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Chapter Thirteen: Not a victim
Elena stood still as the assistant rattled off the details. Like she hadn't already heard about it..
"Friday night. Mr. Black is hosting a dinner at the Carlton. Press will be present. You'll be expected."
That was it. No "please," no "what would you like to wear," no offer of a stylist.
Just expected.
She nodded once. "Anything else?"
The assistant blinked. "No, ma'am."
Elena closed the door.
She stood in the silence of the penthouse for a long moment, then walked straight to her closet.
If she was going to be on display, she'd choose how.
No soft silks. No delicate pastels.
She pulled out a sharp black off the shoulder dress,simple yet classy, the kind of thing you couldn't look away from. Not flashy. Not feminine in the way they expected.
Just... unmistakable.
She paired it with the earrings. The ones he thought he'd given her.
Tonight, they'd be her armor.
---
The Carlton was dripping with money. Too much marble, too many chandeliers. Aiden looked like he belonged. Of course he belonged.
He is a freaking billionaire. Born to show off
Elena did too—but not in the way anyone expected.
She walked in alone. The photographers turned. Flashes sparked. She didn't flinch,she didn't smile and she didn't look at anyone,not the photographers,not the guests.
People stared. Whispered.
But she gave them zero attention,she would rather die than let them get to her.
Wasn't it supposed to be Isabella?
She smiled once—tight, clean, practiced. The kind of smile that says: I know what you're thinking. And I'm not here to please you.
Aiden saw her before she saw him. But he didn't come over.
He was locked in some business conversation, hand resting on the back of a chair that wasn't hers.
Fine.
Let him host.
She could stand on her own.
---
A man she didn't know slid in beside her during the second course. Smooth. Too confident.
One of the traits she hated in men,excessive confidence…
"Didn't expect to see you here," he said leaning slightly close to her
"Strange," she replied, "I was thinking the same." she lifted her champagne glass and took a small sip barely looking at the man.
He laughed like she just told an Oscar worthy joke, His eyes dropped to her collarbone. He leaned closer,and she could almost feel his breath on her face.
"You're not what I imagined," he said. "But I can see the... appeal." he looked at her like she was the last meat and he couldn't wait to get a taste
Elena's stomach turned, and she felt herself start to sweat from the inside of her,but her face didn't move.
She stepped back, just enough to break the proximity. "Excuse me."she said firmly
She didn't need to make a scene. She didn't owe anyone anything.
But then Aiden appeared. Silent. Right there.
"Is there a problem?" he asked, voice like ice wrapped in silk. And his eyes were cold and thunderous.
The man raised his hands. "Just talking." he said with a fake smile on his disgusting face
"Then talk to someone else." Aiden snapped,his jaw ticking like a time bomb as he stared the man down. " Or I'll make sure you have a problem taking got the next couple months"
The man got the message. He vanished.
Elena turned to Aiden.
"I had it under control," she said but deep down she felt relieved that he had stepped in to save the day because she didn't want to make a scene…
"I know," he replied. "I saw."
"Then why step in?"She snapped but her face didn't show any emotions.
His eyes held hers. "Because I wanted to."
She could've rolled her eyes. Could've walked away.
But instead, she said: "Next time, let me decide."
And walked back to her seat.
---
The night dragged. Wine flowed. People talked, laughed, posed. Elena didn't smile unless she meant it. Which was rare.
When it was finally over, Aiden walked her to the car. A gesture. For the cameras, maybe.
The door shut behind them. Silence.
He cleared his throat. "You didn't have to come if you didn't feel like. You didn't have to do it for me."
She didn't look at him. "I didn't do it for you."
His jaw tightened. "No?"
"No. I did it for me. I'm not here to be anyone's excuse or anyone's embarrassment. Least of all yours."
He looked at her now. Really looked.
"You think I don't see what people say?" she said. "What they assume?"
His voice was quiet. "And what do you assume?"
She turned, met his eyes full on. "I think you like control. I think you hate being out of it. And I think you don't know what to do with someone who doesn't need you." she said matter of fact.
A beat of silence.
"Do you hate me?" he asked suddenly.
It caught her off guard,and she took several seconds to recover.
"No," she said honestly. "I just don't trust you."
He looked away. "Fair."
---
Back at the penthouse, she went straight to her room. Didn't slam the door. Didn't even lock it.
She changed out of the dress. Folded it neatly. Removed the earrings and set them on the counter.
Everything deliberate. Controlled. Hers.
---
AIDEN'S POV
He poured a drink. Didn't sip it.
He kept thinking about the way she looked tonight. Unshakable. Sharp. Confident and so damned attractive in her quiet way….
She hadn't asked him for help. Hadn't played the part.
He didn't know what the hell to do with that.
She wasn't a placeholder. Wasn't a stand-in. Not anymore.
She was real. She was her
And that made her dangerous.
---
ELENA'S POV
She curled into the sheets, exhausted but not empty.
Something had shifted.
Not in him. Not really.
In her.
She didn't feel like a victim tonight. Or a fraud. Or a ghost wearing someone else's ring.
She felt… like herself. Like someone she used to know.
And that was more than enough.