The Agent's Blood

Chapter 20

On a private jet, Julian took Elena to their destination city, where the opening party for a new branch of his company was to be held. Evander, of course, was also included.

Elena sat with Julian, but her gaze could drift to Evander, who was seated behind them.

"Have you chosen a dress, darling?" Julian asked.

Elena briefly lowered her eyes, breaking her gaze with Evander. She then turned to face Julian.

"I have," Elena replied, locking her eyes with his.

Julian frowned suspiciously and turned his head to look behind him. But the seat there was empty.

Evander was no longer there.

Julian refocused on Elena. "Do you think your bodyguard needs a new suit as well?" he remarked with a smirk, gently swirling the wine in his glass.

Elena scoffed. "Isn't the impending jet lag intoxicating enough for you, that you're already drinking wine?" she retorted, ignoring his question.

This enraged Julian, who felt ignored. In a single motion, the man lunged forward, grabbing Elena's face and clamping down on her jaw. The flight attendant, about to offer a drink, was startled and quickly retreated.

"Don't you ever ignore my questions, Elena!" he snarled, his eyes bulging with anger. "You know I can't stand it when people change the subject!" he asserted, releasing his grip. Elena cradled her jaw where the imprint of Julian's hand still throbbed.

Julian lost his appetite for his drink. He threw the glass aside, the red liquid spilling and staining the plane's cabin floor. Then he got up and went into another room.

Elena sat in silence. When she looked back again, she was stunned to see Evander standing there, having witnessed everything, his eyes sharp and his jaw hard.

Elena gave a slight shake of her head, a silent plea to calm the man who was seething with rage. She then broke eye contact and turned her gaze out the window.

***

It was still afternoon when their plane touched down on the runway. Elena and Julian took their own car, while Evander drove another that had been provided. They headed to the hotel where they would be staying. Evander had suggested they stay at a different hotel from the party venue, for security reasons.

"Yeah, whatever," Julian said. "Besides, it gives us a reason to leave early!" he chuckled, draping his arm around Elena's shoulder.

Evander nodded with a brief smile in response, while Elena turned her face away.

Evander was about to take his leave when Elena stopped him.

"I've asked my people to send a suit for you to wear to the party later. I hope it fits," Elena said with a faint smile.

Evander bowed his head and nodded, murmuring his thanks, then continued on his way.

Julian smirked as he watched Evander leave. "At least he knows his place enough to leave you here with me!" he remarked. Elena just rolled her eyes in response.

They walked towards their room. Once more, Julian glanced in the direction Evander had gone, a cunning smile forming on his lips.

***

Night fell, and the party was about to begin, waiting only for the arrival of the guests of honor, Julian and Elena.

Elena was struggling to pull up the zipper of her gown, which was located in the middle of her back. She was already prepared with beautiful makeup and hairstyling. Only this one thing was wasting her time. Julian was also nowhere to be found. Her husband had gotten ready earlier but had left the room first, claiming he was bored of waiting for Elena to get dressed.

"I had to work hard to cover the bruises on my forehead and lips, so don't be surprised it took a little time!" Elena had quipped when the man grumbled. Julian had conceded and chosen to leave the room.

Elena sighed in frustration, her arm aching. She left her room and headed for Evander's.

"Evan-" Elena stopped short as she opened the door and saw Evander getting ready, putting on the suit she had sent over a short while ago.

Her Captain looked radiant and even more charismatic in the custom Brioni suit she had ordered.

Evander seemed surprised to find Elena in his room, and even more surprised when she closed and locked the door behind her.

"Miss! What are you doing in here?!" Evander said, exasperated.

Elena just chuckled and approached him. Without a word, her hands reached up, helping to tie the bow tie at Evander's neck. The man stood still, watching her every move, until Elena looked up again, smiling at him.

"Done!" she said, satisfied.

"How did you know my size... my measurements!" Evander shook his head, realizing the ambiguity of his words. Elena, on the other hand, laughed in amusement.

"I'm a designer. I can do it with my own hands, even without a measuring tape," Elena said with a sweet wink, making Evander turn his reddening face away.

For a moment, silence filled the room. Evander stared intently at Elena's face. His hand slowly rose and touched her forehead, right above the bruise, which was now neatly concealed. It made Elena instinctively pull her head back with a wince of pain. Evander's hand froze in midair.

Without a word, Evander lowered his hand again, but his eyes blinked, turning red.

"Please don't make him angry again," Evander said softly, gently tapping Elena's forehead. "I don't want him to hurt you again!" he breathed, his eyes pleading.

"I'm fine," Elena said with a faint smile.

Evander was still silent, but the weight of his sigh was audible. Seeing how Julian had treated her on the plane had infuriated him. He couldn't imagine what had happened that night to leave such a bruise.

"I came here to ask for your help," Elena said, changing the subject, her smile brightening cheerfully.

Evander frowned. "What is it?"

Elena winked and turned around, then glanced back over her shoulder.

"Please!" she said softly.

Evander was stunned, seeing her smooth back exposed before him. The navy silk gown fit Elena's curvaceous body perfectly, and the zipper was still open all the way down, almost to her tailbone.

Elena straightened her head and let out a small laugh. Evander took a deep breath.

"You're deliberately teasing me, Miss!" Evander stated, which was met with the woman's soft laughter.

A few seconds passed. Elena thought Evander had left, but as she was about to turn, her breath caught at the touch on her skin. It was followed by a warm breath against her nape.

"If that's what you want..." Evander whispered in Elena's ear, while his fingertips traced her silken skin.

A few moments later...

Julian frowned, seeing Elena looking around in the hotel corridor. The woman's eyes lit up with delight when she saw him.

"I was looking for you!" she exclaimed, and before Julian could answer, he was stunned when his wife turned around, revealing her open back.

"What are you-"

"I can't pull it up!" Elena interrupted. Reluctantly, Julian quickly covered his wife's body and pulled up the damn zipper.

Julian snorted, but Elena immediately took his arm and started walking with him.

Elena glanced behind her, where Evander appeared and began to follow them. The woman smiled, and her hand made a small gesture. She pointed to her lips, which instantly made Evander bow his head deeply and wipe the corner of his mouth.

Cleaning away the stain of red wine.