Chapter 51 – Voices from the Past
The sun had barely risen above the horizon when Alexander and Isabella arrived at the company. The morning air held a rare freshness, and for a moment Isabella thought it would be a peaceful day. Alexander walked beside her, focused, his posture rigid, as if he already carried the weight of everything that awaited him on his shoulders.
But parked right in front of the entrance was a red convertible that clashed with the seriousness of the corporate building. Leaning against the car, wearing his inseparable sunglasses, was Dante.
He slowly removed his glasses when he saw them approaching, revealing a look full of sarcasm.
"So... you guys decided to disappear for a while, is that it?" His voice held the irony of someone who already knew the answer.
Isabella frowned.
"Helena's return was too much for Alexander. He needed some time to..."
"For what?" Dante interrupted her with a cynical smile. "To prove that the cold and calculating being also has feelings? Or is he just manipulating you the same way he did with Helena, to push me aside again?"
Isabella took a deep breath, ready to respond, but Alexander took the lead. He stopped, looked at Dante calmly, and instead of returning the provocation with anger, he simply smiled.
"It's different with Isabella, Dante. She made me different."
The words fell like a blade between the three of them. Isabella was speechless, feeling the heat rise to her face. Dante, on the other hand, let out a short, disbelieving laugh.
"I'll give you a chance." He took a step forward, closing the distance. "But since you don't know, I'll tell you: Isabella and I have kissed. And I'm absolutely certain she loved it."
Isabella's eyes widened, turning quickly to Alexander.
"Alexander, that..."
But he didn't let her finish. He raised his hand in a calm gesture and spoke in a firm voice:
"It's fine with me. We're not dating. She's free to do whatever she wants."
The silence that followed was almost unbearable. Isabella froze, in disbelief. Dante stared at him in surprise, as if he hadn't expected this kind of reaction.
"Aren't you going to explode? Aren't you going to threaten me?" Dante asked suspiciously.
Alexander just shrugged.
"No. I've already wasted too much time trying to control others. If Isabella wants to be with me, it will be because she decided to, not because I forced her to."
Isabella felt her heart race. His words seemed simple, but they carried a huge weight—proof that he was, indeed, changing.
"Let's go, Isabella," Alexander said finally, turning to enter the building. "We have a long day at work."
She took one last look at Dante, who was still standing there, stunned, and then followed Alexander inside.
\### The silence in the elevator
Inside the elevator, Isabella couldn't take it anymore.
"Alexander... about what Dante said..."
"No need to explain yourself." He interrupted her, keeping his gaze fixed on the elevator panel. "The past is the past. I'm not interested in competing with him."
"But..." Isabella tried to insist, her voice trembling. "I don't want you to think that I..."
Alexander turned to her suddenly, staring intently.
"Isabella," he said firmly. "What matters is now. And now is just between you and me."
She took a deep breath, unable to respond. There was something different about him: not coldness, but conviction. And that somehow made her even more invested.
\### Dante, alone
Outside, Dante remained leaning against his convertible for a few minutes after the two of them got in. He took a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and inhaled deeply.
"That son of a bitch has really changed…" he murmured thoughtfully.
But deep down, doubt gnawed at his mind. Had Alexander really changed, or was this just another mask, a psychological game to keep him off balance?
Dante knew he couldn't underestimate his rival. But he also wasn't willing to give up on Isabella so easily.
\### The day at the company
The hours dragged by amidst meetings, reports, and endless calls. Alexander dove into his work with his usual efficiency, but Isabella could sense something was different about him. He was calmer, less aggressive, and even open to her little jokes in the midst of the routine.
Despite the morning's tension, she felt they were building something solid.
However, the calm wouldn't last long.
It was already night when Alexander was preparing to leave the office. The building was silent, almost empty. Isabella had gone home early, exhausted, and he was taking advantage of the solitude to organize some paperwork.
His cell phone vibrated on his desk. An unfamiliar number flashed on the screen. He hesitated for a few seconds before answering.
"Hello?" His voice was controlled.
On the other end, a rapid breathing. Then, a distressed female voice:
"Hi, Alexander… it's urgent. I need your help."
He frowned, confused.
"Who's this?"
"Please… don't hang up. Seriously, you're the only one I can trust."
Alexander felt his entire body go into overdrive.
"Hello? Who are you?"
But the call dropped.
He stood there, staring at the blank screen of his cell phone, his heart racing. The last sentence echoed in his mind: "You're the only one I can trust."
Who could it be? And why would someone he didn't even know—or recognize—believe that only he could help?
The silence in the office felt increasingly suffocating. Alexander closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.
He knew, with every fiber of his being, that this wasn't a simple mistake.
It was the beginning of something new.
Outside, the city continued to live, indifferent to what was happening within those walls. But for Alexander, that mysterious connection was enough to reopen scars, create new doubts, and perhaps jeopardize everything he was building with Isabella.
The past seemed to insistently call him back.
And now, the future was about to change once again.