Chapter 10: Fractures in the Façade
The next morning, Elara woke with a sense of unease that had settled deep in her bones. The silence in the penthouse was suffocating, the kind of silence that spoke louder than any argument could. It had been hours since they returned from the gala, but Lucien hadn't said a word to her since.
She stood by the large windows in the living room, staring out at the cityscape, her thoughts swirling like the clouds above. The world seemed unchanged, untouched by the small cracks forming in her marriage. But she felt them—the subtle shifts, the increasing tension, the unbearable weight of a relationship that wasn't built on love but on obligation.
A soft chime interrupted her thoughts.
It was a message from Lucien. Her eyes flicked over the screen, reading his terse words.
Meet me at the office. We need to discuss the next phase of the merger.
Elara scoffed, her fingers gripping the edge of the phone tighter than she intended. Always business. Always the empire. As if nothing else mattered.
She sent a quick reply, her fingers tapping out the words without thinking.
I'll be there.
---
Lucien's Office
The building was as imposing as ever, and as Elara stepped into Lucien's office, she couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed between them. She had been here countless times before, but this time it felt different. The walls seemed to close in around her, the air thick with unspoken tension.
Lucien was standing by the large window, his back to her, looking out over the city. His usual composed self, but there was something off in the way he held himself, as if he was bracing for something.
"Elara," he said without turning, his voice detached. "Glad you could make it."
She didn't answer immediately, taking a moment to study him. She had grown accustomed to his cold demeanor, but today, it felt almost... fragile.
"Something's wrong," she said, her voice softer than she intended.
Lucien didn't respond, but she saw his jaw tighten, the muscles working beneath his skin.
"I didn't expect you to care," he muttered, more to himself than to her.
"Why wouldn't I?" she asked, moving closer. She wasn't sure what she was hoping for—an explanation, an apology, something that might make sense of the whirlwind she had found herself in.
Lucien turned to face her then, his eyes dark and unreadable. "Because it's easier this way. It's easier to keep everything—everyone—at arm's length."
"Is that why you keep pushing me away?" Her voice faltered, and she couldn't help the frustration that bubbled up inside her. "You don't want to feel anything. You don't want to let anyone in."
"Don't pretend you care," Lucien snapped. "You're here because you have to be. This marriage—it's just a business deal for you, too."
Her chest tightened at the truth in his words, but there was something else buried in them. Something raw, vulnerable, that she wasn't sure she wanted to explore.
"I care more than you think," Elara said, her voice low but firm.
Lucien's gaze hardened, and he took a step toward her, his presence overwhelming. "You're here because you have nowhere else to go. This is just a stepping stone for you."
Elara stepped back, the words hitting her harder than she expected. She didn't want to admit it, but there was truth to what he was saying. She had no choice but to be here. But that didn't mean she didn't have feelings—didn't mean she wasn't struggling with her own desires, her own emotions.
"Is that all you think of me?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Lucien's eyes flashed with something she couldn't decipher, something darker than before. He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could speak, there was a sharp knock on the door.
"Elara, Lucien," a voice called out, interrupting the moment. "The meeting is starting."
Lucien gave her one last lingering look before nodding curtly. "We'll finish this later," he said, his voice once again taking on that businesslike tone. "For now, we have work to do."
---
The Meeting
The conference room was filled with familiar faces—investors, executives, and a few new additions to the team, all eager to discuss the upcoming phases of the merger. Elara sat at the table, her posture stiff, her mind still lingering on the conversation with Lucien. She hadn't expected to feel so shaken by his words. He was right, in some ways—she had no choice but to be here. But that didn't mean she wasn't caught in the tangled web of emotions that this contract marriage was beginning to weave.
Lucien sat at the head of the table, his usual confident, unshakable self. He spoke to the room with authority, his words smooth, precise, and commanding. But Elara couldn't help but notice the slight twitch in his jaw every time their eyes met, as if there was a storm raging just beneath the surface.
The meeting was a blur of numbers, projections, and decisions that Elara could barely keep track of. But what caught her attention was the way Lucien interacted with the others. His usual cold demeanor was still intact, but there was an edge to his words, something almost... desperate.
As the meeting drew to a close, Elara gathered her things, preparing to leave when Lucien's voice stopped her.
"Elara," he said, his tone suddenly softer, but with an underlying urgency. "Can you stay for a moment?"
She glanced at him, her heart pounding. He hadn't spoken to her this way in a long time—without the shield of business, without the pretense.
"Is everything okay?" she asked, her voice hesitant.
Lucien looked around, making sure no one else was in earshot. "I need to talk to you about something," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Something important."
---
The Confession
Elara followed Lucien to his private office, the door clicking shut behind them. The tension between them was palpable, but now, there was something else—something heavier in the air.
Lucien stood by his desk, his hands resting on the surface as he faced her. For a moment, he didn't speak. He just looked at her, as though gathering the courage to say something he hadn't been willing to admit.
"Elara," he began, his voice rough, "I know I've been distant. Cold. But it's not what you think."
She tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?"
Lucien ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in his movements. "I've always been in control. My life, my business, my—" he paused, his eyes flickering with something unreadable. "—relationships. But with you, I... I can't control it. I don't know how to deal with this. With you."
Her heart skipped a beat. Was he confessing?
Before she could respond, Lucien continued. "I need you to understand something, Elara. This marriage—it's not just a contract for me anymore. I'm starting to realize... you're not just a part of the deal."
Elara's breath caught in her throat. She didn't know what to say, didn't know how to process the confession he had just made.
Lucien turned away from her, his voice a whisper. "But I'm still not sure what to do with you."
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