Chapter 2

Elena adjusted her scarf as she stepped into the office building, the brisk air from outside still clinging to her skin. Her heels clicked softly against the marble floor, each step heavy with determination. Derek had been distant—cold even—for the past few days, and she couldn’t understand why. He’d ignored her texts, dodged her calls. Today, she decided to surprise him and ask why he’s been acting strange. Upon getting to Derek’s office door, she took a deep breath and knocked lightly. “Come in,” Derek’s voice called, clipped and emotionless. Pushing the door open, she stepped inside with a tentative smile. “Hi, Derek.” He was at his desk, leaning over a stack of papers. His pen moved methodically, but he didn’t look up. “Hey,” she tried again, her voice softer, uncertain. “It’s me. Can we talk?” “Can’t talk right now,” he muttered, still not sparing her a glance, his tone flat, impersonal. Her brows knitted together in confusion as she set her bag down on the chair. “Are you okay? You’ve been so quiet lately. I’ve been trying to reach you… What’s going on?” Derek continued to focus on the papers in front of him, his hand moving across the desk with a steady, almost mechanical rhythm. “Derek?” she pressed, a little louder now, stepping closer to his desk. “What’s wrong? Talk to me.” Finally, he put the pen down with a sharp motion and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples in frustration. When he looked up at her, his expression was dark and distant, his eyes avoiding hers. “What do you want, Elena?” His voice was flat, devoid of emotion, the words hitting her like a slap. The words stung Elena like a sharp nail, but she tried to ignore the pain building in her chest. She took a slow breath before responding, trying to remain calm. “I wanted to see you,” she said gently, her voice full of confusion. “It’s been days… I thought maybe we could talk. You’ve been so distant lately… I didn’t know what was going on.” “You thought what?” he interrupted, his voice suddenly sharper, like a blade cutting through the air. Her heart skipped a beat before she finally opened her mouth again to speak. “I thought we could talk. That we could figure this out, whatever it is. You’ve been so different, Derek. I don’t know what happened, but I miss us.” He stood up abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor in a sharp sound. “Talk? About what?” He took a few steps toward her, the space between them shrinking. “About how you went behind my back?” Elena blinked, stunned by his words. “What are you talking about? I didn’t go behind your back—what does that even mean?” He scoffed, crossing his arms tightly over his chest as he glared at her. “Don’t play dumb, Elena. Who was he?” “Who was… who?” she asked, the confusion growing inside her. “The man at the shop,” Derek said, his voice tight with anger. “The older guy you were all over. Don’t tell me you forgot him.” Elena couldn’t help but laugh, a shaky sound escaping her lips as the absurdity of his accusation hit her. “Wait… Are you talking about my father?” He gave a short, bitter laugh, the sound laced with disbelief. “Your father? That’s your excuse? Your father is wealthy, with that kind of car and presence? Don’t insult me. I’m not that stupid.” “Yes!” she said, her voice rising now, frustration and confusion bubbling up inside her. “He came to talk to me. He wants me to come back home, to go to business school and run the company… but I don’t want that! I don’t want to be a part of that world! After a little chat at the shop, we went out for coffee. That’s all, Derek.” “Right,” Derek drawled, his voice dripping with disbelief and doubt. “You expect me to believe that? You’re some rich kid hiding her identity? That’s what I’m supposed to buy?” “Yes! It’s the truth!” she shot back, her eyes narrowing in anger. “I can’t believe you’re accusing me of this! What’s wrong with you? Why would you even think—” “I saw the way you hugged him,” Derek snapped, cutting her off. “The way you leaned into him. Don’t try to twist this around, Elena. Don’t lie to me.” Her chest tightened in disbelief, the anger rising to meet the confusion. “Derek, listen to yourself. You think I’m cheating on you? With my dad?” “Convenient story, don’t you think?” he said while rolling his eyes dismissively, his sarcasm like a slap. Elena’s blood began to boil. How could he not believe her? “You’re unbelievable,” she said, her voice shaking with hurt. “Instead of asking me, instead of even giving me a chance to explain, you just assume the worst? After everything we’ve been through?” His silence was deafening. She searched his face for any sign of regret or doubt, but all she saw was coldness. For a moment, she thought she saw a flicker of something—maybe hesitation? But then the moment was gone. Before she could say anything more, the door swung open with a sudden force. “Am I interrupting something?” Both turned to see Venessa standing in the doorway, her lips curling into a sly, almost predatory smile. She was wearing a dress that clung to her body in all the wrong ways, a smile playing on her lips like she knew exactly what was going on. “What are you doing here?” Elena demanded, narrowing her eyes at Venessa, trying to keep her voice steady despite the rush of emotions coursing through her. Venessa stepped inside confidently, her heels clicking against the floor with an air of superiority. “Relax, Elena. I’m just here to check on my Derek. Speaking of checking on things, aren’t you supposed to be checking on your sugar daddy, huh?” Elena clenched her fists at her sides, fury surging through her. “He doesn’t need you checking on him. And what do you mean by ‘your Derek’? Besides, what sugar daddy? Have you lost your mind?” Venessa tilted her head with a mocking expression. “Derek and I are now together, sweetheart. I’ve been treating him better than you ever could. I’m not the type to lie and cheat like you.” Elena couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Her heart shattered as she looked at Derek, searching his face for any sign of protest, but he remained silent, doing nothing to stop Venessa’s words. Venessa smirked and sauntered over to Derek, placing a hand on his arm possessively. “See? He doesn’t even have the energy to argue with you.” “Get your hands off him,” Elena hissed, her voice low and dangerous. “Derek, what is really going on here? What’s happening between you two? Are you really together, or is she just playing games? Tell me the truth.” Venessa raised a brow in amusement. “You ask too many questions, Elena. Can’t you read between the lines?” She turned to Derek, her grin widening. “You should tell her. It’s only fair.” “Tell me what?” Elena demanded, her voice shaking as the tears she had been fighting finally threatened to spill over. Venessa’s grin stretched even wider. “That he finally realized he deserves better than someone like you.” “That’s enough,” Elena snapped, her voice full of anger and hurt as she tried to control her shaking hands. But Venessa wasn’t done. She reached into her purse, her movements slow and deliberate, and pulled out a small velvet box. “Oh, and I should probably wear this now,” she said, opening it to reveal a glittering diamond ring. Elena’s heart stopped. The ring. It was the same one Derek had shown her months ago—the one he had promised was for her. “Why does she have that?” Elena asked, her voice trembling, barely a whisper as she looked at Derek, pleading with him to explain. “Why does she have my ring?” “It’s not… it’s no longer yours, Elena,” Derek said, his voice cold, as if he hadn’t just shattered her heart. “Your sugar daddy should be able to afford one more expensive than this one.” The words hit her like a physical blow. She could barely breathe. “Derek, please…” she whispered, tears pooling in her eyes, but he wouldn’t even look at her. Venessa slipped the ring onto her finger with exaggerated care and held it up in front of Elena’s face. “Fits perfectly, don’t you think?” “Derek,” Elena whispered, her voice cracking as she desperately looked for any sign that this wasn’t real, that he hadn’t actually moved on. “Tell me this isn’t real.” But Derek didn’t answer. He didn’t even look at her. He just stood there, silent and unmoved. Venessa chuckled, brushing past Elena on her way to the door, her words dripping with mockery. “Face it, Elena. You lost. And honestly? You were never good enough for him.” Elena’s heart shattered into a million pieces. The pain was so overwhelming, it felt like she couldn’t breathe. She turned, walking toward the door without a word, her eyes filled with tears. As she reached for the doorknob, she paused and looked back at Derek one last time. Her voice was barely a whisper, her heart breaking with every word. “You’re going to regret this, Derek. You’ll regret treating me this way.” Without waiting for a response, she walked out of the office, the door clicking shut behind her as the tears finally fell.