Chapter 15
937 Words
The café on Fifth Avenue buzzed with the late-morning rush, but all Elena heard was the steady thrum of her own nerves. She had agreed to meet Victoria Harrington—Alexander’s infamous ex-fiancée—only because the woman had insisted. The invitation had been wrapped in politeness but carried the weight of a demand.
Now, seated across from her, Elena understood why.
Victoria was breathtaking, her beauty sharpened like a weapon. Every detail of her appearance screamed money and precision: the designer dress that clung perfectly, the diamond earrings that caught the light, even the flawless shade of crimson lipstick. She sipped her cappuccino delicately, as though she owned the world.
“Elena Bennett,” she said at last, her voice smooth as silk. “So you’re the one causing all this… fuss.”
Elena tightened her grip on her cup. “I didn’t ask for any fuss.”
Victoria’s smile was cool, detached. “No one ever does. But when you involve yourself with a man like Alexander, the world notices. And it isn’t kind.”
Elena bristled. “I didn’t come here to be lectured.”
“Oh, I’m not lecturing.” Victoria leaned forward slightly, her perfume subtle yet commanding. “I’m warning you. Alexander isn’t capable of love. Not real love. He tried with me, and he failed. He’ll fail with you too.”
Elena’s chest constricted, but she forced herself to keep her voice steady. “Maybe you weren’t the right person for him.”
For the first time, Victoria’s smile faltered. Then she chuckled softly, a sound devoid of warmth. “You’re clever. I’ll give you that. But do you really think a man like Alexander Harrington—billionaire, heir, and future head of Harrington Global—will throw it all away for a woman like you?”
The words stung, even though Elena had braced herself for them. She set her cup down firmly. “If you came here to intimidate me, it won’t work.”
Victoria’s eyes glittered dangerously. “I don’t need to intimidate you. The media will do that for me. They’ll dig into your life, your family, your past. They’ll expose every flaw. And Alexander will let them—because he’s too afraid to choose you.”
Elena rose, her legs steadier than she felt. “We’ll see.”
Victoria tilted her head, her voice dropping to a chilling whisper. “You’ll regret this, darling. Trust me.”
---
The confrontation rattled Elena more than she wanted to admit. By the time she returned to her apartment, her phone buzzed with fresh alerts. Another wave of articles had surfaced, this time nastier than before.
Harrington’s New Flame: Who Is Elena Bennett?
From Modest Beginnings to Manhattan Penthouse—Is She After His Fortune?
The pictures accompanying the stories weren’t flattering. One showed her leaving work, looking tired. Another captured her at the gala, dwarfed by Victoria’s elegance.
Elena’s stomach churned. The words blurred together, a chorus of doubt and judgment.
---
That evening, Alexander appeared at her door.
She hadn’t expected him, but when she saw the tension etched into his face, she knew he had read the same headlines.
“Victoria,” he muttered darkly, stepping inside. “She’s behind this.”
Elena crossed her arms, anger and hurt warring inside her. “She warned me this would happen.”
His jaw clenched. “What did she say to you?”
“That you can’t love me. That you’ll never choose me over your empire. That I’ll regret ever being with you.” Her voice cracked on the last word.
Alexander’s eyes softened, but his body remained rigid, as if holding himself back. “She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”
“Doesn’t she?” Elena demanded, tears stinging her eyes. “Because right now, I don’t know what’s worse—the things she said or the fact that part of me believes them.”
He reached for her, but she stepped back. “Elena—”
“No.” She shook her head. “I need to hear it from you. What am I to you, Alexander? Am I just a distraction until the headlines fade? Or am I someone you actually see a future with?”
Silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating.
At last, Alexander spoke, his voice low. “You’re more than a distraction. You’re the only person who makes me feel alive. But a future…” He hesitated, his fear palpable. “A future with me comes at a price I’m not sure I have the right to ask you to pay.”
The words landed like stones in her chest.
Elena blinked back tears. “Then maybe Victoria was right. Maybe I should walk away now before it’s too late.”
Alexander’s face hardened, but his eyes betrayed his desperation. “Don’t say that. Don’t ever say that.”
She swallowed, her heart breaking. “Then prove her wrong.”
---
Later, after he left, Elena lay in bed staring at the ceiling. Her body still remembered the warmth of his touch, the way his kiss made her feel invincible. But Victoria’s words echoed in her mind, louder than ever.
He’ll never choose you.
Elena wanted to believe Alexander was different with her. That their connection was real. But in a world of wealth, power, and betrayal, belief might not be enough.
---
Across town, Victoria sipped champagne in her penthouse, her reflection gleaming back at her in the glass windows. She had set the wheels in motion. The game had begun.
And she never played to lose.
- Writer
