Chapter 35 Exposure
Wednesday Afternoon
"Elena, you're coming with me to the Redmond meeting."
Elena looked up from her computer. Victoria stood at her office door, already pulling on her jacket.
"The Redmond meeting? But that's executive level—"
"And I need someone who actually pays attention to details. Alexander's presenting, I'm negotiating, and you're taking notes. Car leaves in ten minutes."
"I'll be ready."
Elena grabbed her tablet and followed Victoria to the elevator, adrenaline spiking. She'd never been to an external executive meeting before.
In the car, Victoria briefed her rapidly. "Redmond Industries wants to expand the partnership. They'll push for better terms. Alexander will present our growth projections. I need you documenting everything—what they offer, what we counter, facial expressions, body language. Everything."
"Understood."
Alexander was already at Redmond's offices when they arrived, reviewing notes in the lobby.
His eyes found Elena immediately, something warm flickering across his face before the professional mask returned.
"Victoria. Elena." He nodded at both equally, giving nothing away.
The meeting lasted two hours—intense negotiations, complex financial discussions, strategic positioning.
Elena documented everything, her fingers flying across the tablet.
She watched Alexander present with quiet confidence, watched Victoria negotiate with surgical precision, watched the Redmond executives slowly concede ground.
It was masterful. Both of them, working in perfect sync.
When it ended with handshakes and promises to finalize terms by Friday, Elena had pages of detailed notes.
In the car heading back, Victoria reviewed Elena's work.
"This is excellent. Thorough, organized, insightful." She glanced up. "You caught Henderson's hesitation on the timeline clause. I almost missed that."
"He shifted his weight three times when you mentioned Q3 delivery."
"Exactly." Victoria nodded, something like approval in her expression. "Good eye."
Back at the office, Victoria disappeared into calls, and Elena returned to her desk.
Her phone buzzed.
You were brilliant in there.
She smiled, typing back: I just took notes.
You did more than that. You read the room better than half the people at that table.
Flattery will get you nowhere.
What about dinner at my place? Will that get me somewhere?
Her heart jumped. Your place?
I want to show you where I live. Let you see my space. If you're comfortable with that.
When?
Tonight? I know it's last minute, but I'll cook. Or order in. Whatever you prefer.
She thought about it. Leo was at Mrs. Chen's until seven. She could go for a few hours.
Okay. But I have to leave by seven to get Leo.
Perfect. I'll send you the address.
That Evening
Alexander's building was exactly what Elena expected—modern, expensive, the kind of place with a doorman who knew everyone's names.
"Ms. Moreno for Mr. Thorne," she told him, feeling out of place in her work clothes.
"Of course. Penthouse. Elevator on your right."
Penthouse. Of course.
The elevator was all mirrors and soft lighting. Elena watched the numbers climb—20, 30, 40—until they reached the top floor.
The doors opened directly into Alexander's apartment.
He was waiting, casual in jeans and a sweater, barefoot. "Hi."
"Hi." She stepped inside, taking in the space. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. Modern furniture, clean lines, expensive but somehow impersonal. Like a hotel suite.
"It's..." She searched for words.
"Soulless?" he offered. "I know. I've barely been here since London. Most of my stuff is still in storage."
"It's beautiful."
"It's empty." He took her jacket. "Can I get you something? Wine? Water?"
"Wine sounds good."
He poured two glasses while she explored, looking at the few personal touches—a photo of him and Victoria as kids, some books on a shelf, a framed degree from his master's program.
"You really haven't been here much," she observed.
"I sleep here. Sometimes. Mostly I've been—" He handed her the wine. "Well. Mostly I've been trying to spend time with you."
"Your apartment is suffering for it."
"My apartment can suffer. It's not very good company anyway."
She smiled, moving to the windows. The city spread below, lights beginning to twinkle as evening settled.
"This view is incredible."
"It is." But when she glanced at him, he was looking at her, not the city.
"Smooth."
"I'm serious. The view's better from where I'm standing."
"You're ridiculous."
"You like it."
She did. God help her, she really did.
Dinner was takeout from an Italian place—he'd ordered her favorite pasta without asking because he'd remembered.
They ate at his dining table, talking about the Redmond meeting, about work, about Leo's latest dinosaur fascination.
"He asked if dinosaurs could drive cars," Elena said.
"What did you tell him?"
"That their arms are too short to reach the steering wheel."
"Solid logic."
"He accepted it. For now. Tomorrow he'll probably ask if they can drive motorcycles instead."
Alexander laughed, and the sound filled the empty apartment with warmth.
After dinner, he showed her the rest of the place—the guest room he used as an office, the bedroom with its king-sized bed and more windows, the terrace she hadn't noticed.
Outside, the air was cool. The city noise was distant up here, muffled.
"I never use this space," Alexander admitted. "But I thought—if you and Leo ever wanted to come over—he'd probably like it out here."
"You're thinking about Leo coming here?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't I?"
"I just—" She stopped herself before falling into the old pattern of questioning why he'd want this.
He seemed to know anyway. Pulled her close, arms around her waist. "I want you here. Both of you. I want Leo running around this too-big apartment, bringing it to life. I want you in my space, making it feel like home."
"Alexander—"
"I know it's fast. I know we're still figuring things out. But Elena—" He cupped her face gently. "I'm all in. Completely. You and Leo, this whole package deal everyone keeps warning me about—I want it."
She kissed him instead of answering, pouring everything into it—the love, the fear, the hope, the gratitude for being seen and chosen and wanted.
When they broke apart, both breathing hard, she rested her forehead against his.
"I have to go soon. Leo—"
"I know." He checked his watch. "It's six-thirty. We should get you to Mrs. Chen's."
"You don't have to drive me—"
"I want to."
In his car heading across the city, their hands linked on the console, Elena felt something settle in her chest.
Felicia's POV - The Evening
Felicia walked through the plaza on her way home from the office, heels clicking on pavement, mind churning with frustration.
Three weeks. It had been three weeks since that disaster at Elena's house, and Alexander hadn't called. Hadn't responded to her invitations. Had been avoiding her completely.
Meanwhile, Elena was still there. Still working at Thorne Empire. Still in his orbit.
The thought made Felicia's blood boil.
She passed a photographer's display—family photos in the plaza, meant to attract business. Happy families, posed smiles, the kind of commercial warmth that made her nauseous.
She almost kept walking.
Then one photo caught her eye.
No.
She stopped, heart pounding, staring.
Alexander. Elena. And a small boy between them.
All three smiling at the camera like—like a family.
Felicia's vision went red.
She looked closer. The boy was young, maybe two or three. Dark hair. Alexander's arm around Elena's shoulders. The child clutching a stick, grinning with deep dimples.
They looked happy. Natural. Like they belonged together.
The date stamp on the bottom: Last Saturday.
Saturday. While Felicia had been trying to reach Alexander, trying to arrange dinner, trying to maintain their partnership—he'd been at the zoo. With Elena. And her bastard child.
Playing family.
Rage burned so hot she could barely breathe.
She looked around. The photographer's booth was empty, closed for the evening. The display was just sitting there, unsupervised.
Before she could think better of it, Felicia grabbed the photo, ripping it from the board.
The photographer would notice. Might call someone. She didn't care.
She needed this photo. Needed proof of what she was seeing.
Walking quickly away, photo clutched in her hand, Felicia pulled out her phone.
It rang twice before Viviana answered.
"What is it, darling? I'm at dinner—"
"I found something. You need to see it."
"Can't it wait—"
"No." Felicia's voice was sharp. "It's about Elena. About Alexander. I'm coming home. Now."
A pause. Then Viviana's voice turned cold and interested. "I'll be there in twenty minutes."
Felicia hung up and flagged down a taxi, the photo burning in her hands.
She stared at it the entire ride—at Alexander's smile, at Elena's happiness, at the child who was clearly the reason Elena had been so desperate to hide her life.
The child Alexander apparently didn't mind.
The child he'd taken to the zoo like—like he was the father.
Felicia's jaw clenched.
This ended now.
No more playing nice. No more subtle manipulation. No more warnings.
Elena wanted to pretend she could have Alexander? Wanted to play house with a man she had no right to?
Felicia would destroy her.
Completely.
Permanently.
And this photo—this perfect, damning photo—was exactly the weapon she needed.
The taxi pulled up to her house. Felicia paid and walked inside, already planning.
Viviana was waiting in the living room, expression sharp and expectant.
"Show me."
Felicia handed over the photo without a word.
Viviana studied it, face unchanging. Then, slowly, a smile spread across her features—cold and calculating and absolutely ruthless.
"Well," she said softly. "Isn't this interesting."
"What do we do?"
Viviana set down the photo carefully, like it was precious. Like it was ammunition.
"We make sure the right people see this. The people who matter." Her eyes glittered. "Richard Thorne needs to know his son is playing father to a bastard child. Don't you think?"
Felicia's heart raced. "When?"
"Soon. But carefully. We need to be strategic." Viviana picked up the photo again, studying it. "This—this is perfect. This is exactly what we need to end her."
She looked at Felicia, and her smile was pure venom.
"Elena thinks she's won. Thinks she can steal your future." Viviana tapped the photo. "Let's show her exactly what happens to girls who reach above their station."
Felicia smiled back, savage and satisfied.
Finally.
Finally, Elena would pay for everything.
And when she did, Felicia would be there to watch her fall.
The photo sat between them on the coffee table—evidence, weapon, and promise all at once.
Soon, everyone would see it.
And Elena's perfect little fantasy would shatter into pieces.
Just like it should have from the start.