His collateral

Chapter 21

"Have some water." Sara said, handing Elena a glass.

"Thank you." Elena whispered, lifting it to her lips and draining it in one go. Her hands trembled as she handed it back and curled onto her side, eyes closing slowly.

Sara pulled the sheets up to cover her properly. "You'll be fine." She said, patting Elena's head softly.

Elena nodded weakly. A gentle knock came at the door and she heard Sara move to answer it.

"Lu." Sara said softly. The door clicked open.

More footsteps entered the room. Elena opened her eyes partially. Her heart skipped at the sight of Lucien stepping in with James trailing close behind.

She shut them quickly.

"The woman has been handed over to the authorities. She'll be charged for illegal possession of arms and attempted murder." James reported.

The footsteps approached the bed. From the heaviness of them she knew it was Lucien.

She pressed her lids tighter together. She couldn't face him. Not after what happened earlier. Not after she had broken down and cried openly in front of him.

His footsteps stopped a few metres from the bed.

"Does she need to see a doctor?" His voice carried a quiet note of concern she hadn't expected.

The bed dipped slightly. "I think she's fine. Just a bit shaken. She fell asleep not long ago." Sara answered, gently stroking Elena's hair. "It's such a pity she had to go through something so traumatic. What about her ex-husband? Any news on him? I wonder what kind of man would put a woman he claimed to love through something like this."

"He's currently on vacation on a private island."

Elena's fist clenched slowly beneath the covers.

"An island?" Sara's voice rose. "Having the time of his life while Elena suffers the consequences of his actions?" She paused. "Lu, you don't accept human collaterals anymore. Why did you agree to his offer?"

Silence fell over the room. Elena listened closely, waiting. Seconds passed with no answer. She opened her eyes slightly.

Her gaze moved from below, tracing upward. He was seated in the chair across the room, legs crossed, arms spread across the armrests like he owned the space entirely. When her eyes finally reached his face they met his gaze directly, staring straight back at her.

Elena shut her eyes immediately, biting the inside of her lip.

She had been caught.

How many more times would she embarrass herself today?

"He had nothing else of value to offer." Lucien finally answered. "Besides, she willingly agreed to stay."

Elena's teeth sank harder into her inner lip, resisting every urge to open her eyes and defend herself.

"That wasn't what she told me. She said you brought her here against her will."

A small smile tugged at Elena's lips before she could stop it. Sara would always have her back.

Lucien chuckled lightly. "You're taking her word over mine, Sara?"

Elena's brows furrowed beneath her closed lids. He was playing the big brother card.

"No, Lu." Sara's voice faltered. "It's just—" She paused. "Elena couldn't possibly be lying, could she?"

"So I'm the liar."

"No. No, that's not what I meant. What I'm trying to say is that Elena is a sincere person—"

"Ah. So I'm the insincere one."

Sara exhaled loudly. "Stop twisting my words, Lu. You know I would never say that. Elena is sincere and kind and lovely—"

"You've only known her for a few weeks." He cut her off. "What makes you so certain she's a good person? She only ended up in that situation tonight because she tried to escape. She lied about going to the restroom. You're too soft, Sara."

"I wonder who I learned that from." Sara countered immediately.

Lucien let out a slow laugh that echoed across the room. "We both know I'm not soft hearted, Sara." He said, his voice dropping low.

"Then why did you save her?" Sara pressed, not relenting, her weight shifting on the bed. "You could have let her handle it herself. She tried to defy you after all."

Lucien drew in a sharp audible breath. "Because she's worth two billion. How am I supposed to recover my money if she's dead?" He paused. "It's purely business, Sara. Don't read meaning into it."

Elena's chest tightened. So that was it. Business. For a brief moment she had begun to see him differently. A man with something resembling compassion buried beneath all that darkness.

She had been wrong.

The tension in the room was thick and suffocating, heavy enough to feel even with her eyes closed.

"Boss, I'd like to step out." James said, breaking the silence. "The hotel management has asked me to come move the car."

Anyone could tell it was simply an excuse to leave.

"Go ahead. You can retire to your room from there. We set off for the estate early in the morning." Lucien replied calmly.

"Yes, Boss." James answered. His footsteps crossed the room and the door clicked open.

"Wait for me, James." Sara said, the bed lifting as she stood. "I'll come with you."

"Why? Don't tell me you're upset already." Lucien stopped her.

"I'm not." She answered in a voice that carried something quieter than anger. "I lost one of my earrings on the drive here. I need to check the car."

"It can wait until morning."

"I have to find it tonight. I won't sleep properly if I don't." She moved toward the door.

"Leave it. I'll get you another one if you don't find it in the morning."

"Lu." She said, her voice softening. "I need some fresh air. Just let me go. And please don't leave this room until I'm back. I don't want her waking up to an empty room." The door closed behind her.

Silence settled over the room.

Elena opened her eyes slowly. Lucien had his phone pressed to his ear.

"Don't let her wander alone. Keep a guard on her from a distance." He ended the call and reached to slip the phone back into his jacket.

His gaze shifted suddenly and found hers.

She closed her eyes immediately.

"You can stop pretending to be asleep now, Mrs. Dalton."

Her eyes opened.

A slow smirk rose at the corner of his lips. "I warned you about trying to escape." He said, his voice quiet and unhurried. "Tell me. Have you learned your lesson?”