Elena hadn't expected to see Sophia Bennett again so soon.
But when she delivered documents to Alexander's office that afternoon, the woman was already there—perched elegantly on the edge of a chair opposite his desk, as if she belonged in the room.
Sophia's laughter drifted through the air like silk, though it held an edge Elena couldn't mistake. "You always did enjoy playing the untouchable king, Alexander. But even kings fall."
Alexander leaned back in his chair, hands steepled, his expression unreadable. "And you always did enjoy underestimating me."
The tension between them was palpable, sharp as glass. Elena hesitated in the doorway, unsure if she should interrupt.
Sophia noticed her first. "Ah. The assistant. You do keep her close, don't you?" Her eyes glinted with something more than amusement. "How… interesting."
Elena's pulse spiked.
"Miss Carter," Alexander said, his tone clipped. "Leave the files on the desk."
She did, quickly, retreating toward the door. But she couldn't resist glancing back—just once.
Sophia leaned forward, her voice low but carrying. "You can't hide from me, Alexander. Not in business… and not in the past."
Alexander's jaw tightened, the first visible crack in his icy façade.
---
Later, as Elena typed up notes at her desk, fragments of their exchange played over in her mind. Not in the past. What did Sophia mean?
The office was quieter than usual when Alexander finally emerged. His expression was darker, sharper, his movements more abrupt. He passed Elena without a word, but as he did, their eyes met.
For a heartbeat, she saw something there—not anger, not coldness, but something heavier. Something that looked almost like pain.
It vanished in an instant, replaced by the same impenetrable mask.
"Clear my schedule for tomorrow morning," he said. "I'll be working remotely."
And then he was gone, leaving Elena with the sound of her racing pulse and a question that gnawed at her insides:
What hold did Sophia Bennett have over Alexander Frost?