Chương 19: She deserved better

As I stepped out of the restaurant, the midday sun was bright and unyielding. I reached into my pocket, pulling out a cigarette. It was a habit I indulged in rarely, usually when my nerves were frayed.

Today was one of those days. I lit the cigarette, taking a long drag and feeling the smoke fill my lungs. It was a brief respite, a momentary distraction from the turmoil inside me.

I leaned against the wall, watching people pass by, lost in their own worlds. My mind kept drifting back to Elena. That man, whoever he was, had touched a nerve I didn't know existed. I exhaled slowly, letting the smoke curl up into the air.

Just then, the restaurant doors swung open, and there she was—Elena. She was with that same man, and as they walked, he reached for her hand. My grip tightened around the cigarette, an inexplicable surge of irritation flaring within me.

Before I knew it, I flicked the cigarette away, the ember scattering across the pavement, and began striding towards them.

"Elena," I called out, my voice cutting through the air. They both turned to look at me, surprise evident on their faces. I had no idea what I was doing, but I couldn't stop myself. "Can we talk about your shoot with Alexei?"

The man looked at me, a mix of confusion and annoyance on his face. Elena glanced between us, clearly taken aback. "Uh, sure," she said hesitantly, pulling her hand away from the man's grasp.

The man frowned, obviously displeased. "Who are you?"

"Carmen Steele," I said curtly, not bothering to offer a handshake. My eyes flicked to his car, an unimpressive compact vehicle parked nearby. I couldn't help but think how lame it was, a stark contrast to the image I had of Elena. She deserved better.

"Right," he muttered, clearly unimpressed. "Well, I'll leave you two to it." He shot Elena a look that said he'd be waiting and then walked off towards his car.

Good riddance, I thought, watching him go. I turned back to Elena, who was looking at me with a mixture of curiosity and caution. For a moment, I was at a loss for words. This was out of character for me—spontaneous, emotional, unplanned.

I cleared my throat, trying to regain my composure. "I, uh, just wanted to discuss the shoot," I said, feeling oddly awkward. "Alexei mentioned you did exceptionally well."

Elena nodded, her expression softening. "Thank you. It was a great experience."

I searched for something else to say, anything to justify this impulsive move. "It's important to keep the momentum going," I said, my tone more business-like. "Your potential is significant, and we should capitalize on it."

She smiled, and for a moment, the world seemed to slow down. "I appreciate that, Carmen. Really, I do."

I nodded, feeling a strange warmth at her words. "So, that man…is he your boyfriend?" I asked, trying to sound casual but failing miserably.

Elena shook her head, a flicker of annoyance crossing her features. "He's my fiancé," she replied, the words laced with a bitterness that didn't go unnoticed. "Even though I don't like him."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Why are you engaged to someone you don't like?"

She sighed, looking away for a moment before meeting my gaze again. "It's complicated. Family pressure, expectations... It's not something I really want, but sometimes it feels like I don't have a choice."

Her honesty caught me off guard. There was a vulnerability in her eyes that made me feel something strange, something almost... protective. I pushed the thought aside, focusing on the matter at hand.

"I see," I said slowly. "Well, I don't want to keep you from your evening. I just wanted to touch base about the shoot. Alexei was really impressed with your work."

Elena nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Thank you. I'm glad to hear that."

There was a moment of silence, both of us standing there awkwardly. I wasn't used to feeling this uncertain, especially around someone I had only recently met. But something about Elena drew me in, made me want to understand her better.

"Do you want to grab a coffee or something?" I blurted out, surprising even myself. "I mean, if you're not in a hurry to get back to your fiancé."

She looked at me, surprised, but then her expression softened. "Sure. I could use a break. Where should we go"

Before I could respond, the man's voice cut through the air. "Elena, come on, please!" He was leaning out of his car, impatience evident in his tone.

Elena sighed, clearly frustrated. "I have to go, maybe another time" she said, turning towards the car.

Watching her walk away, I felt a strange sense of loss. This was madness. I didn't even know why I cared so much, but something about her tugged at me in a way I couldn't ignore.

As she got into the car, I stood there, feeling oddly defeated. What was it about Elena that had such a hold on me? Why did I care who she was with or what she did? These questions swirled in my mind as I watched the car drive away.

I got back into my own car, the leather seat cold against my back despite the sun's heat. I sat there for a moment, gripping the steering wheel and trying to process everything. This wasn't like me. I was always in control, always composed. But Elena... she had a way of unsettling me, of making me question everything.

I drove back to the office, my mind replaying the brief interaction over and over. By the time I arrived, the rest of the day seemed like a blur. Meetings came and went, words exchanged without much thought. All I could think about was Elena.

Later that evening, after the last meeting had finally ended, I found myself still seated at my desk, staring out at the city lights. The office was quiet, most of the staff long gone. I leaned back in my chair, the events of the day weighing heavily on my mind.

Why had I felt that surge of jealousy when I saw her with him? Why had I gone out of my way to talk to her, to pull her aside? These questions plagued me, and I had no answers.

Just as I was about to leave, Lydia walked in, looking at me with a mixture of concern and curiosity. "Long day?" she asked.

I nodded, not trusting myself to say more. Lydia had been with me long enough to know when to push and when to let things be. She gave me a sympathetic smile before handing me a file. "These are the latest reports. I thought you might want to look at them before tomorrow."

I took the file, grateful for the distraction. "Thanks, Lydia."

She lingered for a moment, as if considering whether to say more, but then nodded and left, closing the door quietly behind her.

I glanced at the reports, but my mind wasn't in it. Instead, I found myself replaying the scene outside the restaurant, the look in Elena's eyes when she said she was engaged, the way she seemed almost resigned to it.

I needed to understand what was happening to me, why I felt this way. But more than that, I needed to see her again, to figure out what it was about her that had this effect on me.

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