Chapter 52 KATIE’S TRUTH
Alex
Alex put the phone on speaker. “Katie? What’s wrong?”
“I know who’s been calling you. And it’s not Carter.”
Elias leaned closer. “What are you talking about?”
“It’s his new girlfriend. The one from the photo he sent. She’s been doing this whole thing. The calls to Alex. The fake messages. All of it.”
“How do you know?” Alex asked.
“Because she called me an hour ago. Bragging about it. Said Carter put her up to it. That they’re working together to break you guys up.”
Alex’s stomach dropped. “Why?”
“Because Carter’s obsessed. He can’t stand that Elias is happy without him. So he got his new girlfriend to help him destroy your relationship.”
“That’s insane,” Elias said.
“I know. But it’s true. She told me everything. The fake photos. The calls are pretending to be concerned. The whole Rachel thing. It’s all made up.”
“Rachel’s real though,” Alex said. “She works with Elias.”
“Right. But the story about them being involved? That’s fiction. Carter found out about the conference. Found out Rachel was going. And built a whole narrative around it.”
Elias pressed his palms against his eyes. “This is a nightmare.”
“It gets worse,” Katie said. “She said they’re planning something for Chicago. I don’t know what. But she was laughing about it. Said by the time Elias gets back, you’ll be done.”
“I’m not going,” Elias said immediately.
“No,” Alex said. “You’re going. We’re not letting them win.”
“Alex.”
“No. I’m serious. If you cancel this trip, they win. They get exactly what they want.”
“But what if something happens? What if they do something in Chicago and you believe it?”
“Then we’ll deal with it. Together. But I’m not going to let some psycho ex and his girlfriend destroy what we have.”
Katie made a sound like she was smiling. “I like him, Elias. He’s got spine.”
“Too much spine sometimes,” Elias muttered.
“So what do we do?” Alex asked. “Can we report her? Get a restraining order?”
“I’m working on it,” Katie said. “I recorded the call. Got her admitting to everything. I’m sending it to you now. Take it to the police. It should be enough.”
A file came through. Audio recording. Alex opened it.
A woman’s voice. Young. Confident. “Carter said you’d probably call. He told me all about you. The protective sister.”
Katie’s voice: “Why are you doing this?”
“Because it’s fun. And because Carter deserves to be happy. Elias ruined that.”
“Elias didn’t ruin anything. Carter was the one who left.”
“Because Elias was exhausting. Too needy. Too much. Now he’s doing the same thing to that kid. Poor Alex has no idea what he’s gotten into.”
“You don’t know anything about their relationship.”
“I know Elias is going to Chicago with a pretty coworker. I know Alex is insecure. I know it won’t take much to make him doubt everything. We’ve already planted the seeds. By Thursday, they’ll be over.”
The recording ended.
Alex felt sick. “She sounds so pleased with herself.”
“That’s because she is,” Katie said. “She thinks she’s helping Carter get you back, Elias. She’s completely delusional.”
“What’s her name?” Elias asked.
“Ashley something. I didn’t catch the last name. But she gave me enough to work with. Take the recording to the police. Show them the pattern. This should be enough for a restraining order against both of them.”
After Katie hung up, Alex and Elias sat in silence.
“I’m sorry,” Elias said finally.
“For what?”
“For bringing all this into your life. Carter. His crazy girlfriend. All of it.”
“You didn’t bring it. It just happened. And we’re dealing with it.”
“Are we? Because it feels like we’re drowning.”
“Then we keep swimming. What else can we do?”
They went to the police station. Again. Showed them the recording. Explained everything.
The detective listened. Made notes. “This is good. With the recording and the pattern of harassment, we can file for restraining orders against both of them.”
“How long will that take?” Elias asked.
“A few days. Maybe a week. I’ll fast-track it given the escalation and the threats.”
“What about Chicago? Elias leaves Thursday.”
“Go. Live your life. If they violate the order, we’ll arrest them. But chances are, once they know there are legal consequences, they’ll back off.”
Walking out of the station, Alex felt lighter. Not fixed. But better.
“We’re really doing this,” he said. “Fighting back.”
“Yeah. We are.”
“You’re still going to Chicago?”
“If you want me to.”
“I do. You need to go. For work. For you.”
“What about us?”
“We’ll be fine. Three days. We can handle three days.”
That night they ordered pizza and watched bad TV. Tried to be normal. Failed mostly. But the effort counted.
In bed, Elias pulled Alex close. “I’m scared.”
“Of Chicago?”
“Of losing you. Of them winning.”
“They’re not going to win. We’re not going to let them.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
They made love slowly. Carefully. Like they were memorizing each other. Like Elias was leaving for months instead of days.
After, lying in the dark, Alex said, “Tell me about Rachel. The real Rachel.”
“She’s nice. Quiet. Married with a kid. Talks about her daughter constantly. Brings homemade cookies to staff meetings.”
“She sounds lovely.”
“She is. And completely not interested in me.”
“Good.”
“Jealous?”
“Maybe a little.”
“Don’t be. You’re the only one I want.”
Wednesday came too fast. Elias packed. Double-checked his flight. Confirmed his hotel room. Again.
“I’m going to call you so much you’ll get sick of me,” Elias said.
“Impossible.”
“I mean it. Morning. Lunch. Dinner. Before bed. You’ll know exactly where I am.”
“I trust you.”
“Do you?”
Alex thought about it. Really thought. “Yes. I trust you. I don’t trust Carter or his girlfriend. But I trust you.”
“That’s enough. That’s everything.”
Thursday morning, Alex drove Elias to the airport. They sat in the parking garage. Neither wanted to say goodbye.
“Three days,” Elias said.
“Three days.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
They kissed. Long and deep. Then Elias grabbed his bag and walked toward the terminal.
Alex watched until he disappeared. Then drove home alone.
The apartment felt empty without Elias. Too quiet. Too big.
Alex tried to study. Couldn’t focus. Tried to sleep. Failed.
At 8 PM his phone rang. Elias.
“I’m here. The hotel’s nice. Conference starts tomorrow.”
“How was the flight?”
“Boring. Sat next to a guy who talked about his golf game for two hours.”
“Sounds terrible.”
“It was. But I’m here now. Safe. Missing you already.”
They talked for an hour. About nothing. About everything. Just being connected across the distance.
When they hung up, Alex felt better. This was going to be okay.
Friday morning, Elias texted photos. The conference center. His name badge. Boring panel discussions.
At lunch: “Rachel says hi. Also she showed me pictures of her kids’ dance recital. Send help.”
Alex smiled. This was fine. Normal. Nothing to worry about.
But at 9 PM Friday, his phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
A photo. Elias is at a bar. With Rachel. Sitting close. Laughing.
Unknown: Told you. Three days was all it took.
Alex stared at the photo. His chest is going tight.
Then another message.
Unknown: Ask him where he is right now. Ask him who he’s with. Ask him if he’s thinking about you at all.
Alex’s hands were shaking.
He called Elias.
It rang. And rang. And rang.
No answer.
He called again.
Still nothing.
At 9:30, a text from Elias.
Elias: Sorry, I was in a session. The phone was silent. Call you at 10?
But the photo was timestamped at 9:15.
Which meant Elias was lying about being in a session.
He was at a bar.
With Rachel.
And he wasn’t telling the truth about it.