I got back to the spa just as Cyrus was walking in and We went straight to the massage room together before heading into the sauna.

The temperature in the sauna was a bit higher than normal, but not too hot.

"How's it going with you and Axel?" Cyrus questioned.

Axel.

I couldn't help but smile at the thought of him, how he just bought a million dollar company in my name.

"He's okay," I said in a low tone. "Do you think maybe he's not all bad?" I asked him.

"Elara."

"I mean, maybe we're missing something and he's not the kind of person we think he is."

"Did something happen? Did he say something to you?" Cyrus placed his hands on my shoulders and turned me to look at him.

"It's just...." I hesitated for a second then continued, "he's been nice to me, and...and I don't know.....maybe we're just misunderstanding him," I lifted my gaze to meet Cyrus eyes.

"Elara, I don't know what he's done or what he's said to you, but trust me, it's all part of his games. I mean, we're talking about the same person that abducted your parents and faked their death," Cyrus wasn't having it.

"Maybe there's an explanation for it and...."

"There isn't," he cut me short, his tone harsh.

"Elara," he continued. "Have you forgotten what happened the day you met him, that night at the hotel. He saw how vulnerable you were because you've had too much to drink and...he took advantage of you," the last sentence slipped out in an almost whisper, like a sin he didn't want the walls to hear.

And It was enough to put me back in check.

I released a shallow breath.

"You don't have to remind me about that night," I got up to get my robe from the rack.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend-"

"It's okay," I forced a smile.

He picked up his robe too and followed closely behind me as I exited the sauna.

"I just didn't want you to lose hold of the plan, our plan," he said.

"Cyrus, I know," I turned to him. "You're just looking out for me," I continued, giving him a soft smile.

He didn't say anything and just stretched his arms.

"What are you doing?" I chuckled.

"I know we're sweaty thanks to the heat from the sauna, but if you hug me right now I'll know you're not mad at-"

I didn't let him finish before I crashed into his arms hugging and squeezing him so tight.

"Ea..easy...I...ca...can't....breatheee," he forced the words out.

I finally let him go and we both burst into a feat of laughter.

After a fun and relaxing time at the spa, he drove me home and left for his house.

*****

It's been two weeks, two weeks of endless meetings, two weeks of continuous planning and working to make sure today would be a success.

The pre-launch of my jewellery company, "Elyste & Co."

"Ma'am, I was asked to bring you this," Sophia, my P.A said, as she dropped a basket of fresh flowers by my mirror.

I picked up the basket and took a whiff of the flowers and it had the most enchanting and savory scent. Immediately calming my raging nerves.

I smiled softly as I took in the scent of the flowers again. So thoughtful.

I picked up the card peaking from the corner of the basket and read it.

"Today is the start of something wonderful, something you've dreamed of for years, a new phase in your life. I hope these flowers will be able to make you smile and make your day even more wonderful than it already is-Cyrus."

I was smiling from ear to ear as I read the note, Cyrus is the sweetest.

"What's that?" Axel asked as he walked into the dressing room, the flowers catching his attention.

He wore a black suit, finely tailored to suit his strong and dominating frame, his hair falling slightly over his forehead. A silver neck chain hanging on his neck and a silver Patel Philippe watch to match.

He looked like money.

"They're from Cyrus," I shifted my gaze from him back to the flowers as I smiled, sniffing on them again.

He grabbed the basket of flowers and brought it to his nose.

"They smell horrible," he spoke, his expression blank, as always, but I was used to it.

"Thankfully they're not yours," I grabbed it back from him and carefully placed it on my table.

The makeup artist and the hairstylist finished up with my look and I stood in front of the mirror, admiring just how beautiful I looked.

I wore a long, black strapless gown, with diamond studs that draped on the fabric, and left my shoulders bare, perfect for showcasing the white-gold diamond princess-length necklace resting against my skin, paired with delicate diamond earrings. One of my unreleased designs, and tonight, it was mine to flaunt.

My makeup was exactly how I wanted it, subtle and chic. With a bold swash of my signature bright red lipstick, a shade that sharpened the glow of my hazel eyes and made them impossible to ignore.

My brown wavy hair, styled into Hollywood curls, fell over my back in soft layers, completing the sophisticated look I had envisioned. Elegant. Untouchable. Beautiful.

"It's time to make your appearance," my P.A said.

"And Dorian?" I questioned.

"He has the front row seat, like you asked."

Perfect.

Axel had planned an intimate dinner for the pre-launch of my company, with just a few guests, mostly the most influential and richest men in the United States, prospective investors in my company, with the goal of introducing them to 'Elyste & Co.' before the main launch.

And it was my idea to anonymously invite Dorian.

He didn't know whose event he was attending but with us offering him a VVIP pass, he most likely expects the CEO to be someone trying to win his favour.

I couldn't wait to see the look on his face when I'm revealed as the CEO.

"Let's go," I walked out of the dressing room to the entrance of the dinner hall.

The event anchor spotted me coming in and immediately started speaking.

"Ladies and gentlemen, time to reveal the face of the brand, the woman of the hour, the brains behind Elyste & Co."

He continued as I walked towards the centre stage.

"No other than the spectacular, Mrs Elara Steele."

The moment my name echoed through the hall, my eyes locked with Dorian's.

He was seated, but I could swear I saw him jolt, as if the ground had shifted beneath his chair. His gaze dragged over me from head to toe in slow disbelief, blinking over and over like his mind was struggling to catch up with what his eyes were seeing.

I hadn't even done the big reveal yet, and already his face was drained of color, lips parted like he'd forgotten how to breathe.

I lifted my hand and waved at the crowd,smiling as they rose to their feet, clapping and cheering, their applause filling the hall while Dorian sat there, staring at me like the world.... his world had just turned upside down.

I took the microphone from the anchor and started.

"Thank you so much for your kind words, and thank you to everyone of you here for making this event possible, but it would be unfair and greedy if I take all the credit....Elyste & Co. has been my dream for as long as I can remember, and I never imagined I would ever bring it to life....." I said and then locked eyes with Dorian as I said the next sentence.

"That was until my wonderful husband came into my life. I would never have gotten here if it wasn't for him, I am the brains behind the brain, but my husband, he took it from me and breathed life into it.... I know you're all eager to see him as this is our first public appearance together."

I stopped for a moment, then continued.

"Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to my husband......Axel Thorne."

Dorian tensed in his chair the instant his eyes darted to the edge of the stage, where Axel strode in, majestic and dangerous as ever, commanding every pair of eyes in the room.

Axel came straight to me, his hand finding my waist with an easy possessiveness as he pulled me to his side, solid and unshakable.

"Meet my husband." I let the words linger, my smile tilting as I slowly moved my gaze over the crowd, until it locked on Dorian.

"You had to see the look on his face, like he had seen a ghost," I screamed, laughing in excitement as I climbed the stairs to my room, my heels in one hand as Axel followed behind me.

"Did you see him? did you see the horror written all over his face the moment he spotted you?" I turned to Axel, smiling ear to ear.

My expression, a direct opposite of the one on his face.

"Watch your step," he said, completely ignoring my question.

I rolled my eyes and took a step when....

"Whoaaaaaa," I screamed as I missed my foot and immediately lost my balance. I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the excruciating pain I would feel the moment my back hit the ground. But to my surprise....nothing came.

I gently opened my eyes and I gasped, his familiar gray eyes staring down at me with his hands firm against my back, steadying me in place.

He'd caught me.

He tilted his head slowly, gaze unwavering as he spoke. "I told you to watch your step."

Why do I always end up in the most awkward positions with him?

"Thank you for saving me from the fall," I smiled awkwardly and he freed his arms from my body.

I shuffled past the remaining stairs, heading straight to my room when he called my name from behind.

"Elara."

"Yes," I answered.

"You looked breathtaking today."

Did he just.....

My insides erupted with butterflies, and I blushed so hard I had to cover my mouth.

"Thank you," I managed to force the words out and quickly opened the door and went into my room.

"Elara pull yourself together," I whispered under my breath.

I should hate him, I should detest him for what he did to my parents, for taking advantage of me that night.

And here I was acting like a desperate weirdo because of a compliment.

I let out an exasperated sigh and took off my clothes and my make up and got into the shower.

Then the crazy thoughts started coming to my head.

What if we had crossed paths as ordinary people? What if he hadn't abducted my parents? What if we weren't keeping any secrets from each other? and we weren't in each other's lives for our own separate agenda, what would our story have been like.

I slapped my face to jolt myself back to reality.

This isn't a time to fantasise.

For weeks I've abandoned my goal of getting information about my parents, but now I have to take action, I have to start my own investigation into what actually happened.

But I was exhausted from the event, and my body was about to shut down.

"I need to rest now, I'll get to work tomorrow."

I got into bed and drifted into a good night's sleep.

The next morning, I was up early and took a quick shower before going downstairs for breakfast.

After eating, I decided to take a stroll on the grounds of Axel's mansion, having nothing else planned for the day.

There was an unfamiliar car parked in the premises but I didn't pay much attention to it.

I kept on walking, completely ignoring them as I scrolled through my phone.

"You must be Elara."

I raised my head, curious to see who was talking.

The first thing that caught my eye was his luxurious leather shoes.

My eyes slowly travelled upwards.

He wore a grey coloured suit, sleeves rolled halfway revealing the sleeve tattoo on his left hand, a tennis bracelet on both hands and a tiny tennis chain hanging on his neck.

He had dark brown eyes, and black curly hair. Gorgeous, muscular and reeking of power. Oddly similar to Axel.

Is this another secret brother?

"Can I join you on your walk?" He asked politely and I agreed.

"And you are?" I asked him, as we continued walking.

"Pardon my manners," he said, one hand on his chest as he bowed slightly. " I should have introduced myself, I'm Knox Miller, a good friend of your husband's, I've been away for business and I just came back to the country last night."

Axel has friends? Now this was surprising.

"He never mentioned having a friend," I said.

He gasped, "He never mentioned me?"

I shook my head.

"Ouchhh," he looked genuinely hurt, "such an a**hole," he rolled his eyes.

I couldn't help but laugh at his reaction.

"How long have you guys been friends?" I asked him.

"I've known him all my life, we've been through it all and we still stayed together, I lost my family years ago in an accident and ever since then, Axel's has been the only family I had, and he always made sure I never felt alone."

The way his eyes glinted as he talked about Axel and the look on his face told me everything I needed to know.

"I see," I replied.

"You know, I never thought I would ever see him with a woman,"

"He's never had a girlfriend?" I furrowed my brows. It was impossible for someone as attractive as Axel to have never had a girlfriend.

"He's never had one," Knox replied.

What????

He continued, "Well he's been with a lot of girls for sure, I mean Axel loves his women," he quickly realised what he just said and immediately tried to save the situation.

"He loved, I mean, he loved his women, that was before he got married," he smiled nervously as he scratched the back of his neck.

"You don't have to cover up for him, our marriage is not the kind of marriage you think it is, it's a marriage of convenience," I said.

"Yeah right," he chuckled.

With the way he laughed, you would think he knew something I didn't.

The back door of a large truck parked in front of the house opened, immediately catching my attention. Four men climbed inside the truck, carrying something from inside that looked like.......

"Are those...flowers?" I squinted my eyes trying to make sense of what I was seeing.

An 8 feet tall giant flower bouquet steadied above the hands of the four men.

The men walked towards where I was standing with Knox and dropped the bouquet.

The largest flower bouquet I had ever seen in my life, and it had the most beautiful flower arrangement, it looked straight out of a fantasy book.

Here Miss, one of the men said, stretching his hand out, a note hanging from his finger tips.

I opened the note and read it.

"Now you don't need to look at that boring and tiny flower basket your little boyfriend sent you, when you have a whole garden in front of you- your husband, Axel."