chapter 21 : Frost - POV
"What did you say, Elena? Who's stuck in the elevator?"
Elena-my secretary-fidgeted. "Your wife, Coccette, sir."
I almost panicked. "Are you sure it's her inside?"
"Yes," she replied. "I saw her enter with Alaric, and then the elevator made a loud boom."
I shot up from my desk. "Boom? And with Alaric inside??"
Alaric is practically my brother. He would never do something I'd disapprove of.
So why am I even worried that my supposed wife is with a man in an elevator? Normally, I don't care about her...
Elena continued, "Sir, I already called the technician."
"Good, Elena. And which elevator are they stuck in?"
"The main entrance one."
I rushed there immediately and found the repairman already working.
"How long will it take?" I asked.
"A few minutes, sir. Don't worry about your wife-I heard she's in there."
I only nodded.
Anika came up behind me. "Morning. What's all this noise? What's happening?"
I smiled politely. "Morning, Anika. The elevator broke down. Coccette is inside."
She gave me that devilish smile, leaned close, and whispered,
"Well... if she dies in there, or has a panic attack, it's still better than us planning to kill her ourselves, right, baby?"
My eyes darkened.
She wasn't joking. Not after what she said The other day ?.
Did she have something to do with this? Is this an accident... or her plan?
If she had come to me days ago and said, Let's kill Coccette, I might have let her. I loved Anika that much.
But now...
Now I can't imagine hurting Coccette.
I whispered back coldly, making sure no one heard,
"Don't joke about this, Anika. We don't play with people's lives. We get what we want without killing anyone."
Her smile disappeared. "Yes, but if she doesn't give up... it will happen."
She turned away. "I'll be in my office, Frost."
I nodded, but inside...
Anika...
Since when are you this evil?
Or were you always like this, and I was just blind because I loved you?
The worker approached. "It's repaired, sir."
The elevator doors slowly opened-
and I froze.
Coccette jumped away from Alaric.
Why did she jump?
Did something happen between them?
Or was she just scared and clinging to him?
But why is her face so red?
Then I looked at Alaric-sweating, his face red too.
Maybe Alaric had a claustrophobic panic attack.
He's always been terrified of closed spaces after what his father did to him as a child...
Alaric looked directly at me.
Coccette stepped out quickly and told the worker, "Thanks for your help, sir."
"Coccette, are you-" I began.
But she looked at me, then disappeared without a word.
I wanted to ask her if she was okay...
Alaric stepped out slowly, thanked the worker as well, then turned to me.
"You okay, bro?" I asked.
He nodded. "Yeah... don't worry. It was just my panic attack. Coccette helped me."
He lowered his eyes.
I nodded, but something twisted inside my chest.
What happened in there?
Did something really happen...
or am I hallucinating?
No, Frost.
Alaric is your brother.
He would never-
Trust him.
---
Coccette - POV
No, no, no-what the hell just happened?!
I ran straight to Betha's office, my face still burning.
I slammed her door open.
Betha, who was eating chips at her desk, jumped in fear.
"What the hell, Coccette?! You enter my house like it's yours, and now my office?! Want me to teach you how to knock?"
She stood up, knocked twice on the already open door, and said, "Like this."
Then she finally noticed my face. "Why are you so red? Are you sick?"
"It's not the time, Betha. Something happened-"
She laughed. "As always. What now? Did Anika lose her mind? Did Frost hear about the French investors coming to Ray Company?"
I shook my head. "Not yet... but what happened is worse, Betha."
"Okay, speak already."
I inhaled sharply, my cheeks burning hotter with every word.
"Alaric... he kissed me."
She blinked. Twice. "Who's Alaric? Did I miss a chapter?"
Right... I never introduced Alaric to her.
"He's Frost's manager. And his best friend."
Betha's jaw dropped. "His what?! When? How did this happen?"
She paused, looked at me, then smirked.
"At least... is he handsome?"
I rolled my eyes. "Betha, be serious! He kissed me. In the elevator!"
She grinned like a maniac. "Ooh, the elevator. So romantic." She made an exaggerated kiss sound. "How did it taste?"
I pushed her, laughing despite myself. "Betha! He is Frost's best friend!"
"And you let him kiss you..."
I froze.
Yes.
I did let him.
I don't know why, but with Alaric, the tension between us is always so... high.
"It was a mistake, Betha."
She rolled her eyes. "If it was a mistake, you wouldn't have run here breathless to tell me."
She had a point...
"It's just-" I sighed. "Nothing will happen between us. He's Frost's best friend, and I'm married. It's literally forbidden."
"Yeah, well not more forbidden than Frost sleeping with your stepmother..."
Another point for Betha.
I exhaled and dropped into her chair.
"I need to avoid him. My plan is to get my revenge, not to find a man."
Betha shrugged. "Why not both? And if you find one for me too, I'll be happy."
I laughed. "Bethaaa..."
"And when you see this Alaric again, call me. I need to see him." She winked.
I shook my head.
"I'm going to avoid him as much as possible. So you won't see him anytime soon."
Betha smirked. "Yeah right. I totally believe that..."
I rolled my eyes, annoyed by her stubbornness-
and because she was mostly right.
We work in the same company.
Avoiding him forever will be... impossible