Chapter 4
Xavier's assistant burst into the doorway, panting heavily, his eyes wide with shock as he took in the scene. He looked like he'd just seen a ghost.
"M... Mrs. Delacroix! Mr. Delacroix, he..."
"Just in time," Eliza said, shaking her phone. "Take a few pictures for me."
She stood up, walked over to the group of male models, and casually draped her hand over one of their arms.
The assistant's face turned as pale as a sheet. "Mr. Delacroix wouldn't think this is appropriate..."
"What's so inappropriate?" Eliza smirked. "Your boss can cozy up with his secretary all night, but I can't have a drink with my friends?"
"Now, take the pictures," she ordered. "And post them on your socials. Don't forget to tag the location."
The assistant's hands shook like a leaf, but he still managed to lift his phone.
Five minutes later, Eliza refreshed her socials and saw the photos the assistant had posted.
She was standing in the middle of a group of handsome men, a smile playing on her lips. The caption read: [Accompanying Ms. Carrington at a business event.] The location was tagged as Enchantment Club.
Almost immediately, her phone started buzzing like crazy.
Xavier's calls kept coming in one after another. She just put her phone on silent and tossed it straight into the champagne bucket.
"Alright, you guys can go now," she said, waving the male models off. "Get your tips from the manager."
After everyone left, Eliza stood alone by the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking out over the city.
When the door to the private room swung open again, she didn't even bother to turn around.
"Having fun?" Xavier's voice came from behind her, so hoarse it barely sounded like him.
Eliza caught his reflection in the glass. His tie was crooked, his hair a mess, and he was still clutching his car keys. He'd clearly raced over here.
"Not bad," she said, turning around and swirling her empty glass for effect. "Definitely more fun than sitting at home waiting for someone."
Xavier's eyes flicked from the phone bobbing in the champagne bucket back to her face. "Let's go home."
"Home?" Eliza let out a laugh. "Which home? The one you share with your other woman...?"
Her words were cut off by his sudden embrace.
Xavier crushed her in a hug, squeezing her so hard her ribs almost ached.
"I'm sorry," he whispered in her ear, his breath hot against her skin. "But I swear, nothing ever happened between me and her."
Eliza's expression darkened.
Xavier's embrace was still warm and familiar, the scent of sandalwood, her own choice for him, lingering on his skin.
But now, that scent only made her stomach turn.
She remembered three years ago at the company's annual party, when the marketing director, tipsy from too much wine, had tried to cozy up to Xavier.
How had he handled it back then?
He'd taken a polite step back and said loud enough for everyone to hear, "My wife is waiting for me at home." Then he shipped her off to a branch office the very next day.
And then there was that heiress at last year's charity gala, who tried to slip a hotel key into his pocket.
How had Xavier comforted her then?
He'd fed the key to the shredder in front of the whole crowd, and that same night, he took her to an auction and snagged her that ruby necklace she'd been dreaming about.
He always knew exactly how to handle these things, and he always knew how to cheer her up.
So why now, all he does is throw out a dry "Nothing happened"?
Eliza suddenly felt completely drained.
She pushed him away, not hard, but with enough resolve that he actually staggered back a step.
"Eliza..." A flicker of panic crossed Xavier's eyes as he reached out, trying to grab her again.
"If you say nothing happened, then whatever," Eliza said.
She didn't even want to keep this going with him anymore.
So honestly, she couldn't bring herself to care about it at all.
The car cruised toward the Delacroix estate, neon lights outside melting into a blur against the night.
Eliza sat huddled against the door, Xavier on the far side. The space between them was wide enough for two strangers to squeeze in.
"Eliza, don't be mad. Want some water?" Xavier offered.
Eliza stared out the window, not even turning her head.
When she kept ignoring him, Xavier quietly adjusted the AC, knowing she always got cold easily.
"The temperature's fine," Eliza finally said.
Xavier's hand hovered over the controls, but in the end, he just withdrew it without a word.
Neither of them spoke for the rest of the drive.
When the car finally pulled up in front of the Delacroix estate and the engine cut off, the silence inside was suffocating.
"Take Mrs. Delacroix inside," Xavier told the driver. "I've got some work to handle at the office."
Eliza pushed the door open and got out without even glancing his way.
Just then, her phone lit up with a reminder: [The third wedding anniversary.]
A sour ache twisted in Eliza's chest.
On this day in years past, he would've dropped everything just to be with her.
Forget it.
It was all over anyway. Anniversary or not, it didn't matter anymore.
Eliza locked her phone and went straight upstairs, not even hesitating.
In the bathroom, she robotically wiped off her makeup and cleaned up, letting the warm water run over her skin, but no matter how hot it was, it couldn't wash away the cold that clung to her heart.