Then, out of nowhere, Elena corners me in the deserted break room. She looks pale, eyes rimmed red. Without preamble, she says, "He's finalizing the overseas deal. Wants me to fly out next month to 'preview' the new headquarters."
A chill knifes through me. "Next month?" It's happening faster than we feared. "Are you going with him?"
She shrugs, her voice trembling. "He doesn't really give me a choice. Lucas, I can't stand it." A tear slides down her cheek. My chest tightens. This is the first time I've seen her cry, and it tears down the seductive mask she usually wears.
A "WTF" moment hits me like a punch: I can't just watch her be dragged away. But what can I do? She's the wife of a powerful man, I'm just an employee. I gently place a hand on her shoulder. She leans into me for a moment, eyes shut, as if trying to memorize the sensation.
Suddenly, the door opens. A colleague steps in. We jerk apart. Elena straightens, wiping her cheek. The colleague frowns, suspicious. My stomach churns. We're running out of places to hide.