In the arms of two sins

Chapter 20

Elias’s POV

“What about the board meeting, sir?” Richard asked the moment I sat down.

I loosened the button of my suit jacket, dropped into my chair, and picked up my pen.

“Cancel it.”

His eyes flew wide. “Cancel? But, sir—the internet is blowing up. The accident is everywhere. People are saying the anniversary…”

“That,” I cut in, “is the PR department’s job. And they are already handling it.”

“But…”

“Richard.” My voice dropped into a calm warning. “Focus on work. And get me the files that need my signature.”

He shut his mouth and hurried out.

A minute later, he returned with a stack of documents. I opened them and signed one after another, letting the silence drown every thought I refused to feel.

I refused to think about our kiss.

I refused to recall the accident.

I refused to remember her hand against my skin last night.

“Prepare my flight for tomorrow,” I said without looking up. “Full arrangements. I’m leaving for the Dubai trip.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Oh—and put this on Mrs. Lawson’s desk.”

I slid the sealed envelope toward him.

“Should I say anything?”

“No. Just drop it and go back to your office.”

I didn’t want explanations. I didn’t want questions.

I wanted distance.

He left again. I continued working, shutting down every thought that tried to break into my chest.

Hours passed.

My phone buzzed, Richard again.

“What now?” I asked.

“Sir, the doctor is here. He said you gave him permission to treat you in your office.”

“Yes. Send him in.”

Dr. Dan walked in with his briefcase.

“Mr. Lawson,” he greeted, “I didn’t expect you to be working after such incident.”

I didn’t answer. I simply rolled up my sleeve and watched him disinfect the gash along my arm. I didn’t flinch once.

“You should be resting,” he murmured. “Most men wouldn’t be standing after an impact like that.”

“I’m not most men.”

He moved to the bandage on my forehead, unwrapping and replacing it with careful fingers.

When he finished, he stepped back.

“You’ll be fine. Just avoid unnecessary stress.”

He turned to leave, but I stopped him with my voice.

“We’ll be meeting again soon.”

He paused, then turned slowly. “…Sir? Is something wrong?”

I lifted my eyes to his.

“Should there be something wrong with me wanting to see you again?”

He blinked rapidly. “…No. Of course not.”

He left stiffly, almost tripping over himself.

I didn’t miss that reaction.

My phone rang again.

I answered. “Talk.”

“Boss,” a deep voice said, “I was almost tailed days ago. Had to leave my apartment. Got a new one. I’ll send the address.”

A muscle in my jaw tightened. “Tailed by who?”

“No idea. Too clean. Too quiet. But I shook them off.”

“You’d better have.”

My voice turned colder. “And?”

“I’ve been spying on the old man at the burner shop like you asked. But so far? Nothing. Just an old man selling scrap.”

“He’s never ‘just’ anything,” I muttered. “Keep watching.”

“Understood.”

“I’ll be coming tonight.”

I hung up.

Night came quickly.

I left the office and drove alone to the new address he’d sent. The building was small, tucked in a street no one would care to glance at twice. He let me in and locked the door behind us.

The apartment was bare. No furniture. No signs of life. Perfect for hiding.

“You want this place or a bigger one?” I asked, glancing around.

“This is perfect for me,” he said.

I nodded. “How’s your brother?”

His expression softened instantly. “He’s… better. The new medications are helping. He can walk without holding onto walls now.”

“Good.”

“And… thank you.” His voice dropped, sincere. “Without your help, without the bills you paid, he wouldn’t be alive.”

I shrugged. “I should thank you. You helped me a lot after Philip’s death. Your brother will be fine. I’ll make sure of that.”

He smiled. “Still. I don’t take it for granted.”

“Don’t plan to.”

He swallowed hard, then steadied himself. “I’ll keep working. Harder. Just… don’t worry about my brother. I’ll manage.”

“You won’t,” I said. “I’ll send more money. Make sure he gets everything he needs, including you too.”

His eyes widened. “Boss”

“It’s not charity.”

My voice sliced clean through the room.

“You earned it.”

His jaw set. He nodded firmly. “Then I won’t fail you.”

“You better not. About the doctor. He must be hiding something, he must know something. He looked me straight in the eyes and lied last time.”

“I’ll keep an eye on him,” he promised.

“Good. I’m leaving. Be careful.”

“You too. That incident during the anniversary wasn’t ordinary. They’ll definitely try again to hurt you.”

“Then I should be ready for them" I said and left.

The drive back should have been calm.

It wasn’t.

Everything clawed at my mind—

Philip’s death.

The chandelier.

The threats.

The lies piling like smoke.

I turned the car around without thinking and drove to the cemetery.

The cemetery was quiet when I walked in, hands in my pockets, the cold settling into my thoughts.

I stopped in front of Philip’s grave, the cold wind tugging at my coat as if trying to push me back.

“How are you doing, brother,” I murmured, staring down at the stone. “It’s been years. I didn’t even get to see you before I came back. Your death… it was the only thing that dragged me home.”

I crouched, brushing away a leaf from the carved letters of his name.

“I’m trying,” I said quietly. “I’m trying to find out what happened. What they did to you. But the deeper I dig, the worse it gets. The more lies I find.”

A bitter laugh slipped from my lips. “Everything keeps getting messier.”

My chest tightened, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe.

My mind drifted—to her.

The way she looked at me that night. The way I let it happen.

I stood slowly, staring at the grave like it might answer me.

“I shouldn’t even be called your brother,” I whispered. “Not when I keep… crossing lines. Breaking every rule with her.”

My voice dropped, sharp with shame.

“We shouldn’t be anything. I shouldn’t have let it happen. I told myself it was wrong. That it was over.”

“But it doesn’t feel over.”

I clenched my fists. “And maybe that makes me weak. But I promise you… I’ll end it. I’ll fix this. You deserve better than what I’ve done.”

I stepped back, casting one last look at the grave before turning away.

“I’m sorry, Philip. For everything.”

Then I got in the car, the silence between each heartbeat louder than any words I could’ve said.

My phone buzzed.

A message.

> Hope you enjoyed your surprise at the anniversary.

Next time, it won’t miss.

I promise you that.

A slow, cold anger slid through me as my grip tightened on the steering wheel.