Hours later, Elena's phone buzzed with an unknown number. She hesitated before answering.
"Hello?"
"Elena? It's me—Alex," came the warm, familiar voice of the man she had met at the boutique.
Her lips parted in surprise. "Alex? How did you—"
"You gave me your number, remember?" he said with a light chuckle. "I just wanted to thank you again for helping me shop for my niece.
You practically saved me from disaster. She loved the dress, by the way. You're officially her favorite uncle's favorite person."
Elena laughed softly, shaking her head. "I'm glad she liked it. Really, it wasn't much."
"It was everything," he countered smoothly.
"Listen… would you let me take you out for dinner tonight? Just as a thank you. Nothing fancy, nothing strange. Just… lunch."
She hesitated, her fingers tightening on the phone. "I don't think that's a good idea."
"Please," Alex pressed gently.
"If not for me, then for my niece. She told me to pass her gratitude to you. Don't make me disappoint her, Elena."
His voice carried a boyish pleading, warm enough to make her lips twitch into a smile.
"Fine," she relented softly, sighing. "But only dinner. That's it."
Alex's laugh of relief spilled through the phone. "Perfect. That's all I ask."
Elena leaned back against the pillows, her heart oddly light. She told herself it was just a meal. Just a thank you. Nothing more.
But deep down, she couldn't shake the flutter of nerves in her stomach.
Night covered, Elena wore a blue dress not revealing, not short but decent. She grazed the stairs.
The restaurant Alex chose was one of those quiet, expensive but not loud.
Elena spotted him immediately at the entrance. He looked sharp in a navy suit, but not too formal, his easy smile lighting up his whole face when he saw her.
"Elena," he said warmly, stepping forward. In his hand was a small bouquet of lilies and soft pink roses. "These are for you."
Her breath caught slightly; no man had handed her flowers in years. She blinked, flustered. "You… didn't have to."
"I wanted to," Alex said smoothly, pressing them into her hands. "You deserve them."
Heat crept into her cheeks, and she looked down at the flowers, hiding a smile. "Thank you."
They settled into a corner table, sunlight spilling through the glass wall beside them.
The waiter poured sparkling water while Alex studied her with that quiet attentiveness that made Elena fidget.
"So," he began, leaning forward slightly, "tell me something about you. Something you actually like—not what people expect, but what Elena really enjoys."
She hesitated, playing with her glass. "Hmm… I like books. Mostly romance novels.
And I like baking, though I'm not that good at it. Oh, and… I love the smell of rain."
Alex's smile widened. "Books, baking, and rain. That's not bad. Very classic." He tilted his head. "What about music? Or… flowers?"
She glanced at the bouquet. "Lilies. Always lilies."
He chuckled. "Noted. Lilies for the rain-loving baker."
Elena laughed, shaking her head. "You make it sound like a riddle."
Elena finally asked, "So, tell me about your work. You said you're a private investigator?"
Alex leaned back, swirling his glass lazily. "Yes. Mostly corporate stuff. Fraud, betrayal, digging up dirt for clients who can afford it.
Sometimes missing persons." His eyes twinkled with mischief. "Very cloak-and-dagger. You know, trench coat, sunglasses, hiding behind newspapers."
Elena giggled softly. "That's very cliché."
"Hey," he said, mock-offended. "Don't ruin the fantasy."
Then he leaned forward, lowering his voice conspiratorially.
"If you ever need me to investigate someone, I'll give you a special discount."
She arched a brow, amused. "A discount?"
"Actually…" he tapped his chin theatrically, "no charge at all. For you, it's free."
Elena laughed, covering her mouth with her hand.
"I don't have anyone to investigate."
Alex smirked knowingly. "Not even a certain cold, dangerous man with more secrets than a locked vault?"
Her laughter stilled in her throat, and for a second, she was silent. Then she forced a chuckle. "I… I think I'll pass on that."
Alex let it go, but his eyes lingered on her longer than necessary, studying her in that way only investigators do—like he could see beneath her words.
He made her laugh more than she expected, sharing stories of his niece, of embarrassing moments on cases, even teasing himself.
Elena found herself relaxing, the tension that had knotted in her chest loosening for the first time in days.
When dessert came, Alex looked across the table at her, his smile softer now. "I'm really glad you came today, Elena.
Her heart stumbled in her chest.
She looked down, hiding behind a forkful of cake, her mind betraying her with the image of Damian's piercing eyes and cruel smirk.
"Thank you for inviting me," she murmured.
"Don't thank me," Alex said, voice low but warm. "This won't be the last time."
After their dinner, he offers to give her a ride she refuses saying she will take a cab.
Elena slipped quietly back into Irina's mansion, clutching her handbag against her side as though it could hide her secret.
She made it to her room then decided to FaceTime Tatiana, Tatiana took the call, seeing that she looked all dressed up.
"Where did you go to Elena?"
"I…" Elena hesitated. "I went out for dinner."
Tatiana's brows shot up. "Dinner? With who?"
Elena swallowed. "A friend I met when I went shopping with Damian's mother
. His name is Alex."
For a second, there was silence. Then Tatiana smirked, slowly rising to her feet.
"You mean to tell me…" Tatiana drawled, "…while you're here tangled in this mess with Damian, you went out with another man?"
"It wasn't like that," Elena protested weakly, her cheeks warming. "It was just dinner—"
"Dinner with flowers?" Tatiana interrupted, eyes glittering. "Don't tell me it wasn't a date.
You're bold, Elena. A lioness, really. Damian's lioness." She chuckled darkly. "If he finds out, you won't just be in trouble… you'll be devoured."
Elena's heart skipped painfully. She tried to shake off the teasing, but Tatiana's words gnawed at her.
They both chatted for long before going to bed.
The next day;
Damian sat in a boardroom discussing partnership with clients when his secretary stepped in whispering into his ear that
"Miss Elena.... was seen...in a restaurant last night. With a man"
The pen in Damian's hand snapped between his fingers. His jaw clenched, his chest tightening with an anger that burned hotter than reason.
"With who?" His voice was deadly ignoring he had business clients in the boardroom.
"I… I don't know his name, sir. But they seemed… familiar."
Damian rose from his chair, his shadow stretching tall across the floor, his fury vibrating in every step. He didn't even let his secretary finish.
"Prepare the jet. I'm leaving."
"Mr Volkov" the clients in the boardroom called as they saw him about leaving.
"My assistant will continue the meeting, if you have a problem with that take your money and leave" His icy voice uttered before he stormed out of the boardroom.