2
1760 Words
Elena stumbled backward as Ryan rushed toward her.
“Elena, wait!”
Tears blurred her vision as she turned away from him immediately.
“Don’t touch me!” she cried.
The pain in her voice echoed through the private lounge.
Behind Ryan, Tessa looked pale and shaken, but Elena couldn’t even bear to look at her anymore. Just the sight of them standing together made her stomach twist violently.
Ryan caught up to her just as she reached the hallway.
“Baby, please listen to me.”
She spun around sharply. “Stop calling me that!”
Several employees nearby turned toward the commotion.
Ryan lowered his voice immediately. “You’re making a scene.”
Elena laughed bitterly. “Oh, I’m making a scene?”
“Please,” he whispered desperately. “Let me explain.”
“Explain what exactly?” Tears streamed freely down her cheeks now. “How long have you been cheating on me with my best friend? Or how stupid have I been this whole time?”
Ryan’s face hardened briefly before softening again. “It wasn’t supposed to happen.”
That hurt even more.
Elena stared at him in disbelief. “You say that like it makes things better.”
“It’s complicated.”
“No,” she snapped. “It’s actually very simple. I loved you. She was my best friend. And both of you betrayed me.”
“Elena—”
“You know what hurts the most?” Tears streamed freely down her face now. “I trusted and defended both of you.”
Ryan’s expression faltered.
“When people joked that Tessa flirted too much with you, I defended her. When girls told me men like you always cheat eventually, I defended you.” Her breathing became shaky. “I trusted you.”
“Elena—”
“No.” She stepped backward. “You have absolutely nothing to explain.”
Ryan moved toward her again desperately. “Baby, please—”
“I said stop calling me that!”
The pain in her voice silenced him instantly.
She stepped backward slowly, shaking her head while fresh tears fell. “I hate you.”
Ryan looked like she had slapped him.
“Elena, don’t say that.”
“But I do.” Her voice trembled violently. “Right now, I really do.”
Then she turned and walked away before he could stop her again.
“Elena!”
She ignored him.
“ELENA!”
But she never looked back.
—
By midnight, Elena was drunk.
Very drunk.
The loud music inside the bar pounded against her head while colorful lights blurred together around the crowded room. Empty glasses sat scattered across her table.
She lifted another shot with trembling fingers.
“Miss, maybe you should slow down,” the bartender said carefully.
Elena laughed bitterly before downing the alcohol anyway.
Slow down?
Her entire life had just exploded in front of her eyes.
Across the room, couples laughed together while friends danced recklessly beneath flashing lights.
Meanwhile, Elena sat alone trying not to cry again.
“Another one,” she muttered.
The bartender hesitated but eventually poured the drink.
“Rough night?”
The deep masculine voice startled her slightly.
Elena glanced sideways.
A man stood beside her table.
He was tall and had broad shoulders.
Dark hair.
And devastatingly handsome.
He wore an expensive black suit with the sleeves rolled slightly upward, revealing strong veined hands and a silver watch that probably cost more than Elena’s yearly salary.
But it was his eyes that caught her attention most.
Cold gray.
Sharp enough to cut through anyone.
The stranger studied her calmly before speaking again.
“You’re going to knock yourself out at this rate.”
Elena scoffed. “Mind your business.”
One corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
Interesting.
Most women probably melted under that smile.
Elena only felt annoyed.
“I’m serious,” he said smoothly. “You’ve had enough.”
“And who exactly are you?” she snapped. “My father?”
“No.”
“Then leave me alone.”
The man remained completely unfazed by her attitude.
“That bad, huh?”
Elena laughed humorlessly. “You have no idea.”
His gaze lingered on her tear-stained face for a moment before he pulled out the chair opposite hers and sat down without permission.
“You found out your boyfriend was cheating.”
Elena blinked.
Then immediately glared at him. “Wow. Are you psychic?”
“You have mascara running down your face, an engagement-style relationship bracelet on your wrist, and enough anger to set this building on fire.” He shrugged casually. “Wasn’t hard to figure out.”
Something about his calmness irritated her further.
“Well done. I’m impressed.”
Elena grabbed her purse abruptly and stood.
“Well congratulations, Sherlock. You solved the mystery.” She nearly stumbled before catching herself against the table. “Now leave me alone.”
The stranger stood immediately, steadying her arm gently.
“You shouldn’t walk home alone like this.”
She jerked away from him instantly. “I said leave me alone!”
Several people nearby glanced toward them.
The man slowly lifted his hands in surrender. “Fine.”
Elena glared at him one final time before storming out of the bar.
The cold night air hit her instantly.
She wrapped her arms around herself while walking unsteadily down the dim street.
Her head spun badly from the alcohol.
Ryan’s face kept replaying in her mind.
Tessa’s hands in his hair.
Their kiss.
Their betrayal.
A painful sob escaped her throat before she could stop it.
The streets outside were darker than she expected.
The city had grown quieter now that midnight had passed.
Elena hugged herself while walking unsteadily down the sidewalk. Her heels hurt. Her makeup was ruined. Her chest still ached so badly she could barely breathe properly.
That was when headlights slowed beside her.
A black SUV rolled down the street slowly before stopping nearby.
Three men stepped out.
Elena’s stomach tightened immediately.
“Damn,” one of them whistled. “She’s gorgeous.”
Another laughed. “And drunk too.”
Fear sliced through her haze instantly.
“I’m fine,” Elena said quickly, continuing to walk.
“Hey, relax.” One of them moved directly into her path. “We’re just talking.”
The smell of alcohol hit her immediately.
Her pulse spiked painfully.
“I said I’m fine.”
“A pretty girl shouldn’t walk alone this late,” another man said while looking her up and down in a way that made her skin crawl.
Elena tried stepping around them.
One of them grabbed her arm roughly.
Panic exploded through her chest.
“Let go of me!”
“Come on, sweetheart,” the tallest one laughed. “Don’t act difficult.”
“I said LET GO!”
She tried pulling away, but his grip only tightened painfully.
Another man reached toward her face.
Elena’s heart slammed violently against her ribs.
This was bad.
Very bad.
“Please—”
“Take your hands off her.”
The cold voice cut through the darkness like a blade.
All three men turned.
So did Elena.
The stranger from the bar stood several feet away, hands in his pockets, expression unreadable.
But his eyes?
Terrifying.
One of the men scoffed. “Mind your business.”
The stranger took another step forward.
“She asked you to let go.”
Something about his tone made the atmosphere shift instantly.
Dangerous.
The thug holding Elena smirked mockingly. “Or what?”
The stranger’s face remained emotionless.
“Try me.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Tense.
Then the tallest thug released Elena with a shove. “Crazy rich asshole.”
The stranger didn’t move.
Didn’t blink.
Didn’t react.
And somehow that frightened them more.
The men cursed under their breath before finally climbing back into their SUV and driving away.
The moment they disappeared, Elena’s knees nearly gave out.
The stranger caught her before she hit the ground.
“You’re safe,” he said quietly.
That calm voice nearly broke her completely.
Elena burst into tears.
Not graceful tears.
Not soft tears.
Broken tears.
The kind that came from humiliation and heartbreak and fear colliding together at once.
The stranger stayed silent while she cried against his chest.
Then finally—
“Come on,” he murmured gently. “I’ll take you home.”
—
The drive was quiet.
Elena sat curled against the passenger seat while city lights blurred outside the windows.
“What’s your name?” she asked eventually.
“Alexander.”
“Elena.”
“I know.”
Too exhausted to question that answer, she leaned her head against the glass again.
By the time they arrived, Elena was half asleep.
But the moment she saw the enormous mansion gates opening ahead, confusion crossed her face.
“This isn’t my apartment.”
Alexander parked the car smoothly before turning toward her.
“You’re too drunk and upset to stay alone tonight.”
Elena blinked slowly.
Normally, alarm bells would have gone off immediately.
But right now?
She was exhausted.
Heartbroken.
And strangely safe around him.
Alexander led her quietly inside the mansion.
The place was breathtaking. Massive chandeliers. Marble floors. Silence so deep it almost felt unreal.
Elena swayed slightly while trying to remove her heels.
Alexander noticed immediately.
“Sit.”
She frowned weakly. “I can do it.”
“You’re barely standing.”
Too tired to argue, Elena sat at the edge of the bed in the guest room he had shown her.
Alexander crouched in front of her and gently reached for the straps of her heels.
Something about the sight hit her unexpectedly hard.
A seemingly powerful like himself man kneeling in front of her with such careful patience after the worst night of her life.
Elena stared at him silently.
Alexander glanced up. “Are you okay ?”
“Yes.”
His hands paused briefly against her ankle.
Then he continued removing her shoe carefully. “You should shower and rest. You might be very sick tomorrow.”
Elena’s chest tightened strangely.
Maybe it was the alcohol.
Maybe it was heartbreak.
Maybe it was the loneliness crushing her from the inside.
But suddenly—
She reached for him.
Alexander barely had time to react before Elena’s fingers curled into his shirt and she kissed him.
Soft.
Clumsy.
Desperate.
For one second, Alexander froze completely beneath her touch before kissing her back.
- Writer
