Chapter 4: The First Lie
2191 Words
Elena barely made it to the elevator before she pulled out her phone.
“Sophia.”
Her best friend answered on the second ring.
“Please tell me you didn't actually agree to marry the billionaire.”
Elena closed her eyes.
“I did.”
There was silence.
Then—
“You're insane.”
Despite everything, Elena laughed.
“Probably.”
“No. Not probably. Definitely. Completely.”
The elevator doors opened, and Elena stepped inside.
She leaned against the wall and stared at her reflection.
She had just agreed to marry Adrian Blackwood.
A man she'd known for barely two days.
A man whose company possessed files connected to her father.
A man who somehow made her forget what she was saying whenever he looked at her for too long.
And that last part bothered her more than it should have.
“Sophia?”
“I'm still here.”
“I need you to do something.”
“What?”
“Find everything you can about Adrian's grandfather.”
Sophia went quiet.
“You think he's connected to your father?”
“I don't know.”
“Then why are you suspicious?”
“Because of the files.”
“What files?”
Elena lowered her voice as she stepped out of the elevator.
“Adrian's company has a file on my father. He didn't even know it existed.”
Sophia was silent for a moment.
“That sounds bad.”
“It gets worse.”
“How?”
“Adrian's grandfather knew my father.”
“What?”
“I don't have proof yet. But there's something there.”
Sophia sighed.
“Elena, maybe this is a sign that you should stop.”
Elena stopped walking.
“Stop what?”
“The revenge.”
Those words hit harder than Elena expected.
For three years, revenge had been the one thing keeping her moving.
She had lost her father.
Her family had fallen apart.
Her mother's disappearance had left another empty space in her life.
And everyone had expected her to simply accept it.
She couldn't.
“I can't stop now.”
“You're marrying a man because you think his family might know something.”
“I'm not marrying him because of his family.”
“Then why?”
Elena hesitated.
Because the truth was complicated.
Adrian had offered her access to a world she could never have entered alone.
But there was another reason.
One she didn't want to admit.
“I need to know what happened to my father.”
Sophia's voice softened.
“Just promise me something.”
“What?”
“Don't let revenge make you forget who you are.”
Elena swallowed.
“I promise.”
But the moment the call ended, Elena knew she'd already broken that promise.
Because she was keeping something from Adrian.
Something enormous.
He thought she had accepted his proposal because the arrangement benefited them both.
He didn't know she had another reason.
She needed him.
Not emotionally.
Not yet.
She needed his name.
His connections.
His world.
And most importantly—
His access to Victoria Laurent.
Adrian remained in his office long after Elena left.
The Carter file sat open on his desk.
He picked up the photograph again.
Daniel Carter stood beside his grandfather.
Both men looked younger.
Relaxed.
Almost friendly.
Adrian turned the photograph over.
The handwriting stared back at him.
If anything happens to me, run.
His jaw tightened.
“Who were you running from?”
A knock sounded.
Luca walked in.
“You wanted me?”
Adrian put the photograph down.
“Find out everything about Daniel Carter.”
Luca raised an eyebrow.
“Everything?”
“Everything.”
“Why?”
“Because someone went to great lengths to hide these files.”
Luca glanced at the folder.
“And Elena?”
Adrian's gaze lifted.
“What about her?”
“She seems very interested in Daniel Carter.”
Adrian said nothing.
Luca studied him.
“You don't think that's a coincidence.”
“No.”
“Do you think she knows something?”
“I think she's hiding something.”
Luca smiled.
“You noticed.”
Adrian frowned.
“I'm not blind.”
“No. You're just usually terrible at noticing women.”
Adrian gave him a warning look.
Luca held up his hands.
“I'm just saying.”
“Do your job.”
Luca turned toward the door.
Then stopped.
“There is something else.”
“What?”
“The person who accessed the Carter file three years ago didn't use an employee ID.”
Adrian's expression changed.
“What did they use?”
“Your grandfather's master authorization.”
Silence filled the room.
“My grandfather died six years ago.”
“I know.”
“Then how did someone use his authorization?”
Luca shook his head.
“We're trying to find out.”
Adrian stared at the folder.
Three years ago.
The same year Daniel Carter died.
The same year Elena disappeared from the city.
And now Elena had returned.
He didn't believe in coincidences.
Not anymore.
That evening, Elena stood in front of her bedroom mirror.
She had changed outfits three times.
She hated that she cared.
The black dress she'd chosen hugged her figure without being too revealing. Her hair fell loosely over her shoulders, and she wore simple earrings.
She stared at herself.
“You're going to dinner,” she muttered.
“Not a wedding.”
A knock came at the door.
She opened it.
And immediately regretted looking up.
Adrian stood outside.
Black suit.
White shirt.
No tie.
His eyes moved over her slowly.
For a moment, he didn't say anything.
Elena raised an eyebrow.
“Is something wrong?”
“No.”
“Then why are you staring?”
“I wasn't aware I was.”
“You were.”
Adrian's mouth curved slightly.
“You look beautiful.”
Elena wasn't prepared for that.
Her confidence disappeared for half a second.
“Thank you.”
His gaze remained on her.
Then he stepped aside.
“We should go.”
Elena grabbed her purse.
As she walked past him, his hand briefly touched her waist.
It was meant to guide her through the doorway.
Nothing more.
But the contact sent an unexpected warmth through her.
She looked at him.
He looked back.
Neither said anything.
Then Adrian removed his hand.
“Remember,” he said quietly. “Tonight, we're convincing everyone we're in love.”
Elena gave him a skeptical look.
“We're not even good at pretending yet.”
“Then learn quickly.”
The moment they arrived at the restaurant, cameras flashed.
Elena froze.
“You said dinner.”
“It is dinner.”
“You didn't mention the photographers.”
“I didn't think it was important.”
She turned toward him.
“Adrian.”
He leaned closer.
“You're my fiancée now.”
“That's not an excuse.”
“It will be in five minutes.”
Before she could respond, Adrian placed his hand against the small of her back.
The photographers immediately started shouting questions.
“Mr. Blackwood! Is she your fiancée?”
“When is the wedding?”
“How long have you been together?”
“Where did you meet?”
Elena looked at Adrian.
He looked completely calm.
Then he leaned toward her ear.
“Smile.”
“You're enjoying this.”
“Immensely.”
She smiled for the cameras.
Adrian's hand remained at her waist.
The gesture felt natural.
Too natural.
And Elena hated how much she liked it.
Inside the restaurant, Adrian pulled out her chair.
She sat.
“You're surprisingly good at this.”
“At what?”
“Pretending.”
He sat opposite her.
“Maybe I'm not pretending.”
Elena's smile disappeared.
“What does that mean?”
Adrian held her gaze.
“Nothing.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“You're dangerous.”
“So I've been told.”
Their waiter arrived, interrupting the moment.
Elena looked down at the menu.
But she could still feel Adrian watching her.
Halfway through dinner, Elena finally asked the question she'd been holding back.
“Your grandfather.”
Adrian looked up.
“What about him?”
“Was he close to Victoria Laurent?”
Adrian's expression became guarded.
“Why?”
“I'm curious.”
“That doesn't sound like curiosity.”
Elena put her glass down.
“You said we're going to be married. I should know something about your family.”
“That's reasonable.”
“So?”
“My grandfather did business with hundreds of people.”
“Victoria?”
“Yes.”
“Daniel Carter?”
Adrian paused.
“I told you. I don't remember him.”
“But your company has his files.”
“I know.”
“Someone hid them.”
“I know.”
“Someone accessed them three years ago.”
Adrian's eyes sharpened.
“How do you know that?”
Elena's heart skipped.
She had almost revealed too much.
“I heard you talking to Luca.”
Adrian watched her carefully.
“You listen at the doors?”
“When necessary.”
A small smile appeared.
“You're trouble.”
“So I've heard.”
For several seconds, they simply stared at each other.
Then Adrian leaned forward.
“Why does Daniel Carter matter so much to you?”
Elena's heart pounded.
There it was.
The question she had been avoiding.
“My father matters to me.”
“I understand that.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
His voice was softer now.
“My father died when I was young.”
Elena's expression changed.
She hadn't known that.
Adrian looked away.
“My grandfather raised me after that.”
For the first time, she saw something beneath the cold exterior.
Pain.
Real pain.
She hadn't expected it.
“I'm sorry,” she whispered.
Adrian looked back at her.
“Don't be.”
“I didn't know.”
“There are many things you don't know about me.”
Elena's chest tightened.
The same was true for him.
There were many things Adrian didn't know about her either.
Especially the biggest one.
I didn't marry you because I needed a husband.
I married you because I needed access to your world.
Later that night, they returned to Blackwood Estate.
Elena walked toward the stairs.
“Good night.”
“Wait.”
She turned.
Adrian stood several feet away.
“I have something for you.”
He held out a small black box.
Elena stared at it.
“What is this?”
“Open it.”
She hesitated before taking it.
Inside was a delicate diamond necklace.
Her eyes widened.
“Adrian…”
“It's for tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Our engagement announcement.”
She looked at him.
“You bought me a necklace for a fake engagement?”
“It's not fake to the public.”
“And to you?”
Adrian's eyes held hers.
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“Whether you keep looking at me like that.”
Elena's breath caught.
“Like what?”
“Like you're trying to figure me out.”
She forced a smile.
“Maybe I am.”
He stepped closer.
“Then be careful.”
“Why?”
“You might discover something you don't expect.”
His voice was low.
For a moment, Elena forgot how to breathe.
Adrian lifted the necklace from the box.
“Turn around.”
She hesitated.
Then turned.
His fingers brushed the back of her neck as he fastened the clasp.
A shiver ran down her spine.
He noticed.
Of course he noticed.
When she turned back, they were standing much closer than before.
Their eyes met.
Neither moved.
Then Adrian stepped away.
“Good night, Elena.”
She touched the necklace.
“Good night.”
She watched him leave.
And only when his footsteps disappeared did she whisper to herself—
“This is getting dangerous.”
The Same Night
Across the city, a man sat alone in a dark room.
A laptop glowed in front of him.
On the screen was a photograph of Elena.
Beside it was another photograph.
Daniel Carter.
The man picked up his phone.
“She accepted the marriage.”
A voice answered from the other end.
“Good.”
“And Blackwood has opened the Carter files.”
Silence.
Then—
“Then we have a problem.”
The man looked at Daniel's photograph.
“Should we stop them?”
“No.”
The voice became colder.
“Let them keep digging.”
“Why?”
A pause.
“Because eventually they'll find what Daniel left behind.”
The call ended.
The man smiled.
Then opened another file.
At the top were four words:
ELENA CARTER — SUBJECT
Underneath was a photograph Elena had never seen before.
It showed her father standing beside a woman.
Her mother.
And behind them—
Adrian Blackwood's grandfather.
The man whispered,
“They're going to find out eventually.”
He closed the file.
“But not yet.”
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