Chapter Three - The Man I Love
4973 Words
Alexander Blackwood was still in his office when Elena arrived.
The building was quieter than it had been during the day.
Most of the lights were off.
The receptionist looked surprised to see her.
“Can I help you?”
“I need to see Alexander Blackwood.”
“Do you have an appointment?”
“No.”
The receptionist hesitated.
“Mr. Blackwood is still working, but...”
“Please tell him Elena Marlowe is here.”
The woman studied her for a moment.
Then picked up the phone.
Elena stood there, trying not to change her mind.
She could still leave.
She could turn around.
Walk outside.
Take a cab home.
Pretend she had never come here.
But then she remembered Daniel.
His tired face.
His trembling voice.
Don't make any decisions because of me.
She closed her eyes.
She had already made the decision.
She just hadn't admitted it to herself yet.
The receptionist put down the phone.
“Mr. Blackwood will see you.”
Elena nodded.
The elevator doors opened.
She stepped inside.
As the elevator carried her upward, she stared at her reflection in the mirrored wall.
She looked exhausted.
Her eyes were red.
Her hair was slightly messy.
She was still wearing her work clothes.
She looked nothing like the kind of woman Alexander Blackwood would want as his wife.
The thought made her almost laugh.
Then the elevator doors opened.
She stepped out.
Alexander's office door was open.
He was standing near the windows with his back to her.
He turned when he heard her footsteps.
His eyes immediately moved over her face.
Then he looked at the time.
“It is late.”
“I know.”
“What are you doing here?”
Elena remained near the doorway.
For a moment, she couldn't speak.
Alexander watched her.
He didn't come closer.
He didn't ask whether she had changed her mind.
He simply waited.
That made it harder.
“I want to talk about your offer.”
His expression did not change.
“Which offer?”
She looked at him.
“Don't do that.”
“Do what?”
“Pretend you don't know what I'm talking about.”
Alexander walked toward his desk.
“Sit down.”
Elena didn't move.
“I didn't come here to sit down.”
“Then why did you come?”
She stared at him.
She hated him.
She hated his calmness.
She hated his confidence.
She hated the fact that he knew exactly what he was doing.
And she hated the fact that she was standing in his office because of him.
“Is the offer still available?”
Alexander's eyes rested on her.
For the first time, something shifted in his expression.
“Yes.”
Elena looked away.
Her throat felt tight.
“And my brother?”
“If you become my wife, he will be released.”
“Immediately?”
“After the necessary legal procedures.”
She looked at him.
“You make it sound so simple.”
“It is.”
“No, it isn't.”
Alexander remained silent.
Elena's hands curled into fists.
“I want to know exactly what you're asking for.”
“Marriage.”
“I know that.”
“Then what else is there to know?”
She stared at him.
“Everything.”
Alexander studied her.
Elena took a breath.
“I want to know what you expect from me.”
His expression remained unreadable.
“You will be my wife.”
“That doesn't answer my question.”
“It answers it perfectly.”
“No, it doesn't.”
She took a step closer.
“Are you expecting me to love you?”
“No.”
The answer came too quickly.
Elena blinked.
Alexander continued.
“This is a business arrangement.”
She laughed bitterly.
“Right.”
“You will have your own room.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“That is comforting.”
“You will not be forced to do anything you do not want to do.”
Elena stared at him.
“Then why marry me?”
Alexander said nothing.
She watched him carefully.
For the first time, she wondered whether there was more to his offer than he had told her.
But she pushed the thought away.
It didn't matter.
She didn't care why he wanted to marry her.
She cared about Daniel.
“How long?”
“One year.”
Her eyebrows rose.
“One year?”
“After that, we can decide what happens next.”
She looked down.
One year.
She could survive one year.
Couldn't she?
One year of pretending.
One year of being Alexander Blackwood's wife.
One year of living beside a man she hated.
One year in exchange for Daniel's freedom.
She thought about her brother again.
She thought about the way he had looked at her.
The fear in his eyes.
The things he refused to say.
She closed her eyes.
“Fine.”
Alexander remained still.
“What?”
Elena opened her eyes.
“I'll marry you.”
The room became silent.
She could hear the faint sound of the air conditioner.
Alexander looked at her.
“You're sure?”
“No.”
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“But I'll do it.”
“Why?”
Elena laughed bitterly.
“You know why.”
“I want to hear you say it.”
She stared at him.
“I will marry you if you get my brother out of prison.”
Alexander studied her for several seconds.
Then he extended his hand.
“Then we have a deal.”
Elena looked at his hand.
She hated it.
She hated the entire situation.
But she reached out.
Their hands met.
His grip was firm.
Her own hand was cold.
Alexander's eyes remained fixed on hers.
And Elena knew, with a certainty that frightened her, that the moment she shook his hand, her life had changed.
She pulled her hand away.
“Don't mistake this for anything else.”
“I won't.”
“I don't love you.”
“I know.”
“I have a boyfriend.”
Alexander's jaw tightened slightly.
But his expression remained calm.
“I know.”
Elena frowned.
“How?”
He said nothing.
The answer unsettled her.
She looked away.
“I will not leave Noah because of you.”
Alexander's eyes hardened.
“That is not part of the agreement.”
“Good.”
“And neither is love.”
“Good.”
She turned toward the door.
“Elena.”
She stopped.
“When will you tell your boyfriend?”
She slowly turned around.
“That is none of your business.”
Alexander's expression was unreadable.
“You're right.”
She stared at him.
Then walked out.
The moment the elevator doors closed behind her, Elena leaned against the wall.
Her eyes filled with tears.
She had done it.
She had agreed to marry Alexander Blackwood.
The man she hated.
The man who had put her brother in prison.
The man who had bought her freedom at the price of her own.
She pulled out her phone.
Noah's name appeared on the screen.
Her thumb hovered over it.
She couldn't call him.
Not yet.
How was she supposed to tell the man she loved that she had agreed to marry someone else?
The elevator reached the ground floor.
The doors opened.
Elena stepped out.
Outside, the city was still awake.
People were laughing.
Cars were moving.
Lights shone from buildings.
Life continued.
But Elena felt as though she had just stepped into a completely different one.
She walked toward the road to find a cab.
Behind her, high above the city, Alexander Blackwood stood alone in his office.
He looked down at the document on his desk.
The marriage agreement.
Then he looked toward the door Elena had just walked through.
For the first time, he wondered whether he had made the right decision.
The thought lasted only a moment.
Then he pushed it away.
He had wanted this.
He had made the offer.
And Elena had accepted.
The rest would be simple.
At least, that was what he believed.
Outside, Elena climbed into a cab.
She gave the driver her address.
Then she turned toward the window.
She didn't know that the marriage she had just agreed to would soon become the beginning of a war.
She didn't know that the man she had just promised to marry would not be the only man who wanted her.
And she certainly didn't know that the day she finally walked down the aisle would end nothing like the way she imagined.
For now, all Elena knew was that she had traded her freedom for her brother's.
And she had no idea what the price would eventually become.
The moment the cab stopped in front of her apartment, Elena paid the driver and stepped out.
She stood outside for what felt like forever, staring at the building.
She had lived there with Daniel for years.
It was small.
The paint on the walls was beginning to fade.
The pipes made strange noises at night.
The kitchen sink leaked whenever someone turned on the tap too quickly.
It wasn't perfect.
But it was home.
Daniel had been there when she had received her first job.
He had been there when she had come home crying after losing one.
He had been there when she had fallen in love with Noah.
He had been there through everything.
And now, he was in prison.
Elena entered the building.
She climbed the stairs slowly.
By the time she reached her apartment, she was exhausted.
She unlocked the door and stepped inside.
The apartment was dark.
She didn't turn on the lights.
She dropped her bag on the couch and stood in the middle of the room.
The silence was almost unbearable.
Daniel's shoes were still near the entrance.
A jacket hung over the back of one of the chairs.
A cup sat in the sink.
Elena stared at it.
She had been meaning to wash it.
She hadn't gotten around to it.
Now she couldn't bring herself to move.
She walked into the kitchen and picked it up.
Daniel had used it the morning before he was arrested.
She remembered him standing there, half-asleep, complaining that she had finished the last of the bread.
She had laughed at him.
She had promised to buy more on her way home.
She never did.
The cup slipped slightly in her hand.
Elena quickly placed it on the counter.
Then she covered her face.
She couldn't cry again.
She had cried enough.
Her phone began ringing.
Noah.
She stared at the screen.
The ringing stopped.
A few seconds later, it started again.
Elena picked up.
“Hello?”
“Hey.”
His voice immediately softened something inside her.
“Hey.”
“You're home?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
She sat down on the kitchen chair.
Noah was quiet.
Elena knew he was waiting for her to say something.
She didn't.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“No.”
The answer escaped before she could stop it.
Noah sighed.
“Do you want me to come over?”
Elena closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
The word was barely audible.
“I'll be there.”
The call ended.
Elena stared at the phone.
She had no idea how she was going to tell him.
She had no idea how to look at him and say that she had agreed to marry another man.
The man she loved.
The man who had always been there.
The man she had once imagined growing old with.
She placed the phone on the table.
Then immediately picked it up again.
She wanted to call him back.
She wanted to tell him not to come.
But before she could do that, there was a knock on the door.
Elena froze.
She knew it was Noah.
She had given him a key months ago.
But he had probably left it at the café.
She walked to the door.
For a moment, her hand rested on the handle.
Then she opened it.
Noah stood outside.
He was wearing a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
His hair was slightly messy.
He looked tired too.
But the moment his eyes landed on her concern filled his face.
“What happened?”
Elena looked away.
“Nothing.”
Noah frowned.
“You called me and said you weren't okay.”
“I know.”
“So, what happened?”
“Can I just...”
She stopped.
“What?”
She didn't know how to finish the sentence.
Noah stepped inside.
“Come here.”
She looked at him.
He opened his arms.
Elena walked into them.
The moment he held her, she broke.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
She simply pressed her face against his chest and began to cry.
Noah wrapped his arms around her.
“Hey.”
She shook her head.
“I'm sorry.”
“For what?”
“I don't know.”
“You don't have to apologize for crying.”
“I know.”
He held her tighter.
They stayed that way for several minutes.
Noah didn't ask questions.
He didn't try to stop her.
He simply let her cry.
When Elena finally pulled away, she wiped her face.
“I look terrible.”
“You do.”
She stared at him.
He smiled slightly.
“Sorry.”
She laughed weakly.
The sound disappeared almost immediately.
Noah noticed.
“Come on.”
He led her to the couch.
Elena sat down.
He went to the kitchen.
“Do you have anything to eat?”
“No.”
He opened the refrigerator.
“Of course you don't.”
“Noah.”
“What?”
“Don't.”
He looked at her.
“I'm not doing anything.”
“You're about to start.”
He pulled out a bottle of water and handed it to her.
“Drink.”
She took it.
“Thank you.”
He sat beside her.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
The silence between them felt different tonight.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Noah looked at her.
“Did something happen at the prison?”
Elena's fingers tightened around the bottle.
She looked down.
“Daniel was worse today.”
Noah's expression changed.
“What do you mean?”
“He looked tired.”
“He's in prison.”
“I know.”
“Did someone hurt him?”
“He said no.”
“But you don't believe him?”
Elena hesitated.
“I don't know.”
Noah watched her.
“What happened?”
“He told me not to do anything stupid.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don't know.”
“Did he explain?”
“No.”
Elena looked away.
“He's hiding something.”
Noah was silent.
“I know he is,” she continued. “I asked him what happened. I asked him if someone was threatening him. I asked him if someone had hurt him.”
“And?”
“He said no.”
“Then what is he hiding?”
“I don't know.”
She ran a hand through her hair.
“He looked scared, Noah.”
“Scared of what?”
“I don't know.”
Noah leaned back.
“Maybe he really did steal from the company.”
Elena looked at him.
His expression immediately softened.
“I didn't mean…”
“Don't.”
“Elena.”
“I don't want to hear it.”
“I'm not accusing him.”
“But you think he did it.”
“I don't know what to think.”
She stood up.
“Neither do I.”
Noah watched her walk across the room.
She stopped near the window.
Outside, the city was quiet.
“What did you do after you left the prison?” he asked.
Elena said nothing.
Noah's eyes narrowed slightly.
“Elena.”
She closed her eyes.
“I went to see Alexander.”
The silence behind her was immediate.
She didn't turn around.
Noah didn't say anything.
For several seconds, she heard nothing but the sound of her own breathing.
Then he spoke.
“Why?”
Elena swallowed.
“I went to talk to him.”
“About what?”
She turned around.
Noah was standing now.
His expression had changed.
“About Daniel.”
“What did he say?”
Elena looked at him.
She had imagined this moment so many times in the cab.
She had imagined it in Alexander's office.
She had imagined it while standing outside the prison.
But now that it was happening, she couldn't find the words.
Noah took a step closer.
“Elena.”
“I agreed to marry him.”
The words fell between them.
Noah stared at her.
For a moment, he didn't react.
Then he laughed.
It wasn't a happy laugh.
It was the kind of laugh that came when someone heard something so unbelievable that their mind refused to accept it.
“What?”
Elena looked down.
“I agreed to marry Alexander.”
Noah stared at her.
“You're joking.”
“No.”
“No.”
His head moved from side to side.
“No, you didn't.”
“I did.”
“Elena.”
“I did.”
He stepped away from her.
“Why?”
“To get Daniel out.”
Noah looked at her.
“Alexander offered you a marriage arrangement?”
“Yes.”
“And you said yes?”
“Yes.”
His expression changed.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“I was going to.”
“When?”
“I don't know.”
“You came home and called me.”
“I know.”
“And you were going to let me come here without telling me?”
“I didn't know how to tell you.”
Noah laughed again.
“Elena, you could have started with ‘I have something to tell you.’”
“It's not that easy.”
“No, it isn't.”
He turned away from her.
Elena felt her chest tighten.
“Noah.”
“Did you even think about this?”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“I don't know.”
“An hour?”
“More than that.”
“A day?”
She didn't answer.
Noah turned back to her.
“You met with him tonight and agreed to marry him?”
“Yes.”
His eyes were full of disbelief.
“Do you love him?”
Elena's expression changed.
“No. Why would you even ask that?”
“Does he love you?”
“I don't know. Your questions are becoming a bit annoying, Noah. I barely know the man”
“Then why are you marrying him?” He asked yet again. Calmly. He was too calm.
“I told you.”
“To save Daniel.”
“Noah, what else am I supposed to do?”
“Find another way. There has to be another way”
“I have been trying to find another way!”
“Then try harder!”
The words echoed through the room.
Elena stared at him.
Noah immediately looked regretful.
But she had already heard it.
“You think I haven't tried?”
“I didn't say that.”
“You think I want to marry him?”
“No.”
“You think I'm happy about this?”
“No.”
“Then what do you want from me?”
Noah's face tightened.
“I want you to stop acting like this is the only thing you can do.”
“Because you have a better idea?”
He remained silent.
Elena laughed bitterly.
“That's what I thought.”
“I can help you.”
“How?”
“I don't know yet.”
“Exactly.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
She wiped the tears that had begun to fill her eyes.
“You don't know what it's like to watch someone you love sit in prison.”
Noah stared at her.
“You think I don't know that?”
“You don't.”
“My father spent six months in prison.”
Elena froze.
Noah looked away.
She had heard him mention his father before.
But he had never told her that.
“What?”
“He was arrested for something he didn't do.”
Elena stared at him.
“What happened?”
“He was eventually released.”
“Eventually?”
“Six months later.”
She took a step closer.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because it was a long time ago.”
“Noah.”
He rubbed his face.
“My father worked for a construction company. The owner disappeared after stealing money from the company. He left behind a mess and blamed several people for it.”
“What happened to your father?”
“He was one of the people blamed.”
Elena said nothing.
“He lost everything,” Noah continued. “His job. His reputation. His friends. Everything.”
“Was he innocent?”
“Yes.”
“How did he get out?”
“Someone eventually found evidence.”
“Then why can't we find evidence for Daniel?”
“I don't know.”
Noah looked at her.
“But I know what it feels like to watch someone you love be treated like a criminal.”
Elena's eyes filled with tears.
“Then you understand why I have to do this.”
“No.”
She frowned.
“No?”
“I understand why you're desperate.”
He stepped closer.
“But I don't understand why you think you have to sell your entire life to Alexander Blackwood.”
Elena's face fell.
“I am not selling my life.”
“Aren't you?”
“No.”
“You're marrying a man you hate.”
“He offered to release Daniel.”
“And you think that makes it okay?”
“No.”
“Then what makes it okay?”
Elena had no answer.
She looked away.
Noah's voice softened.
“Look at me.”
She didn't.
“Elena.”
She looked at him.
“I love you.”
Her heart broke.
He took her hands.
“I love you. You know I do.”
She nodded.
“I know.”
“Then how can you stand there and tell me you're going to marry another man?”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I don't want to.”
“But you're going to.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he is my brother.”
Noah closed his eyes.
Elena pulled her hands away.
“I can't just sit and do nothing.”
“Then let me help you.”
“How?”
“I don't know yet.”
“Exactly.”
“Then give me time.”
She shook her head.
“I don't have time.”
“Why?”
“Because Alexander has already started the process.”
Noah looked at her.
“What process?”
“The marriage agreement.”
“You signed something?”
“Not yet.”
“Then you haven't married him.”
“I agreed.”
“An agreement isn't a marriage.”
“He expects me to sign.”
“Then don't.”
Elena stared at him.
“Are you listening to me?”
“Yes.”
“Then you know why I can't do that.”
“No. I know why you think you can't.”
She shook her head.
“You're not understanding.”
“No, Elena. You are the one who isn't understanding.”
His voice was becoming emotional now.
“Once you marry him, everything changes.”
“I know.”
“You'll live with him.”
“I know.”
“You'll become his wife.”
“I know.”
“You'll be tied to him.”
“I know!”
She shouted the last words.
Then the room became silent.
Elena covered her face.
“I know,” she whispered.
Noah looked at her.
She was crying again.
“I know what I'm doing.”
“No, you don't.”
“I have to.”
“No.”
“I have to!”
She looked at him.
“He's my brother!”
Noah didn't respond.
Elena's voice broke.
“Daniel is the only family I have left.”
Noah's expression softened.
“I know.”
“And I can't leave him there.”
“I know.”
“He looked so scared.”
Noah said nothing.
“He was hiding something. I know he was. And he still told me not to do anything because of him.”
She wiped her face.
“How am I supposed to go home and sleep after seeing him like that?”
Noah looked down.
Elena walked toward him.
“I know you think I'm making a mistake.”
“You are.”
She laughed through her tears.
“Thank you.”
“But I also know why you're doing it.”
She stared at him.
Noah took her hands again.
“And I hate that I can't stop you.”
Her lips trembled.
“I don't want you to hate me.”
“I don't.”
“You will.”
“I won't.”
“You might.”
“No.”
She looked into his eyes.
“I love you.”
Noah pulled her into his arms.
She held him tightly.
For a few moments, neither of them said anything.
Then he whispered against her hair.
“Don't do this.”
Elena closed her eyes.
“I'm sorry.”
“Don't apologize.”
“I don't know what else to say.”
“Then don't say anything.”
She held him tighter.
The truth was simple.
She loved Noah.
She loved him so much that the thought of hurting him made her feel sick.
But Daniel was her brother.
And he was suffering.
She couldn't choose one without hurting the other.
For the first time, Elena understood that sometimes there were no good choices.
Sometimes, there were only choices that hurt less than others.
Noah eventually left close to midnight.
He stood at the door, staring at her.
“I'm not giving up.”
Elena looked at him.
“On what?”
“On you.”
Her heart ached.
“Noah.”
“I mean it.”
“Don't make this harder.”
“I'm not trying to.”
“You are.”
“I know.”
She looked away.
He stepped closer.
“Whatever happens, I'm here.”
Elena nodded.
“Okay.”
“And I'm going to find another way to help Daniel.”
“Noah.”
“I don't care what you say.”
She almost smiled.
“You're stubborn.”
“So are you.”
He kissed her forehead.
Then he left.
Elena stood at the door long after he was gone.
She could still feel his arms around her.
She could still hear his voice.
I'm not giving up on you.
She closed the door.
Then leaned against it.
The apartment was quiet again.
But this time, the silence felt different.
She walked to the table and picked up her phone.
There was a new email.
From Blackwood International.
Her heart began beating faster.
She opened it.
Marriage Agreement
Elena stared at the words.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
She opened the attachment.
The document was long.
Too long.
She scrolled through it.
The terms were clear.
The marriage would last one year.
Alexander would arrange for Daniel's release according to the legal procedures surrounding his case.
She would live in his residence after the wedding.
They would maintain a public appearance as husband and wife.
Neither of them was required to love the other.
There were other conditions.
Privacy.
Public appearances.
The separation of personal and financial matters.
Elena read through everything.
Then she reached the final page.
There was a space for her signature.
She stared at it.
Her phone vibrated again.
A message from Noah.
I love you.
Elena closed her eyes.
A tear rolled down her cheek.
She loved him too.
That was what made this so painful.
She typed a response.
I love you too.
She stared at the words.
Then sent them.
A few seconds later, another message arrived.
Then don't marry him.
Elena's heart broke.
She didn't reply.
Instead, she returned to the agreement.
Her finger hovered over the signature box.
She thought of Daniel.
His tired eyes.
His pale face.
His voice telling her not to make any decisions because of him.
She thought of Noah.
His arms around her.
His voice telling her he loved her.
Then she thought of Alexander.
His cold eyes.
His calm voice.
His offer.
Marry me and I'll let your brother go.
Elena took a deep breath.
Then she signed.
The moment she did, a strange calm settled over her.
She stared at her signature.
It was only ink.
Just a few letters.
But somehow, it felt like she had signed away something much bigger.
Her freedom.
Her future.
Perhaps even her heart.
She closed the document.
Then placed her phone on the table.
For a long time, she sat in the quiet apartment.
She didn't know what the future held.
She didn't know what Alexander expected from her.
She didn't know how long she could survive living beside a man she hated.
She didn't know whether Noah would still be there when it was all over.
But she knew one thing.
She had made her choice.
And there was no turning back.
- Writer
