The elevator dinged open and Elara walked out, hurrying toward her private apartment. Balancing the box in one arm, she fumbled with the keys and shoved one into the keyhole.
She placed the box on the coffee table and stared at it like it was a ticking bomb. Could it be? Her mind replayed the way he had laughed on the phone earlier that day, that deep and amused sound. Like he was cooking up revenge for her refusals.
The man was truly insane and…alluring.
Cautiously, Elara backed into the kitchen and grabbed the mop from the corner. Returning to the living room, she extended the mop handle and poked the box from a safe distance.
Nothing happened.
She exhaled, then decided to take a more aggressive approach. She let out a short shriek and began smacking the box repeatedly with the mop.
When she finally stopped, she was panting heavily. Her arms were a little sore, and the box was slightly battered but still intact. No explosion, no ominous ticking, no puff of smoke.
Maybe it wasn't a bomb after all.
Elara edged closer and pried open the lid an inch, peering inside like she expected something to jump out at her. Instead, she saw an exquisite fabric.
Elara frowned and opened the box fully, pulling out a dress. It was a beautiful, sequined green dress with a halter neck. The fabric shimmered under the light of her living room.
As she lifted the dress, a small note fluttered to the floor. Elara bent to pick it up and read the words aloud:
"This will complement your hair." She murmured. "I hope you'll honor the invitation and attend the gala tonight."
"Go to the hair salon I reserved," it continued. " My driver will take you. With love, Leo Watson."
Elara blinked, totally speechless. She had no comeback for his cheekiness.
"The audacity of this man!"
Elara let out a frustrated groan and dropped the note on the coffee table. She was going to lose her mind!
Her life had spiraled into a ridiculous mess; a mess where she was being forced to attend a gala she didn't want to attend, because of a man she didn't even remember getting married to.
Meanwhile the man she actually loved wasn't even answering her calls.
Elara picked up her phone and tried calling Joshua again yet it went straight to voicemail. Her chest ached at the thought of him. Would he even believe her if she got the chance to explain? Or had she already lost him for good?
Her heart constricted even further.
Shaking her head, Elara shoved the dress back into the box. She had no choice but to go to that stupid gala. She needed answers, and the only person who could give them to her was the man orchestrating this entire nightmare.
With a huff, Elara stomped toward the bathroom. If she was going to do this, she might as well take a shower first. Her head needed it. her nerves needed it. Hell, her entire existence needed it.
The memory gap she have been battling with since the last time they met, resurfaced even more strongly like a red open wound.
**
Elara arrived at the Dunes Event Centre, As Leo had instructed. The time was about 7:00 PM. It was the luxurious sight of power and wealth, enough to shake even someone as accomplished as her.
However, she couldn't care less. None of it mattered.
The place was packed, a sea of beautifully dressed people chatting and sipping champagne. At the far end of the room a man stood on stage, delivering a speech.
"Tonight, we gather not just as business leaders, but as a community and a family. In times like this, unity and solidarity are what helps us. A future built not on power alone, but on trust and on integrity. Let us remember that we are not competitors; we are allies."
The room erupted into applause, but Elara barely heard it. She snatched a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and downed it in one go. If she was going to get through this night, she needed alcohol and lots of it too.
Elara looked around in desperation, trying to catch any sight of him but he was nowhere to be found.
She scanned the opulent room from the grand entrance, then slowly her eyes finally landed on that tall, well-built figure that she could easily and weirdly pick out from any crowd.
It was Leo himself.
He was standing at the entrance, looking unnervingly posh in a tuxedo. And in that instant, the sight of him hit her with an unexpected force. She gasped, blinking twice as if blown into a trance.
This wasn't about the beauty of the place or the man, rather, it was because the sight of him had triggered that sensation she had experienced when she first saw him at the restaurant.
It was the feeling of seeing someone she had met before. But How? When? Where? She shook her head slightly, striving to maintain her composure and focus.
His expression stayed neutral, carrying his typical air of herstique. Finally, she approached him.
"I'm here. Now start talking."
Leo's gaze deliberately and slowly accessed what she was wearing, and the action nearly made her betray herself with a blush. But she held his gaze, refusing to switch.
Finally, his eyes met hers, then he smirked.
"Patience, Mrs. Watson." After that, he offered her his arm, "Shall we?"
She opened her mouth to protest, to demand answers, but something in his eyes held her captive. With the distinguished guests still around them, causing a scene was probably not the best option.
Reluctantly, Elara placed her hand on his arm, and he led her further inside. As they moved deeper into the hall she saw something that suddenly made her stop, causing Leo to halt as well…two familiar figures.
Elara was engulfed with emotions she had been suppressing since the incident. An urge to cry and the relief of finally seeing someone to vent to. She yanked her hands away from Leo and took brisk steps towards her parents amidst bumping into people, mumbling apologies to them as she walked past them.
Yes, her parents were here too!
Elara was sure they must have known about everything. When she reached her mother, she collapsed into the chair beside her. She turned to Elara and smiled.
"Oh, darling, that dress looks divine on you. It really brings out the color of your hair."
Elara gritted her teeth at her. " Some egoistic-"
"Language, Lena," Mrs. Clarksville chided, taking a dainty sip of her drink.
Elara clenched her fist before turning to her mother again. "You won't believe what's been happening to me. That Watson devil lunatic named Leo Watson is claiming I'm married to him. There's a contract, her lawyer says it's legit, and I have no idea how it happened! I..."
" Easy, sweet," her mother chided.
Elara took a breath, searching their faces for shock, concern, outrage or anything at all. But they just smiled. And in unison, they said,
"We know."
Her mouth fell open. "You... WHAT?"