CHAPTER 5
Marcus
The phone slipped from my fingers, the sharp click of the call ending echoing in my ears. I sat motionless in my office, staring at the cold, sterile screen of my computer. The city lights beyond my window blurred into a mix of golds and blues, and I felt a sick, gnawing weight in my stomach.
I should have known. I should have expected it. Elena had made it clear from the moment I saw her at that gala that she was done. The woman I once knew, the one I'd married and left, was gone ,replaced by someone colder, sharper, more determined. The fire I used to admire in her now burned in a different direction, one that didn't include me.
I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes, letting the tension in my shoulders spill out as I took a deep breath. The words she'd said still stung. They were like knives, each one piercing through a carefully built defense I had put in place over the years. "You made your choices, Marcus. I'm making mine."
Those words, like everything Elena did, held a finality that left no room for negotiation.
But I couldn't let it end this way.
I didn't want to be the villain in her story. Not again. But if I was being honest with myself, I had always been the villain in her eyes. Six years ago, I had made the worst decision of my life when I walked away from her and I hadn't been strong enough to fix it, not even when I tried.
I should have fought harder to explain. To show her that everything I had done, I did for us.
But I had been too afraid of losing control, of losing myself in the chaos. So, I made my choice, and it cost me everything.
I rubbed my face, the weight of regret pressing down harder than before. My entire life, the empire I had built none of it mattered if I couldn't fix what I'd destroyed with Elena.
I pulled out the letter she'd written me six months ago, the one that had ended with a simple, "I don't need you anymore." The words had been final, sure, but I couldn't stop thinking about them. And now, sitting here in the aftermath of our brief exchange earlier, I realized something. Elena hadn't forgiven me but she didn't hate me either. She was hurting. And that, in a twisted way, gave me hope.
But how could I fix this? How could I undo the damage?
I ran a hand through my hair and grabbed my phone again, staring at her name, daring to call her back. But my finger hovered over the screen, hesitating. What could I say? I didn't even know where to begin.
I'd been wrong. But that wasn't enough. I needed more than just regret. I needed to show her I was ready to do whatever it took to make things right. But how could I convince her to listen?
The answer came in the form of an unexpected ping from my assistant.
Avery: We have a problem.
I frowned. Avery didn't text me unless it was something urgent. I quickly typed a response.
Marcus: What's going on?
Avery: It's about the investigation. The one Elena's working on. It's bigger than we thought. We've been able to trace some of the transactions back to some shady offshore accounts. Whoever is running the operation is a lot more powerful than we anticipated. It could get dangerous.
I sat up straighter, my pulse quickening. Elena had been digging into my business? That didn't make sense. She was smarter than that she knew how to play the game. But to come after me directly, especially now? It wasn't just a personal vendetta. She was trying to bring down everything I'd worked for.
My stomach clenched.
Marcus: What do we do?
Avery: We need to stop her. She's not backing down, and she's got people helping her. I think she's got inside sources we don't know about. We can't let this spiral any further.
I stared at the screen, the weight of Avery's words crashing down on me. This wasn't just about me anymore. It wasn't just my past with Elena. This had the potential to bring down my entire company, and everything I had built.
I stood abruptly, pacing in the space between my desk and the window. Avery was right. Elena wasn't going to stop. She had a fire inside her now, a fire that burned hot and dangerous. And if she kept pushing, she was going to tear everything apart.
I had to stop her.
Not because I wanted to protect myself or my company. I needed to stop her because I couldn't let her destroy herself in the process.
I needed to fix things.
But where the hell do I even begin?
The next morning, I stood in front of my floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the sun rise over the city, painting everything in a brilliant golden light. It was a beautiful view, one I'd never really appreciated until now. The view from this office had always been a symbol of my success, of the life I had built, but today it felt like a prison.
I couldn't stop thinking about Elena. Every interaction with her felt like a battle, one I couldn't win, no matter how hard I tried. I had been a fool. I had thought I could control everything, that I could have everything. But life had a way of humbling you, and now I knew the truth: I was nothing without her.
My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. Avery entered without waiting for permission, her face tight with concern.
"We need to talk," she said, her voice flat.
I didn't respond immediately, still lost in the spiraling mess of my thoughts. I waved for her to continue.
She stepped inside, her eyes narrowing as she took a seat across from me. "It's getting worse. You're not the only one she's targeting."
I leaned forward, suddenly alert. "What do you mean?"
"People are starting to talk," Avery continued. "Word's getting out. Your past with Elena, the way you took down her father's company, it's all coming to light."
I clenched my jaw. "Who's spreading it?"
"A few of your former associates. They're all scared now that Elena's sniffing around, and they're willing to sell you out to cover their asses. Some of them are even making deals with her."
I stood, my hands braced on the desk as the realization hit me like a punch to the gut. Elena was more prepared than I'd ever given her credit for. She wasn't just a victim in this story anymore. She was a player, one that was willing to do whatever it took to bring me down.
I should have known. She'd always been ambitious, and always had a sharp edge beneath her calm demeanor. But what she didn't realize was that she was walking into a storm, one that she didn't understand. And I couldn't say no, I wouldn't let her destroy herself trying to destroy me.
"Get me everything on her," I said, my voice steady but laced with cold determination. "All of it. I want to know every move she's making."
Avery hesitated. "Are you sure about this? She's not going to stop. If we go after her—"
"I don't care," I snapped. "She's going to regret underestimating me. We're not going to let her take us down."
Avery nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. She knew what this meant. Elena had crossed a line, and now there would be no turning back.
But as I watched Avery leave, a gnawing feeling settled in my stomach. This wasn't just about protecting myself anymore. It was about saving her from herself.
Later that evening, I stood outside her townhouse, watching from a distance. The lights inside were dimmed, and I knew she was home. I couldn't help but wonder if she knew I was here, watching her. I wanted to reach out, to apologize, to explain everything.
But I couldn't. Not like this.
Not while she was still so angry, still so consumed by the need for revenge.
There was a way forward, I told myself. There had to be. I just needed to find it before it was too late.
I didn't know how to fix what I had broken, but I would find a way.
Even if it meant facing my worst fears.