Love Me In 100 Days

Chapter 9: The Longest Night

​Day Ninety-Nine was suffocating in its silence.

​Sienna had moved back to her old apartment in the city two weeks prior. Her life had supposedly returned to normal. Her father was back at the helm of Thorne Architecture, her mother was recovering well, and her friends showered her with congratulations for surviving her family’s financial crisis.

​Yet, every room in her apartment felt empty. Every night, she lay awake in her bed, staring at the ceiling, missing the heavy, warm arm wrapped around her waist, missing the scent of cedarwood and rain, missing the fierce, protective gray eyes that had become her whole world.

​She hadn't heard a single word from Alexander since the day she left Blackwood Manor.

​At Blackwood Manor, night had fallen like a shroud.

​Alexander sat alone in the vast, darkened library on the top floor. A crystal decanter of scotch sat on the table beside him, completely untouched. He sat in the large leather chair near the window, staring out at the empty cliffside gardens.

​The estate was silent. No sound of her drafting pencil scratching against paper. No sound of her laughter echoing down the hallway. No scent of calla lilies lingering in the air.

​Mrs. Gable walked into the library, setting a tray of untouched food on the side table. She looked at her employer, her stern face softening with deep sympathy.

​"You haven't eaten in two days, Mr. Vance," Mrs. Gable said quietly.

​"I'm not hungry, Mrs. Gable," Alexander replied, his voice hollow, his eyes never leaving the ocean view.

​"You cleared your name, sir," the old housekeeper gently reminded him. "You defeated your uncle. You reclaimed your empire. Why do you look like a man who lost everything?"

​Alexander closed his eyes, a single, bitter breath escaping his lips. "Because I did, Mrs. Gable. I built a fortress to keep the world out... and I drove away the only person who made it worth living in."

​"Then go get her," Mrs. Gable said firmly. "Tomorrow is Day 100. The contract ends at midnight. Go show her that you are not her warden anymore."

​Alexander opened his eyes, looking down at his hands—the hands that had held her, protected her, and ultimately pushed her away out of fear of his own dark past.

​He stood up, grabbing his coat from the back of the chair.

​"Call the driver," Alexander commanded, a spark of his old, fierce authority returning to his eyes. "We're going to the city."