Three Years Later
1024 Words
Three years had passed since Elena Vale disappeared.
The city had changed.
The Cross family had grown more powerful, Elena's disappearance had become an old scandal, and the wedding that never happened was now little more than a story people whispered about.
But Adrian Cross had never forgotten.
At thirty, Adrian was more successful than ever. His company had expanded across several countries, and his name appeared regularly in business magazines.
To everyone else, he had everything.
Money.
Power.
Influence.
But there was one thing he could never buy.
An answer.
Why had Elena left?
And why had she left without saying a single word?
Adrian stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows of his office, looking down at the city.
“Mr. Cross?”
He turned.
His assistant, Marcus, stood at the door holding a folder.
“What is it?”
“A report from our new acquisition.”
Adrian took the folder and opened it.
“We're finalizing the purchase tomorrow,” Marcus continued. “The company has already transferred most of its operations to the new headquarters.”
Adrian barely listened.
Then he saw the name of the company's newly appointed legal consultant.
His fingers stopped moving.
Elena Vale.
For several seconds, he simply stared at the page.
Marcus noticed his expression.
“Sir?”
Adrian slowly lifted his eyes.
“Who hired this consultant?”
“The company did. Apparently, she's highly recommended. She's been working under another firm for the last two years.”
Adrian looked back at the document.
The name couldn't be a coincidence.
Or could it?
There were many people named Elena.
But this Elena had the same surname.
And according to the photograph attached to the file, she had the same face.
Adrian closed the folder.
“Cancel tomorrow's meeting.”
Marcus frowned.
“Sir?”
“I said cancel it.”
He walked toward his desk.
Then stopped.
“No.”
His voice changed.
“Keep the meeting.”
Marcus nodded.
“Yes, sir.”
After he left, Adrian opened the folder again.
The photograph stared back at him.
A woman with dark hair, calm eyes, and an expression he knew too well.
She looked older.
More confident.
But he would recognize those eyes anywhere.
“It's impossible,” he whispered.
Three years ago, he had watched her disappear from his life.
He had spent months searching.
Then years trying to forget.
And now she had walked directly into his company.
Without warning.
Without explanation.
Without knowing that Adrian Cross was waiting.
---
Across the city, Elena sat inside a quiet café.
Her laptop was open in front of her, but she wasn't working.
She was staring at the same name on her screen.
Cross International.
Her new assignment.
She had accepted the position because it was one of the biggest opportunities of her career.
She hadn't known the company belonged to Adrian.
Not until that morning.
Elena closed her eyes.
For three years, she had built a new life.
She had changed her phone number.
Moved to another city.
Changed firms.
Avoided every place connected to the Cross family.
She had done everything possible to leave the past behind.
Yet the past had found her.
Her phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
Elena stared at it.
She didn't answer.
A message appeared.
You shouldn't have come back.
Her heart sank.
Another message followed.
He knows you're alive.
Elena immediately locked her phone.
Someone was watching her.
Again.
She looked around the café.
People were talking.
A waiter carried coffee between tables.
A couple laughed near the window.
Everything appeared normal.
But Elena knew better.
Three years earlier, she had received messages just like these.
Messages that had forced her to disappear.
She had believed the danger was finally over.
Apparently, she had been wrong.
---
The following morning, Elena arrived at Cross International.
She wore a simple black blazer and carried a folder against her chest.
The receptionist smiled.
“Good morning. Can I help you?”
“I have a meeting with Mr. Cross.”
The receptionist checked the schedule.
“Elena Vale?”
“Yes.”
“His office is on the top floor. Someone will take you up.”
Elena's stomach tightened.
She almost turned around.
Then she remembered why she had come.
She needed answers.
The elevator doors opened.
She stepped inside.
As the doors closed, Elena took a slow breath.
You can do this.
The elevator climbed.
Floor after floor.
Until it finally stopped.
The doors opened.
A man stood waiting outside.
Tall.
Impossibly calm.
Dressed in a dark suit.
Adrian.
Elena froze.
For three years, she had imagined this moment countless times.
Sometimes she imagined him angry.
Sometimes disappointed.
Sometimes indifferent.
She had never imagined him looking at her exactly the way he was now.
Like the entire world had suddenly stopped.
Neither spoke.
Adrian's eyes remained fixed on hers.
“Elena.”
Her name sounded different coming from him.
She tightened her grip on the folder.
“Mr. Cross.”
His expression hardened.
“Mr. Cross?”
Elena forced herself to remain calm.
“I'm here for the acquisition meeting.”
Adrian took one step toward her.
“You disappeared three years ago.”
Elena's heart raced.
“I know.”
“And now you're standing in my building.”
“I didn't know it was your company when I accepted the assignment.”
He studied her face.
“Do you expect me to believe that?”
Elena looked away.
Before she could answer, Adrian's phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
His expression changed.
A message had arrived.
He read it once.
Then again.
Elena noticed the sudden tension in his face.
“What is it?”
Adrian looked at her.
Then slowly turned the phone around.
There was only one sentence on the screen.
If Elena Vale is back, the truth about Daniel will come out.
Elena's face went pale.
Adrian looked at her.
“Who is Daniel?”
She couldn't answer.
Because three years ago, she had been told her brother was dead.
And now someone was threatening to reveal the truth.
End of Episode 2.
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