Billionaire Lawyer's Secretary - Chapter 5: Chapter 5

Elara tapped "ignore" and then checked Ruby's message.
Ruby: [The room was kept for Victor's buddy Adrian. Victor said Adrian was drunk, missed texts, and didn't know you were coming. He just thought you broke in and got upset. Victor's sorry and wanna treat you to dinner when you're back home.]
Elara: [Don't need it. Apology not accepted.]
Ruby: [So what do you say? How about you stop being mad?]
Elara: [Ruby, your bestie got gawked at! Siding with them? Not helping me?]
Ruby: [Elara, it just happened. Just let it go and get some perks from it. Don't be so uptight! And Victor said you checked Adrian out? Hot? How buff? Got any abs? I saw him in a suit—he looked amazing. Aren't you tempted?]
Elara laughed in frustration and typed: [Don't be crazy.]
Ruby: [You're totally obsessed with Alex! There's no room for any other guy in your life, huh?]
Elara: [Don't tell Alex about this.]
Ruby: [Well, I doubt he'd even care.]
Ruby saw things clearly. Alex hadn't been in a relationship for years, and he'd never really sparked anything with Elara. Sure, Elara was stunningly beautiful, and Alex was always doting on her, but it hadn't gone anywhere.
If Alex had real feelings for her, they'd probably have gotten married by now. But Elara, completely blinded by it all, just couldn't see it.
Ruby was frustrated. 'What a waste of a pretty face! What good is beauty if you don't understand love? By age 22, she hasn't even been on a date or held a guy's hand.'
Ruby typed: [Is Alex picking you up tomorrow?]
Elara: [No. He's too busy.]
Ruby: [Oh, come on. Only you would believe that.]
Elara: [What do you mean?]
Ruby sent a screenshot. It was Nancy's tweet: [Long distance for four years, finally celebrating our anniversary together.] The picture showed the back of a man.
Elara knew that man all too well, having gazed longingly at his back countless times—it was Alex. Her heart ached as she closed the picture and turned off her phone.
But shortly, she still messaged Ruby: ["You know Nancy always makes up stories. He said he was meeting the lawyer, and I trust him.]
Ruby: [Fine. If that makes you feel better.]
At nine o'clock in the evening, Elara arrived at Veritasiton Airport. September had brought a chill to the air in Veritasiton. She was wearing a long black trench coat over a gray knit dress. Her slender figure and long legs made her stand out in the bustling airport.
"Elara!" Julian's voice called out from a distance.
She glanced up, hopeful for a moment, and then looked away, disappointment etched on her face. Elara pouted—Alex really hadn't shown up.
"Aren't you happy to see me?" Julian jogged over, noticing Elara's expression, and tousled her hair. "Long time no see, Elara. At least pretend you missed me."
Elara turned her head away. "Hey, I just washed my hair. Don't mess it up!"
Julian lowered his hand and casually took her suitcase. "Come on. Ruby threw a party for you."
Elara wasn't in the mood. "I don't feel like it."
Julian chuckled in mild annoyance, "What? After being abroad for four years, you're only thinking about Alex now? You won't even spend time with us?"
He pulled the suitcase and guided Elara toward the garage. "Alex couldn't make it. You can stay with us longer. If Alex were here, it wouldn't be as much fun."
He loaded the suitcase into the trunk of the Rolls-Royce, then walked over and opened the passenger door for Elara. She got in and buckled her seatbelt absentmindedly.
Julian got into the driver's seat. Seeing Elara ignoring him, he shook his head helplessly. He reached over, gently grabbed her chin, and turned her face toward him. "Hey, Elara? Did you hear me?"
"Huh?" Elara snapped out of her daze. "What did you say?"
Julian gave a wry smile. "Elara, you've got some nerve." With a light nudge, he pushed her head back against the seat. Then he buckled his seatbelt and stepped on the gas.
During the ride, Julian stayed quiet. Elara didn't need to think twice to know he was upset. They had grown up together since childhood, and even though she'd been studying abroad for the past four years and they'd seen each other less often, she knew him well.
Julian came from a wealthy family but was raised humbly at his grandparents' home. He was a rebel and a bit of a slacker who seemed to look down on everyone, yet somehow he got along great with Elara and Ruby.
Elara glanced at Julian, her eyes lingering on him for a moment before she looked away. It was the first time she'd seen him in a suit—his hair neatly styled, his boyish look replaced by a more mature, composed appearance.
In the suit, he looked very gentlemanly, almost ruggedly handsome, except for the sour expression on his face.
Elara clicked her tongue. He had never known how to dress properly since junior high—always hanging half his uniform off his arm and pulling up one pant leg. But now he was all dressed up.
Julian noticed Elara checking him out and a smile tugged at his lips.
Then Elara said, "Going on a date today? Look at you, all dressed up."