Chapter eight
1243 Words
“Where are you going?” Elara asked, her voice slightly suspicious as she watched her husband get dressed.
They were both in the bedroom. Caius stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his tie, while Elara stood behind him, watching his every move.
“I’m going to have dinner with one of my business partners,” he said, fixing his tie again and checking himself in the mirror.
“Really? Are you sure it isn’t somebody else? You’re trying a little too hard to look good,” she said skeptically. He had been staring at himself in the mirror for far too long.
“Yes. No one else. It’s just a meeting. We’re having dinner to talk about work,” he replied, grabbing his favorite cologne and spraying it lightly over his suit.
“Who’s this business partner? Do I know them?” she asked, folding her arms.
“Nope. You don’t,” he said quickly, turning around. He looked like he was in a hurry to leave.
He knew very well Elara hadn’t liked Calista since the gala. There was no way he was telling her that she was the one he was meeting.
“Don’t worry, babe. I’ll be back before you know it,” he said with a smile, giving her a small peck on the cheek.
But her face stayed neutral.
He pulled back slightly, his hand gripping her jaw gently.
“I hope you’re not going to meet one of your hoes,” she said, anger clear in her voice.
“I told you, if I ever find you messing around with another woman again, you won’t like that side of me,” she continued.
“Don’t be like that. I’m not seeing anyone,” he said, trying to sound calm.
“I’m watching you. You know I don’t trust you. I hope you’re not sleeping with your secretary this time. Oh, I forgot, he’s a man. Or do you swing that way too?” she asked sarcastically.
“I’m not,” he said, now annoyed. “Just believe me for once, okay? We’re just talking about work. Nothing else.”
“Oh, you think I believe that? Just tell me the truth,” she said, her eyes studying him carefully.
He knew she would find out sooner or later. She always did. But he didn’t want her overreacting over nothing. It was just dinner. It wasn’t like he was planning anything.
“It’s nothing. Just a business partner, okay?” he said, forcing a smile. He hugged her tightly and kissed the top of her head.
“I’ll call you later,” he added softly.
Then he grabbed his keys and walked out of the bedroom.
A few seconds later, she heard the front door close.
Silence filled the room.
Elara stood there for a moment, her jaw tight.
“Business partner,” she muttered under her breath.
She didn’t believe him. Not for a second.
She quickly grabbed her phone from the nightstand and dialed a number she clearly knew by heart.
The line rang twice before someone picked up.
“Yes?” a deep male voice answered.
“It’s me,” Elara said quietly, walking toward the window and peeking through the curtains.
“I need you to do something for me.”
There was a short pause.
“Follow my husband,” she said coldly. “I want to know exactly where he’s going and who he’s meeting.”
“Understood,” the man replied.
“And don’t let him see you,” she added. “I want pictures. Clear ones.”
She ended the call and stared out into the dark street as Caius’ car drove off.
Her lips curled slightly.
“If you’re lying to me,” she whispered.
"You'll see"
...
The two of them were already seated at the dinner table. They had placed their orders, and soft music played in the background.
Caius was laughing like he was having the best time of his life.
But Calista remained neutral. No smile. No warmth.
She glanced at her watch like he was wasting her time.
She slowly sipped her wine.
“So, why are we here? I thought we had something important to discuss,” she said calmly, placing her glass down.
Caius let out a nervous laugh.
“Yes, of course. I needed help with my company. Our stocks are dropping, and I thought… maybe I could get support from you,” he said, smiling awkwardly.
Calista couldn’t help but let out a small scoff. She took another sip of her drink before speaking.
“What exactly do you want me to do?” she asked.
“I need your company’s help,” he said quickly. “Novaris Capital is an investment company. If you publicly show support for Laurent Technologies, it could calm investors. Even a small advisory partnership would help.”
She leaned back slightly in her chair.
“Novaris Capital does not associate with unstable companies,” she replied coldly.
“We’re not unstable,” he said quickly. “This is just media pressure. It’ll pass.”
“Media pressure only exposes cracks that were already there,” she replied.
He swallowed.
“Calista, please. This is business. I know your firm is powerful. If investors see that you trust us, they’ll relax.”
She studied him carefully.
“I don’t deal with companies that are under investigation or public suspicion,” she said simply.
“There’s no investigation,” he insisted. “Just rumors.”
Before she could respond, his phone suddenly rang.
He glanced at the screen.
Elara.
He frowned slightly and turned the phone face down on the table.
“Sorry,” he muttered. “It’s nothing.”
Calista raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
A few seconds later, the phone rang again.
He ignored it.
Then again.
Three times in a row.
Calista picked up her wine glass calmly.
“Seems urgent,” she said lightly.
“It’s not,” he replied quickly, though his voice sounded tense now.
The phone buzzed again.
This time, it wasn’t a call.
It was a message.
He sighed and picked it up, probably planning to silence it.
But the moment he opened it, his expression changed completely.
His face drained of color.
His eyes widened.
There were pictures.
Pictures of him sitting at the dinner table.
Across from Calista.
Clear. Close.
Taken from a distance.
Under the photos was one message from Elara:
“Business partner?”
His heart started racing.
He quickly locked his phone and stood up from his chair.
“I… I need to take this,” he said, his voice slightly shaky.
Calista watched him carefully.
He grabbed his phone and walked away from the table, his steps hurried.
His mind was spinning.
Back at the table, Calista slowly picked up her wine glass again.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
The night was just getting interesting.
As she lifted the glass to her lips, a shadow fell over her table, making her look up immediately.
A man stood there.
Tall. Hot. Dressed in a perfectly tailored dark suit that looked expensive without trying too hard. His hair was neatly styled, not a strand out of place. Sharp jawline. Cold eyes. The kind of man who didn’t smile unless he meant it.
His face was sharp and clean.
And familiar.
Very familiar.
“Ms. Vale,” he said smoothly.
- Writer
