The Heiress Revenge

Five

Elaine

"I'll make sure to retch my guts out when they bring your deformed body up.” Tears fell readily down my face as I ran from the office; I got into the closest elevator I could find and pressed the floor button.

Once it beeped, the doors slid open and I rushed out. Confused and disoriented, I failed to see there was a tall masculine figure standing right in front of me and I bumped into the person. I was about to fall on my back when his arms encircled my waist and pulled me back up. A feeling of familiarity hit as his cologne and strong arms enveloped me securely.

It was Alexander.

The dim reception hall light cast on his face made him appear somewhat ethereal. His brows furrowed as he stared at me. "Elaine,"" He called my name in surprise.

"I'm so sorry. I wasn't watchful of where I was going." I tried to wriggle out of his hold, but he kept me secure.

"Why were you in such a hurry and..." He paused; his eyes studied me intently before raising his thumb to touch the tears on my face. Terrified, I pushed him away, wiping the tears on my face.

He caught my arm and drew me back forcefully, his expression darkening. "Are you hurt? Were you being chased?" he asked; his voice was calm, but it was calm before a storm. His eyes burned with it.

He looked around me cautiously, trying to find what I was running from, but I stopped him. "I'm fine, I promise."

He didn't seem to believe me, but he stopped pushing for answers and enclosed our hands together, leading me to the exit. I relished the warmth that spread in my chest in his presence and tightened my hands in his for comfort.

Cool evening air blew in my direction as he walked us to his car; he opened the front door, "Get in."

I sat confused, "Where are you taking me to?" I asked.

He said nothing and leaned close to me, drawing the seat belt to secure me. His eyes softened momentarily when our eyes met, and I felt my stomach churn in thrill and subtle flutter.

I swallowed. I should not be this close to him. He drove us away from the HQ grounds, and I remained in silence, my mood foul as images of Jane and Edward kept replaying in my head.

They had a prior affair before their kiss in the directory room. Edward's words resounded in my ears. "No, every second of our moments together was splendid, Jane. I have always thought you were prettier and smarter than your sister."

I was simply a pawn in his game, his step to achieve his goals, nothing more, and Jane had always been enamored by him. She was rather shameless about it. I tried to worry less about their affair and turned my focus to what they were rather looking for in the directory room. "It's not here."

"It's unlike you to be this quiet."

My thoughts paused, and I turned my focus to Alexander; my body jerked forward slightly as he stopped the car. "We are here."

"Where exactly?" I peered around and noticed it was a familiar pastry shop. I bulged my eyes in excitement as childhood memories flooded my head. "Aunt Phoebe's place?" I gasped. He got down, and I followed suit, quite excited.

"You seemed pretty sad; thought a little sugar might help," he said.

Well, I was beaming ear to ear so it worked. "Mr Insufferable is being nice. Should I be afraid?" I teased him.

"It is two months until our wedding. I should at least make you fall in love with me." His intense gray eyes found mine and I quickly averted them. Why does it feel like it's working?

I cleared my throat," You wish."

"We'll see."

The smell of baked food and sweets wafted through my nostrils, memories of my parents bringing us here made me almost tear. "Why here?" I whispered to Alexander, but he was rather engrossed in staring through the display glass that had different pastries being showcased.

I found a table and sat on it. It was too late to drink caffeine, but I ordered an iced latte with extra cream and a black-sweetened coffee for Alexander. He might not look like it, but he had a sweet tooth.

He soon arrived at the table, and I gasped at the pastries in his hands. "A vanilla peach cream cupcake, they still make that?" I reached to snatch it from him, but he held it up far from my reach.

"Nothing is free, princess," he smirked. I hated it when he teased me like this.

I narrowed my eyes at him, "I almost believed you had changed for the better."

He leaned back and rested on his chair. "What's your secret? Why do you suddenly want me in your company?"

I sighed, he was going to play it this way. "You were the only one I could ask for help." I confessed quite easily.

"For what exactly?" He rose his brows. I knew he barely bought into my act and was running his own investigations.

"Why did you decide to help then? If you are distrustful of my intentions."

His eyes darkened. "Don't play games with Elaine," he warned.

Exhausted, I sighed. "I need evidence to support the fact that I am being targeted for my family's inheritance as the legitimate child. I need you to buy me time."

Fury danced in his eyes, "By who?!" He growled loudly.

"Xander," I called softly and reached for his arms to calm him down. I had forgotten just how protective he was of me, ever since we were kids. He was older than I by four years, and he made sure to protect me even from the most whimsical things.

"I made this mistake; I'll rectify it. I need you to trust me."

His eyes softened. "I am doing stupid things for you. Like leaving my company to help you. I do trust you, but most importantly, I am here to keep you safe. I won't hesitate to have the head of anyone who hurts you."

I swallowed, my heart racing. Was I deserving of his protection? I had hurt him before, left him for a man who murdered me coldly, and he is the first person I run to when I need help.

"Why do you want a marriage?" I stared deep into his eyes.

He smiled deeply, handing me my cupcake, which I chewed into greedily, awaiting his response. "You must have misjudged my character again."

I frowned in subtle confusion, "What do you mean?"

"Our past relationship has nothing to do with my end of the deal being a marriage you had rejected before."

"Why? It would be loveless; I have no feelings for you."

His thumb reached for my lips, and he collected the cream at the corner of my lip. His entrancing gray eyes held mine as he suckled off the cream from his thumb. "We'll make it work."

I gulped hard at his actions and suddenly felt warm, breaking his gaze and staring at everything but him.

"Our parents wanted us together because they had plans to merge their corporations and businesses as one. I envision that as well. Our marriage is business, nothing more. Though we have the option of making it fun." He smirked deeply; his eyes shining with naughty ideas.

"Don't get ahead of yourself." I narrowed my eyes at him, and he chuckled at my reaction. He was the only one capable of riling me up.

I reached for his piece of cake and ate it as well before recalling something quite important: "I need private investigators on some people. Can you help with it?"

He leaned back in obvious interest. "Who?"

"Edward and, most importantly, Jane."

He furrowed his brows. "Jane?"

"My step sister."