Chapter 56 Breakfast of Lies
Elena
The sunlight was too bright and it made me squint my eyes even in my sleep.
It poured through the curtains like it had a personal vendetta against my sleep. I groaned softly and instinctively rolled onto my back. I let out another groan. My entire body was stiff and sore in a way that made the memories from last night come back fast and heavy.
His hands.
His breath on me, his tongue, rough on mine.
His voice, low…rough…. saying my name like it belonged to him.
My heart stumbled. I blinked lazily, even with my eyes still shut.
I reached out instinctively to the other side of the bed, hoping to feel the warmness from his body but my hands only found the cold sheets. He was gone. The place didn't even feel like someone had been there, he must have been gone for more than a while.
Reality stabbed through me.
Of course he left.
He was freaking Alexander Harrington, he didn’t do soft mornings or affection. He did goodbyes before the sun even woke up. That definitely was it. I wondered why I expected him to do otherwise.
I lazily dragged myself off the bed and headed into the bathroom. A shower did nothing to wash away the mix of shame and longing that was tangled inside me. I had to admit it, I had begun to develop feelings for him. So much that I'm not sure I could control it any longer, and last night….last night had taken things up a notch. I wondered how he felt about it.
Maybe he was too ashamed to tell me that he felt the same. He was probably off so early to work, or off on a business trip. You know, like always.
By the time I got dressed in a simple white sundress, I had convinced myself that this was just the beginning of something for the both of us. And I was willing to take things slowly, as it came.
But then, when I stepped into the dining room…
I froze.
Alexander wasn’t gone.
He was sitting at the table eating breakfast. With Victoria.
I couldn't tell how much that affected me but it greatly did.
The two of them were having breakfast like some picture-perfect couple in a magazine spread. I clenched my fists beside me.
Victoria lightly placed a hand on his jaw, smoothening out a stain of ketchup on his chin. The gesture was…possessive.
It suddenly felt as if the ground was spinning. I didn't want to believe it but I felt…betrayed.
For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
Everything from last night, every kiss, every desperate touch, it all suddenly felt like a cruel joke.
Before I could gather myself, Victoria looked up and her eyes met mine before she let out a sweet smile.
Too sweet.
“Oh! Good morning, Elena,” she chirped. “Did you sleep well? You look…not well.” she said in mock concern.
I said nothing. I simply swallowed hard and my eyes drifted to Alexander.
He didn’t look at me. Not at first. Not until I forced my eyes to remain on him. And even then, he only met my gaze for half a second with an unreadable expression before going right back to his food as if I meant nothing.
I was beginning to think I was.
I felt like last night hadn’t happened at all, and even if it had, it meant nothing to him, just like I did.
“If you're not feeling well, you can head back to your room. They’ll bring your breakfast to your room dear,” she continued smiling in a voice that was too sweet, like that of a serpent. “Alexander and I are having a private meal together.” she added and I felt the harshness in her last words.
My stomach twisted.
I looked at Alexander again. I don't even know why I did, maybe I was waiting for him to say something. Anything. To deny her. Or, or correct her. Show that I wasn’t some secret he had to hide in corners and shadows. And that last night had meant something to him too.
But he didn’t.
He simply cut into his food with surgical precision. Silently.
Coldly.
Like always.
A lump formed in my throat and I felt humiliated.
“Oh,” I managed, my voice came out smaller than I wanted. “Right. Of course.” I said.
Victoria leaned back, swirling her orange juice.
“You understand,” she said airily. “Boundaries. Respect. It’s important, you know, my fiancé and I need that, and we will appreciate it if you respect our boundaries henceforth.” she added, twisting the knife in my stomach, and knowing damned well what she was doing.
She probably knew about my feelings for him, more than I did.
Alexander’s jaw tightened, but he still didn’t speak.
The silence hurt more than anything he could’ve said.
Was that all I was to him?
A body he could use when his anger got too loud? A vessel carrying a child he only cared about because of DNA?
Heat pricked the back of my eyes, but I blinked it away ruthlessly.
I straightened my spine and lifted my chin.
“Don’t worry,” I said in a calm but cracked voice. “I won’t disturb you two. I’ll just go back to my room.” I said.
Alexander’s fork paused mid-air. His eyes flicked up and I saw something on it, dark, focused. Something flashed there, something that looked sharp and conflicted.
But he said nothing.
Not one damn word.
I refused to crumble. Not in front of her. Not in front of him.
“Enjoy your breakfast,” I added politely.
Victoria smiled like she had just won a prize but Alexander's face was a storm.
Was he…angry?
I turned anyway and walked away. Glad that I didn't break down right before their eyes. I could feel his stare burning into my spine but I chose to not be bothered by it.
As soon as I reached the hall, the air left my lungs in one shuddering breath.
I pressed a hand over my stomach, feeling the movement of my baby…Alexander's baby.
It felt as if my little bloop was consoling me.
I forced out a smile. Of course he, or she, could perceive what was happening.
“There's nothing to worry about little one," I said softly. “I'm a tough one." I added.
Your father is just an asshole.
My subconscious said.
No way in hell were they going to get at me. This was after all a contract, and I was going to treat it as such.
“I won’t let them break me,” I whispered to my baby again. “Not again.”
Last night… it was a mistake. One I would not repeat. And I had made up my mind to become as cold as he was to me.
No more soft glances. No more foolish hope and meaningless feelings. If it was going to be one-sided then it was never meant to be. No more believing Alexander Harrington could ever care.
Contract.
Money.
Leave.
That was the plan.
That would stay the plan.
Without looking back once, I headed towards my room as I held tightly what little dignity I still had left.