Chapter3
1086 Words
CHAPTER THREE
Elara’s life thrived on routine.
She woke at the same time every morning, made the same quiet breakfast, and took the same route to work.
Predictability was her shield. As long as her days followed a pattern, nothing unexpected could slip through the cracks.
She liked it that way.
By the time she reached her office, the city was already awake.
Cars honked, pedestrians rushed past, and somewhere nearby, a street musician played off-key notes that echoed faintly through the glass doors.
Elara settled at her desk, slipping into familiar motions checking emails, reviewing documents, responding to inquiries.
Her coworkers greeted her warmly, unaware that the woman they laughed with over shared snacks carried a name that once echoed in boardrooms.
That life felt distant. Almost unreal.
Her mind drifted just for a moment,to Rowan.
She frowned slightly and shook her head.
No.
He was nothing. A coincidence. A stranger she had spoken to twice and would likely never see again. New York was large enough to swallow moments like that whole.
She pushed the thought aside and focused on her screen.
Her phone vibrated.
“ELIAS.”
She hesitated, then answered.
“You are alive,” she said dryly.
“That’s your greeting now?” Elias replied. “Good morning to you too, little sister.”
“I’m working.”
“I know. That’s why I’m calling. To make sure you’re not working yourself into invisibility again.”
She sighed. “I like being invisible.”
“You like pretending,” he corrected gently.
“Elias,” she said, lowering her voice. “I’m fine. Truly.”
A pause. “Father asked about you.”
Her shoulders stiffened.
“I figured.”
“He’s not angry.”
“He never is,” she replied. “He’s just disappointed quietly.”
“That’s worse,” Elias admitted.
She smiled faintly despite herself. “I’ll call him soon.”
“Soon better means soon.”
“I said soon,” she repeated.
They ended the call, and Elara exhaled slowly, pressing her fingers briefly to her temple.
Family had a way of reminding her of everything she was trying not to be.
At lunchtime, she grabbed her coat and headed out.
The café across the street was crowded,loud voices, clattering dishes, people squeezing past one another.
She joined the line, eyes on the menu, when suddenly someone bumped into her from behind.
“Hey…”
She lost her balance, and was already falling to the floors when strong arms caught her around the waist.
Her breath hitched.
“Careful,” a familiar voice said.
Elara froze.
She turned slowly.
Rowan.
Her expression hardened instantly.
“You,” she said flatly, stepping out of his grip.
His brows furrowed. “Are you okay?”
“That’s the third time,” she snapped.
He blinked. “Third?”
“Café,street and now here.” She crossed her arms. “This is starting to feel intentional.”
Realization dawned, followed quickly by concern. “Wait. No. I swear, this is a coincidence.”
“Three times is not a coincidence.”
“It is when you work nearby,” he said quickly. “I told you,I have business here.”
She scoffed. “Of course you do.”
He lowered his voice. “Elara, I’m not following you.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Yes,” he said firmly. “Because I don’t play games like that.”
She laughed sharply. “Men like you always say that.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you are used to getting what you want.”
“And what do you think I want?”
Her eyes flashed. “Control.”
“That’s unfair.”
“So it is showing up everywhere I go.”
People were beginning to glance their way. Elara didn’t care.
“You don’t even know me,” she continued. “You don’t get to decide you belong in my space.”
“I’m not deciding anything,” Rowan said, frustration edging into his voice. “I’m trying to explain.”
“I didn’t ask for an explanation.”
He took a breath, clearly reining himself in. “I’m sorry if this upset you.”
She stared at him, unmoved.
“I really am,” he added. “But I won’t apologize for existing in the same city.”
Her jaw tightened.
“Stay away from me,” she said. “Whatever this is,it ends now.”
She turned and walked out before he could respond.
The rest of the day passed in a blur.
Elara forced herself through meetings, conversations, smiles that felt unreal.
Her anger simmered beneath the surface,not just at Rowan, but at herself for reacting at all.
“Why did it matter?”,she thought to herself.
By six, the office emptied. She said her goodbyes, stepped outside, and wrapped her coat tighter around herself.
“Elara.”
She stopped.
Rowan stood a few feet away, hands visible, posture cautious.
“I’m not here to argue,” he said quickly. “I waited until you were done with work.”
She hesitated. “Why?”
“Because you deserve that much.”
Silence stretched between them.
“I don’t like coincidences,” she said finally.
“Neither do I,” he replied. “But sometimes life doesn’t ask permission.”
She studied him ,really studied him this time. He looked tired.
“I was wrong to assume,” she said quietly.
“And I should have explained better,” he answered. “We both reacted.”
“I forgive you,” she said.
He smiled faintly. “I was hoping you would.”
They walked a short distance together, talking about nothing important.
When they parted, the tension had eased and settled into something neutral.
By the time Elara reached her apartment, she was exhausted.
The door was unlocked.She remembered she firmly locked it while leaving for work in the morning.
Her heart slammed into her ribs.
Slowly, she reached for the baseball bat she kept by the umbrella stand and went in.
The kitchen light was on.
She crept forward, bat raised.
A figure stood by the stove, back to her
.
“Don’t move,” she whispered.
The figure turned and said,
“Hello, little sister.”
She swung.
The bat connected with a loud thud.
“Oof”.
That's when she heard the voice well,”It's me ,Elias “.....
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