Chapter 7
Elena froze, completely unprepared for what Alexander had just said.
He really did look displeased. But why? Was it because she was sick yet still wanted to return to the dinner? They weren’t nearly close enough for him to be upset over something like that.
“It’s not that…”
In truth, she only meant to return and inform her colleagues that she was leaving. But then she pictured Nadine basking in everyone’s attention like a star on stage and decided it was pointless.
She wasn’t the focus tonight, and no one would care if she slipped out early.
Just then, a knock came at the door. A man who looked like an assistant stepped inside. “Mr. Golden,
everyone’s waiting for you.”
No matter what deal was on the table, Alexander was always the centerpiece. Without him, the banquet
wouldn’t even take place.
“Sorry to keep you, Mr. Golden,” Elena quickly said.
“It’s fine.” Alexander’s expression returned to its usual unreadable calm, as if his earlier irritation had been
nothing but her imagination.
He left the room, pausing only to give Oliver a look on the way out.
Oliver nodded in understanding.
Once Alexander was gone, Elena rested for a little longer before leaving the restaurant herself. Just as she stepped up to the curb to hail a cab, a black car pulled up.
The driver’s door opened, and Oliver got out. “Ms. Miller,” he greeted with a polite smile. “Mr. Golden
asked me to take you home.”
“That’s not necessary,” Elena quickly declined. “I’ve already troubled him enough today.”
“It’s no trouble at all,” he replied smoothly. “Besides, over the past two years, Golden Group and Miller
Group have worked closely together. We’re about to enter an even deeper partnership.”
He paused, then added, “So, looking after you is only natural for Mr. Golden.”
Elena thought for a moment. If their companies were collaborating more, she would inevitably be dealing with Alexander often. Turning him down repeatedly would only seem rude.
“Thank you then,” she said..
“Not at all. This way, please.” Oliver opened the door for her with practiced courtesy.
Meanwhile, Alexander sat by the window in a private VIP room on the top floor of the restaurant. His eyes
lowered as he watched Elena get into the car and drive away.
Someone nearby joked, “What’s outside that has you so distracted, Mr. Golden?”
“Nothing,” he replied coolly, pulling his gaze back.
Since he didn’t want to talk about it, no one pressed further.
He took out his phone, and his eyes lingered briefly on his chat thread with Elena before shifting to a message from Rachel the night before.
“The Miller family has already agreed to the engagement. You’re in Slushire now, aren’t you? I heard Elena
is there too. Go and visit her. You need to make more of an effort.”
He replied with a single word, “Mm.”
After a pause, he sent her another message, “Mom, where’s Dr. Campbell right now?”
Her response came quickly, “Dr. Campbell? She went abroad last month. She left in a hurry without even telling me where she went. I can’t reach her either. Why are you asking?”
Alexander’s eyes darkened. “Nothing. Just let me know if you hear from her.”
Oliver dropped Elena off at her apartment.
Standing at the door, she drew in a steadying breath.
This had once been what she naïvely thought of as “home”. Now it was nothing more than a temporary stop-one that left a bitter taste in her mouth.
If not for investigating the car accident-and the need to avoid alerting anyone-she would never have set foot here again.
Taking advantage of Justin’s and Nadine’s absence, she scoured the place, especially his study.
However, there were no useful clues or evidence.
If Justin had gone to such lengths to cover for Nadine, he would never leave anything incriminating lying around here.
Still, she had clung to a sliver of hope. She had just stepped out of the study when the sound of the front door opening reached her.
Moments later, Justin and Nadine walked in hand in hand.
