Chapter 12: Midnight talk

“Elena,” Aunt Vanessa’s confused gaze took me in and then she glanced at Vince and back at me again. “Elena, dear. Are you alright?”

She reached for my hand and I flinched. Much because of the guilt choking me. I was pale and shaky, also speechless.

Vince backed away, raking his fingers through his air with a silent hiss. If I hadn’t pushed him off as quickly as I did, then Aunt Vanessa would have caught me kissing her mate, and the remaining part of my life would have crumbled to pieces.

“Are you okay, dear?” She finally held my hand, with her motherly gaze. I nodded, but my quivering lips couldn’t utter a word. Her touch stung me. Or was it my guilty conscience? And my heart was still racing wildly at the thought that she caught us.

“What’s wrong?” She stepped closer. “Why are you crying?”

The question pulled me back to reality and I quickly swiped my hand over my face, startled by the wetness there. Right. Why was I crying? Probably because I was way too terrified by her intrusion, it must have shaken me up really badly.

“Nothing, Aunt Vanessa. Im fine.” My voice was an emotional mess, and I hoped it didn’t give me away. I forced my lips to stretch into a smile, hoping it’d convince her.

“No, you’re not. What's wrong?” She persisted, and God, I hated how badly her innocent, motherly gaze was judging me.

“It’s the rumor, Vanessa. She’s just shaken up by it.” Vince’s voice came from the other corner of the office. Aunt Vanessa finally took her gaze away from me to him, giving me the chance to catch my breath.

When she turned to look at me again, I was more composed and had put my tears in check. “oh, dear. Im so sorry,” she hugged me tightly, rubbing my back soothingly. “my poor baby. How much you must be hurting…”

I didn’t mean for my gaze to find Vince’s but it did and got trapped. The man looked every bit weakened, vulnerable, and unrecognizable. His usual calm gaze was fierce and overwhelming emotions, and they were flickering badly. His hands were shaky, and his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down rapidly.

I gasped into Aunt Vanessa's shoulder, holding her just as tight as I stared at the inferno burning in the eyes of the man who'd vowed to ruin me just to have me.

But again, it excited an unhealthy part of me. Knowing I was the reason the almighty Vince Walker looked so flustered and shattered made my stupid heart flip recklessly.

“Baby, are you here alone?” Aunt Vanessa asked as she broke the hug.

I nodded, mentally ridding the emotions from my voice. “Ye-yes…” Thankfully, I didn't sound as shaky as I was feeling.

“Why? Where is he?” she asked, pulling me with her to the two empty seats that were earlier occupied by those men.

“He…uh…” I stopped when I realized she wanted me to sit next to her. Probably stay with her. Chat with her. Bond with her like we do sometimes.

Nah, how could I, when I just made out with her mate? The last thing I wanna do is spend more minutes in the walls of this suffocating office.

“Aunt Vanessa, I can't stay any longer than I already have.” I quickly chipped in, swiftly but gently tugging my hand away from her grip.

“What? Why not?”

“I…I need to head home. You see I…I need to speak with Trent…” My million stutters and my quivering lips were badly giving me away.

It was a miracle that she couldn't see through them. It was probably the moon goddess taking pity on my pathetic, sorry, and confused ass.

“But you…” Halfway through her upcoming statement, I already glanced at Vince and was already dashing out of the office.

I hurried inside the elevator, anxious to exit the whole building and get into my car. My phone rang, and I checked to see what it was about.

My heart swatted in my chest as Vince's name popped up on my screen. It was a new message. My shaky, manicured finger tapped on it and I silently read the content.

Call me, Elena. Call me.

No. I shook my head, taking my gaze off the phone's screen. Call him? I wouldn't dare.

I shouldn't dare. I wouldn't…I'm gonna keep my distance from him. A million and one distance. I shouldn't let him mess with my head and life the way he was doing. Seeing him regularly or indulging him would only give him room to do that. He was such a sneaky devil. I should be a little smart while dealing with him.

An hour later, I was at home but as usual, it was empty. Just the omegas were going about their activities as usual.

I got into the shower and had a hot bath, scrubbing off every bit of Vince's scent that latched onto me. I scrubbed my lips so hard I feared they would chap. It wasn't that I didn't love the feel of his lips on mine.

It was just my conscience…it was killing me.

I didn't have lunch. I didn't have an appetite for it. I slept all through the afternoon hours and woke up around 9 p.m.

It was far past dinner so I didn't have it either. I lay on my bed, wallowing in thoughts in the comfort of my pitch-dark bedroom.

Trent still wasn't home. Lonely tears slid down my eyes as my mind tortured me with possible scenarios of where he was, who he was with, and what he was doing.

My heart kick-started when I heard his car entering into the garage. Emotions swirled inside me as I thought about the many things I wanna ask him. The many things I wanna say to him. The urge to hit him over and over for being such a heartless bastard.

The door opened and his footsteps followed. I grabbed my duvet, sobbing silently as Tracy's rich perfume invaded my bedroom like it belonged here.

I shut my eyes at the pain clawing the walls of my heart. He dashed into the bathroom and took quite a long shower.

When he stepped out, I was already sitting up, pale with anger and a maddening urge to viciously lash out at him.

“Baby,” he seemed startled. “I…uh…I didn't know you were awake…”

“Turn on the light.” I gritted out and he did. I watched him get dressed in shorts and a top. He looked tensed and wouldn't stop glancing at my tear-streaked face.

“Is…is there a problem?” He finally asked, standing a bit away from the bed. Giving me that flirty, innocent stare that would always get me wet and calm.

Right now, it was irritating me even more. I took a deep breath and the words came out.

“What do you know about the embezzlement?”