Chapter 84 A friend

Chapter 84 A friend
Elara’s POV

A sharp knock echoed through the office, breaking the heavy silence that had settled between Zachariah and me.
For a brief second, neither of us moved. Zachariah simply finished the line he was writing, his pen gliding across the paper with that same unhurried precision that seemed to define everything he did. Only after placing the pen neatly beside the document did he lift his head. His expression remained perfectly composed.
“Come in.”
The door opened almost immediately.
My heart lurched before I could stop it.
Vincent.
I quickly lowered my eyes, staring hard at the floor.
No.
I wasn’t going to look at him.
Not after what we had done.
Not after kissing me until I couldn’t think straight, only for us to return to pretending we were strangers whenever someone else was watching. The memory still burned against my lips, and I hated myself for remembering it so vividly. My cheeks warmed with a confusing mix of anger and something far more dangerous — longing. I hated that too. How could my body betray me like this? How could I still want him after he had looked straight through me like I meant nothing?
“Perfect timing,” Zachariah said, a faint smile touching his lips.
“I try not to disappoint,” Vincent replied evenly.
“You rarely do.”
The two men exchanged a firm handshake before Vincent took the chair opposite Zachariah’s desk.
“I wasn’t expecting to see you again tonight,” Zachariah remarked, leaning back in his chair.
“I reconsidered something.”
“Oh?”
“A proposal.”
One of Zachariah’s brows lifted with quiet interest. “Which proposal?”
For the first time since entering the room, Vincent leaned back slightly in his chair. “The prisoner.”
The single word made my attention snap toward them before I could stop myself.
Prisoner?
Which prisoner?
Zachariah studied him for several long seconds before a knowing smile crossed his face. “I was beginning to think you’d lost interest.”
“I’ve changed my mind.”
“Hm.”
Zachariah folded his hands together on the desk. “He’s expensive.”
Vincent didn’t hesitate. “Everything worthwhile usually is.”
My brows furrowed as I stood silently against the wall, trying desperately to make sense of their conversation. They were talking about someone — negotiating over a human being as casually as merchants discussing property. A strange sickness settled deep in my stomach. Who were they talking about? Was it me?
I searched Vincent’s face for some clue, but his expression remained unreadable, calm and composed in that infuriating way of his. He hadn’t looked at me once since entering the room. Not really. And that hurt more than I wanted to admit.
Zachariah continued, his voice smooth and measured. “You know he’s not an easy man to keep.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“He nearly cost me more than I expected.”
“I’ll compensate you.”
“You sound very confident.”
“I usually am.”
Silence settled between them again, thick with calculations I couldn’t begin to understand.
Zachariah turned toward me suddenly. “Tea.”
His voice was calm, but it carried the unmistakable tone of an order.
I straightened immediately. “Yes,”
I bowed my head before picking up the silver tray resting against the wall. As I reached the door, I could still hear their conversation continuing behind me.
I stepped into the hallway before I could hear their reply. The door closed softly behind me.
Only then did I release the breath I’d unknowingly been holding. My hands trembled slightly on the tray as I walked down the corridor, my mind still spinning.
I hadn’t gone more than a few steps when hurried footsteps approached from the opposite direction.
“Elara!”
I looked up.
“Raye?”
She rushed toward me, her eyes wide with a mix of relief and urgency. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Are you okay? They dragged you away so fast after they found us.”
“I’m fine,” I whispered, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. My voice trembled slightly despite my efforts to keep it steady. “They took me to him. He… he didn’t punish me. He said I’ll serve him personally starting tomorrow.”
Raye’s face paled, her eyes filling with worry. “What? Why? That doesn’t make any sense.”
“I don’t know.” I swallowed hard, trying to push down the fear clawing at my throat.

Raye’s eyes widened. ”What if it's a sign?

I frowned . “What?”

Raye reached out and squeezed my arm gently. “This is definitely the best way to stay close to him.”
“Raye…”
She glanced around the corridor before lowering her voice even further. “Think about it. You said he made you his personal servant.”
“I know.”
“That means you won't be cleaning bedrooms or washing dishes anymore.” A flicker of cautious excitement appeared in her eyes. “You'll be following him.”
I stared at her.
“You'll be going wherever he goes,” she continued. “His office. The private hallways. Places none of us are allowed to enter.”
My heart skipped.
“The room…”
Raye nodded eagerly.
“The room my mother told us about.”
I swallowed.
At the time, it had sounded impossible.
Now...
Maybe it wasn't.
“If that room is real,” Raye whispered, “then you might actually be able to find it.”
“And if I'm caught?” I asked quietly.
Her hopeful expression faltered.
“They'll kill me.”
“They won't,” she said quickly, though neither of us truly believed those words. “We'll be careful this time.”
A faint smile escaped me despite everything.
“You're asking the girl who got caught sneaking into the underground cells to be careful?”
Raye gave a nervous laugh.
“When you say it like that, it sounds terrible.”
“It was terrible.”
She sighed dramatically.
“Fine... maybe you're not the best person to trust with stealth.”
I nudged her shoulder lightly.
“And yet you followed me.”
“I know.” She smiled. “Because you're my friend.”
The simple words warmed my heart in a way I hadn't expected.
We stood there for a moment longer, holding onto each other in the dimly lit hallway, before the sound of approaching footsteps forced us to pull apart. I quickly picked up the tray again, forcing my expression back into the blank, obedient mask I’d been wearing all day.
But then Raye’s words from earlier echoed in my mind before it was replaced by the order Zach had given me. My eyes widened as realization hit me.
“Oh no,” I whispered, panic rising in my chest. “The tea. I was supposed to bring him tea. I completely forgot.”