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Alexander Pay
“It shouldn’t change anything.”
I thought of Ella’s words bitterly as I made my way down to the office. It wasn’t fair for me to feel bitter about this
Ella was right the fact that we felt the pull shouldn’t change anything between us. I had already come to terms with the fact that I cared about her.
I thought she cared for me too.
Maybe I had overestimated myself.
Of course, now that I knew the truth about her, it made sense. Ella was avenging her own death–and the death of her father. She was angry, hurt, and determined.
Once again, I found myself admiring her.
If I were in her position, I doubted I could have been so calculated. My anger would have gotten the better of me. I would have acted rashly, violently. But not Ella.
She formulated a plan and executed it flawlessly. Falling apart now, when we were so close, would be foolish. That didn’t mean her words didn’t sting.
Then there was the blonde woman she had mentioned. A scandal that ruined me. It could only be Sabrina. Supermodel good looks and the power to destroy my life–no other woman fit that description.
I thought I had learned my lesson from her, but it seemed I had repeated my mistakes with Ella. I let myself fall for her, and now I was caught between my heart and my logical mind.
I knew what I should do in response to all of this.
I should have Ella committed, rid myself of our false marriage in cruel. It was essentially a get–out–of–jail–free card–if I was cold been.
that made me look pitiable rather than a way
enough to use it. And maybe, once, I would have
But now?
I wasn’t.
Ella had changed me more than she could possibly know.
I only hoped it was for the better.
August was already waiting in my office when I arrived.
Today was the day we finally announced the plans for the solar farm. Ella’s father had been working hard, meeting with Derrick Lake and other officials in the area to ensure that everyone was on board with the project.
It would generate a lot of money and good publicity at a time when many desperately needed it.
I couldn’t afford to mess up the announcement just because my head was swimming with everything I had just learned. I had to hold myself together and put on a good front.
Having August working in the background would help. I knew I could trust him to handle things behind the scenes so that I could face the moment at hand.
1/2
Augar é sad the moment I walked in, its expression need with concern of course, he could mad it is ny
“Everymning & fit? I said “I’m
* fine? I said, “I’m ready to head to the press conference, but I need you to take care of something for me in the ineantime,
“Of course. The concern in his face was quickly replaced be determination.
“I need you to be as discreet as possible,” I said firmly. “No one can get wind of this. Not a soul. Is that clear?” “Absolutely, sir,” August said without hesitation. “You know you can trust my discretion.”
“I need you to look into Ella’s background.”
His eyes widened slightly. He hesitated for only a moment before asking, “Has something happened? Surely, the background check we did before your arrangement was confirmed would have revealed any ”
“Medical history. School records. Everything,” I interrupted. “I need to know if there’s even a hint of any issue in her past that could have been covered up. Something our initial research may have missed.”
The emotions flickering across August’s face were unmistakable. He was my advisor, my best friend–normally a master of maintaining a stoic front–but right now, I saw it clearly.
Concern.
And a hint of smugness.
He was dying to say, I told you so.
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