My Secretary, My Weakness

Chapter 12: Choosing Sides

The silence surrounding Ayden, Elen, and Victoria Valez lasted only a few seconds. Yet somehow, it felt much longer. Long enough for nearby guests to notice. Long enough for whispers to begin. Long enough for Elen to realize exactly what kind of evening this was going to be.

Victoria's smile remained elegant. Refined. Cruel. The kind of smile perfected by people who spent years insulting others without ever sounding rude.

"How unexpected," she repeated.

Several relatives nearby exchanged knowing glances. Elen understood immediately. She wasn't being welcomed. She was being judged. And she was already failing.

Not because of anything she had done. But because of who she was. Or rather... Who she wasn't. She wasn't born into wealth. She wasn't part of an influential family. She wasn't a socialite. She wasn't someone the Valez family had chosen.

The room practically screamed those facts. Yet surprisingly, Elen remained calm. Years of independence had taught her something important. The opinions of strangers only mattered when you allowed them to.

Unfortunately...

These weren't entirely strangers. These were Ayden's family. And that made things complicated. Very complicated. Before Victoria could continue, Ayden spoke.

His voice calm. Controlled. Dangerously calm.

"Aunt Victoria."

The older woman's smile faltered slightly. She knew that tone. Most members of the family did. It was the tone Ayden used when his patience was running out.

"Elen is my guest."

The statement sounded simple. But everyone

understood the meaning behind it. Respect her. Or answer to me.

Victoria's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.Then she laughed softly. "Of course."

The tension eased. At least on the surface. But the message had already been delivered. The battle lines had been drawn. And everyone in the room knew it.

Especially Vanessa.

The evening progressed. Music filled the ballroom. Conversations resumed. Champagne flowed. Laughter echoed. From a distance, everything appeared perfectly normal. Elegant. Sophisticated. Successful.

The illusion fooled most people. Not Elen. Because she could feel the eyes following her. Watching. Observing. Evaluating. Everywhere she went. Every conversation she joined. Every moment she spent beside Ayden.

The scrutiny never disappeared.

Eventually, Ayden was pulled away by investors and relatives. Leaving Elen alone near one of the refreshment tables. Honestly? The temporary solitude felt wonderful.

Until someone approached. Again. Unfortunately.

"Elen."

She didn't need to turn around. She already recognized the voice. Vanessa. Of course. Because apparently peace remained illegal tonight.

Elen faced her calmly. "Vanessa."

The older woman smiled. Beautiful. Polished

Dangerous.

"You seem uncomfortable."

"I'll survive."

"Will you?"

The question carried an edge. A deliberate one. Vanessa glanced around the ballroom. Toward the wealthy families. The powerful executives. The influential guests.

Then back to Elen. "This world can be difficult."

Elen remained silent. Vanessa stepped closer.

Lowering her voice slightly. "You know they're judging you."

There it was. Another attack disguised as concern. Elen almost admired the consistency. Almost.

"People judge everyone."

"Not like this."

"No?"

Vanessa smiled.

"No."

For a moment, neither woman looked away. Neither backed down. Neither surrendered. The tension between them had become impossible to hide.

Then Vanessa delivered her next blow. "Ayden will eventually choose his family."

The confidence in her voice suggested certainty. As though the outcome had already been decided. As though Elen had already lost.

Unexpectedly, Elen smiled.

A small smile. But enough.

Vanessa frowned. "What?"

Elen tilted her head slightly. "You sound worried."

For the first time all evening...

Vanessa genuinely looked irritated. And that alone made the conversation worthwhile.

An hour later, guests began moving toward the main dining hall. The annual family dinner was about to begin.

And unfortunately...

That meant assigned seating. The moment Elen saw the seating arrangements, she understood the problem. Her seat was located several places away from Ayden. Surrounded entirely by members of the Valez family.

Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. Ayden noticed too. His expression darkened immediately.

"A problem?"

Elen looked at him. "A little."

His gaze shifted toward the seating chart. Then toward several relatives standing nearby. Understanding arrived instantly.

Someone had arranged this deliberately. And judging by the satisfied look on Victoria's face... He knew exactly who.

"Elen—"

"I'll be fine."

"You don't know my family."

"That sounds like a threat."

"It might be."

A reluctant laugh escaped her. Despite everything. Despite the tension. Despite the anxiety. Ayden somehow still managed to make her smile. And for reasons she couldn't explain...

That mattered.

More than it should.

The dinner began. And quickly became unbearable. At least from Elen's perspective. Questions arrived almost immediately. Not direct attacks. Not obvious insults. Those would've been easier.

Instead, the Valez family preferred subtle cruelty. The sophisticated kind. The kind wrapped in politeness.

"So where did you study, Ms. Cruz?"

"How fascinating."

"Your parents must be proud."

"How long have you worked for Ayden?"

"Only a secretary?"

"Interesting."

Every comment sounded harmless. Until you listened carefully. Until you heard the judgment hidden underneath. Until you realized every question served the same purpose. To remind her she didn't belong. To make her feel small. To make her leave.

Unfortunately for them...

Elen Cruz had spent her entire life overcoming obstacles.A few wealthy relatives weren't about to break her.

Still.

The constant pressure was exhausting. By the time dessert arrived, her patience was wearing thin. And then Victoria struck again.

The older woman smiled across the table.

"Tell me, Elen."

The entire table quieted. Waiting. Watching.

"Do you see yourself staying with the company long-term?"

The question sounded innocent. It wasn't. Everyone knew it. Elen knew it. Victoria knew it. The implication lingered heavily in the air.

Do you intend to remain in Ayden's life?

The room waited. Elen opened her mouth Before she could answer—

"No." The voice came from across the table.

Ayden.

Every head turned toward him. His expression remained calm. But his eyes had become noticeably colder.

"She's too talented."

Silence followed.

Victoria blinked. "What?"

Ayden set down his glass. Meeting his aunt's gaze directly.

"Elen is capable of far more than her current position."

The compliment stunned the room. Because Ayden rarely praised people publicly. Almost never. And certainly not like this. Several relatives exchanged looks. Others appeared uncomfortable. Vanessa looked furious.

Elen simply stared at him. Caught completely off guard.

Ayden continued. "If she chooses to leave one day, it won't be because she lacks opportunities."

The meaning behind his words was unmistakable. He wasn't merely defending her. He was acknowledging her worth. Publicly. In front of everyone.

The room felt different afterward. Quieter. Heavier.

Because for the first time...

The Valez family realized something important. Ayden wasn't tolerating Elen's presence. He was protecting it.

Later that evening, guests slowly began leaving. The formal dinner had ended. The ballroom gradually emptied.

Elen stepped outside onto one of the garden terraces. Needing air. Needing space. Needing a break from the relentless scrutiny. The cool night breeze greeted her immediately. For several moments, she simply stood there. Breathing. Thinking. Trying to process everything.

"You disappeared."

Her eyes closed briefly. Of course.

It's Ayden.

She turned. Finding him approaching. Jacket removed. Tie loosened. Looking as exhausted as she felt.

"I needed air."

"A reasonable decision."

They stood side by side. Looking out over the illuminated gardens. Neither speaking. The silence felt comfortable. Safe. A welcome change from the evening inside.

Eventually, Ayden spoke. "I'm sorry."

Elen looked at him. "For what?"

"My family."

The sincerity in his voice surprised her. Again.

"They weren't that bad."

The look he gave her immediately called out the lie. Elen sighed.

"Okay. They were a little bad."

"A little?"

"Fine."

"A lot."

"Thank you."

A faint smile appeared on his face. Then faded. "I shouldn't have brought you here."

The guilt in his voice caught her off guard. Because Ayden blamed himself. Genuinely. And somehow...

That mattered. More than she expected.

"You didn't force them to act that way."

"No."

"But you knew they would."

That made him pause. Because it was true. He had known. Maybe not to what extent. But he had known.

For several moments, neither spoke.

Then Ayden did something unexpected. Something neither of them anticipated. He reached for her hand. Not dramatically. Not possessively. Simply... Naturally.

His fingers gently closed around hers. Warm. Steady. Certain. Elen froze. Her heartbeat instantly accelerated. The world seemed to stop. Just for a second. Maybe two. Neither moved. Neither looked away.

The distance between them suddenly felt much smaller.

Dangerously smaller. Ayden's gaze remained fixed on hers.And for the first time...

There was nothing hidden there. No CEO mask. No professional distance. No excuses. Only honesty. Raw and undeniable.

"You shouldn't have been treated that way." His voice came quietly. Yet every word carried weight.

"And if anyone makes you feel unwelcome again..."

His thumb brushed lightly against her hand. Sending her heart into complete chaos.

"They answer to me."

The words settled between them. Powerful. Protective. Dangerously intimate. Elen couldn't breathe properly. Couldn't think properly. Couldn't do much of anything.

Because suddenly...

The man standing before her wasn't her CEO. Wasn't the head of Valez Corporation. Wasn't the powerful businessman feared by competitors and respected by executives.

He was simply Ayden. A man looking at her as though she mattered. As though she was worth fighting for. And that realization terrified her. Because a small part of her was beginning to want the same thing.

Unfortunately for both of them...

They weren't alone. Standing behind one of the terrace doors, hidden from view, Vanessa Laurent watched everything. The hand-holding. The way Ayden looked at Elen. The way Elen looked back. And for the first time since returning...

Vanessa understood the truth. She had already lost Ayden. The problem wasn't winning him back anymore. The problem was destroying whatever existed between him and Elen before it became impossible to break. Slowly, her expression hardened. The jealousy she had hidden for weeks finally surfaced. Cold. Sharp. Dangerous.

Because if she couldn't have Ayden Adrian Valez...

Then she would make sure no one else could either. And as the night continued around them, none of them realized just how far Vanessa was willing to go.

The real war was only beginning.