CHAPTER 5 — THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THEM
1698 Words
The next few weeks passed faster than either of them expected.
Adrian and Elena began seeing each other regularly.
There was no official label.
Neither asked for one.
They simply became part of each other's routines.
Good morning messages.
Late-night phone calls.
Coffee together.
Dinner after work.
Random meetings that somehow lasted for hours.
Sometimes Adrian would pick her up without telling her where they were going.
Sometimes Elena would drag him to places he had never visited.
A small bookstore.
A local art market.
A quiet café.
Once, she took him to a tiny street-food stall.
He stared at the plastic chair in front of him.
“You're serious?”
“Yes.”
“You want me to sit here?”
“Yes.”
“I have a meeting tomorrow morning.”
“And?”
“And this doesn't exactly look hygienic.”
She laughed.
“You've eaten at restaurants that cost more than this entire street.”
“That's different.”
“How?”
“They have tablecloths.”
She rolled her eyes.
“Sit down.”
He did.
Five minutes later, Adrian was eating noodles from a paper bowl.
Elena watched him.
“So?”
He took another bite.
“It's good.”
She smiled.
“You're enjoying it.”
“I am.”
“You're smiling.”
“I smile.”
“Not like this.”
He looked at her.
“Maybe you bring it out of me.”
Her smile softened.
Those moments were dangerous.
Because they were beginning to feel normal.
And normal was something Adrian had never had with anyone.
One Friday evening, Elena received an invitation to a corporate event.
Her company had been hired to provide design work for Blake International.
She almost declined when she saw the company name.
Then she remembered Adrian.
She smiled.
Maybe she could surprise him.
When she arrived at the hotel, she immediately realized this wasn't a simple business event.
There were journalists.
Investors.
Executives.
Celebrities.
Everyone seemed to know everyone.
Elena adjusted her dress nervously.
She looked around.
Then she saw him.
Adrian stood near the center of the ballroom.
He was wearing a black suit.
He looked completely at home.
Powerful.
Confident.
Untouchable.
Then Elena noticed the woman beside him.
She was beautiful.
Tall.
Elegant.
Wearing a silver dress.
Her hand rested lightly on Adrian's arm.
Elena's smile disappeared.
She didn't know why it hurt.
She and Adrian weren't officially together.
He hadn't promised her anything.
Still, seeing another woman beside him made something inside her twist.
She took a step backward.
Maybe she should leave.
“Elena?”
She froze.
Adrian had seen her.
He immediately walked toward her.
“You came.”
“I didn't know you would be here.”
“I work here.”
“I mean…”
She stopped.
He looked at her carefully.
“You're upset.”
“I'm not.”
“You are.”
“No.”
His eyes moved toward the woman.
Then back to Elena.
Understanding appeared on his face.
“You think she's…”
“I don't think anything.”
“She’s my business partner's daughter.”
“Oh.”
“That's all.”
“I didn't ask.”
“But you wanted to.”
Elena crossed her arms.
“You're very confident.”
“I've learned to recognize certain expressions.”
“What expression?”
“Jealousy.”
Her eyes widened.
“I am not jealous.”
“You are.”
“I am not.”
He smiled.
She glared.
“Stop smiling.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because you care.”
She looked away.
“That doesn't mean anything.”
“It means something to me.”
Her eyes returned to his.
“What?”
He stepped closer.
“You.”
Before she could respond, a familiar female voice interrupted.
“Adrian.”
They turned.
A woman in an elegant black dress approached them.
She was older, poised, and carried herself with the confidence of someone accustomed to being obeyed.
Adrian's expression immediately hardened.
“Vivian.”
“Your father wants to see you.”
“I'm busy.”
“He said it was urgent.”
“He can wait.”
Vivian glanced at Elena.
Her eyes traveled from Elena's dress to her face.
“And who is this?”
Adrian didn't hesitate.
“Elena Carter.”
Vivian waited.
“And?”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“She is someone important to me.”
Elena's heart skipped.
Vivian's expression barely changed.
But her eyes became colder.
“I see.”
She turned toward Adrian.
“Your father won't appreciate being kept waiting.”
“That's his problem.”
“Adrian.”
“I said I'll come later.”
Vivian looked at Elena one last time.
Then walked away.
Elena watched her leave.
“Who was that?”
“My father's personal adviser.”
“She seemed…”
“Cold?”
“Yes.”
“She is.”
Elena looked at him.
“Why does your father want you?”
“I don't know.”
“You do.”
Adrian sighed.
“Probably business.”
She studied him.
“Are you sure?”
“No.”
He didn't tell her what he already suspected.
His father had been pressuring him for months.
There was a family involved with one of their biggest investments.
Their daughter was intelligent, wealthy, educated, and perfectly suited for the image his father wanted.
A marriage between their families would strengthen several business relationships.
Adrian had rejected the idea repeatedly.
But his father had never accepted rejection.
And now Elena had entered the picture.
That made everything more complicated.
The next morning, Adrian went to his father's office.
Richard Blake was standing by the window.
He didn't turn around when Adrian entered.
“You're seeing someone.”
Adrian stopped.
“That isn't your concern.”
“It becomes my concern when you start behaving differently.”
“I haven't changed.”
“You've canceled meetings.”
“I've rescheduled them.”
“You've missed dinners.”
“I've had other plans.”
“You're distracted.”
Adrian remained silent.
His father finally turned around.
“Who is she?”
Adrian's expression hardened.
“Elena.”
“Last name?”
“Carter.”
Richard's expression changed.
“Who is her family?”
“She isn't important because of her family.”
“That wasn't my question.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“You're not going to investigate her.”
“I already have.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“You had no right.”
Richard ignored him.
“She has no significant connections.”
“That's irrelevant.”
“She isn't from our world.”
Adrian laughed bitterly.
“What world is that?”
“The world you belong to.”
“No.”
His father stared at him.
“You have responsibilities.”
“I know.”
“You have a company to inherit.”
“I know.”
“You have a family name to protect.”
“I know.”
“Then act like it.”
Adrian's voice became cold.
“I am acting like it.”
Richard walked toward him.
“There is a woman named Victoria Harrington.”
Adrian already knew where this was going.
“No.”
“You haven't heard the proposal.”
“I don't need to.”
“She is intelligent.”
“I don't care.”
“Beautiful.”
“Father.”
“Her family is worth billions.”
“That doesn't matter.”
“It matters to this family.”
Adrian stared at him.
“What do you want?”
Richard's answer was simple.
“Marry her.”
Silence filled the room.
Adrian's hands slowly curled into fists.
“No.”
Richard's expression hardened.
“You will reconsider.”
“I won't.”
“You don't understand what you're risking.”
Adrian stepped toward the door.
“I understand exactly what I'm risking.”
He stopped.
“And I'm willing to risk it.”
He walked out.
But his father's final words followed him down the hallway.
“Then don't be surprised when I make sure Elena Carter regrets ever meeting you.”
Adrian stopped.
His entire body went still.
He turned around slowly.
“Don't touch her.”
Richard smiled.
“Then perhaps you should think carefully about your choices.”
Adrian stared at his father.
For the first time, he understood.
This wasn't going to be a disagreement.
It was going to be a war.
And Elena was standing directly between them.
That evening, Adrian went to Elena's apartment.
She opened the door and smiled.
“You didn't tell me you were coming.”
“I wanted to see you.”
Her smile softened.
“Are you okay?”
He looked at her.
For a moment, he couldn't speak.
She immediately noticed.
“Adrian?”
He reached for her hand.
“I'm here.”
She squeezed his fingers.
“You don't have to tell me anything you're not ready to tell me.”
He looked at her.
“You make everything difficult.”
She laughed.
“How?”
“Because when I'm with you, I forget every reason I ever had to stay alone.”
Her expression softened.
“Maybe you were never supposed to stay alone.”
He stared at her.
Then he pulled her gently into his arms.
Elena rested her head against his chest.
For the first time that day, Adrian felt calm.
But only for a moment.
Because somewhere in the back of his mind, his father's warning remained.
Don't be surprised when I make sure Elena Carter regrets ever meeting you.
Adrian held Elena tighter.
He didn't know what his father would do.
He didn't know how far he was willing to go.
But one thing was certain.
He would protect her.
Even if protecting her meant destroying everything his family had built.
Because somewhere between the rain, the coffee shop, the stolen glances, and the countless conversations…
Elena had become more than someone he liked.
She had become someone he couldn't imagine losing.
And neither of them yet understood how dangerous that kind of love could become.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD