BETWEEN LOVE AND LIES

Chapter 11: Jealous

Adrian arrived at the office, his expression unreadable. As he walked through the halls, employees scrambled out of his way, sensing that their boss was in no mood for distractions.

Elena, already at her desk, watched as he strode past without even glancing in her direction.

Before she could dwell on it, the sound of heels clicking against the marble floors drew her attention. Isabelle walked in, looking effortlessly elegant in a fitted beige dress that accentuated her slender frame. Her posture was poised, her expression composed as she made her way toward Adrian’s office with the confidence of someone who belonged there.

Elena clenched her jaw. Why is she here?

A knowing murmur spread among the employees as they watched Isabelle move past them like royalty reclaiming her throne.

Sarah approached Elena’s desk, leaning down slightly. “I swear, if she starts acting like she owns the place, I might throw something.”

Elena exhaled sharply. “You and me both.”

Sarah’s eyes flickered toward Adrian’s door, which was now closing behind Isabelle. “You think she’s here for business or something more?”

Elena scoffed. “We both know the answer to that.”

Inside his office, Adrian leaned back in his chair as Isabelle took a seat across from him. She crossed her legs, offering him a soft, hesitant smile.

“I didn’t think you’d be happy to see me,” she admitted.

He rested his elbows on his desk, lacing his fingers together. “Yet, you came anyway.”

She tilted her head. “Because I need to talk to you.”

“I thought we were done talking last night,” he said coolly.

Isabelle lowered her gaze, letting out a small sigh. “Adrian… I know I hurt you. But I meant what I said. I want to make things right between us.”

His expression remained unreadable. “And what exactly does that mean?”

She hesitated before whispering, “I want a second chance.”

His jaw tightened. “Isabelle”

“Just think about it,” she cut in before he could shut her down completely. “That’s all I’m asking.”

Adrian studied her for a long moment before finally exhaling. “I don’t have time for this right now.”

Isabelle gave him a small, almost sad smile. “Then I’ll wait.”

She stood gracefully, offering one last lingering look before turning and walking out.

The moment she stepped back into the main office, all eyes were on her. She ignored them, keeping her posture perfect as she walked past Elena’s desk.

Elena met her gaze, refusing to look away. For a brief second, Isabelle’s pleasant smile faltered, replaced by something sharp something victorious.

The black luxury car rolled through the towering iron gates of the Montgomery estate, a place Adrian rarely visited unless necessary. The long driveway was lined with immaculately trimmed hedges and gardens, an image of controlled perfection that never quite reflected the reality inside.

As the car came to a smooth stop in front of the grand entrance, Adrian adjusted his cuffs, his expression unreadable. He stepped out without a word, his polished shoes clicking against the stone pavement as he walked toward the doors.

The butler, Richard, was already waiting, holding the door open.

“Your mother is in the sitting room, sir,” Richard said with a slight bow.

Adrian nodded and stepped inside. The familiar scent of fresh flowers and aged wood greeted him, a stark contrast to the tension that always seemed to linger in this house.

Victoria Montgomery sat gracefully in the sitting room, her silk blouse crisp, her manicured fingers resting lightly on the porcelain teacup in her hand. She didn’t look up immediately, taking a slow sip before finally acknowledging his presence.

“Adrian,” she greeted smoothly. “You’re late.”

He sat across from her, crossing one leg over the other. “I didn’t realize I was expected.”

Victoria smirked faintly. “With you, expectations are implied.”

Adrian remained silent, waiting.

“She came to see me,” Victoria finally said, placing her teacup down.

He didn’t ask who. He already knew.

“She says she wants to fix things.”

Adrian exhaled slowly, leaning back against the chair. Isabelle’s words meant nothing to him. She never did anything without reason.

“She didn’t come alone,” his mother added, watching his face carefully.

Adrian’s fingers tapped lightly against the armrest. “Lucas?”

Victoria nodded. “He’s not just here as her brother. You know that, don’t you?”

Adrian’s jaw tightened slightly. He had dealt with people like Lucas before—those who smiled in public while sharpening their knives in private. If Isabelle was aligning herself with him, it wasn’t just about rekindling the past.

Victoria picked up her teacup again. “Be careful, Adrian. She isn’t the same girl you once knew.”

Adrian gave a small, humorless smile. “Neither am I.”

Victoria’s gaze sharpened slightly before she spoke again, her voice calm but deliberate.

“And neither is the woman currently in your life.”

Adrian didn’t react, but he knew exactly who she was referring to.

“I have work to do,” he said, rising to his feet.

Victoria didn’t stop him, but as he turned to leave, she called out one last time.

“Be sure you know what you want before it’s too late.”

Adrian didn’t answer.

As he stepped outside, Marcus had the car door open, waiting. Adrian slid inside, staring out the window as the mansion grew smaller in the distance.

After a moment, he finally spoke. “Did you find out what I asked?”

Marcus gave a firm nod. “Yes, sir.”

Adrian’s gaze darkened. “Good. Let’s go.”

The car pulled away from the Montgomery estate, leaving behind more questions than answers.

The ride back to Adrian’s penthouse was quiet, the only sound coming from the faint hum of the engine. He stared out the window, his thoughts tangled between his mother’s words and the reality he already knew—Isabelle’s return wasn’t a coincidence, and Lucas wasn’t here just as a brother.

By the time they arrived, Adrian stepped out without a word. Marcus followed, his usual unreadable expression in place as he held the door open.

“Head home for the night,” Adrian ordered.

Marcus gave a curt nod and drove off.

Inside, the penthouse was dark, illuminated only by the city lights streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Adrian loosened his tie and poured himself a drink, but before he could take a sip, his phone buzzed.

Sarah: We need to talk. Now.

He exhaled sharply and placed the glass down. He had told Sarah to keep him informed about Elena’s movements—not because he wanted to control her, but because he knew the people circling around her were dangerous.

Another message followed immediately.

Sarah: It’s about Elena.

Adrian’s grip on his phone tightened. He was already dialing before he could second-guess himself.

She picked up on the first ring. “Finally,” Sarah said.

“What is it?” Adrian asked, his tone flat.

There was a pause before Sarah spoke, her voice more serious than usual.

“She’s meeting Lucas tomorrow.”

The air in the room felt colder. Adrian’s jaw clenched. “Where?”

“A restaurant downtown.”

Adrian didn’t respond right away. Lucas of all people reaching out to Elena wasn’t something he took lightly.

“She doesn’t know who he really is, does she?” he asked.

“No,” Sarah confirmed. “But I think he’s about to make sure she does.”

Adrian’s eyes darkened. “I’ll handle it.”

Before Sarah could say anything else, he ended the call.

He downed the whiskey in one go, his mind already calculating his next move.

The next day, Elena checked her reflection in the mirror one last time before grabbing her purse. She had agreed to meet Lucas for dinner, and though it wasn’t a date, she still wanted to look good.

She arrived at the restaurant a little early and found a cozy table near the window. A few minutes later, Lucas walked in, looking effortlessly confident in a navy-blue button-down and dark jeans.

“Hope I didn’t keep you waiting,” he said as he took his seat across from her.

“Not at all,” Elena replied, offering him a small smile.

Their conversation flowed easily, touching on work, hobbies, and random topics. Lucas was charming and easygoing, making her feel comfortable in a way she hadn’t expected.

Meanwhile, across the city, Adrian sat in his car, staring at his phone. He had told Sarah to keep him updated on Elena’s whereabouts, but he hadn’t expected the message he just received.

They are having dinner.

Adrian’s grip tightened on his phone as he exhaled sharply. He didn’t like this—he didn’t like this at all.

Adrian sat in the backseat of his car, his fingers drumming against the leather armrest. Marcus glanced at him through the rearview mirror but said nothing. He knew better than to speak unless spoken to.

Adrian exhaled sharply, forcing himself to look away from his phone. He didn’t need to keep checking it—he already knew where Elena was. With him.

Lucas.

Adrian leaned his head back against the seat, his jaw tightening. He had told Sarah to keep him informed, but now that he had the information, he wasn’t sure what to do with it.

He had no right to be upset.

And yet, he was.

“Where to, sir?” Marcus finally asked, breaking the silence.

Adrian hesitated for a fraction of a second before answering. “Home.”

At the restaurant, Elena laughed at something Lucas said, shaking her head in amusement. The dinner was going well—better than she had expected.

“You’re not like most people I’ve met in the corporate world,” Lucas remarked, taking a sip of his wine. “You actually seem… real.”

Elena arched a brow. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“It is,” Lucas assured her with a smirk.

She smiled, but as the evening went on, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. A strange tension lingered at the back of her mind, like the ghost of someone watching.

“I have to say,” Lucas started, a teasing smile on his lips, “I wasn’t sure if you’d actually show up.”

Elena arched a brow. “And why’s that?”

He shrugged. “Something tells me you’re the type to second-guess things, especially when it involves having fun.”

She scoffed playfully. “That’s not true.”

Lucas leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “So you don’t spend most of your time buried in work, avoiding anything remotely enjoyable?”

Elena opened her mouth to argue, then paused. Okay, maybe he had a point.

“Fine,” she admitted, taking a sip of her coffee. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to have fun.”

Lucas smirked. “Then prove it. Let’s make tonight interesting.”

Elena narrowed her eyes. “And how do you suggest we do that?”

Lucas pulled out his phone and waved it slightly. “Let’s play a little game. We each get to pick one thing the other has to do before the night ends. No backing out.”

Elena laughed. “That sounds like a terrible idea.”

“Which is exactly why we should do it.”

After a moment of hesitation, she sighed. “Alright, fine. But nothing crazy.”

Lucas grinned. “No promises.”

A few hours later, they found themselves in a small jazz lounge, the atmosphere cozy and intimate. Elena had no idea how they ended up there, but she wasn’t complaining. The soft hum of live music filled the air, and she found herself relaxing more than she had in weeks.

Lucas, on the other hand, was clearly enjoying himself. He turned to her with an amused expression. “Okay, Elena. Here’s your challenge.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Should I be worried?”

He chuckled. “Sing a verse from any song. Right here. Right now.”

Her eyes widened. “Absolutely not.”

Lucas leaned back, arms crossed. “A deal’s a deal.”

Elena groaned, but the playful glint in his eyes made it impossible to refuse. She took a deep breath, then softly sang a few lines from a song she loved.

As she finished, Lucas clapped dramatically, earning a few amused glances from other patrons.

“See?” he said. “Told you this would be fun.”

Elena rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. “Alright, your turn.”

Lucas smirked. “I’m ready.”

She thought for a moment, then grinned mischievously. “You have to compliment a stranger in the cheesiest way possible.”

Lucas didn’t even flinch. He turned to the nearest person a middle-aged man sipping his drink and said with complete seriousness, “Sir, I just have to say, your choice in whiskey is impeccable. You have the aura of a man who has lived through great adventures.”

The man chuckled, clearly entertained. “I like this guy.”

Elena burst into laughter. “That was so ridiculous.”

Lucas shrugged. “Ridiculously charming, you mean.”

By the time the night ended, Elena felt lighter than she had in a long time.

Lucas walked her to her car, hands in his pockets. “So, did I pass? Was tonight fun?”

Elena smiled. “Yeah, it was.”

Lucas smirked. “Good. Because I plan on winning our next challenge.”

She shook her head, getting into her car. As she drove off, she couldn’t help but think maybe letting herself enjoy the moment wasn’t so bad after all.