionist smiled sympathetically, nodding as she picked up the phone. "Of course, ma'am. Let me just check with the manager..."

She trailed off, taking a call as Elara waited, her anxiety growing with each passing second.

The receptionist led Elara to the elevator, and they rode up to the fifth floor in silence. As they stepped into the room, Elara was hit with the scent of fresh linen and a hint of cologne. The bed was made, the curtains drawn, and the room was spotless, as if no one had ever occupied it.

Elara's eyes scanned the room, taking in the tidy space. She checked the bedside table, the bathroom, and the desk, but her ID card was nowhere to be found. The receptionist hovered behind her, looking apologetic.

"Do you see it?" she asked, her voice soft.

Elara shook her head, a growing sense of unease settling in her stomach. "No, I don't. I must have left it somewhere else."

The receptionist nodded sympathetically. "I'm sorry I couldn't help. You'll probably need to go to your office to deactivate it, just in case."

Elara nodded, feeling a twinge of worry. "Yeah, I'll do that first thing tomorrow."

The receptionist bid her a good day, and Elara was left alone in the room, the silence and stillness making her feel even more uneasy.

As the evening progressed, Elara noticed herself walking back and forth in her apartment, anticipating Sebastian's return. It was 11 o'clock at night, and he was still missing. She had attempted to call him 10 times, with each call going directly to voice mail.

She attempted to dispel the feeling of discomfort, convincing herself that Sebastian was likely just occupied, or perhaps he was still working late. Yet, beneath the surface, she sensed that something was wrong.

Was this regarding today? Elara's thoughts were spiraling, her unease increasing with every moment. She was very familiar with Sebastian's routines. Whenever he felt angry or upset, he frequently sought refuge at the bar to clear his mind, drowning his troubles in a whiskey bottle.

Yet he had never, ever been out this late without returning home or at least sending a text. They had just divorced but that didn’t excuse his behavior.

Elara's instincts screamed at her to go out and find him, to make sure he was okay. She turned to leave the house, her hand on the door handle, when her phone beeped, echoing through the silence of the apartment.

She hesitated, wondering who it could be at this hour. Maybe it was Sebastian! Her forehead creased in confusion as she picked up her phone, her eyes scanning the screen.

It was a message from Selene.

Elara's curiosity piqued, she opened the message, her eyes widening as a photo loaded onto the screen.

Her heart dropped, her thoughts swirling as she absorbed the sight in front of her. Sebastian was blissfully resting on Selene's chest, his expression calm and satisfied. Selene's eyelids were shut, a gentle smile gracing her lips, as though she was enjoying the experience.

Elara's gaze shot to the notification, her sight fading for an instant.

"He's going to be with me tonight. Don't bother coming to find him."