Chapter 11: Chapter 11: The Game Begins
The engagement was officially announced just a few days after Alice's confession. Invitations had been sent to the most powerful elites across the globe, the union between the Moriartys and Greystones becoming the event of the year. The Moriarty estate was in full preparation mode, bustling with staff and organizers who were readying the grand ballroom for the engagement dinner.
Elliot, however, remained indifferent. His focus was elsewhere, locked on a new set of responsibilities that his father, Johnathan, had thrust upon him. Now that Elliot had proven his competence in business, Johnathan had accelerated his son's training, putting him through a relentless series of high-level negotiations and critical decision-making.
But the thought of his impending marriage gnawed at him. He knew it wasn't just an emotional matter—it was political, strategic, and the stakes were far higher than they seemed on the surface.
It was a late evening when Elliot found himself in his father's study, a place where they had shared numerous discussions since Elliot's transformation. The heavy oak desk, the dark leather chairs, and the walls lined with rare volumes of history and finance always gave an air of gravitas to their conversations. Johnathan was sitting behind the desk, his hands steepled, watching his son carefully.
"Are you ready for this?" Johnathan asked, his voice sharp and direct.
Elliot leaned back in his chair, feeling the weight of the question. "For the engagement? Or the marriage itself?"
"Both," Johnathan said, his eyes narrowing. "You've made impressive progress, Elliot. You've become the son I always knew you had the potential to be. But this next step—marrying Alice—comes with its own challenges."
Elliot nodded. He was aware of the intricacies of the merger between the two families, the expectations from both sides. But the thought of Alice no longer stirred the emotions it once did. She was no longer the object of his affection, but rather a piece on the chessboard.
"She doesn't mean anything to me," Elliot said coldly, his tone surprising even himself. "This marriage is a business move. I'm treating it as such."
Johnathan smirked, leaning forward. "Good. That's exactly how you should approach it. The Greystones are powerful, but we are more powerful. This union will elevate both families to new heights, but you need to remain strategic. Keep your emotions in check."
"I have no emotions left for her," Elliot replied calmly.
Johnathan studied him for a long moment, his gaze unreadable. "I can see that. And I approve. You've become a true Moriarty, Elliot—ruthless, calculating, and focused. This engagement is a critical step, but remember, you're marrying into a family that will try to control you if you let them."
"I won't," Elliot said. "Alice's parents want this as much as we do. Maybe even more. They see the Moriarty name as a ladder to climb."
"Exactly," Johnathan said with a sharp nod. "Which is why you must always stay one step ahead. Don't let them think they have any power over you. They'll test you, especially Alice. But you must remain detached."
Elliot's mind flashed back to his last meeting with Alice, how she had tried to reconnect, to reclaim some semblance of the past they had lost. He had shut her down, not out of malice, but out of necessity. The person he was now didn't have room for emotional entanglements, not even for her.
"I understand," Elliot said, his voice firm. "I'll keep her at arm's length. This is business, nothing more."
Johnathan leaned back in his chair, satisfied. "Good. That's what I like to hear."
As the conversation shifted to the details of the engagement dinner and the upcoming merger between the families' business empires, Elliot felt the weight of his new life pressing down on him. He had made a choice when he returned from his captivity, a choice to abandon his former self and become something more. Something stronger.
But the cost of that choice was becoming increasingly clear.
The engagement dinner was a lavish affair, filled with influential figures from the worlds of business, politics, and high society. Alice's parents were there, dressed in their finest, mingling with the guests, all the while eyeing Elliot and his family with an air of satisfaction. They were pleased with the alliance, and in their minds, they were gaining more than just a son-in-law—they were gaining the power and prestige of the Moriarty name.
Alice, however, felt lost in the whirlwind of it all. She stood beside Elliot as they greeted their guests, but his demeanor was cold, detached, as though he were merely going through the motions. She tried to engage him in conversation several times, but his responses were always curt, polite, and devoid of the warmth she had once taken for granted.
After a while, she excused herself from the crowd, retreating to a quiet corner of the ballroom where she could watch the proceedings from a distance. Her parents, laughing and chatting with the Moriartys, didn't notice her absence. They were too busy reveling in the success of the engagement.
It was then that she realized just how far she had fallen. A year ago, she had looked at Elliot with disdain, rejecting him without a second thought. Now, she watched him from afar, feeling like a stranger in her own engagement party.
He had changed. Completely.
Alice's heart ached as she watched Elliot move through the crowd with ease, his confidence and control evident in every interaction. He was no longer the awkward, bumbling boy who had fawned over her. He was a man now—strong, decisive, and untouchable.
She had spent so long pushing him away, and now that he was finally out of her reach, she realized how much she had lost.
Later that evening, after most of the guests had left, Alice found herself alone with Elliot in one of the side rooms of the Moriarty mansion. The formalities were over, and the weight of the evening had finally settled on her shoulders.
"I wanted to talk," she said, her voice softer than usual.
Elliot glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "About what?"
"Us," Alice replied, feeling her throat tighten. "I know things have changed, but... I just wanted to understand."
Elliot crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. "There's nothing to understand, Alice. We're engaged now. That's all that matters."
Alice shook her head, frustration bubbling to the surface. "No, that's not all that matters. I know I hurt you before. I was wrong, and I... I want to make things right."
Elliot's gaze hardened, and for a moment, Alice saw a flicker of the pain he had buried deep inside. "You can't make it right, Alice. What's done is done."
She swallowed hard, realizing that the wall between them was thicker than she had thought. "So that's it? We're just going to pretend everything is fine? That this is just a business deal?"
"That's exactly what it is," Elliot said coldly. "You made it clear a long time ago how you felt about me. Now, I'm returning the favor."
Alice's heart sank. She had waited too long. And now, it seemed, there was no going back.
Elliot turned to leave, his footsteps echoing in the empty room. "We're getting married, Alice. But don't expect anything more than what you gave me."
And with that, he walked away, leaving her standing alone, the weight of her choices finally crashing down around her.
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