Keeping tabs on her
LEO
“Have a great night,” I beamed, shaking the hands of the man I've been discussing with for half an hour now.
He's one of the invitees and a seemingly potential investor in the company. I indulged him in every question he had about the company's future plans. The crazy thing was that he had an unending list of questions. It was becoming draining.
“You too.” He turned around and disappeared into the crowd. I grabbed a tequila and went to stand at the door, gasping for air.
“Why do you seem like you were suffocating?” A voice chortled behind me. I glanced over my shoulder and saw a grinning Luke.
I rolled my eyes at him, tugging the button around my throat. I do feel like I'm suffocating.
“I was one question away from snapping at him, that overly curious geezer.” I hissed.
“Yeah, he seemed like he wanted to know a lot.”
“It's not just him and his questions. It's literally this whole party and being the one in charge. I'm fucking exhausted.”
“Why didn't Vince show up? I thought he had plans to be here.”
The question tripled my rage. “He bailed on me last minute.” That insufferable bastard.
“He's becoming unbearable,” Luke mumbled.
Tell me about it.
I gulped my drink, hoping it would help calm me down.
Luke patted my shoulder. “Hey, for what's worth, I'm here to assist in whatever you need.”
“Thanks.” I glanced into the overly filled hall. I've never felt as claustrophobic as I do tonight. I fear I'm gonna drop dead if I return to that hall.
“Who is that?” Luke whistled, with a cocky smile.
I glanced at him and turned in the direction he was staring at. My jaw dropped.
Elena?
“She's one hell of a beauty, My God.” Luke was blatantly ogling her. I hit his chest, getting an ‘ouch’ from him.
“That's Elena.” I gritted out. He gasped, taking a double look at her.
“That's…Vince's Elena?!”
Vince's Elena? Richard's gonna kill him if he hears that.
“That's Elena Peters,” I countered, quietly.
“No one told me she's this much of a woman. Look at that body!”
“Hey!!” I hissed, pointing a warning finger at him. “Vince would slit that throat of yours if he were here.”
“Good thing he isn't,” Luke grinned, biting his lower lip. “But fuck it, she's gorgeous. And that body…”
Honestly, yeah, same. I mean, I'd never sexualize Elena. She's like a daughter to me. But my God, she's morphed into a thicker version of herself. Does that come with child-bearing or what?
Vince is gonna have a heart attack when he sees her. He could pretend he's moved on all he wants but he'd grovel back to her for that body.
She doesn't look like Richard's little girl or Vince's little obsession. She looks like one hell of an independent woman now. And that's fascinating.
“Uncle Leonardo,” she beamed. She still sounded as excited to see me as she did back then when she was a kid. That's comforting.
“Elena, dear,” We shared a quick, tight hug. “It's so nice to see you again.”
“Same here. It's been so long. I missed you.”
“We missed you more,” that sounded vaguely suspicious so I had to redeem myself. “Me, Cheryl, and my son.”
“Yeah, I heard. You have a son now. Congratulations, Uncle Leonardo.”
“Thank you. You should come see him someday —” I got interrupted by a guttural throat-clearing sound. And at that moment, I noticed she wasn't alone. Her hand was intertwined with a man's.
Liam Roosevelt.
“Good to see you again.” He nodded at me with a prim smile.
“You too,” I nodded back.
Elena greeted Luke and then her attention was back on me. “I'll see you inside, Uncle Leonardo.”
“Sure, go ahead.” I moved out of the way and they headed inside. Our gazes stayed on them until they disappeared into the crowd.
“Hey, what did you say her story with Vince was again?” Luke asked with a bewildered stare. “Because I'm thinking of risking it and going for her.”
“Go right ahead. But I hope you get your will ready. Vince will never let you stay alive.”
“But didn't you say they're over?”
“Yeah, so he claims.”
“Why? You don't believe him?”
“I don't, okay? He was too crazy for her to have moved on so quickly. Now I know Vince doesn't grief people. He forgets them. But I doubt he forgot Elena. He wouldn't be so unhinged if he did.”
“But he didn't go see their child, right? Doesn't that mean he doesn't wanna have anything to do with Elena anymore?”
I struggled to answer that. Because I don't know either! I don't know why he didn't go see that damn baby. But that doesn't mean he's gotten over Elena. I just know he's still silently hung up on her. I just know it.
It's a hunch. It's a gut feeling. It's a fucking fact. He's not over her. He can't be, not after all the madness he displayed trying to win her over.
The party finally ended, thank God. I was looking so fucking disheveled when I got hoisted into my car.
I was being chauffeured. Luke has already left. I was taking the hidden route back home until I had a change of mind and wanted to go see Vince first. Give him a rundown on how the party went.
“Greetings, Alpha Leo.” A squad of his men met me at the door.
“Your Boss?” I asked, already heading for the staircase.
“In his study, Alpha Leo.”
“Thank you.”
I headed to his study. I knocked, no replies. I turned the doorknob and the door opened. Slowly, I stepped inside, and there he was, looking out the window with a glass of whatever in his hand.
The air was broody…almost melancholic. What could be the problem?
“Uh…” I cleared my throat, trying to announce my presence. “You didn't show up at the party.”
“I had last-minute engagements.” He replied, but didn't spare me a glance. “I presume it went well?”
“It sure did. Matter of fact, uh…” Should I really go ahead and tell him that Elena showed up? Would that put him in a worse mood or make him feel better?
Unsure of what his reaction is gonna be, I decided to swallow that piece of information.
“That's good.” He was being laconic. And that was a huge sign that he wasn't in the mood to bond. I should leave him alone.
“I'll see you tomorrow.” Maybe then he'd have healed from whatever was troubling him.
“Sure.”
I turned to leave. But something on the table caught my attention. I moved closer and carefully moved the brown envelope on the table. There were photos under it.
Photos of Elena at the damn party.
My eyes were wide as saucers as I stared at him and then at the photos. How the fuck…?
Then again, my heart was flipping in excitement. I fucking knew it. I knew it!!!
The motherfucker was keeping tabs on the girl!! Vince fucking Walker!!!
But…how long has he been doing this?