Chapter 124 He Wants to See You

Chapter 124 He Wants to See You
The morning light filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Elliot's office, casting long shadows across the polished marble floor. Audrey sat in the chair across from his desk, a cup of tea cooling in her hands, watching him work.

It had become their ritual now. She didn't work here anymore. Well, not officially, but she still came. To keep him company or just steal quiet moments between meetings. To remind herself that this was real.

Elliot looked up from his screen, catching her gaze. "You're staring."

"I'm admiring."

His lips twitched. "Same thing."

She smiled, setting her tea down. "Marcus called this morning."

Elliot's expression shifted in a subtle, but she caught it. The slight tightening of his jaw, the way his fingers stilled on the keyboard.

"What did he say?"

She stood, walking around the desk to stand beside him. He turned, pulling her gently onto his lap.

"Vincent's trial starts next month," she said quietly. "The prosecution has enough evidence to put him away for a long time. Maybe decades."

Elliot's arm tightened around her waist. "And Henry?"

Audrey exhaled slowly. Henry. The name still carried weight, though it was lighter now. Less sharp.

"Henry took a plea deal," she said. "He'll testify against Vincent in exchange for a reduced sentence. Marcus says he'll still serve time. Just... less than he would have."

Elliot was quiet for a moment. His thumb traced circles on her hip, a soothing rhythm she'd come to recognize.

"How do you feel about that?" he asked.

She considered the question. A year ago, the news would have sent her spiraling. Henry was her past—the shame, the debt, the shadow she'd spent her whole life trying to outrun. But now?

"I don't feel anything," she said honestly. "Is that strange?"

Elliot's eyes met hers. "No. It's called being free."

She let the words settle, let them fill the spaces inside her that had been empty for so long.

"He's not my father," she said quietly. "He never was. He was just... someone who happened to be there. And now he's not."

Elliot pressed a kiss to her temple. "You're allowed to feel however you want to feel. Or not feel. Whatever you need."

She leaned into him, letting his warmth chase away the last of the shadows.

"And Vincent?" she asked. "What happens to him?"

Elliot's expression hardened. "He's going away for a long time. Marcus made sure of it. The evidence is solid. The witnesses are ready. There's no way out for him this time."

She heard what he didn't say. I made sure of it.

"Elliot."

"Hm?"

"Did you have anything to do with the witnesses coming forward?"

He was silent for a moment before he continued, "I might have made some calls. Convinced some people that it was in their best interest to tell the truth."

She looked at him. "You threatened them."

"I persuaded them." His voice was calm, but there was steel beneath it. "Vincent has hurt a lot of people, Audrey. Not just you. I just... helped some of them remember that they didn't have to be silent anymore."

She stared at him for a long moment. Then she reached up, cupping his face in her hands.

"Thank you," she said softly.

His eyes widened slightly in surprise, maybe. Or relief.

"I didn't do it for thanks."

"I know." She kissed him, soft and slow. "That's why I'm thanking you anyway."

When she pulled back, his eyes were warm. "You're something else, you know that?"

She smiled. "So I've been told."

“Should we continue more than kissing-”

“Elliot!”



Later that afternoon, Marcus arrived with a thick folder under his arm.

Elliot took it without a word, flipping through the pages. Audrey watched from the couch, pretending to read, her attention fixed on the quiet exchange between the two men.

"The prosecution has everything they need," Marcus said. "The witness statements are solid. The forensic evidence from the warehouse matches Vincent's DNA. And Henry's testimony..." He paused. "Henry's testimony will seal it."

Elliot closed the folder. "And Catherine?"

Marcus's expression tightened. "The Fairmonts have been fighting it. They've hired a team of lawyers, the best money can buy. They're trying to get the charges reduced. Character witnesses. Letters of recommendation. The whole show."

"But?"

"But we have her on tape confessing." Marcus's voice was flat. "She attacked Mrs. Harrington. She admitted to drugging your drink. There's no amount of money that can make that go away."

Elliot nodded slowly. "What's the timeline?"

"The trial will be in a few months. The Fairmonts are trying to delay, but the judge is pushing for an earlier date. Given the public interest, they want this resolved quickly."

"And if she's convicted?"

Marcus's eyes met Audrey's for a brief moment. "She'll serve time. How much depends on the judge. But she won't walk away from this. Not after everything she did."

Elliot stood, walking to the window. The city sprawled below him, endless and indifferent.

"Make sure she doesn't," he said quietly. "I don't care about her family's money. I don't care about their connections. I want her to face what she did. All of it."

Marcus nodded. "It's already in motion."

Elliot turned back to Audrey, his expression softening. "Anything else?"

Marcus hesitated. "There is one more thing. Vincent asked to see you."

The room went still.