The Secrets Between Us

Elaine's POV The heart pounded against my chest as we pulled up to the towering skyscraper. Kade Enterprises. My stomach twisted. Five years. Five years since I had last seen him. Five years since I had fled Neville with a broken heart, pain and a secret growing inside me. And now, here I was. Back. I stared at the large story building and sighed, gathering courage. I hated the fact that I was here. I hated the fact that I was forced to leave the peaceful life I had created in Vermont . Hated the fact that I had to see the man who almost ruined me. "Mum, is this where you used to work?" Noah’s small voice snapped me out of my thoughts. His wide, curious eyes blue as the ocean stared up at me, and my chest tightened. He looked just like him. So much like him. "No, my love," I said, bending down to smooth his dark hair. "This is… new." The elevator ride to the top floor felt like an eternity. Every second, my pulse hammered louder. What if he is not even here? What if he is? The doors slid open. And then there he was. Nathan Kade. The man I once loved loved. He stood outside the elevator with his crisp suit and slicked back hair looking every bit like the CEO he now is. His blue eyes held mine and I had to stop myself from plucking those eyes out. I hated him. I always will. "Ms. Carter," a polished woman in a tailored suit interrupted, "welcome. We’re pleased you could join us today." I forced a smile, gripping Noah’s hand tighter. "Thank you." Nathan didn’t speak. Just stared. His gaze moved to Noah, then back to me, a muscle ticking in his jaw. The woman's eyes also moved to Noah and her eyes widened in surprise. I wasn't surprised. Even a blind person could see the obvious resemblance. The assistant immediately recovered and led us all to a room going on and on about the company, but I barely heard her. All I could focus on was the way Nathan’s fingers flexed at his sides, the way his nostrils flared like he was holding back a storm. Just as we got into the board room to have the meeting Noah tugged on my sleeve. "Mum, who is that man? His eyes are as blue as mine" Nathan’s back tensed and the woman immediately stopped talking. I swallowed hard. "No one important, baby. A lot of people in the world have blue eyes. He is not that important”. The anger I was hiding finally rose to the surface. Nathan turned to us with a dark smile on his lips. "Is that so?" His voice was soft but wrapped in steel. The assistant stiffened. "Mr. Kade, perhaps we should….." "Leave us. Take the child with you" The command sent shivers down her spine. “No”, I said my voice firm, “ My son stays with me”. Nathan's eyes hardened as he moved closer to me. It's obvious nobody has stood up to him in a while and his obvious anger filled me with so much satisfaction. “We're about to have a serious discussion Elaine. I don't think it's appropriate for a child to witness it”. Silence. We both stared each other down as I went over his words. Noah pressed against my leg, sensing the tension. I bent down and I squeezed his shoulder. "Go with that nice lady, my love. Mum needs to have a talk with this man." Noah looked at me then at Nathan and nodded. I kissed him on the cheek and handed him over to the waiting employee, who led Noah out with promises of cookies. The door closed. And then he struck. In two strides, faster than I could realise it Nathan had me pinned against the wall, his hands caging my hips. “Get away from me!” "You kept him from me," he growled. I shoved against his chest trying to push him away. "You left. You abandoned me without any explanation and left. I don't regret what I did." "I had no choice!" "Liar!" My voice cracked. I stopped struggling and looked at him. My gaze mirroring the same anger I saw in his. "You vanished without a word! No calls, no letters. NOTHING!" His grip tightened. "You think I wanted to go?" His breath was hot against my lips. "You think I didn’t ache for you? You know me. You know I would never have left without a reason." I laughed bitterly. "You have a very funny way of showing it, Mr Kade." His eyes, usually light blue, changed to a darker blue and his features darkened. I noticed this alot while we were together and always wondered why it happened. A shiver ran through my spine. His gaze dropped to my mouth then back to looking in my eyes. You're so stubborn Elaine. So stubborn." “I hate you and I would give anything to never have to see you again” Hurt mixed with anger flashed in his eyes and before I could say anything else his lips crashed onto mine. I felt instant fire in my veins. Five years of anger, betrayal, and want exploded between us. His kiss was punishing, possessive, a claim. My body reacted and before I could lose myself I summoned all the strength I had, pushed him and slapped him across the face. Hard. The sound of my palm striking Nathan’s cheek echoed through the boardroom. His head snapped to the side, a red mark blooming across his perfect, arrogant face. For a heartbeat, neither of us moved. Then his tongue swiped the corner of his mouth, and when his eyes met mine again, they burned with something dangerous. Not anger. No regret. Hunger. His eyes were darker as stared at me. "You always did fight dirty, sweetheart," he murmured, coming closer again. His blue eyes tracking the way my chest heaved. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, my lips still tingling from his kiss. "Touch me again, and I'll do worse." Nathan smirked, stepping back to straighten his tie. He was about to say something else and then the door burst open. Noah stood frozen in the doorway, cookie crumbs dusting his shirt. His wide blue eyes, Nathan's eyes, darted between my flushed face and the angry red handprint on Nathan's cheek. The assistant appeared behind him, a look of terror in her eyes. "Mr. Kade, I tried to…….." "Leave. We're in the middle of something important" Nathan's voice could have frozen hell. The woman hurried away, pulling a confused Noah with her. My heart beat faster as the door clicked shut. Nathan came close again, his expensive cologne mixing with the scent of my anger. "You'll pay for that slap, Elaine." I backed away toward the conference table. "Stay away from me." He laughed, the sound dark and smooth. "Still fighting? Even now? When I'm trying to help you?" His gaze dropped to my lips, still swollen from his kiss. "You're supposed to be happy I'm helping you." I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. It wasn't even up to an hour in his presence and I already felt like I was losing it “Where's the contract? I want to sign it” Nathan immediately grabbed them from the centre of the table and tossed them to me. His eyes were watching me intently. I reached for a pen in my purse and I signed them. I already knew what it was about. I had no strength to read them again. I stood up and opened the door to leave. I already felt suffocated in his presence. I wondered how I would cope with the requirements of the contract. “We are going to have an amazing time together, Elaine. I can't wait to see you again.” I paused my hand already on the door knob and looked at him with disgust in my eyes. "Go to hell, Nathan."