Betrayed Together

Chapter 8: The Name Between Them

The following morning, Elena arrived at the office before Adrian.

For once, she was grateful for the empty floor.

She placed her handbag beneath her desk and opened her laptop, determined to bury herself in work. If she kept busy enough, perhaps she wouldn't think about Marcus.

Or the photograph.

Or Victoria.

Or the black box waiting at home.

Her phone buzzed.

She glanced at the screen.

Marcus: We really need to talk.

Elena turned the phone face down.

She had already heard enough excuses.

A few minutes later, footsteps approached.

She didn't need to look up.

"You're early," Adrian said.

"You're late."

He stopped beside her desk.

"By two minutes."

"Still late."

"I thought you said you weren't keeping records."

"I never said that."

Adrian looked at her for a moment before placing a folder on her desk.

"Meeting moved to ten."

Elena opened the folder. "You could have emailed me."

"I could have."

"Then why didn't you?"

"I wanted to see if you'd complain."

She looked up at him.

"You're becoming annoying."

"Becoming?"

A small smile escaped her before she could stop it.

Adrian noticed.

He didn't comment.

Instead, his expression became more serious.

"You look better today."

"I slept."

"Good."

There was something almost gentle about the way he said it.

Elena looked back at her screen.

"Don't sound too concerned. People might start talking."

"I have a reputation to protect."

"Your terrible reputation?"

"My excellent reputation."

She shook her head.

For a few seconds, neither said anything.

Then Adrian asked, almost casually, "Elena."

"Hmm?"

"Your boyfriend's name is Marcus, right?"

Her fingers froze above the keyboard.

She slowly turned toward him.

"Why are you asking?"

Adrian hesitated.

He could have told her about Victoria.

He could have told her everything.

Instead, he remembered the way she had looked the previous day.

Exhausted.

Hurt.

Trying desperately not to fall apart at work.

"I was just asking."

Elena studied him.

"Yes. Marcus."

Adrian's expression barely changed.

But something inside him shifted.

"Marcus Reed?"

She frowned.

"Yes."

Silence.

The office suddenly felt much smaller.

Elena noticed the change in his face.

"Why?"

Adrian didn't answer immediately.

His mind went back to Victoria's confession.

His name is Marcus.

Then the anonymous message.

Ask yourself why Marcus Reed keeps appearing in your life.

He looked at Elena again.

"Nothing."

"Adrian."

"It's nothing."

She leaned back in her chair.

"You don't ask someone's full name for no reason."

"I do now."

"That doesn't make any sense."

"I know."

For the first time, Adrian looked genuinely unsettled.

Elena's suspicion grew.

"Is this about Marcus?"

Adrian's eyes met hers.

"Why would it be?"

"Because you just asked me his full name."

He said nothing.

Elena watched him carefully.

Then she remembered something.

"Adrian..."

"What?"

"Victoria."

His expression changed instantly.

Elena's stomach tightened.

She had known Victoria was connected to Adrian's world for years. She had seen them together at events, dinners and company functions.

But she had never imagined—

"Why did you look like that when I mentioned her?"

Adrian's jaw tightened.

Before he could answer, his phone rang.

He looked at the screen.

Victoria.

He declined the call.

Elena saw it.

Neither of them spoke.

Then his phone rang again.

This time, Adrian answered.

"What?"

Victoria's voice was low and urgent.

"Adrian, we need to meet."

"I'm busy."

"It's about Marcus."

His eyes immediately moved toward Elena.

Elena couldn't hear what Victoria was saying, but she could see the change in Adrian's expression.

"Where?"

Victoria gave him a location.

"I'll be there."

He ended the call.

Elena stood.

"Is everything okay?"

Adrian looked at her.

For one dangerous second, he considered telling her the truth.

Instead, he said, "I'll be back later."

"That's not an answer."

"I know."

He walked toward the door.

"Adrian."

He stopped.

Elena's voice softened.

"If this has something to do with Marcus, you should tell me."

He turned around.

Their eyes met.

"I know."

Then he left.

Elena remained standing in the middle of the office.

Something had changed.

She could feel it.

Adrian knew something about Marcus.

And whatever it was, Victoria was involved.

An hour later, Adrian sat across from Victoria in a quiet private lounge.

He didn't touch the coffee in front of him.

"Tell me again."

Victoria looked uncomfortable.

"I already told you."

"No. This time, don't leave anything out."

She swallowed.

"What exactly do you want to know?"

"Marcus Reed."

Victoria's eyes flickered.

"You know who he is."

"I know his name."

"And?"

Adrian leaned forward.

"He's Elena's boyfriend."

Victoria went completely still.

For several seconds, neither moved.

Then she whispered, "You didn't know?"

"No."

Victoria looked away.

"Adrian..."

"How long have you known who Elena is?"

"I didn't know she was involved with him."

"That's not what I asked."

Victoria's silence answered him.

Adrian's voice became colder.

"You knew."

"I suspected."

"You knew."

Victoria closed her eyes.

"I found out recently."

Adrian stood.

The betrayal suddenly felt different.

This wasn't just about him anymore.

Elena had been standing in his office every day, working beside him, while the man she loved was secretly seeing the woman Adrian had trusted.

Two betrayals.

One man.

One woman.

And somehow, all four of them had been standing in the same circle without realizing how close the lines were.

Adrian picked up his phone.

A new message appeared from the unknown number.

Now you understand why they were afraid of you finding out.

He stared at the screen.

Then another message appeared.

But you're still missing the most important part.

Adrian's eyes narrowed.

Across the table, Victoria watched him.

"What is it?" she asked.

Adrian locked his phone.

"I don't know yet."

But he knew one thing.

Whatever had started with an affair was becoming something much bigger.

And Elena was already standing in the middle of it.