Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Heiress's Choice : Kabanata 71 - Kabanata 80

Elena's povSaturday morning traffic was light, and the city felt slower than usual, like Denver was still half asleep.I pulled into the parking lot of the old coffee shop on Fifth Street and immediately spotted Caleb’s car.Of course he was already here.Back then, he used to be early for everything. Practice, classes, games, even group projects he didn’t care about. Meanwhile, I was always the one running five minutes late with coffee in one hand and my bag half open.I parked a few spaces away and sat in the car for a second, looking at the familiar building.The sign was new, the paint was new, but the place still looked the same. Same big windows, same small patio outside, same stupid bell on the door that used to announce our arrival like we were regulars in a movie.We practically grew up here.I grabbed my bag, stepped out of the car, and walked toward the entrance. When I opened the door, the bell chimed above my head, and the smell of coffee hit me immediately.I stopped

ELENA'S POV Monday mornings were usually my reset button.New week. New deals. New problems to solve.By the time I walked into the office lobby with my coffee in hand, I was already mentally running through my schedule for the day. The Axiom deal was sitting at the top of my priority list, along with three meetings, two conference calls, and a board update I still needed to finalize.I was just stepping into my elevator when my phone buzzed in my hand. I unlocked it.Adrian: I'm in your office. Where are you?I stared at Adrian's text, my coffee cup halfway to my mouth, and felt irritation flood through me.The elevator door opened in front of me and I started walking faster, my heels clicking loudly against the marble floor. Caleb told me Adrian was the one who informed him about Damien and me and now I was going to give my brother an earful about keeping his mouth shut.I pushed through the doors to the executive floor, ignored Patricia's greeting, and walked straight into my of

ELENA'S POV London moved past the window in a blur of grey buildings and red buses as the car carried me toward Axiom headquarters.I landed about two hours ago. I barely slept on the flight. The hotel had been beautiful, the kind with crisp sheets and a view of the river, but my brain had refused to shut off long enough for me to enjoy any of it.This meeting was too important.If this deal fell apart, the Board would never let me forget it. Catherine would never let me forget it.My phone buzzed in my hand, pulling me out of my thoughts.Caleb: Knock them dead today.I stared at the message for a second longer than necessary before typing back a quick, Thanks.Then the car pulled to a stop and I looked out to see we'd arrived. The building was all glass and steel, modern and intimidating.My heels clicked against the marble floor as I stepped out of the car and walked through the lobby, my portfolio tucked under my arm.A receptionist directed me to the twentieth floor.When the

Elena's pov "Okay, so I'll just say it was a mistake, the deal was about to fall through..."I was talking to myself in my car, my hands gripping the steering wheel so tight my knuckles had gone white.I'd been rehearsing what to say to Caleb for the last twenty minutes, sitting in the parking lot of the coffee shop Caleb and I practically grew up in, talking to myself like a complete idiot.Just tell him the truth, it's simple. You went to London, you panicked, you lied, now you need his help.Easy.I got out of the car and walked toward the entrance, my heart pounding harder with each step. Maybe I should just turn around.No. I can handle this.Ugh, I wish I didn't have to drag Caleb into my corporate mess.I pushed open the door, and the bell chimed above my head as I stepped in. I glanced around then I saw him.He was sitting in our corner booth, the same one we'd sat in a million times growing up.He was wearing a simple black hoodie and joggers, his blond hair still damp li

Elena's POV Monday morning felt like the calm before a storm I had personally created and now had absolutely no idea how to stop.After spending the weekend having a mild panic attack about the whole fake dating situation, I was now at work, trying to pretend everything was normal.I was sitting in my chair, halfway through an email when Adrian appeared at my office door, leaning against the frame."So," he said, arms crossed, looking way too pleased with himself. "Anything you want to tell me?"I slowly closed my laptop and dropped my face into my hands, groaning."Please don’t start."Adrian laughed and walked into my office like he’d been waiting his whole life for this moment."Too late," he said, sitting down across from me. "I already know."I looked up at him."Know what?""About you and Caleb dating," he said, making air quotes around the word dating.My stomach dropped."How do you already know?""I'm still the CEO, Elena," he said, leaning back in the chair, "Partnership co