Elliot slipped into the black sedan sitting beside Clara. "Are you ready to leave?" She turns to him and asks. "Yeah, yeah I am." Elliot said distracted. "And Jonah?" She asks. "He is headed to the airport now he has an earlier flight." Elliot says then sighs.
Clara takes his hand in hers, "Is everything okay?" “It’s Jonah,” he admitted, his smile faltering. “We, we had a bit of a disagreement before we left.” Clara’s brow furrowed. “About what?” Elliot hesitated, then sighed. “He’s…he is still suspicious of you, Clara. He thinks you are…I don’t know…manipulating me somehow.”
Clara’s expression shifted, a flicker of hurt crossing her face. “And you? Do you think I’m manipulating you?”
Elliot’s gaze softened. “No, Clara. I trust you. I know you are trying to help.”
“Then talk to him, Elliot,” she urged. “Don’t let this fester. Misunderstandings can become monsters if they are left unchecked.” “I will,” Elliot promised, though a part of him still bristled at Jonah’s accusations. “I just, I needed a moment to cool off.” Clara nodded understandingly. “Of course. But don’t wait too long. He is robably worried sick.”
They had arrived at the airport . The private jet sat gleaming on the tarmac, ready for takeoff. Elliot stood beside Clara, a forced smile plastered on his face as they exchanged pleasantries with the small group of staff seeing them off. He kept glancing towards the terminal, a flash of unease in his eyes. "Everything would be fine, okay." She reassures him. Just then, the pilot appeared. “Ready for boarding, Mr. Sinclair, Ms. Dawson.”
"Let’s go,” Clara said, giving Elliot’s arm a reassuring squeeze. “We can talk more on the plane.” On the jet, they settled into the plush seats, Elliot narrated the argument in more detail. He described Jonah’s accusations, his constant questioning of Clara’s motives. He told Clara how he was frustrated and tired. Tired of being caught between two people he cared about.
Clara listened patiently, her expression sympathetic. “He is scared, Elliot,” she repeated. “He is afraid of losing you. And he is channeling that fear into distrust.”
“I know,” Elliot sighed. “But it’s still so frustrating. I defended you, Clara. I told him I trusted you.” “And that is all that matters,” Clara said softly. “ Thank you for your trust. But you have to understand, Elliot, from Jonah’s perspective, this all looks convenient. I’m your ex-fiancée, suddenly I’m your confidante, your ally. He is bound to be suspicious.”
Elliot nodded, conceding the point. “I get it,” he said. “But I wish he could just trust me. Trust my judgment.”
“He will,” Clara reassured him. “Just give him time. And talk to him. Explain how you feel. Tell him, tell him that you appreciate his concern, but that you need him to trust you on this.” Elliot leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes. He knew Clara was right.
He had to talk to Jonah. But not right now, he was not in the right frame of mind, he also needed to process his own feelings.
The rest of the flight passed in relative silence. Elliot and Clara discussed the next steps in their plan, the need to keep an eye on Elaine, the importance of finding out who “V” was. But the undercurrent of tension, the unspoken worry about Jonah, lingered in the air.
Elliot slammed the door to his house, the sound echoing through the quiet hallway. He walked towards the mini-bar, stressed as he poured himself a generous measure of whiskey. Jonah's words echoed in his head, fueling his anger and confusion. He had bent over backwards to accommodate Jonah, to reassure him, to everything.
And this was the thanks he got? Accusations and suspicion directed at the one person who had shown them any real support?
He downed the whiskey in one gulp, the burn in his throat doing little to soothe the fire within him. He knew Jonah was worried, but his constant negativity was grating on Elliot's nerves. He was trying to manage a PR disaster, protect his family's reputation, and salvage his relationship with Jonah. It was a lot to handle, and he didn't need Jonah adding to his stress.
He poured himself another drink, his thoughts swirling with resentment. He had defended Clara, yes, but not just out of loyalty. He genuinely believed she was trying to help. And he was tired of Jonah's constant lack of trust, his beliefs that Clara had ulterior motives. It felt like Jonah was trying to drive a wedge between them, and Elliot wasn't going to stand for it.
He finished his drink and turned to face the room, his anger slowly giving way to a dull ache.
He knew he had overreacted. He shouldn't have sacted the way he did. But he needed some time to cool down, to gather his thoughts. Jonah sat on the balcony, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. He replayed his argument with Elliot, his stomach twisting with guilt.
He knew he had been harsh, but he could not shake off his unease about Clara. Something about her behavior felt off, and he couldn't put his finger on it. He was not trying to be difficult, but he could not ignore his gut feeling.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. He hadn't meant to upset Elliot. He was just worried, scared. He had seen how easily Elliot could be manipulated by his family, how readily he prioritized their needs over his own. And he was afraid that Clara was playing a similar game, using Elliot's vulnerability to her advantage.
He stood up and walked back inside, the house feeling empty and cold without Elliot's presence. He knew he had to apologize. He just had to. He didn't want this argument to linger for too long.
He locked his house door.
Started the car and drove off. The only destination on his mind? Elliot's house.
He knocked on Elliot's door. The door swung open with Elliot standing in the doorway with bloodshot eyes. "What are you doing here?" Elliot asked his voiced dripped with annoyance. "Can you at least let me in." Jonah said sighing. Elliot swayed as he stepped back. Jonah stepped into the house. Shut the door and turned to look at him.
The burning smell of alcohol stinging his nose. He lets out a cough, "Have you been drinking Elliot." Jonah asked.