Elena POV

I stay inside the bathroom stall until my breathing evens out.

My eyes sting, my chest feels like it's caving in.

But I can't hide here forever.

I wipe my face with the sleeve of my blouse, fix my hair with shaky hands, and look at myself in the mirror.

"Don't cry again," I whisper to my reflection. "Not here."

I square my shoulders and step out, walking back to my desk like nothing cracked inside me.

I sit and begin tapping my keyboard, I open emails, I keep my eyes locked on the screen but every time I hear a sound from his office, the creak of his chair, footsteps in his office, my stomach knots.

Still, I don't look up from the screen

"Just work," I murmur to myself, as I schedule appointment, send reminders and fix deadline, pretending to be fine is the only thing I have control over.

And right now, control feels like survival.

Around noon, my phone buzzes on the desk, I divert my focus from the computer and pick my phone.

It was a message from Nora.

Nora:

How's the first day, sunshine?

Are you glowing with confidence or dying inside?

A humorless smile tugs at my lips.

Me:

Dying, badly.

Nora:

Elena??

What happened??

The reply comes instantly.

My chest tightens as I stare at the screen, unable to form words.

Then she sends another message.

Nora:

Okay. I'm taking you out tonight.

Blue Ember Bar. 8 PM.

No excuses. Wear something hot, we are drinking this pain away.

Despite the weight pressing on me, a small smile tugs at my lips.

Me:

Fine. I'll go

Right after I hit send, lock my phone and drop it on the desk, ready to continue working, two coworkers stop by my desk, both around my age, and wearing easy smiles.

The woman with soft curls gives a little wave.

"Hey, you must be Elena. I'm Mila."

"And I'm Tessa" the other woman chimes in, her voice warm. "We just wanted to say hi before the day swallows us alive."

Their kindness cuts through the numb fog I've been stuck in.

"Hi," I say, a bit shyly. "It's nice to meet you."

"We're heading to lunch soon" Mara says."Join us, if you want. The cafeteria feels less soul crushing with company."

I nod, feeling a flicker of relief. "Yeah. I'd like that."

Jess grins. "Perfect. We'll swing by in a bit."

They walk off, and for a second, the office feels a little less cold.

Then the door behind me opens.

Julian steps out and I go still.

I glanced up from my computer, he's focused on the papers in his hand, flipping through them with that usual furrow in his brow but then he stops right at my desk.

His gaze lifts and our eyes meet.

For a second, I swear the air shifts.

His green eyes lock with mine, cool, unreadable.

"Cancel my appointments for the day,"he says, his voice low and calm.

Like boss to his employee

Like he didn't hold me two nights ago.

Didn't whisper my name like it meant something.

"Okay," I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

He nods once, turns, and walks away without even glancing back.

When the elevator doors slide shut behind him, that when I finally breathe again, at least I don't have to see him for the rest of the day.

At lunch, Mila and Tessa find me at my desk and we went to the cafeteria together

The cafeteria is loud, clinking plates, bursts of laughter, trays sliding across counters.

We sit by the window, while they talk, joke I watch them nudge each other like they have been friends for years

"So" Mila said grinning, taking a bite of her sandwich, "how's the chaos treating you so far?" she asked with her mouth full

"Surprisingly okay" I say, trying to match her energy.

"Wait till Friday,"Jess smirks. "That's when the real storm hits."

I laugh, for real this time and it feels so good

No one's watching me too closely, no one's asking the wrong questions, for a moment, I almost feel like myself again.

After lunch, I went back to work, opening emails and answering calls and immediately it hit 5, I packed my bag and head home.

At home, I shower, change into a black fitted top, dark jeans, let my hair dry in soft waves and I apply a little makeup.

I take an Uber across town.

Blue Ember Bar glows with cool blue lights, the sign flickering gently above.

People spill onto the sidewalk laughing and talking.

Inside, the air smells like citrus, cologne, and music.

Nora spots me immediately, waving from a booth near the center of the bar.

"Elena!" she shouts, sliding out to hug me. "You look... emotionally damaged, but cute!"

I snort. "Thanks?"

She pulls me into the booth. "Tell me everything."

I sink into the seat, releasing a breath.

"I'm fine" I lie.

"No, you're not" she says, narrowing her eyes. "Start talking."

So I do.

I tell her everything, I started over again from santorini, the hotel room, the night that didn't feel like a mistake until he labeled it one, then his voice on the phone this morning, the moment I opened the door and saw him sitting there, the way my knees nearly gave out.

Nora doesn't interrupt once.

But when I say his full name, Julian Stone, she gasps so loudly that people look over.

"ELENA!" she whisper-shouts. "You slept with your BOSS?"

"Lower your voice" I hiss, burying my face in my hands.

She leans in, her eyes wide with both shock and something close to excitement. "Are you telling me the man who ruined your life this morning is the man who ruined your legs in Santorini?"

I groan.

"Oh my God" she says. "This is deliciously horrible."

"It's not delicious, Nora."

"You're right. It's tragic but also he remembered you. That's something."

"No" I whisper, my throat tight. "He told me to forget him. If I want my job."

Her expression softens. "Elena..."

"I know" I whisper. "I know."

Before she can comfort me, two guys approach our table. One dark-haired, one blond, both cute in a clean-cut, harmless way.

"Hey" the dark-haired one says with a smile. "Mind if we join you ladies?"

Nora lights up instantly. "Sure!" she chirps, moving over so they can sit.

I offer a polite smile, not really in the mood but trying.

The blond one sits closer to me. "I'm Aaron" he says. "And you are...?"

"Elena."

"Pretty name," he says with a grin.

I smile, faint but polite.

And then

A sensation rolls over me, heavy, warm and intense.

It was like someone just touched the back of my neck without actually touching me.

I glance, slowly, toward the VIP section.

My breath stops.

Julian.

Sitting on a plush dark booth above the main floor. A drink in his hand. A friend beside him,with dark hair.

But Julian isn't listening to him.

He's staring at me.

His green eyes locked on me with quiet, unreadable intensity, not cold or distant, almost... possessive.

My heart trips.

Nora follows my line of sight and whispers under her breath, "Holy. Shit."

I look away quickly, pretending I didn't see him.

But I feel him.

Watching.

Aaron leans closer. "You look tense. Everything okay?"

I force a small laugh. "Yeah, just tired."

He keeps talking, but I can't hear him.

My skin tingles under Julian's stare.

My pulse won't calm down.

Why is he here?

Why here?

And why does he look at me like that after telling me to forget him?

Nora nudges me subtly, mouthing, He's watching you.

I know.

I can feel the heat crawl up my neck.

I turned one more time to look at at him as julian's friend says something to him, but Julian's eyes don't move from me. Not once, his jaw clenches slightly, his fingers drum against his glass.

Jealousy.

The realization hits me so hard I almost laugh.

He's jealous.

After everything he said today, after cutting me off, after pretending Santorini meant nothing, after telling me to forget.

He's jealous.

Something wild stirs inside me, something reckless, something hurt and angry and tired of pretending.

So I turn slowly toward Aaron, I tuck my hair behind my ear, and lean in just a little, not too much.

Just enough for Julian to see.

Aaron grins, clearly pleased by the attention, completely unaware he's a pawn in a war he didn't start.

I take a sip of my drink, letting my lips linger on the straw.

Pretending Julian Stone doesn't have the power to pull me apart with a single look.

But when I glance back at him

His expression has changed.

His jaw tight.

His hand wrapped too firmly around the glass.

His eyes fixed on me like I'm doing something wrong.

Like I belong to him.

I look away again, heat curling in my stomach.

Nora kicks my leg under the table, lean forward and whisper "Elena, he's about to set the bar on fire with his eyes."

"I don't care," I whisper back even though my pulse is betraying me.

But then

The air shifts.

I feel it before I see it.

A shadow falls over our booth, the air felt cold

Nora's eyes widen.

Aaron stops mid-sentence.

My heart slams against my ribs.

I turn

And Julian is standing right beside our table.

Tall, cold, dangerous in that quiet, controlled way only he can be.

His friend is behind him, looking uncomfortable, like Julian didn't give him a choice but to follow.

Julian's eyes flick once to Aaron sharp, assessing him before settling on me.

"Elena" he says, his voice low, steady. "A word."

My breath catches.

I swallow hard. "I'm... busy."

His jaw flexes.

"I wasn't asking."

I hear Nora whispers, "Oh my God," under her breath.

Aaron shifts, confused. "Hey, man, we're just talking..."

Julian looks at him, slowly, with the kind of expression that could freeze fire.

Aaron shuts his mouth instantly.

Then Julian looks back at me.

"Now, Elena."

This is it, the moment I prove that his control stops at the door of his office.

I don't move, instead I stay seated, meeting his gaze.

"No" I say, my voice trembling slightly, but loud enough to be heard over the bar music.

Julian goes utterly still, his eyes narrow, the green suddenly cold and intense.

"Excuse me?" he asks, the two words broke the sudden silence in our booth.

"I'm having a private conversation with my friends, Mr. Stone" I reply, pulling the professional shield up, even though my hands are shaking beneath the table."If you have something urgent related to work, you can send an email on Monday."

Julian's friend takes a nervous step back, Nora looks like she might pass out from shock, Aaron and his friend are completely lost.

Julian stares at me, his expression transitioning from fury to something far more controlled, and far more terrifying.

"You misunderstand the situation, Elena," he says, his voice calm.

I hold his gaze, refusing to be the first one to break.

After another eternity of tense quiet, Julian slowly pushes his hands into the pockets of his tailored trousers.

He gives me one final, penetrating look, a promise that this conversation is far from over then he turns away from the table, heading toward the exit.

"Let's go," he say to his friend.

He walks past the crowded bar, and disappears through the exit without a backward glance.

The second the door closes behind him, the tension in our booth shatters, Nora gasps, Aaron stares at the empty doorway, and I lean back, utterly drained.

Nora leans in close, her eyes wide "Elena" she whispers. "Oh my God."

She grips my arm. "He looked at you."

"He looked at you like you are already his."

Elena POV 

I barely sleep.

Every time I close my eyes, I see the bar, I see julian's face.

The way he stood at my table like he owned the ground beneath us, the way he said my name, low and demanding, the way I turned him down.

My heart jumps every time I remember it, a mix of pride and fear.

Because I something in my mind tells me Julian Stone isn't the type of man who forgets things easily.

Especially not defiance.

Especially not mine.

When my alarm rings, I sit on my bed for a long moment, my hands pressed to my face.

"Just survive today," I whisper to myself.

I get dressed, fix my hair, and go to work like I didn't challenge a man who could destroy me with a sentence.

At work, the lobby feels colder this morning.

Maybe it's me.

Maybe it's the dread crawling up my spine.

When I take the elevator to the last floor, my palms are already sweating.

I reach my desk and sit down carefully, placing my bag beside me.

His office door is closed.

Good.

Maybe he's not in yet.

I turn on my computer and try to breathe normally, but the memory of last night sits heavy on my chest like a weight. I can still see the way he looked at me when I told him no, like no one had ever said it to him before..

I take a deep breath and start checking emails, burying myself in work.

Minutes pass.

Then an hour.

His door stays closed.

He haven't call for me, he haven't send an email, he haven't even step out.

It should make me relieved. Instead, it twists my stomach into knots.

The silence feels sharp, punishing and intentional.

Every time the elevator dings, I look up, thinking it's him.

Every time it isn't, I sink a little deeper into my chair.

By 10 a.m., everyone in the office is in full work mode, typing, chatting, moving around with coffee cups.

Julian's office stays quiet.

But I know he's in there.

I get up to refill my water bottle, and Mila from yesterday spots me and came to stand beside me.

"Hey, Elena," she greeted, smiling "Rough morning?"

"You have no idea," I murmur.

"Boss trouble already?" she laughs lightly.

I force a smile, but it probably looks strained, if only she knew.

When I return to my desk, I try to focus again but focus is impossible, my mind keeps replaying the moment I refused him last night.

God.

Why did I say that?, why did I challenge him?, why do I feel guilty?

I shake my head, pressing my fingers to my temples.

At noon, the phone on my desk rings, I freeze, then I picked it up and answered 

"Elena." His voice came through the phone, low and calm.

My stomach drops.

"Yes?" I answered, my voice barely steady.

"Come to my office."

My throat goes dry immediately.

"Now."

I stand on legs that feel like they belong to someone else.

The walk to his office is maybe four steps, but it feels like a mile.

I knock once when I get to the door

"Come in."

I push the door open.

He's standing by the window, hands in his pockets, shoulders straight, suit perfect.

"Close the door."

I do, the click echoes loudly.

He doesn't turn around at first.

He stands there, looking out over the city, silent.

So silent I can hear my own heartbeat.

Then he speaks.

"You were bold last night."

Bold.

He says it like it's a warning, not a compliment.

I swallow. "I was having a conversation with my friends."

He turns.

And when his eyes meet mine, I forget how to breathe.

They're calm.

Too calm.

A mask he's chosen to wear today.

"You told me no," he says simply.

"Yes," I whisper.

He studies me like he's reading every reaction, every breath.

Then he looks down at his desk, picks up a folder, and hands it to me.

"We're leaving in twenty minutes."

I blink. "Leaving?" I asked, confused

"For a client meeting."

"But I wasn't scheduled to...."

"I changed the schedule." he said cutting me short, the tone he used means it final, no room to refuse.

My heart thumps painfully.

"Understood?" he asks.

I nod.

He steps around me, reaching for his jacket, as he passes, the faint smell of his cologne hits me.

My chest tightens.

He opens the door for himself but pauses.

Without looking at me he says:

"And Elena?"

"Yes?"

His jaw clenches slightly.

" Be at your best behavior" he say, 

Heat rushes to my cheeks.

"I will " I whisper.

He walks out and I stand there, shaking.

On the way to the meeting, we sit quietly in the backseat of his car.

He sit next to me scrolling through his phone like I'm not even there, his expression unreadable.

I stare out the window, pretending to be just as composed, but my fingers twitch against my skirt.  

But every now and then, I see his reflection in the window.

Looking at me.  

And each time, he glances away the second our eyes almost meet.  

The meeting itself is long and painfully formal.

Julian sits tall, composed, speaking in his smooth, controlled voice.

He signs papers, shakes hands, gives direct instructions, acting like I wasn't there.

Like we didn't spend one night together.

But I see it.

Small signs.

The way his fingers drum when someone sits too close to me.

The way his jaw tightens when I lean forward to pass him a document.

The way his eyes flick to me every time someone addresses me.

He can pretend all he wants, he didn't forget, he can't forget.

When the meeting ends, we step into the hallway and take the elevator down.

As the doors slide shut, my lungs tighten.

He stands in front of me, his hands back in his pockets, his shoulders tense.

The air in the elevator feels thick.

He looks straight ahead, then finally looks at me.

"What you did last night" he says quietly, "cannot happen again."

My fingers curl at my side.

"It won't," I say softly.

His eyes hold mine, too long and too intense

"You told me to forget you," I whisper, unable to stop myself.

A small, sharp breath escapes him, almost like I hit something sensitive.

"I didn't say I would forget you," he replies.

My heart stutters.

Then the elevator dings.

He steps out first but I stay frozen inside the elevator, feeling everything inside me twist at once.

Back at the office, the rest of the day passes in a blur.

Julian doesn't speak to me again, or call for me.

At 5 p.m., Mila stops by my desk.

"You okay?" she asks gently.

I nod, even though I'm not.

She gives a supportive smile before heading out.

I pack my things slowly.

When I finally stand, the door to his office opens.

My heart jumps as he steps out. For a moment, we're alone.

He looks at me.

His green eyes don't match the calm expression on his face.

They're darker, warmer, almost conflict

ed.

"Good night, Elena," he says quietly.

My breath hitches.

"Good night, Mr. Stone."

He walks away, disappearing into the elevator.

The doors slide close.

And I'm left standing there, every nerve in my body buzzing, every emotion tangled.

He wants distance, he wants control, he wants me to forget.

But he can't stay away.

And I don't know how much longer I can pretend that I can.

Elena POV

By the time I step out of the bus, my legs feel like they're made of sand.

The cold evening air bites at my cheeks, and every part of me aches from the long, messy day. I miss having a car, I miss the quiet, private space it gave me but that was before Ethan. Before everything fell apart.

I climb the stairs to my apartment, digging through my bag for my keys as I go, I finally find the key when I got to my door and slide it into the lock and freeze.

The door... it is already unlocked.

My heart lurches, my fingers tighten around the key, someone broke into my apartment.

For a split second, my instincts scream call the police, but another part of me, tired, frustrated, angry at life wants to storm in and catch whoever dared to touch my space.

I push the door open slowly, my breath stuck in my throat.

Then I stop.

Shopping bags, everywhere, neatly placed on the floor of my living room.

"What the..."

I step inside cautiously, closing the door behind me, my eyes dart over the bags, they look new, fancy, definitely not burglar items.

My heart nearly jumps out of my chest, when I hear movement from the kitchen.

A figure steps out, holding a cup.

I swallow hard and take a step back, ready to scream but I stopped when I saw the figure

"Nora?!" I yelled

She flinches, nearly spilling her drink, then she smiles like she didn't just give me a heart attack.

"Oh! Hey, Elena." she greeted.

I blink at her, confused, tired, and stunned all at once.

"What are you doing in my house?!" I asked her

Nora sets her cup on the small table beside her and claps her hands together in excitement, way too excited for someone who just broke into my apartment.

"Okay, so don't freak out. I did a good thing."

"What are you talking about?" I ask, still frozen by the door.

She walks toward me, grabs both my shoulders, and move me to the couch and gently pushes me down.

I sit, still processing everything.

"Nora. How did you even get in here?"

"Oh," she says casually, as if this is completely normal. She reaches into her jean pocket and pulls out a key. My spare key. "You gave me this when you moved in, remember? For emergencies."

"This isn't an emergency."

"It absolutely is," she says seriously. "Your emotional life is a disaster, that counts."

I let out a tired, frustrated sigh and drop my face into my hands.

Nora ignores my dramatic suffering and starts digging into the shopping bags.

She pulls out a blouse, a silk one, then a fitted skirt, then heels, then more clothes.

She spreads them out on the couch like she's hosting a fashion show.

My eyes widen.

"Nora... what is all this?"

She beams proudly.

"I bought them for you, obviously."

"You what? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because," she says, flipping her hair. "You wouldn't have let me. And because after what your boss did last night" she pauses, eyes bright with drama, "you need to show him exactly what he lost when he opened his stupid mouth."

I groan and place a hand over my eyes.

"Nora, Julian doesn't feel anything for me."

She stops unpacking for the first time, looks at me like I've grown two heads.

"Elena, sweetheart, honey, my sunshine who is dying inside."

She get up and kneels in front of me.

"That man stared at you like you were oxygen and he forgot how to breathe."

I shake my head, but she continues before I can speak.

"I'm serious. He wasn't looking at other people, or even me, rude, by the way. He was looking at you. Like you're the only person in the room."

My cheeks warm but I shake my head again.

"It doesn't matter. He told me to forget him. He made everything between us feel like, like it was nothing."

Nora's expression softens, but only for a moment, then a spark enters her gaze.

"Do you want him to regret it?" she asked

I look at her, really look at her.

At her determination, at how badly she wants me to stop hurting.

And against my will, I nod, slowly and shyly

Nora grins like she's been waiting for this exact moment.

She stand up and climbs onto the couch beside me and turns to face me, her eyes glowing with excitement and mischief.

"Okay," she says. "Here's the plan."

I straighten a little.

"You're going to dress sexy tomorrow," she begins, pointing at the clothes she bought. "Not trashy, not obvious, just enough to make him lose every brain cell he's pretending to have."

"Nora.."

"No. Listen." she cut me off

She grabs the silky blouse, holds it up to me, and nods approvingly. "This one, it looks innocent until you get close. Then boom, danger."

I laugh weakly.

She continues, serious again:

"Step one: Get him coffee in the morning."

"I don't know what he likes." I interrupted

"Black. He's a control freak, they all drink black coffee."

I can't help but smile at that.

She goes on.

"When you hand it to him, lean forward just a tiny bit. Subtle, Elena, don't flash the poor man. Just give him a little view, something that reminds him you're not forgettable."

I bury my face in my hands again.

"Nora, this is insane."

"It's not insane," she argues. "It's strategy. Cleopatra did stuff like this and she ran kingdoms."

I snort.

"That's not how history works."

"Whatever, same vibe."

She grabs my hands and pulls them away from my face.

"And when you give him the coffee, let your fingers touch his. Just lightly, like an accident. Men like him notice everything, he will definitely notice that."

My stomach flutters with nerves and something warm, something I don't want to name.

I swallow.

"I don't know if I can do that."

"Yes, you can. And you will."

Nora squeezes my hands.

"He hurt you. Make him feel it back."

I look at her, my chest tight.

My heart bruised.

Then I nod again.

She grins victoriously and hops up from the couch.

"Oh! Before I forget," she says, rushing to the kitchen counter. She grabs a takeout bag I didn't even notice.

She brings it over and opens it with a dramatic flourish.

"It's your favorite, chicken lo mein and dumplings from Golden Bowl."

My stomach growls loudly, betraying me.

"Oh my God," I say, half laughing. "I didn't even see that."

"That's because you were too busy staring at the door like a terrified raccoon," Nora says, handing me chopsticks.

I swat her arm weakly, but I'm smiling.

We settle on the couch, food spread between us.

The warm smell fills the apartment, comforting and familiar.

And for the first time all day

I don't feel like I'm falling apart.

Nora talks as she eats, planning outfits, practicing lines, telling me I need to "walk into that office like sin wrapped in silk," which makes me choke on my noodles.

She laughs until she's nearly crying.

I laugh too.

The apartment feels lighter, safer and warner

Warmer.

And even though tomorrow terrifies me, even though Julian Stone's stare is still burned into my skin.

Tonight, with Nora beside me and food in my hands...

I feel something I haven't felt in a long time.

Hope.