Ethan's office was massive, my mouth widened in surprise just as we got in.
The door clicked shut behind Elena and she felt trapped.
"Sit," Ethan said, gesturing to the chair across from his desk.
Elena sat down and opened her portfolio, determined to keep this professional. Her hands were shaking but she hid them in her lap.
"Mr. Blackwood, as outlined in my proposal, the charity gala will need..." She was saying but he interrupted her.
"How long have you been back in New York?" he said.
Elena's jaw tightened.
"Three months. Now, about the venue..."
"Three months." He leaned back in his chair, studying her for a while before he finally said
"And you didn't think to reach out?"
"Why would I?" The words came out sharper than she intended.
"You made it very clear five years ago that you wanted nothing to do with me." Elena hadn't intended to respond that harshly but she did anyways.
"I tried to find you," he said quietly.
"After you left. I looked everywhere."
Elena's heart stuttered but she forced herself to stay calm.
"Well, I didn't want to be found." She replied, looking away.
"Why did you leave?" He asked with his gaze still fixed on her and she could feel it.
"You fired me. Or did you forget?" She replied.
"I didn't forget anything." His voice was hard now. "I remember every single moment of that day. Every word I said to you and every look on your face."
Elena stood up abruptly.
"I'm not doing this. If you want to hire my company, fine. If not, I have other meetings."
"You're lying." Ethan stood too.
"I had you investigated. Your company is struggling and you need this contract."
Heat flooded Elena's face. It was anger and humiliation mixed together.
"You had me investigated?" She asked trying very much to sound normal.
"I investigate everyone I do business with."
"This isn't business!" Her voice rose despite herself.
"This is you trying to control everything like you always did!"
"Control?" Ethan moved around the desk toward her.
"You think I controlled you?" He asked.
"You fired me without explanation! You ended everything and threw me out like I was nothing!"
"My father gave me an ultimatum!" The words burst out of him.
"You or the company. He threatened to destroy your career, your reputation, everything. I thought I was protecting you."
Elena froze as the room now seemed to tilt.
"What?"
"I ended it to protect you," Ethan said, his voice raw now.
"I thought if I was cruel enough, you'd leave and never look back. You'd move on and be safe from him."
Elena couldn't breathe. It was five years of pain and anger were crashing over her, but she couldn't let him see it. She really couldn't let him know how much he'd destroyed her.
"It doesn't matter," she said, forcing her voice steady.
"That was five years ago. This is business. Do you want to hire me or not?"
Ethan stared at her for a long moment, then nodded slowly.
"Yes. I want to hire you."
"Fine." Elena sat back down, opening her portfolio with shaking hands.
"The gala is in eight weeks. Here's what I'll need."
They spent the next twenty minutes going over details, the venue, the catering, the guest list. Elena kept her voice professional and her eyes on the papers in front of her. Ethan asked questions and made notes.
It almost felt normal until his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen and his expression hardened.
"I need to take this."
"Of course."
Ethan answered, his voice immediately cold and business-like.
"Olivia."
Elena's stomach dropped at the name. Olivia Bennett, his fiancée. The woman he was supposed to marry.
"I'm in a meeting," Ethan said into the phone.
"Can this wait?" He paused, listening.
"No, I told you, the venue is already booked." Another pause, then his jaw clenched.
"Because I'm handling the charity gala personally this year."
Elena tried not to listen but it was impossible in the quiet office.
"That's not your concern," Ethan said, his voice getting colder.
"I'll see you tonight at dinner." He ended the call and tossed his phone on the desk.
"Sorry about that," he said, but he didn't sound sorry. He sounded irritated.
"Your fiancée?" Elena asked, hating herself for asking.
"Yes."
"Congratulations."
Ethan's eyes snapped to hers. "It's a business arrangement."
Elena felt something twist in her chest but she ignored it.
"None of my business." She replied casually.
"Elena..."
The office door suddenly opened and a woman walked in without knocking. She was tall and blonde and stunning in a way that made Elena feel small. She has on designer clothes, a perfect makeup, and one could immediately know she was luxury. It was Olivia Bennett.
"Darling, I know you said you were busy but..."
Olivia stopped when she saw Elena. Her smile didn't falter but her eyes went cold.
"Oh. I didn't realize you had company."
"I'm in a meeting," Ethan said flatly.
Olivia's gaze swept over Elena, assessing and dismissing her in seconds.
"This is the event planner?" She asked
"Yes. Elena Carter, this is Olivia Bennett." He replied not giving her a glance.
"Charmed," Olivia said, though her tone suggested otherwise. She turned back to Ethan.
"We need to discuss the seating arrangements for the gala. Mother insists on being at the main table."
"I'll handle it." He replied casually.
"And we need to coordinate our outfits. The press will be there and..."
"Olivia." Ethan's voice had an edge to it now.
"I'm in the middle of a business meeting. We'll discuss this later."
Olivia's smile tightened but she didn't leave. Instead, she walked over to Ethan's desk and perched on the edge, effectively positioning herself between him and Elena.
"I'm sure Ms. Carter won't mind," Olivia said sweetly.
"After all, I am the hostess for this event. I should be involved in the planning."
Elena felt a headache building behind her eyes. This was exactly what she didn't need, drama and complications.
"Actually," Elena said, gathering her papers, "I think we've covered everything for today. I'll send over the contract and we can schedule another meeting next week."
"Perfect," Olivia said before Ethan could respond.
"I'll make sure to attend that one as well."
Elena stood, holding her portfolio up and trying to stare into neither of their eyes.
"Mr. Blackwood, thank you for your time." She said, making to go.
"Elena, wait..."
But she was already moving toward the door. She needed to get out before she said something she'd regret. Before Olivia saw too much, before Ethan asked more questions she couldn't answer.
She made it to the elevator and pressed the button repeatedly, willing it to come faster.
"Ms. Carter!"
Elena turned to see Ethan's assistant, Jennifer, hurrying toward her with a folder.
"Mr. Blackwood wanted me to give you this," Jennifer said, slightly out of breath.
"It's the guest list and venue specs. He also authorized the fifty percent upfront payment. It should hit your account by end of day."
Elena took the folder.
"Thank you."
The elevator finally arrived and Elena stepped inside, grateful to be alone. She leaned against the wall and closed her eyes.
What had she just agreed to? Eight weeks of working with Ethan, of seeing him regularly, of pretending the past didn't exist. And now Olivia would be involved too.
This was a mistake. A huge mistake.
But she needed the money and she'd already signed off on it verbally. She couldn't back out now.
Elena's phone buzzed and it was a text from an unknown number.
"Don't think this is over. We need to talk. - E" was what it read.
She stared at the message, her heart pounding. Before she could respond, another text came through.
"And Elena? Stay away from Olivia. She's more dangerous than you think." It read again.
The elevator doors opened to the lobby and Elena stepped out, her mind racing. What did that mean? Why would Olivia be dangerous?
She was halfway across the marble floor when she heard her name being called. Elena turned to see a man in an expensive suit approaching her. He was older, maybe sixty, with silver hair and cold eyes that reminded her of a snake.
"Ms. Carter?" he said, his voice smooth.
"I am Richard Blackwood. Ethan's father."
Elena's blood turned to ice. This was the man who'd threatened to destroy her five years ago, the very man who'd forced Ethan to choose.
"Mr. Blackwood," she said carefully.
"I understand you're planning our charity gala," Richard said, smiling but it didn't reach his eyes.
"I wanted to introduce myself personally." He added
"That's very kind of you." She managed to say.
"I also wanted to give you some advice." He stepped closer and his voice dropped.
"My son has a tendency to confuse business with personal matters. I trust you'll keep things professional."
It wasn't a suggestion. It was a warning.
"Of course," Elena said, keeping her voice steady even though her heart was racing.
"I'm only here to do a job."
"Good." Richard's smile widened.
"Then we'll get along just fine. Welcome to Blackwood Enterprises, Ms. Carter."
He walked away toward the elevators, leaving Elena standing in the middle of the lobby.
Her phone buzzed again. This time it was Mia saying how did it go?????
Elena looked back at the building, at the gleaming tower where Ethan worked, where his father controlled everything, where she'd just agreed to spend the next eight weeks of her life.
She typed back quickly.
Got the contract. But we have a problem.
Another buzz, this time an email notification. Elena opened it and saw a bank transfer confirmation.
$75,000 deposited into Carter Events business account.
Fifty percent of the fee. Just like Ethan promised.
The money was real, the contract was real. There was no backing out now.
Elena walked out of the building into the bright New York sunshine. People rushed past her on the sidewalk, everyone busy with their own lives, their own problems.
She had eight weeks to plan a perfect gala. Eight weeks to keep her secrets hidden and eight weeks to survive being near Ethan without falling apart.
She could do this, she had to.
Her phone rang and it was an unknown number. Elena almost didn't answer but something made her pick up.
"Hello?"
"Elena Carter?" A woman's voice, professional but urgent.
"This is Karen Mills from Little Steps Preschool. I'm calling about your son Liam."
Elena's entire world stopped.
"What's wrong? Is he hurt?"
"No, no, nothing like that," Karen said quickly.
"But there's been an incident. A man came to the school today asking questions about him. About you. We didn't give him any information but I thought you should know."
"What man? What did he look like?"
"Older gentleman. He has silver hair and an expensive suit on. He said he was a family friend but we have protocols..."
"I'll be right there," Elena interrupted, already running toward the subway.
"Don't let anyone near my children. I'm coming now."
She ended the call, her hands shaking so badly she almost dropped her phone.
Richard Blackwood had found her children.
