Alle Kapitel von Owned by the Man I Rejected : Kapitel 11 – Kapitel 20

By the following Monday, Elena had learned two important things about Wolfe Global.The first was that nobody willingly challenged Adrian Wolfe.The second was that Ethan Cole seemed determined to challenge him whenever possible.She discovered this during the weekly executive briefing.Technically, she wasn’t supposed to be participating.She was only there to take notes and organize documents.At least, that had been Adrian’s instruction.Instead, she found herself sitting quietly at the far end of a conference room while some of the most powerful people in the company discussed investment strategies, acquisitions, and quarterly projections.The atmosphere was serious.Professional.Controlled.Then Ethan walked in.Ten minutes late.Carrying coffee.The room collectively sighed.Adrian didn’t even look surprised.“You missed the first ten minutes.”Ethan sat down comfortably.“Good morning to you too.”Several executives exchanged amused looks.Adrian’s expression remained unchange

The following week began with chaos.Which, unfortunately, wasn’t unusual at Wolfe Global.A client presentation had been moved forward.Two departments were arguing over projections.And someone had accidentally sent an incomplete report to senior management.By nine-thirty, Elena was already buried under work.She loved her job.Most days.Today was testing that love.“Coffee?”Elena looked up.Ethan stood beside her desk holding a paper cup.Again.“You know this is becoming a habit.”“Good habits should be encouraged.”She accepted the cup.“Thank you.”“You’re welcome.”Ethan remained standing there.For some reason, Elena got the feeling he wanted to say something.Instead, he simply smiled.Then walked away.Strange.Upstairs, Adrian was having an even worse morning.Three meetings back-to-back.A board member questioning a recent acquisition.An investor demanding unr

Elena spent the entire ride home thinking about Ethan’s invitation. Which was unfortunate. Because she had promised herself she wouldn’t. Yet the moment she stepped onto the subway, the conversation replayed in her mind. “I’d like to take you to dinner.” Not lunch. Not coffee. Not another casual conversation between friends. Dinner. Intentional. Personal. Different. And that difference was exactly the problem. By the time she reached her apartment building, she still didn’t have an answer. The familiar smell of dinner greeted her the moment she opened the door. “Elena!” Liam appeared from the living room. At sixteen, her younger brother had somehow become taller than she remembered every week. She narrowed her eyes. “Did you grow again?” Liam grinned. “Maybe.” “You need to stop.” “That’s not how growth works.” “It should be.” His laughter filled the apartment. A sound Elena never got tired of hearing. For a moment, the stress of the day faded. Just a little

Monday arrived far too quickly.Elena barely had time to miss the weekend before she was back at Wolfe Global, navigating emails, reports, and deadlines.The elevator doors opened onto her floor.Immediately, she knew something was wrong.Her phone was vibrating.Again.And again.And again.Three missed calls.All from Liam.Elena’s stomach tightened.Liam rarely called during school hours.She stepped into an empty corridor and called him back immediately.The call connected on the first ring.“Elena.”His voice sounded strained.“What happened?”A pause.Too long.“The tuition deadline got moved up.”Elena closed her eyes.Of course it did.“When?”“This Friday.”Her grip tightened around the phone.That wasn’t supposed to happen.She’d planned everything carefully.Budgeted.Scheduled.Calculated.The payment wasn’t due for another three weeks.Or at least

Thursday arrived with better news.Not perfect news.But better.Elena’s mother felt much stronger than she had the previous night, which immediately improved Elena’s mood.Not that anyone at Wolfe Global would have noticed.Years of responsibility had taught her how to function regardless of what was happening at home.Still, as she entered the office that morning, her steps felt lighter.And for once, she wasn’t carrying quite as much worry.“Good morning.”Maya nearly dropped her coffee.“What was that?”Elena blinked.“What was what?”“That.”Maya pointed dramatically.“The smile.”“I smile.”“Not before nine o’clock.”Elena laughed and continued toward her desk.Behind her, Maya announced,“I’m documenting this historic event.”The morning passed quickly.Meetings.Reports.Emails.The usual.Around eleven, Elena was carrying a stack of files toward the executive floor when she nearly collided with someone exiting a conference room.The files slipped.Papers scattered.And before