Billionaire Lawyer's Secretary - Chapter 39: Chapter 39

Elara felt her emotions rising, but she kept them carefully in check.
"Nancy didn't know I was going abroad until after I'd already secured the position," Alex said.
She watched him intently. "And now? Why are you involved with her?"
"Now I need her help," Alex admitted.
"Help? What kind?" Elara pressed on. "Do you expect her to pressure Adrian into taking Dylan's case? Julian has researched the Hartleys. Nancy and Adrian are like oil and water. Trying to butter up Nancy isn't gonna cut it."
Alex considered this as he sipped his bisque. "I know that. Approaching Adrian through Nancy isn't part of the plan."
Elara frowned. "Then why involve her at all?"
"What I need is the Hartleys' influence."
Elara's fingers clenched around her cup. She understood immediately, and he knew she did.
"The Heatons attacked my father in broad daylight. That was a message for both of us. Without the Hartleys' support, they won't stop, and my father might not even survive until trial," Alex said, his voice heavy with resolve.
"To protect my father, I only have two choices. Either Adrian agrees to take the case, or..." Alex let the words trail off, the unspoken alternative hanging heavily in the air between them.
Elara took a sip of water and finished Alex's words for him. "Or you marry into the Hartley family and become one of them."
Alex shook his head. "Not happening. I'm not marrying her. I'm just getting close to Nancy to convince the Heatons."
A cold laugh escaped Elara's lips. "You honestly think the Heatons would believe that? And what about Sadie? When they discover you've been using Nancy, both you and Dylan will face serious consequences."
Alex closed the distance between them. "After my father is released, I'm leaving the country. Come with me. We could marry and build a new life overseas," he said, hope coloring his voice.
"We?" Her eyes searched his face.
Alex reached for her hand. "Yes, you and me."
Elara withdrew her hand, tears glistening in her eyes. "Alex, there is no 'you and me' anymore."
Alex went still, his expression crumbling. "Elara... it's all an act. Nancy and I have an agreement. She's helping until my father is safe," he explained, his voice strained.
Elara's voice cracked. "Alex, we're not children anymore. Do you truly believe others have my restraint? Nancy was all over you tonight. Where does this performance end? Does your arrangement include sharing her bed?
"Alex, do you really believe she'd help you out of the goodness of her heart? She's selfish. What if she demands marriage in exchange for her help?"
Alex stayed silent, his thoughts racing.
Elara shook her head. "So, do you still think we have a future if you go through with this?"
He looked down and muttered, "I could always divorce her later."
Elara cut him off sharply. "Divorce? How exactly would that work? Nancy isn't just going to step aside. Do you really think you can take her to court? Who's going to represent you?" She finished her water and took a deep breath, steadying herself.
"Look, Alex, I understand. If I were in your position, I might do the same thing. It's an impossible situation. But this changes everything. We can't just go back to the way things were," she sighed.
"Elara, I don't accept that," Alex said, his voice firm.
Her expression softened. "Alex, we still care about you. You'll always be our best friend. If you ever need to talk, or if you're in trouble, we've got your back. Julian just spoke out of turn. Don't take it to heart. He respects you, truly."
"Elara..." Alex began, but the rest of the sentence escaped him.
She met his eyes, her gaze serious. "After all you've done for us, that much is clear. From now on, we'll give you more space. We don't want to hold you back or make you feel trapped."
A sharp ache bloomed in Alex's chest.
"Oh, and about the house—let's get the transfer sorted soon. Just message me on WhatsApp whenever you're free. I'm available anytime," Elara said, her tone light.
Alex shook his head. "Keep it. It's yours."
Elara shook her head in return. "That was our wedding house," she insisted.
Alex said nothing. He didn't trust himself to speak.
Setting down the empty cup, Elara smiled, some of the tension leaving her. "Eat the bisque while it's warm. Have some electrolytes before bed—it'll help tomorrow." She moved toward the door. "It's late. I should go. Rest well, Alex."
This was the first time Elara had said goodbye so coldly. She had always been reluctant to leave him before. Unlike Ruby and Julian who left easily, Elara could never hide her feelings. To her, Alex wasn't just a friend, but someone special.
Alex couldn't take it anymore. The coldness in her voice broke him. He stood up quickly, crossed the room, and pulled her into a tight hug from behind, his body shaking. "No... don't..." His voice cracked with pain.
Elara felt the damp warmth of tears against the back of her neck. The man she'd loved for six years was clinging to her, his body shaking with quiet sobs. The shock of it left her frozen.
"Just give me three months," Alex begged, his voice unsteady. "Wait until my father is released. After that, we'll get married—I swear it."
He searched her face, desperation flickering in his eyes. "You've waited for me all this time. Can three months really make a difference?"
"So you know how long I've loved you." Elara shook her head and eased out of his grasp, turning to meet his gaze. "Six years, Alex. Since I was sixteen."
Her fingers brushed the lipstick stain on his collar. It felt like a punch to the gut. "For six years, you wouldn't even let me kiss you. But Nancy gets to take your clothes off?
"Tell me, why should I wait three more months for this?"
She opened the door, turning to face him. "We'll find another way to get Adrian's help. And if it's money you need, ask Julian. He has more than enough to spare.
"If you're willing to trade on your appearance, pride shouldn't matter. Dylan's life comes first." She turned to leave, then added without looking back, "What happened today stays between us."
Alex's room fell silent as Elara left, leaving him alone with tears cutting tracks down his face.
The elevator doors closed behind her, and all at once, her body gave out. A sharp cramp twisted through her gut, forcing her to brace against the wall. Her face went pale, and her breaths turned quick and shallow.
She doubled over, clutching her stomach. The corn dog Julian had given her—her only food in hours—lurched back up in a burning wave of stomach acid. She barely choked out a gasp before vomiting across the elevator floor.
The pain twisted tighter, wringing her gut like a wet cloth until darkness took her.
She came to in the back of an ambulance. At the hospital, emergency doctors diagnosed her with severe stomach inflammation.
With a tired sigh, she realized why—she'd gone too long without eating, then shocked her system with that greasy food. Still clutching her aching belly, she shuffled to the treatment room holding two IV bags, ready for the long recovery ahead.
The infusion room was quiet at one AM. Clutching her IV bag in one hand with the needle still taped to the other arm, she shuffled toward an empty corner chair. She hadn't told Ruby she was here—tonight, she needed to be alone with her tears.
The television played softly, its flickering screen showing the same romantic movie on repeat. Through her tears, the images blurred—she remembered how she and Alex used to watch this movie together, curled up under one blanket on the couch.
Back then, she'd thought nothing could pull them apart. Now she saw how much distance had grown between them. Those six years of chasing love suddenly felt like a bad joke.
By two AM, two newcomers had arrived. Adrian froze mid-step when he discovered Elara slumped in the corner, her sleeping face streaked with tears. The abrupt stop pulled Victor's IV line tight.
"Christ, Adrian!" Victor hissed, clutching his arm where the needle had tugged. "You're making me bleed!"
Adrian barely glanced at him before striding toward Elara.
"Wait!" Victor called after him, wincing as the tubing strained again. "This hurts!"
Adrian came to an abrupt halt, and Victor almost collided with him.
Victor's face flushed as blood crept back into his IV line. "What the hell, Adrian? You're the one who agreed to come with me for this IV in the middle of the night. Why are you so pissed off?"
When Adrian didn't move, Victor followed his stare. "Elara?"