In the arms of two sins

Chapter 24

Elias POV

Business first.

That was the mantra I repeated to myself as I sat in the glass-walled conference room, the morning sunlight reflecting off the polished surfaces, glinting faintly in the metal nameplates before me.

But thinking about her was a mistake, one I kept making.

Those thoughts weren’t harmless. They pulled me off balance.

I didn’t need that.

Still, my mind kept drifting back to her…

wondering how she was holding up back there,

wondering if she was fine.

The investors from China, South Korea, and Dubai had come for a multibillion-dollar joint partnership. After tense negotiations, contracts and assurances, the deal was sealed, trillions in projected revenue, equity finalized, and the Dubai representative, Amira Al-Farouq, would accompany me to New York to oversee integration.

The evening continued with a celebratory dinner. Soft chandelier light glimmered across the polished table, and the smell of roasted meats and rich sauces filled the air. I held a glass of red wine, letting the taste linger as I tried to push other thoughts aside.

I didn’t expect her to affect me this much. I wanted to focus on business, to despise distractions. Yet a part of me resisted.

Then Amira appeared at my side. Quick. Confident.

“You make this look easy,” she said, her voice low and smooth. She leaned slightly closer, and the subtle scent of jasmine trailed behind her. “All these discussions… it must be exhausting.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Business is business. Fatigue is optional.”

She laughed softly, letting her hand brush against the back of her chair just enough to seem deliberate. “So… you enjoy working all the time, or you never rest?”

I smirked but stayed in my seat. “A little of both. And you? Chasing deals across continents, does it wear you out?”

Her smile was playful. “It depends on the company,” she said lightly. “Some people make long nights… much more interesting, like you.”

I froze, sensing her flirtation. She wasn’t touching me, not yet, but the suggestion was clear. I took a slow sip of wine, keeping my face neutral.

“Amira,” I said finally, my tone calm but firm, “I appreciate your company, but let’s keep this professional. We have important work in New York.”

She leaned back, her eyes holding mine just a little too long. “Professional, of course… but it doesn’t hurt to enjoy the evening.”

Before I could respond, my phone buzzed. Richard’s text.

I glanced at the screen, and my chest tightened before I even opened the message.

A new scandal was spreading fast, tainting the company’s name. Beneath it, a post showed Mara and David in a personal, intimate moment. Comments flooded in, some insisting they were dating, others arguing it must have been from the past, claiming they were just exes. The speculation, rumors, and judgment swirled online, growing louder by the second.

Amira noticed my frown. “Are you all right, Mr. Lawson?” she asked softly.

I didn’t respond. My fingers clenched the glass until it slipped through my grasp, shattering softly on the floor. Without a word, I strode away from the table, leaving her startled and the curious eyes of other diners trailing me.

Back in my suite, the storm inside me raged harder. It wasn’t just the scandal that ignited me, it was the picture itself. She’d claimed they weren’t close… So what was this?

I grabbed my phone and dialed without hesitation.

“I’m sure you’ve seen the news,” I said, voice low and cutting. “Find out who posted it. I need their contact. And get that picture down. Immediately.”

“Yes, boss. Right away,” came the crisp reply.

Minutes later, I stepped into the cold shower, letting the water crash down over me as I pressed my fists against the tiles.

I wanted to believe nothing was happening between them.

Nothing beyond what she claimed.

But that picture…

How close had they truly been?

Had they kissed?

Is there more to it?

The thoughts burned through me.

I’d been avoiding her before I travelled,

and there was a reason.

My mind pulled me back to the morning after the anniversary.

I had gone to check on her.

She had come to my room the night before, her hand almost touching my face,

and I had pretended to sleep, because the rush that shot through me was something I wasn’t supposed to feel.

When I went to her room the next morning, she was gone.

The room was empty.

The mansion was silent.

I almost turned to leave… until I noticed an envelope on the edge of her bed.

Dr. Dan’s name printed on it.

My chest tightened immediately.

I opened it.

It was Philip’s autopsy report.

My hands trembled before I even read the first line.

Cause of death: arsenic toxicity.

Secondary findings consistent with administration of a paralytic agent, succinylcholine, via injection to the upper arm.

Clear documentation.

Clear photographs of the injection site.

Clear notes from the examiner:

Angle of entry indicates deliberate administration.

Timing suggests intentional delivery before collapse.

Every word felt like a blow.

Nothing about it says natural causes just like Dr. Dan had told me.

Philip was murdered as I had suspected and she's the reason he's dead.

Mara Lawson

The real murderer