ELENA'S POINT OF VIEW
It was the engagement day.
For a moment, I could not breathe.
From the top of the staircase, I paused. My fingers curled around the railing as I looked down at the grand hall. The chandeliers cast warm golden light over everything, making the polished floors glow. People were everywhere, dressed in glittering clothes that shimmered whenever they moved. Their voices blended into one constant hum, a reminder that I hardly knew any of them.
I felt like a visitor in my own life.
Then my gaze found him.
Alexander.
He stood near the center of the hall in a crisp suit, his posture perfect, his expression unreadable. He looked like someone carved from stone. But the moment his eyes lifted and met mine, something flickered there. Something softer. Something he quickly hid.
The man beside him spoke animatedly, but Alexander wasn't listening. Not even pretending to listen. His attention stayed locked on me, and for a second, I forgot the room existed.
He said something to the man next to him and stepped away, walking toward the staircase with calm, steady steps. He stopped at the bottom and waited.
I forced myself to breathe and began descending. The fabric of my engagement dress whispered behind me. With each step, something in my chest tightened.
At the final step, he extended his hand. I placed mine in it, feeling the warmth of his palm.
"You look good," he said quietly. His eyes dipped down and then returned to mine before he masked his expression again. "Come. I would like to introduce you to some of my business partners. Behave."
Behave.
The word stung more than it should have, but I nodded and whispered, "Okay."
He walked slightly ahead, guiding me through the crowd. He introduced me to people I didn't know and probably wouldn't remember. I smiled when expected, nodded when required, and tried to make small polite responses. I felt like someone performing on a stage without knowing the script.
Every time I glanced at Alex, he watched those around me, his eyes cool and sharp. Not protective. More like he was guarding something, guarding me or guarding himself from me, I wasn't sure.
After several rounds of introductions, the heat in the room pressed too tightly against my chest.
"Can I step out for a moment?" I asked softly. "Just for some fresh air."
He studied me for a few seconds. "Go. Do not stay out long."
I slipped away and stepped outside onto the veranda. The cool evening air brushed against my skin, making me exhale in relief. The silence out here was comforting. No forced smiles, no scrutiny, no eyes judging whether I was enough to stand next to Alexander Black.
I leaned on the railing and breathed in slowly.
Just as I was lost in my thoughts, a voice sounded from behind me.
"And what is a beautiful woman doing out here all alone?"
A tall man with confident strides entered my space like he owned it. His smile was easy, charming, the kind that made people feel seen.
I straightened politely. "I just needed some air."
"You sure? A woman like you shouldn't be outside by herself." He leaned a little on the railing, eyes drifting over my dress. "You look stunning, by the way."
I managed a polite smile. "Thank you."
"So… who brought you here? You with someone?" he asked, tilting his head curiously.
I opened my mouth to answer.
I didn't get the chance.
A shadow fell over us.
Alexander stood there. Silent. His eyes were cold enough to freeze the air around us.
The man noticed him and grinned. "Alex, my good friend. How have you been?"
Alex did not return the smile. His tone was firm. "Not now, Nathan."
Nathan.
So that was his name. And he seems like he's Alexander's best friend, or former best friend, judging by the tension in the air.
Nathan raised both hands slightly. "Relax. I was talking to this beautiful woman."
"That beautiful woman is my fiancée," Alex said, his gaze sharp.
Nathan blinked once, then looked at me more carefully. "Ah. I didn't know. My apologies." He reached out and gently lifted my hand. "Congratulations, Beautiful."
"Her name is Elena," Alex cut in, his tone sharp, almost like jealousy laced his voice.
Nathan raised a brow, then chuckled lightly. "Sorry. I mean, congratulations, Elena."
"Thank you," I replied, my voice calm, though my heart thudded at the tension between them.
He leaned a little closer, his voice dropping. "If you ever need help… I'm here. I know Alex better than anyone."
Before I could respond, Alex stepped forward and took my hand back. His grip tightened. Not painfully, but enough to send a message.
"She will not be needing your help," he said.
Nathan chuckled lightly. "Alright. Just being polite."
Alex didn't reply. He simply turned and guided me back inside, his hand still around mine, controlled and unyielding.
The music softened as we reentered the hall. People turned toward Alex with a respect that bordered on fear. The man radiated quiet authority.
Then his father stepped onto the small platform at the front of the room and took the microphone.
"Thank you all for coming tonight," he began warmly. "We are here to celebrate the engagement of my son, Alexander, and his fiancée Elena. Let us congratulate the couple."
Applause filled the hall.
I tried to smile, tried to look composed, but something felt like it was trembling inside me.
And then I saw her.
My mother.
She stood near the entrance, hands clasped, eyes soft and full of love. Relief flooded through me.
"Mom," I whispered.
I moved quickly, weaving past guests until I reached her. The moment I fell into her arms, the world steadied.
She held me tightly. "My beautiful girl," she murmured. "You look perfect."
"I'm so glad you're here," I whispered, swallowing hard. "I wasn't sure you'd make it."
"A mother doesn't miss her daughter's engagement," she said gently. "Never."
Her presence grounded me in ways I didn't know I needed.
A soft voice approached. "Elena."
I looked up to see Victoria, Alexander's mother, smiling warmly.
"It is so lovely to finally meet you," she said to my mother. "Your daughter is wonderful."
My mother smiled with practiced politeness. "Thank you. It's a beautiful event."
They exchanged pleasantries while I stood quietly, letting my heartbeat settle.
When Victoria moved on, my mother squeezed my hand. "I'll be right here. Go on, sweetheart."
I nodded and turned back toward the crowd, searching for Alexander.
He found me first.
He stood alone near a marble column, a glass of wine in his hand, and his gaze fixed entirely on me. Not blinking. Not softening. Just watching.
I walked to him slowly.
As I reached him, his voice came low and sharp. "Whose permission did you take before walking off?"
I blinked, confused by the question. "I saw my mom… I just wanted to greet her."
He didn't even flinch. "That's none of my business. But as far as I'm concerned, when we're together, you don't just disappear. You ask."
A lump formed in my throat. I couldn't understand why greeting my own mother needed approval. But I didn't dare say that out loud. I only nodded.
Then he leaned in slightly, his voice dipping even lower. "And stay away from Nathan. He might've been polite, but don't get it twisted. Know your place… and stick to your path."
Honestly, I wasn't even listening to a word he was saying. My mind had already drifted, completely swept away by the way he looked under the warm lights. The sharp cut of his jaw, the way his lips moved when he spoke, the intensity in his icy gray eyes… everything about him pulled me in like a spell.
He was still talking, but it all sounded distant, muffled, like background noise.
Then suddenly, his voice cut through the fog. "Have I made myself clear?"
That was the only thing that reached me.
I blinked, snapped out of my daze, and nodded quickly, even though I hadn't heard most of what he said. My heart thudded, and for a second, I hoped he didn't notice how hard I was trying to breathe normally.