In the arms of two sins

Chapter 12

Elias POV

Mara stepped out from behind the dressing room curtain, testing the first of several gowns. Each one caught the light differently, clinging to her in ways that made my chest tighten with an ache I refused to acknowledge.

I sat back in the chair, arms crossed.

“Not this one,” I said flatly.

She twirled once, the fabric brushing her legs. “Too much?”

“Yes.” I didn’t elaborate.

She tried another — pale ivory, simple lines and elegant. I stayed silent. My eyes did all the reacting, but she didn’t understand my silence yet.

“Still not right,” I murmured.

Then came a royal blue one. Subtle beading, flattering neckline. She liked it; I could tell.

“I mean… it’s not bad,” she offered lightly.

I didn’t bother responding.

And then she stepped out wearing the emerald gown.

My breath caught without warning. The color deepened the copper in her hair, highlighted the curve of her waist, and made her look—no, made her impossible to look away from. I didn’t even realize I’d been staring until I noticed she’d been waiting for my verdict, standing still, brows raised.

“That one,” I said finally, my voice lower than intended.

Her eyes widened. “Really?”

“Yes.” I stood, shifting my gaze to the assistant instead of letting her see what the dress did to me. “We’ll take it.”

After the purchase, evening settled around the city, and we headed to the meeting. I felt her shift beside me in the car — quiet, nervous, her small hands clasped together. I wondered how I hadn’t noticed before how delicate she actually was.

“Uhmm…” I began. “Do you… like the dress?”

She glanced at me once, quickly. Then nodded.

I shouldn’t have felt relieved. But I did.

“About yesterday,” I continued carefully. “Don’t you think you should go to the hospital?”

She stiffened. Maybe she hadn’t expected me to bring it up.

“If you’re truly carrying my child, Mara, I’d—”

“I was mistaken,” she cut in softly. “I’m not pregnant.”

Silence hollowed out the space between us.

Part of me was relieved.

Part of me… irrationally… wasn’t.

“You don’t have to worry,” she whispered. “I wouldn’t want to put you or the company in any difficult position.”

I didn’t respond. I only turned toward the window, watching the blur of night lights, trying to quiet thoughts I had no business having.

The car rolled to a stop in front of the Grand Velora Hotel. I stepped out first and walked around to open her door.

She stepped out slowly, the hem of the emerald dress brushing her ankles.

She doesn't even realize how attractive she looked.

We were led to the Penthouse Restaurant on the top floor.

“Well, well. The great Elias Levant in the flesh. And—my God.

You must be the widow everyone’s talking about,” Rhys Callahan lit up the moment we entered.

“Mara, this is Rhys Callahan. Chicago’s most annoying client,” I said flatly.

“Ha! See? That’s why I like him,” Rhys grinned. “He tells the truth before dessert.”

When we sat, I pulled out Mara’s chair before taking mine. The servers arrived swiftly.

Rhys leaned back, eyes too bright. “I have to say, Elias—I’m impressed. Most companies implode after a CEO dies. But you… you walked into that office like you were born to run it.”

“The company is stable. The Chicago expansion will be completed before the new quarter,” I replied.

“That’s why I flew in. I want in on the South Loop project. Higher stake than before.”

“You already have twelve percent.”

“And I want fifteen,” he said unapologetically.

“Then you’ll pay for it. Nineteen.”

He blinked. “You’re joking.”

“I don’t joke in business, Rhys.”

He stared, then burst into laughter. “Now that is the man from the Zoom meeting. Confident as hell.”

“I don’t need confidence. I have leverage.”

He lifted his wineglass, impressed, then his gaze drifted to Mara again. Too long.

“Mara, have you ever visited Chicago? A woman like you—”

“Rhys.” My tone cut the table clean.

Mara swallowed, then whispered, “I’ll excuse myself for a moment.”

She left. Rhys’s eyes followed her retreating figure.

Something twisted in my stomach.

No man should be looking at her like that.

We continued the discussion, but after a few minutes, she still hadn’t returned.

“Please excuse me,” I muttered, already rising.

I walked into the restroom and found her at the sink, breathing slowly.

“Are you okay?” My voice softened unintentionally.

She froze, eyes wide when she turned. “Elias…”

“I just wanted to check.”

Her lips parted, but she didn’t speak. Her gaze lingered on my mouth before she snapped herself out of it.

“I’m okay. I’m fine. We should go.”

“No. Stay a little.”

She tensed up but obeyed, not meeting my eyes.

“You… look very pretty tonight,” I murmured.

She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

I found my gaze dropping to her lips, a dangerous impulse I had no right to entertain.

When did she begin affecting me like this?

She exhaled shakily. “We shouldn’t keep the client waiting.”

I stepped back, forcing control.

The contract was eventually signed. Dinner ended. The air between Mara and me was thick and unspoken all the way back to the mansion.

When we arrived, I got out first and walked straight to my room. If I stayed near her a moment longer, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to keep the distance I needed.

I loosened my tie, falling back onto the bed.

I wasn’t supposed to feel any of this.

Not for her.

My phone buzzed snapping me back to reality.

An unknown number.

I frowned and opened the message.

> "You’re digging too deeply into Philip.

The same mistake that killed him.

If you don’t stop, you’ll end up the same way, buried before you ever see it coming."

Who the hell is this!!!