Chapter 190: My money’s on Elena.

Dominic Hale was not a man who spent time dwelling on the past.

He had trained himself to be pragmatic, forward-thinking, efficient. The past was a thing to learn from, not something to chase.

But as he sat in his office, reviewing the logistics of Apex’s transition into its government partnership, his mind wasn’t on the mission files in front of him.

It was on her.

Elena Steel.

A woman who shouldn’t have still had this kind of hold over him.

And yet—she did.

A sharp knock at his door pulled him out of his thoughts.

And, as if the universe had heard his internal conflict and decided to mock him—it was her.

Elena stepped inside, composed as always, shutting the door behind her with a quiet finality.

"You’ve been avoiding me," she said.

Dominic leaned back in his chair, expression unreadable.

"I’ve been busy."

Elena smirked slightly. "Bullshit."

Dominic exhaled, rubbing a hand over his jaw.

"You need something, Steel?"

Elena tilted her head, stepping closer. "Yeah. I need you to tell me why you’re acting like we don’t have unfinished business."

Dominic’s jaw ticked.

"We don’t," he said evenly.

Elena arched a brow. "So that’s how you’re playing this?"

Dominic stood, slow, deliberate.

"You’re here for work," he said. "And so am I. That’s all this is."

Elena didn’t move.

Didn’t blink.

Then, softly—"Liar."

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

The air between them was thick, heavy, filled with words neither of them had dared say in years.

Then—Elena exhaled, stepping closer, just enough that Dominic had to meet her gaze directly.

"You really want to pretend that nothing happened?" she asked, her voice quieter now, measured but pointed.

Dominic gritted his teeth.

"You left," he said. "There’s nothing to talk about."

Elena’s lips parted, something flickering in her expression.

Something that almost—**almost—**looked like regret.

"You think I had a choice?" she asked.

Dominic exhaled sharply.

"You always have a choice, Steel."

Elena shook her head, a bitter smirk curling at her lips. "Not always."

Dominic didn’t respond.

Because he knew that.

He knew the world they had both belonged to didn’t always allow choices.

And yet—

"It doesn’t change what happened," Dominic said, voice steady. "You walked away. You didn’t look back."

Elena inhaled, her fingers curling slightly at her sides.

"I looked back more than you know," she murmured.

Dominic stilled.

Something in his chest **tightened, twisted—**but he didn’t let it show.

Instead, he exhaled, shaking his head. "Doesn’t matter now."

Elena studied him.

Then—"Doesn’t it?"

Outside, Damon, Seraphina, Liam, and Zayn were gathered in the hallway.

Because, obviously, they weren’t about to let this level of drama unfold without watching.

"They’re either going to fight or make out," Liam muttered.

Zayn smirked. "Maybe both."

Seraphina sighed. "You’re all children."

Damon crossed his arms. "But you’re still standing here."

Seraphina rolled her eyes. "For research purposes."

James, walking past, snorted. "Right. Research."

Liam grinned. "So what’s the bet now? First one to crack?"

Damon smirked. "Dominic’s too stubborn. My money’s on Elena."

Zayn shook his head. "No way. She’s got more patience than him."

Seraphina sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"God help us all," she muttered.

Because, no matter how this ended—

It was going to be a disaster.

And she?

She was just here to watch it happen.