Twenty-Seven

I was shocked by what I just heard. Luca looked very cruel, but he did not look like a criminal—the one who would kill you on the spot if you refused to listen to him—but I recalled the various times he had killed a creature, if that counts—when he refused to answer the questions I had when he took me to threaten someone.

"Are you planning on staying here tonight?” I asked Zoey if I could bring the bed to the living area and sleep there.

My apartment was at the heart of the city; I could see the lights shining brightly through my transparent window, which I loved so much. The main reason I had picked the apartment was so I could see the view, which I had been depriving myself of since I was a kid.

As an orphan who grew up in a Catholic orphanage, I really had the chance to explore; I was always confined in the building. My routine was pretty much the same every day: go to church, read a book, do chores, pray, and the list goes on. We did all of that except have the opportunity to see the world and explore what it has to offer.

I looked back at my childhood, constantly asking myself who I was and where I was from. I wanted to know my parents and if I had any siblings, but we were not given the opportunity to ask for much, and we were tagged ungrateful if we tried to inquire about our background. You would think Catholic priests and reverend sisters were the best, but they were far from it. They had dirty little secrets under those clothes they wore and called holy.

I was under them for so many years; no one came to adopt me, and no one loved me, until a generous donation was made to the orphanage, and it was addressed specifically to me.

They had to account for the money, so they sent me to a Catholic boarding school, and that was where I spent most of my life; that was when I remember the drawings, the ones I did when I was lonely.

After everything that I had gone through at the hands of those wicked people, I ran away from the orphanage, and to prove to you that they did not care, no one ever looked for me. They did not hear a word from me again. I think they finally had the peace of mind they were looking for.

I looked at Zoey, and she had already fallen asleep on the couch. I took the duvet that was on my bed and covered her fully.

I looked at the windows deep in thought: why did Hope do that? I mean, he just met me today, and it was weird. Was that the first time confusing how you feel?

I got up and joined Zoey on the bed, cuddling myself with her arm.

The next morning, I woke up to a barrage of missed calls and messages. I checked my phone, and it was from numbers I did not save in my contacts.

I took my bath, dressed, and prepared for work. I do not know why Andrew has not reached here yet.

"Zoey, can you drop me off at work?” I asked her; she was never going to refuse me.

She stood up groggily, washed her mouth with mouthwash, and then got up. We paused when we opened the elevator that led to the exit of the building I lived in.

The morning sun began to filter through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. As I lay there, contemplating the events of the previous night, the tranquility was shattered by the persistent buzzing of my phone. An unfamiliar number flashed on the screen, and I hesitated before answering. As soon as I picked up, a barrage of questions and rapid-fire camera clicks assaulted my ears.

"Paparazzi," I muttered to Zoey, who was still nestled beside me. She groggily opened her eyes, registering the chaotic situation unfolding.

The questions flew at me like arrows. "Elena, is it true you're dating Luca Avante? Are you having an affair with Hope Salvatore as well? How did you manage to bag New York's most wanted bachelors?"

I blinked in disbelief, the reality of the situation sinking in. "What? No, that's ridiculous," I exclaimed, trying to shield myself from the intrusive cameras that were now pressed against my windows.

Zoey, always quick on her feet, grabbed her phone and started dialing. "We need a way out of here," she muttered, her eyes scanning the room for a solution.

The questions continued, each one more absurd than the last. "Elena, did Luca Avante talk to the Salvatores to get engaged to their daughter, Imani Salvatore?"

"That was ridiculous! How was I supposed to know anything about Imani?” I said it in my mind.

Immediately we saw Andrew, and he came with a few other guards to help me escape the paparazzi.

I looked at Andrew, and he looked back at me and laughed.

"It has not even been three days since the boss left, and you are causing this much chaos. I told you to stay away from hope, but you just had to not  listen."He was literally screaming. “Not only are you going to get into trouble with the boss’s father, you have tainted his name. Have you seen the headlines? A werewolf with a mate is going around kissing all the guys she can find!” He kept raising his voice.

If this was how he was reacting, I could imagine how Luca was going to react. I had messed up big time, and I did not know what to do to reverse it.

As we drove away from the swarm of paparazzi, I couldn't help but wonder how everything had escalated into a media frenzy.

The chaos continued to escalate as we navigated through the city, trying to escape the paparazzi's relentless pursuit. The car's windows were rolled up, but the distant echoes of shouting and camera clicks still reached us. Zoey was on her phone, furiously scrolling through the news, her expression growing more concerned with each passing moment.

"Elena, this is all over the headlines!" Zoey exclaimed, showing me her phone. "'Avante Employee Caught in Love Triangle with CEO Luca Avante and Hope Salvatore!' This is insane!"

My heart sank as I saw the sensationalized headlines and scandalous speculations plastered across news websites and social media. I realized the potential impact this could have not only on my personal life but also on my professional reputation as an employee of Avante Industries.

"We need to get ahead of this," I murmured, my mind racing to find a solution. "I can't let this jeopardize my job or Luca's reputation."

Zoey nodded, her determination matching mine. "We'll figure this out, Elena. We need a plan."

As we arrived at my apartment, Zoey and I rushed inside, seeking refuge from the chaos outside. I quickly grabbed my laptop, and we began strategizing how to address the situation. The phone rang incessantly, messages flooded in, and the sound of reporters outside lingered like a storm on the horizon.

I dialed Luca's number, my hands trembling slightly. "Luca, have you seen the news?" I asked, my voice filled with regret.