Betrayed Together

Elena Hart had learned one important thing during her three years as Adrian Vale's executive secretary: Never make the man wait. Not for a meeting. Not for a document. Not even for an elevator. Especially not for an elevator. At exactly 8:57 a.m., Elena stepped out of the elevator on the thirty-second floor of Vale International, a leather folder tucked beneath her arm and her phone pressed against her ear. “Move the ten o'clock meeting to eleven,” she said, walking briskly toward the executive offices. “And tell Mr. Bennett that if he wants Adrian to approve the acquisition today, he needs to send the revised figures before nine-thirty.” She paused. “No, I don't care if he's already on his way.” Another pause. “Then he can turn around.” Elena ended the call. A few employees nearby tried very hard not to smile. She noticed. “What?” “Nothing,” one of them said quickly. Elena narrowed her eyes. “Good.” She continued walking. Her heels struck the polished floor in a steady rhythm. Her long dark-brown waves fell neatly over one shoulder, and her cream blouse and fitted black trousers looked almost too elegant for the amount of chaos waiting on her desk. She dropped the folder beside her computer and glanced at the clock. 8:59. One minute. She reached for the coffee she'd ordered twenty minutes earlier. Empty. Elena stared at the cup. Then at the assistant who had brought it. “You forgot the sugar.” The young woman looked horrified. “I—I thought you took it without sugar.” “I do.” The woman blinked. “Then what's wrong?” Elena lifted the cup. “It's not mine.” The assistant looked at the label. “Oh.” Elena sighed. “Don't worry. I'll survive.” A deep voice came from behind her. “I doubt the rest of us will.” Elena closed her eyes. Of course. She turned. Adrian Vale stood at the entrance to his office. Thirty-two years old. Six-foot-three. Impossibly composed. His black suit fit him so perfectly it looked as though it had been designed around his body rather than purchased. Dark hair was swept neatly away from his forehead, revealing sharp features and deep brown eyes that seemed to notice everything. He wasn't smiling. Adrian rarely smiled at work. “Elena.” “Good morning, Mr. Vale.” “You're late.” She glanced at the clock. 9:00 a.m. “I arrived at 8:57.” “You were supposed to be at your desk at 8:45.” “I was.” “Then why weren't you there?” “I was getting the documents you requested.” “Which documents?” “The acquisition report you forgot you requested.” His eyebrow lifted. “I didn't forget.” “You called me at 7:42 this morning asking where it was.” “And?” “And you didn't remember asking me to prepare it.” For half a second, silence filled the corridor. One of the employees nearby suddenly became extremely interested in his computer screen. Adrian's gaze remained fixed on Elena. “You're unusually talkative this morning.” “You're unusually forgetful.” His jaw tightened. Elena immediately knew she'd pushed too far. She didn't care. Not entirely. Adrian held out his hand. “The report.” She handed it to him. He looked at the folder, then back at her. “You're coming with me.” “Where?” “My office.” “Why?” “Because apparently I need someone to explain my own schedule to me.” Elena followed him. “That's what you hired me for.” He stopped at the door. “And yet you continue to make it sound like a personal favor.” “It isn't.” “Good.” He entered his office. Elena followed. The door closed behind them. For the next twenty minutes, they argued over numbers, schedules, and a meeting Adrian insisted should remain at ten despite Elena's warning that the other party wouldn't be prepared. At 9:27, his phone rang. He answered. “Yes?” His expression changed slightly. Elena watched him. “Move the meeting to eleven,” Adrian said. He hung up. She raised an eyebrow. “Interesting.” “Don't.” “I didn't say anything.” “You were about to.” “I was going to say that you're learning.” His eyes narrowed. “Elena.” She smiled sweetly. “Yes, Mr. Vale?” “Go.” She picked up the folder. “With pleasure.” She walked toward the door. “Your nine-thirty call is in three minutes,” she reminded him. “I know.” “And your mother called.” Adrian's expression immediately darkened. “What did she want?” “To invite you to dinner.” “No.” “I already told her you'd think about it.” “You shouldn't have.” “I know.” He looked at her. “Then why did you say it?” “Because she scares me more than you do.” For the first time that morning, something almost resembling amusement flickered in Adrian's eyes. Almost. Elena left before he could see her smile. She returned to her desk and sat down. Her phone vibrated. Marcus Her expression softened instantly. Good morning, beautiful. Elena stared at the message for a moment. Despite the demanding boss, the impossible schedule, and the endless work, there were certain things that could still make her morning better. Marcus was one of them. She typed back. Good morning. You survived the night without me? His reply came almost immediately. Barely. Elena smiled. They had been together for almost two years. Marcus wasn't perfect. He could be stubborn. He sometimes disappeared into work for hours without answering his phone. And lately, he'd seemed distracted. But Elena trusted him. At least, she thought she did. Her phone buzzed again. Dinner tonight? She smiled. Of course. Three dots appeared. Then disappeared. Then appeared again. Finally: Something came up. I'll let you know. Elena's smile faded slightly. She stared at the message. Something came up. Again. She typed: Everything okay? No response. She waited. Nothing. “Elena.” She looked up. Adrian stood in his doorway. “Your ten o'clock meeting has been moved to eleven.” “I know.” “And cancel my lunch.” She frowned. “Why?” “Something came up.” The words made her pause. She looked at her phone. Then back at him. “Everything okay?” Adrian's eyes rested on her for a moment. “Yes.” He turned away. Elena watched him disappear into his office. Then she looked back at Marcus's unanswered message. For reasons she couldn't explain, a small uneasiness settled in her chest. She pushed it away. It was probably nothing. It had to be. After all, Marcus loved her. Didn't he? At 10:46 a.m., Elena's phone rang. Marcus. She answered immediately. “Hey.” There was silence on the other end. “Marcus?” “I'm busy.” Her eyebrows drew together. “You called me.” “I know.” His voice sounded strange. Cold. Distracted. Elena sat up straighter. “Is something wrong?” “No.” “Then why do you sound—” “I'll call you later.” The line went dead. Elena stared at her phone. A second later, a notification appeared. Not from Marcus. From an unfamiliar number. Unknown: You really don't know, do you? Elena's stomach dropped. She stared at the message. Another one arrived. Unknown: Ask Marcus where he was last night. Her fingers went cold. For several seconds, she couldn't breathe. Then another message appeared. This time, there was a photograph. Elena opened it. And everything inside her went still. Because the man in the picture was unmistakably Marcus. But he wasn't alone. And the woman standing beside him was someone Elena had never seen before. Or so she thought.