She snapped awake, met his gaze, and vowed, “I’ll remember! I swear I will! The moment I see that leopard on your chest I’ll think of your
He chuckled. “That promise is all I need.”
Simon smilled.
From beginning to end, though, only he remembered those words.
Had she forgotten after she fell for Victor Whitmore, or as soon as they left the west?
The whir of the hair dryer stopped.
Elena Bennett shook her head and said, “No.”
Simon Whitmore held her in an unwavering stare, every nerve taut. “I had this tattoo etched for the person I love more than anyone in the
world.”
Elena lifted her eyes to him, paused, and asked softly, “Oh… then, does she know?”
His breathing roughened, voice dropping an octave as Simon ground out, “She’s a heartless creature!”
Elena pondered his words and nodded. ‘No wonder, even in his dreams, he keeps demanding to know why I didn’t wait for him,” she thought.
pinched the bridge of his nose–truly, she was heartless!
Seeing her nod as though she agreed only fueled Simon’s fury.
Elena offered him an innocent look. “The porridge is ready–come eat.”
“Fine.”
‘He seems furious,‘ Elena mused, yet she was too drained to guess which careless remark had provoked him.
All she knew was that she had to steer clear. A heart starved of warmth succumbs too quickly; she refused to bleed for another wrong love.
Hadn’t her fiasco with Victor Whitmore already taught her enough?
After breakfast, Simon Whitmore strode out of the apartment.
Back in her bedroom, Elena slid the sketch from beneath her quilt. She stared for a long time, fingers tightening around the paper until she was ready to tear it in two. At the last second she froze, heart pounding, and instead tucked the drawing at the very bottom of a drawer.
During those days she accepted freelance illustration gigs online and saved a little cash, all the while reminding herself to keep Simon Whitmore at arm’s length.
She opened her phone, wired him enough to cover the rent and her share of the phone bill, and added a note to make that clear. After a moment’s thought, she sent another message, [Thank you for everything these past few weeks.]
No reply came.
Steeling herself, Elena returned to Bennett Corporation headquarters.
That afternoon’s meeting would be held at Riverton Clubhouse, and Victor Whitmore would be present.
On the way, Victor glanced at her several times, words hovering on his lips.
Chapter 129
Aug
The moment they stepped out of the car he caught her arm. “You weren’t hurt that day, were you?”
Elena offered a faint smile. “Didn’t President Whitmore notice I took sick leave? You should really thank your fiancée everything wash
doing.”
Victor’s eyes darkened with complicated emotion.
Expression icy, Elena gestured toward the entrance. “President Whitmore, if we don’t go now we’ll be late.”
Victor drew a deep breath and strode ahead.
Annabelle Bennett’s phone lit up with a photo from her sister: a room key card held beside the unmistakable silhouette of Victor Whitmore, Her knuckles whitened around the device. Elena Bennett! What was that supposed to mean–had they really booked a hotel room together? Zooming in, she spotted the Riverton Clubhouse togo on the card’s edge.
AD
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.