A past best forgotten
(Storms)
The city lights blurred past the car window like smudged stardust. Elara sat in the backseat of her sleek black sedan,drumming against the leather seat,jaw clenched. Her assistant had offered to drive her.
As her gated townhouse came into view she adjusted the hem of her dress,smoothed her hair,and rolled her shoulders back. The building loomed warmth and familiarity,unlike the sterile pressure of corporate halls. Here she was- Elara.
The gate opened. She exhaled.
Home.
As soon as she stepped through the front door, a stampede of paws greeted her. First came Kota,her golden retriever,who leapt with unrestrained joy. His tail waggled so hard it thudded against the umbrella stand.
Then came the cat- Theo,her dignified,cream colored ragdoll with glacier eyes. And Milo the gray tabby who was always hungry and only pretends to be aloof.
"I'm back," she whispered kneeling to scratch Kota behind the ears.
"And yes,it was a disaster."
"Long day, Miss Elara?." Came Rosa's voice from the hallway. Elara looked up and smiled weakly. Rosa had her dark hair wrapped in a patterned scarf and an apron dusted with flour- she'd probably been baking again.
"You have no idea," Elara said rising. Rosa gave her a look- the kind only women over forty could give;part concern,part suspicion,all wisdom.
"Dinner's warm, I made mushroom risotto,you like."
"Thank you."
"And a little ginger tea. You look like you've been swallowing your own words all day."
Elara smiled despite herself.
Later, after she had showered and changed into soft lounge wear, Elara sat at the dining table with Kota curled at her feet.
The risotto was comforting,the tea calming.
Rosa had retired for the night after reminding her- again- to stop forgetting to sleep.
Her laptop sat open beside her plate.
She clicked through work files,projects,meeting reports, investors follow-ups....
It all felt so distant.
She paused,cup in hand,and leaned back on her chair.
And then as if summoned by silence,Adrian's face surfaced. He'd been her first real love,sharpwitted,ambitious,easy on the eyes.
They were official,never loud about what they were. But it was real,at least to her.
They had shared her first time.
And then he left.
Not with malice. Not with guilt.
Just traded up.
He met a lady from a legacy family- powerful,connected,wealthy,a shortcut to the future he wanted. He didn't even lie about it.
Just told her she was a 'chapter' he'd remember fondly.
She never blamed him.
Never blamed.
She understood the game- 'Money talks and love doesn't pay rent'.
Still a part of her closed that night. The part that believed in being enough.
She blinked the memory realizing how tight her grip had become on the cup in her hand.
She loosened her fingers,placed it down gently and stood.
Her dog Kota,padded over with a soft whine,brushing against her leg.
The cat Milo aloof as ever- watched from the kitchen counter,tail flicking with mild interest.
"I'm fine," Elara whispered more to herself than the animals. "It's just the past being nosy."
She walked toward the bathroom the sound of her footsteps softened by the thick rug. Her house maid Rosa had already turned down the lights in the hall and left warm towels folded by the sink.
A quiet act of care Elara never asked for but had grown used to.
Later, wrapped in her robe, she slipped into bed with her tablet in hand,reviewing tomorrow's briefing.
But her mind wasn't in the numbers it drifted again....not to Adrian this time,but to Killian. His voice. His eyes that looked at her like they saw too much.
He was dangerous in a way Adrian never was .
And that unsettled her more than she'd admit.