Chapter 2
Two Weeks Ago…
Elias put on his shoes and was ready to leave for what would be yet another monotonous day at work.
“Take your lunch at least, sweetheart,” Mia’s voice came from behind him before she emerged from the kitchen.
“No need, I will—” Elias began to say, but then his gaze fell on the lunchbox the other was holding and the apron she was wearing over her yellow dress. When did Mia learn to cook?
“I made it just for you,” Mia insisted, smiling brightly.
Elias took it wordlessly and turned to leave again, but Mia stopped him again. “Wait.”
As soon as he turned, Mia leaned forward and kissed him. “Just wanted to give a goodbye kiss,” she murmured as if the action wasn’t an explanation.
Elias managed a small smile, an expression he had mastered over the years before finally leaving.
~~~~
Mia got busy with household chores and planned to get a headstart with her new freelance project.
She hummed the latest song she had been listening to while cleaning the kitchen counter. A small twinge in her lower back made her correct her posture. However, she smiled giddily as she remembered how rough Elias was last night.
Her phone rang, putting her more lascivious thoughts on hold.
It was Jax.
“Oh, look, someone remembered that they have a best friend,” Mia said as soon as she answered the call.
“Someone’s in a good mood,” Jax replied teasingly, completely ignoring the earlier jab.
Mia giggled like a schoolgirl. Jax answered with a snort.
“The source of your good mood is only one person – Elias,” Jax said.
“Who else? He is my one and only,” Mia chirped as she hopped on the counter, the cleaning rag forgotten on the floor.
“Anyway, enough about my husband. Why did you call?” Mia asked, swinging her legs.
“She is back in town,” Jax replied after a brief silence.
The happy mood instantly evaporated. Mia knew who her best friend meant by ‘she’.
She felt panic rise in her chest. “What?”
“Yes, so keep an eye on that husband of yours from now on,” Jax murmured, sounding anything but playful.
Mia didn’t even realize when the line went dead or when she lowered the phone from her ear. In her mind, the only thought that now swirled was that Lena was back.
And Mia knew what power she held.
That spurred her into action. She dialled Elias' number. The man picked up on the second ring.
“Where are you?” Mia couldn’t even hide the tremble in her voice.
“Mia? What's wrong?” Elias' calm reply came from the other end.
“N-nothing…just…can you come home early today? I….I want to go on a date!” She tried hard to sound whiny. She didn’t want to make Elias suspect anything.
“I…will try,” he heard his husband say.
“No…please. We haven’t gone on a date for so long,” Mia said, not backing down like she usually would.
“...Okay, I will make arrangements,” Elias said after a few moments of silence.
“You’re the best, sweetheart. I love you,” Mia chirped, a bit surprised by Elias' acquiescence.
“Me too.” She heard the usual response before the man ended the call.
Cleaning and other tasks forgotten, Mia went to their bedroom. Although they wouldn’t be meeting before 6, she wanted to be ready and look pretty.
She tried… she really tried to push back the unpleasant memories, but the more she tried, the more memories surfaced.
~~~~
Lena, the fact that she would return after the humiliation and warnings she had received, was beyond Mia’s imagination. And honestly, she had to applaud her ex-friend for that.
“Even after the pain Jax and I went through to get him out of the city,” she muttered to herself as she slathered a scented liquid soap across her arms.
Her memories took her back to the time when Lena attracted attention as soon as she joined university, which was how she had garnered the formidable younger son of the Black family’s attention.
“I’m going to ask him out one of these days,” Lena had said one evening while they were having pizza at a local diner.
The comment still made her seethe with fury.
From that evening, her perspective on Lena had shifted slightly. But she hadn’t given much attention to that statement.
She knew from personal experience that Elias would detest anyone pursuing him. She had tried several times and failed every time.
However, the night she saw them kiss at the farewell party, she completely stopped seeing Lena as a close friend.
Her phone dinged, bringing her back to reality. He dried his hand with a hand towel before picking up the phone that lay on the stand beside the bathtub.
It was Jax’s text >> Lena has had a Cinderella effect without the Prince Charming. She hasn’t just returned; she has returned as a rich woman. She is now the CEO of Barrow Tech, a leading software company.
Mia let out a shuddering breath as she typed: “Ok” and put the phone on the stand.
The chances of Lena meeting Elias were higher right now because she had heard Elias speaking about some deal that Azure Enterprises was going to sign with a software company.
It couldn’t be Barrow Tech, right? There were other software firms too…And why would Lena willingly sign a deal with the company whose former CEO had insulted her and called her names?
Mia shivered even though the water was lukewarm.
Elias wouldn’t leave her, right? Not after the love she showered on the other man?
Mia had been there for Elias at his lowest, loved him, and cared for him as no one would. She was devoted to the man. Furthermore, Elias also showered her with gifts, actively fucked her, and…maybe even loved her if his subtle actions were anything to go by?
‘But he never said he loved you. Ever,’ her traitorous mind supplied. She pushed back the thought.
‘No…he wouldn’t leave me. Not for her, not for anyone,’ Mia thought, chanting the words like a prayer.
~~~~
Elias slowly let out a breath. He didn’t know why he was so jittery today, but he felt as if this were his first day in the company. He was the CFO, for God’s sake.
Maybe it had something to do with the call earlier. Mia sounded worried. Elias frowned.
He wanted to know what upset his wife, but then he dismissed the thought when he remembered how she had perked up when Elias agreed to go on a date.
Sending a text to his secretary to book a table for two, he put his phone on DND and pocketed it.
As soon as he entered the boardroom, his breath hitched.
He never thought he would ever see her, never thought that he would see her in his office. But there she was, standing in a black pencil skirt and burgundy blouse, the outfit standing out just like her personality.
“Long time no see, Mr. Black.” Lena smiled.