Chapter 92
Elizabeth's POV
Finally back in my office, the enclosed space let me breathe easier at last.
Tiana made herself comfortable on the couch without ceremony, still fixing me with that serious stare of hers.
"So, are you going to explain this to me properly now? Why would Alexander pay that amount of money for you?"
The question sounded almost absurd, so I shot back, "So in your mind, Alexander wouldn't spend that much on his girlfriend, is that it?"
Sure, Alexander had never actually given me gifts, but he'd always been generous, never stingy with those around him.
I genuinely couldn't understand why Tiana was so fixated on this, as if she'd already decided Alexander would never do such a thing.
Caught off guard by my directness, panic flickered across Tiana's face before she hurried to explain, "Of course, I'm not saying he's cheap. I just think it's weird that he'd give you money directly like that."
She studied me again, this time not bothering to hide what she really thought, speaking with brutal honesty, "After all, you're just an ordinary girl. Besides being pretty, what else could make him interested in you? Plus, didn't your family already go bankrupt?"
Even though these were all facts, and I'd grown used to people judging me by them, hearing it said to my face still stirred something indescribable inside me.
Yes, these were facts—the unbridgeable gap between Alexander and me.
Our relationship was just a secret arrangement. No matter how I argued with Tiana, it wouldn't change that reality.
Seeing my silence, Tiana grew more confident. "Even if Alexander doesn't care about these things, facts are facts. You can't deny them. I'm advising you to leave him on your own terms before you end up embarrassing him."
My expression hardened as I withdrew all emotion from my face, neither confirming nor denying her words.
"Are you finished?" I asked suddenly, and she jerked her head up to look at me, alarm flashing in her eyes.
"You—"
I realized then that my expression must have been intimidating, so I quickly looked away and softened my tone. "I'm not trying to lecture you. I just think what you're saying doesn't really matter."
What was the point of saying these provocative things to me? Unless she said them directly to Alexander, he'd never know. If I were her, I'd never waste my time on something so pointless.
Tiana seemed genuinely frightened by my reaction, staring at me with a trace of fear.
"Elizabeth, you don't deserve him at all. I'm telling you to leave voluntarily before things get ugly for everyone."
"I have no reason to listen to you. It's work hours now. Please leave." I spoke in my calmest voice as I stood and opened the office door for her.
Sure enough, a crowd of curious coworkers had gathered outside, craning their necks to peek in.
Tiana clenched her fists and glared at me viciously.
I said plainly, "Alexander's office is right next door. Need me to take you there?"
These words—she should have been saying them to Alexander himself all along.
A few seconds later, Tiana bit out through gritted teeth, "Fine! Let's see if you actually dare take me there."
She deliberately raised her voice, clearly wanting everyone around us to hear. I smiled and headed straight for the CEO's office next door.
"I have no problem with that. You're the one who wants to see Alexander, you're the one who wants to interrupt his work. If he gets angry because of this, you're the one who should take responsibility."
Halfway there, Tiana started struggling, trying to shake off my hand, her tone turning frantic.
"Let go of me!"
I gripped tighter. "Why should I let go? You're the one who said you wanted to see Alexander. I'm just helping you get what you want."
"I said, let go!"
The more anxious she became, the more commotion she caused, attracting even more curious stares.
We struggled all the way to the CEO's office door before I finally released her.
She turned to flee, but I gestured toward Alexander's office with my chin.
"You sure you want to leave? If you go now, I'm going in by myself."
Tiana stopped in her tracks.
She looked at me, her features instantly flooding with grievance. Seconds later, as if resigned to her fate, she positioned herself beside me and followed me through the door.
Alexander was reviewing documents and didn't even look up when we suddenly burst in.
I glanced sideways at Tiana, who now had her head lowered—completely different from her earlier arrogant demeanor.
"Mr. Windsor, Ms. FitzRoy wanted to see you."
The moment I spoke, Tiana frantically grabbed my arm, shaking her head desperately at me. "How could you just say it outright like that?"
"What else was I supposed to do?" I smiled at her. "Isn't this what you wanted? You're the one who insisted I bring you here."
With Alexander present, I felt a strange sense of security and continued, "Whatever you want to say, just say it. No need to hold back."
She'd been so aggressive in front of me just moments ago—could she really not manage a single word in front of Alexander?
I flashed her a smile. "Nervous now?"
Watching this privileged young lady, who'd been so imperious earlier, now looking so deflated—I found it somewhat amusing.
Alexander finally stopped his work and looked over with a frown, his gaze landing precisely on Tiana.
"What is it?" His tone was extremely distant, and I could clearly hear the displeasure in it.
I was somewhat surprised. I hadn't expected Alexander to be so direct, showing absolutely no courtesy toward Tiana.
Tiana looked deeply hurt and shot me a resentful glance.
"Mr. Windsor, Ms. FitzRoy seems to have something she'd like to discuss with you privately. Perhaps my presence is making it difficult for her to speak. I'll step out."
Alexander turned to look at me, and his expression softened almost instantly, his gaze warming.
The contrast with how he'd just treated Tiana was stark, and when Tiana saw it, her eyes immediately dimmed.
She seemed to finally understand something and spoke quietly, "So, Alexander, your relationship with Elizabeth is really that good? I've never seen you this close with any woman."
When I'd seen Alexander treat me differently, I'd thought it was just him putting in effort to play our relationship convincingly.
But hearing Tiana put it that way, I could no longer view it so matter-of-factly.
"I'll step out now." With that, I hurriedly left the office, my heart involuntarily racing.
Alexander had indeed spoken to me gently just now, but that should have just been acting, right? It couldn't have meant anything else. I was overthinking it.
I kept repeating this to myself as I walked back to my own office, but my wildly beating heart refused to fully calm down.
Now, Tiana had gotten her wish—she was alone with Alexander.
Only after calming down did I suddenly realize this, and I couldn't stop myself from wondering what might be happening between them. Without me there, would Alexander be warmer toward her when facing her alone?