Episode.6: Unwanted encounter
1840 Words
Elena’s heart skipped the moment she saw Sophia Langford standing at the door of the conference room.
Sophia looked exactly as she had the night before—elegant, confident, and effortlessly beautiful. Her long dark hair rested neatly on her shoulders, and the expensive designer dress she wore made it obvious she belonged to a world Elena had never been part of.
Sophia’s sharp gaze moved from Elena to Adrian Knight.
“Adrian,” she said smoothly, stepping into the room. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Adrian’s expression didn’t change.
“Sophia.”
His voice was calm and unreadable.
Elena suddenly felt like an outsider in a conversation she didn’t belong to.
Sophia crossed her arms lightly, her eyes lingering on Elena for a second longer than necessary.
“So this is where you’ve been hiding,” she said casually.
Adrian leaned back in his chair.
“I’m not hiding.”
Sophia smiled faintly.
“Of course not.”
Then she turned fully to Elena.
“And you must be…?”
“Elena Carter,” Elena replied politely.
“The editor for Mr. Knight’s book.”
Sophia studied her for a moment, as if measuring her worth.
Something about that look made Elena uncomfortable.
“Oh,” Sophia said softly.
“You’re the girl from the restaurant.”
Elena stiffened.
Adrian’s gaze sharpened slightly.
Sophia tilted her head, pretending to look sympathetic.
“That must have been a difficult night for you.”
Her words sounded kind, but the tone behind them wasn’t.
Elena forced herself to remain calm.
“I’m fine.”
Sophia’s lips curved.
“That’s good to hear.”
Then she turned toward Adrian again.
“I actually came to discuss something with you.”
Adrian didn’t move.
“Business?”
“Of course.”
Elena closed the manuscript slowly.
“I can step out if—”
“No,” Adrian said immediately.
Both women looked at him.
“You can stay.”
Sophia’s eyes narrowed slightly, but her smile remained.
“Well… since she’s already here.”
She walked closer to the table.
“The Langford Group is planning a partnership with Whitmore Enterprises.”
The name Whitmore made Elena’s stomach twist.
Sophia continued smoothly.
“It’s going to be a very important business alliance.”
Adrian’s voice was quiet.
“I’m aware.”
Sophia leaned lightly against the table.
“And since your company is competing in the same market… I thought it would be wise to inform you.”
The tension in the room became almost visible.
Elena realized something.
This wasn’t just business.
This was a warning.
Adrian’s expression remained calm.
“I appreciate the information.”
Sophia smiled again.
“But there’s another reason I came.”
Her eyes shifted to Elena.
“My fiancé will be arriving soon.”
Elena’s breath caught.
Daniel.
Sophia continued.
“He mentioned that his ex-girlfriend works at this company.”
Her gaze held Elena’s.
“I didn’t expect it to be you.”
The silence that followed felt heavy.
Adrian finally spoke.
“And what exactly is the problem?”
Sophia shrugged slightly.
“No problem.”
Her smile looked almost playful.
“I just find it fascinating.”
Elena slowly stood.
“I think I should return to work.”
Adrian’s eyes briefly met hers.
“You can take the manuscript with you.”
She nodded quickly.
“Thank you.”
As she walked past Sophia, she could feel Sophia’s gaze following her.
When Elena finally stepped out of the conference room, she released the breath she had been holding.
Her hands were trembling.
She hurried back to her desk.
Lila immediately rolled her chair closer.
“What happened in there?” she whispered.
Elena dropped into her chair.
“Sophia Langford just walked in.”
Lila nearly choked.
“You’re joking.”
“I wish I was.”
Before Elena could explain further, the office doors opened again.
Her entire body froze.
Daniel Whitmore walked in.
He looked exactly the same as always—well-dressed, confident, and charming.
But the moment his eyes landed on Elena, his confident expression cracked.
“Elena.”
Her chest tightened.
The office suddenly felt too small.
Too quiet.
Daniel walked toward her slowly.
“I’ve been trying to reach you all day.”
Elena stood up, her voice firm.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
His face softened.
“Please… just let me explain.”
Lila immediately stood up beside Elena.
“I think she made herself clear.”
Daniel ignored her.
“Elena, it’s not what you think.”
She laughed bitterly.
“You’re engaged, Daniel.”
“That engagement means nothing.”
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
“You’re unbelievable.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“I still love you.”
Before Elena could respond, a calm voice interrupted from behind them.
“I suggest you stop talking.”
Everyone turned.
Adrian Knight stood a few steps away.
His expression was colder than Elena had ever seen.
And his eyes were locked directly on Daniel.
“You’ve already said enough.”
Daniel turned slowly toward the voice.
The moment his eyes landed on Adrian Knight, the tension in the room shifted.
Recognition flashed across Daniel’s face.
“Adrian Knight,” he said, forcing a polite smile. “I didn’t realize you were here.”
Adrian didn’t return the smile.
“I was here first.”
The calmness in his voice somehow made the moment even more uncomfortable.
Daniel glanced between Adrian and Elena.
“You two know each other?”
Elena quickly answered before Adrian could.
“He’s a client.”
Adrian’s gaze briefly shifted to her, but he said nothing.
Daniel nodded slowly, though suspicion lingered in his eyes.
“Well, this is a personal matter between Elena and me.”
Adrian crossed his arms.
“It stopped being personal the moment you created a scene in her workplace.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“I’m not creating a scene.”
Lila muttered under her breath, “You already did.”
Daniel ignored her and focused on Elena again.
“Elena, please. Just five minutes.”
She felt everyone in the office watching them.
Her coworkers pretended to work, but it was obvious they were listening.
Elena hated being the center of attention.
“Daniel,” she said quietly, “there’s nothing to talk about.”
“There is,” he insisted.
“You saw something out of context.”
Her patience snapped.
“Out of context?” she repeated, her voice rising slightly.
“I saw you proposing to another woman!”
Daniel ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
“That engagement isn’t real.”
Elena laughed bitterly.
“Of course it’s real. She was wearing the ring.”
“It’s a business arrangement.”
The words hung in the air.
Elena stared at him, stunned.
“You’re marrying someone for business?”
Daniel lowered his voice.
“You know how important the Whitmore company is to my family. This partnership with the Langfords will double our influence.”
Elena felt as if someone had punched her in the chest.
“So you’re trading your life for power.”
Daniel stepped closer, desperation creeping into his voice.
“It doesn’t mean anything emotionally.”
Her eyes burned.
“But you meant something to me.”
For a moment, Daniel looked genuinely regretful.
“I still love you.”
Before Elena could respond, Adrian spoke again.
“And yet you’re marrying someone else.”
Daniel turned sharply.
“That’s none of your concern.”
Adrian’s expression hardened.
“It becomes my concern when you continue hurting someone who clearly wants nothing to do with you.”
Daniel laughed coldly.
“You barely know her.”
Adrian didn’t look away.
“I know enough.”
The tension between the two men was now impossible to ignore.
Elena felt trapped in the middle.
“Both of you, stop,” she said firmly.
Daniel looked at her again.
“Elena, please. Just give me a chance to explain everything.”
Her voice became quieter but stronger.
“You already did.”
He froze.
“You explained when you chose Sophia,” she continued.
Daniel opened his mouth to argue, but no words came out.
Elena took a deep breath.
“I trusted you for three years.”
Her voice trembled slightly despite her effort to stay calm.
“I believed everything you said.”
Daniel’s expression softened again.
“I never wanted to hurt you.”
“But you did.”
Silence filled the office.
For a moment, Daniel simply stood there, looking at her as if trying to memorize her face.
Then his expression changed.
Determination replaced regret.
“This isn’t over,” he said quietly.
“Elena, you belong with me.”
Adrian’s eyes darkened instantly.
Elena felt anger rise in her chest.
“I don’t belong to anyone.”
Daniel looked like he wanted to argue again, but just then the conference room door opened.
Sophia Langford stepped out.
Her eyes moved from Daniel to Elena… and then to Adrian.
A slow smile appeared on her face.
“Well,” she said smoothly.
“This is quite the reunion.”
Daniel walked toward her immediately.
“Sophia.”
She slipped her arm through his as if the entire scene had been perfectly normal.
But her eyes never left Elena.
“I see you’ve already found each other,” she said calmly.
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
“We were just talking.”
Sophia’s gaze flickered briefly to Adrian.
“I’m sure.”
Then she turned back to Elena.
“You should be careful.”
Elena frowned slightly.
“What do you mean?”
Sophia’s smile widened just a little.
“Some men are more dangerous than they appear.”
Her eyes briefly moved to Adrian before returning to Elena.
Then she leaned closer to Daniel.
“We should go.”
Daniel hesitated for a second, his eyes lingering on Elena.
But eventually he followed Sophia toward the exit.
Just before leaving, he turned once more.
“Elena,” he said quietly.
“I’m not giving up.”
Then he walked out.
The office remained silent for several seconds after the door closed.
Lila finally exhaled loudly.
“Well… that was dramatic.”
Elena sank slowly into her chair, exhausted.
Adrian stepped closer to her desk.
His voice softened slightly.
“Are you alright?”
She nodded, though she wasn’t sure it was true.
“I will be.”
Adrian studied her for a moment.
Then he said something that made her look up in surprise.
“If he bothers you again… tell me.”
Elena blinked.
“And what exactly would you do?”
Adrian’s expression became unreadable again.
“Handle it.”
For the first time since the chaos started, Elena felt something strange.
Safety.
But she had no idea that being close to Adrian Knight would soon pull her into a world far more complicated than she could imagine.
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