Elliott entered the office of the managing director and froze for a moment when he noticed Vanessa sitting there with Ethan Clark. What was she doing here?
Taking in his surprise, she stood up and walked to him," Elliott. Are you so shocked to see me here that you've forgotten to walk forward..."
Before Elliott could compose himself, she hugged him carelessly, her hand coming to his back once again before she stepped back and smiled up at him, "I can see you really are surprised. Come on in. I don't think you've really met your boss, have you?"
Elliott blinked, still trying to make sense of Vanessa's sudden appearance at Starlink.
Meanwhile, Ethan Clark rose from behind the desk, his expression guarded as his eyes darted between them. Elliott narrowed his eyes at the man as Vanessa went ahead and made the introductions, "Elliott, this is Ethan. Ethan, this is Elliott... my fiance..."
Both men turned to look at her at once, "Your what?"
Elliott wondered if Vanessa was upto something else and was going to sabotage his agreement with Starlink, while Ethan himself was shocked.
Vanessa smiled at the look on both men's faces, even as inside she felt a sense of irony. It seemed despite having dated one man and just signing a pre nuptial agreement with the other, neither wanted to have her as his fiance... Feeling bitter inside, but smiling on the outside, she let go of Elliott's elbow and slid her arms through Ethan's fixing her eyes on Elliott.
"My fiance, Elliott. Ethan is my fiance."
She watched as the man's eyes narrowed and his jaw tightened. She could see him working through the endless possibilities and was about to tease him when Ethan's hand on her tightened and he leaned down to whisper through gritted teeth, "I thought we were going to keep it a secret till the engagement party…"
Vanessa turned her head and looked up at Ethan and smiled," Did you? I'm sorry. I was so excited that I forgot that we were not yet officially engaged..."
Then, without giving Ethan a chance to say anything more, she turned back to Elliott and smiled. Gesturing toward the chair opposite Ethan's desk, she continued, "Have a seat. You must have come to discuss the fiasco that happened this morning, right? If I were in your place, and my agency had let the issue fester for so long that it could almost affect your career… I'd have sued them for breach of contract. You really need to change your agent for her carelessness."
Elliott almost smiled. Vanessa Grant had just tossed him the advantage without breaking a sweat. She'd not only changed the mood in the room but also reminded Ethan who really held control.
He leaned back slightly, studying her. This was getting interesting. She was standing there and helping him right under her fiance's nose.
No one in the industry would have ever linked these two people together. Vanessa and Ethan Clark had seemed to barely acknowledge each other in public, maintaining an air of barely knowing each other but now he hears that they are engaged. One didn't need to be a genius to understand that Ethan Clark had fu*ked up royally.
Could he use her to get information that Ethan Clark was probably hiding? It was an interesting thought.
Meanwhile, Ethan was spiraling behind his carefully composed expression. His morning had already been a disaster- the conference that was supposed to finish off Elliott Ross had shot him to a higher pinnacle of stardom. Vanessa, who usually played along quietly to Ethan's suggestions, had decided to go rogue. She had not only revealed their relationship to a stranger but had done it with a smile that dared him to react. And was even now helping him.
His patience cracked. His hand slid to her arm, fingers tightening just enough to press on a nerve he knew would sting without leaving a mark. He felt her flinch beneath his touch as she turned her face slightly, trying to pull back, but he didn't let go. Instead, he gave her a smile and said in a voice laced with warning, "Vanessa. I'm sure you have other things to do. You can leave now."
The smile he gave Elliott was polite as he excused them but his grip on her arm didn't loosen as he all but steered her toward the door. His voice softened to a mockery of affection as he added, "We'll meet tonight, sweetheart. For dinner."
Vanessa's eyes flashed for a moment before she masked it with a faint, indifferent smile. Until she forcefully had to curb the rage simmering inside her. He dared to hurt her physically... Soon, she would have her revenge.
Then, without a word, she slipped free of his grasp and walked out, her back straight, giving him no answer.
Elliott watched the exchange in silence, his hands curling into fists under the table. It took effort not to interfere. The bastard was skilled-hurting her in a way no one else would notice. Smooth, practiced, and confident in the knowledge that no one would call him out for it.
But Elliott saw enough to know what had just happened. Even if it wouldn't bruise, there would definitely be a mark on her arm...Elliott frowned. What a sc*m.