Elena's pov
I didn't sleep a wink the whole night. Mariana left, but Rio stationed one of his guards right outside the door. Of course, we had a screaming match about it, and he ended up winning ,but I also understood it's for a bigger purpose.
I lightly clean the apartment. It's almost 7 a.m. Sam is still asleep, she woke up a few minutes ago, I got her painkillers, and she went back to sleep.
I drag myself back to the couch. I sigh, face in my hands. My knee bounces as I try to figure out what exactly I'm supposed to do now. All this is getting out of hand, and I have never felt so trapped in my life.
I grab my phone, switching it on. I read through the notifications that pop up,some from the office, and also from Rio. I read through the ones Margo sent about work, and I ignore Rio's thirteen messages. I wonder what that's all about but it's too damn early for me to deal with his bs.
I scroll through my contacts and call the one person I can think of. My aunt.
She picks up on the first ring.
"Hey, El…" her usual bubbly voice calls from the other end, flooding me with relief.
"Hey, aunty…" I say, voice tired as I slam my head back on the armrest, looking up at the ceiling.
"What's going on, pumpkin? You don't sound okay,talk to me." Her voice shifts, full of concern.
"Well, crazy shit has happened since I flew back. And I think I'll come over soon again—alone this time. I called to ask one thing though…" I say, eyes closing as Hunter's face flashes in my mind again.
"Go on, you can ask me anything…"
"Do you know anyone who goes by the name Hunter?" I ask. Even saying it makes my skin erupt in goosebumps.
I hear her breath catch. She goes silent for so long I think she hung up.
"Aunty, you there?" I ask, sitting up straight on the couch.
"Uh… y-yeah, I am. Sorry, it's just… the name is very… uhm… specific," she stammers, and my eyes narrow.
"You know him?" I ask, already standing up.
"Yeah… listen, this conversation will be better off in person," she says.
"Uhm… well, I can fly to Texas—" I start, but she cuts me off.
"No, no sweetheart. I'll come to New York. It's been a while, actually. I'd love to come instead."
"Well… alright then. Looking forward to seeing you," I say, walking toward the bedroom.
"Okay, I'll tell you when I'm coming. Bye, pumpkin." She hangs up.
I stand in front of the bedroom door and feel a shift,not a good one. Something tells me her visit won't come with sunshine and rainbows.
I step inside to find Sam awake now.
"Hey, how you feeling?" I ask, forcing a smile as I walk up to her and sit next to her.
She looks better.
"I feel better," she yawns, stretching. I nod.
"Okay, well I'm gonna get ready for work. You going today?" I ask, walking to the closet to look for an outfit.
She flops down with a groan.
"Well, yeah. I'm feeling better, I just hope I don't get kidnapped by some freak," she snorts, and I giggle at how Sam is getting used to the chaos that comes with being my best friend.
"Rio has men following us around. I think we'll be fine," I say, grabbing an outfit.
For the next hour, we get ready for work together, and for a moment, we just talk about normal stuff—her job, my job, how she's handling all that Jacob mess. She tells me she's over him, and I've never been more proud of her.
"I'll have coffee at the office. Bye, Sam. Take care," I say, hugging her and slinging my bag over my shoulder.
She hugs me back as she goes to fix herself some breakfast, insisting she doesn't like the coffee flavors at the restaurant she works on .
She lets me drive her car again, and I make a mental note to get my own since it's just sitting in the garage of my previous apartment. I've been too busy to go get it.
The drive to the office is quiet, with one of Rio's assigned guards trailing behind me at a respectful distance.
"Hey, Margo…" I greet as I step into the lobby and head to the reception. She rounds her desk to hug me as usual, and I hug her back.
"Hey, El… early today," she says with a smile, pushing her glasses up her nose.
"Yeah, well… with the shitload of work this week, I have to put in extra hours."
"Well, Rio is early too. He just came in a few minutes before you," she says, almost in a whisper. Mariana probably filled her in on everything that's been happening.
"Okay. See you around," I say over my shoulder, walking to the elevator.
I step inside and lean against the glass, I fluff my hair since I have it down today, it adds a touch to my look today . The elevator takes me up to the eighteenth floor. I hope this day goes smoothly—no drama.
The doors ding open. I step out and head to my office. I barely place my bag down when the office phone rings. My heart skips a beat, I know it's him.
I answer with shaky hands, hating that he still has this effect on me.
"Yeah?" I ask with a sigh.
"Coffee and the contract with Lee Enterprises," he says, then hangs up.
I slap on my business-mode face, grab the contract, print his schedule, and head to the break room to fix his coffee.
Deep breath.
I stand outside his door holding a lot of things. Coffee in one hand, documents in the other. I somehow manage to knock.
"Come in," his deep voice calls.
His face is buried in his laptop, and I note he looks better than he did during the container incident. Back then he looked like shit.
I shut the door with a click. His head shoots up. His eyes drag over me ,the blouse, the red tight skirt, the Louboutins.
I ignore the way that stare burns through me.
I place the coffee down, hand him the contract and his schedule, and turn to leave.
"Elena," he says ,low, deep, raspy. I freeze and turn around.
"Yeah?" I ask.
"You're not reading my schedule out for me today?" he asks, tone neutral , eyebrow cocked as he swings on his chair .
My fists tighten behind my back.
"No, sir. It's not much ,you can read it yourself," I say with a polite, poisonous little smile.
His jaw ticks. His face drops into a scowl.
"Excuse me," I say, turning for the door.
"Who's Hunter?" he asks ,loud enough for me to hear.
I halt.
I don't turn around.
My heartbeat is in my ears.
My palms go sweaty.
How did Rio know about Hunter?
And why does his voice sound like that?
Like he's mad.
Or jealous.