"How are you?" David asked, never taking his eyes off the girl standing opposite him.
"I think you are well aware of the answer to this question yourself," Elena answered him, without taking her eyes back.
The corners of the young man"s lips went up a bit, "Hmm, yes, the question is irrelevant. I would like to apologize for everything that has happened in recent days. I did not know."
"You were so busy with your bride that you didn"t even bother to check the news?" she asked in a slightly annoyed tone.
David"s eyes widened. A mixed feeling of pleasure and discontent appeared inside him. She was jealous of him, it was so obvious, and so nice that he wanted to rush to her and squeeze her tightly in his arms. A smile appeared on his face by itself.
"Ha, as I see it, Mr. Anderson is having fun? Well, have fun yourself then," Elena said with an offended voice and turned around to leave.
David immediately rushed to her and grabbed the girl by the hand, "Elena, wait! You got it all wrong!" He turned her around to face him and took her second hand, "I don"t have a bride, and I have never had one!"
"Maybe you also want to say that no girl answered the phone for you, eh?" Elena was irritated still, "Hey! Don"t you think that your satisfied smile is out of place now?"
David could not do anything about it, he did not expect that his girlfriend"s jealousy could bring so much joy. But he also understood perfectly well that jealousy is not the best way to strengthen relationships. Now it was much more important for him to regain her trust.
"Sorry, sorry, I didn"t do it on purpose. I just really missed you. And you are so beautiful today."
"Trying to get away from the topic with the help of your sweet speeches?" Elena interrupted him coolly.
David immediately came to his senses. He looked the girl in the eyes and answered, "The woman who answered your call is my mother. If you want, I"m ready to call her right now. She will confirm my words and apologize to you."
"His mom, then," Elena thought to herself.
She never had a mom, and she didn"t know what it was like to have her. Even with Corey"s mother, she felt insecure, although she had known her for many years. Now, the very thought that she would force someone"s mother, especially David"s mother, to apologize to herself... No, she was not yet ready for that.
Elena turned in the other direction so that the man did not notice her temporary confusion, "No, I don"t need it. It"s too much. Especially now it"s night there."
She freed her hands from David"s, walked to the desk at the place where he was standing previously, and said with her arms folded, "Ok. Go on."
The young man, having understood this as a hint that she was ready to listen to his further explanations, continued calmly,
"You see, my mother is a very sensitive person. Daniel told her that I was in great danger, and she decided to play it safe. She turned off and hid my phone, and then we went outside the city for two days, where neither the phone nor the Internet was working. I really did not know what was going on here. Sorry for not being available when you needed me so much."
Elena continued to look at him in silence.
David sighed, "Daniel... it was his initiative. All articles in the media and even that interview. This is all set up by Daniel. However, I think he regretted this seriously."
"Hmm, so you claim that your brother said something to your mother, because of what you had two days without communication, while he did all the things that he wanted, right?"
"Yes, that"s the thing," David confirmed, but the way Elena posed the question to himself didn"t inspire him with much confidence.
The girl smirked. "David, please tell me why your internal family misunderstandings should influence my family, huh? Or my dad"s business? Or the confidence of people who work under his supervision? Tell me why it was necessary to expose the whole situation in this way? Weren"t there any other options, really, eh? Why should my best friend ask her boyfriend to play the role of my fict.i.tious groom in order to at least somehow smooth out all the chaos that your brother arranged?"
There was heavy silence in the office.
"Elena... My family situation is a bit ambiguous, but as for your father"s business, I will correct everything. I will even make it so that everything will be even better than it was. You can trust me on this," David answered her.
"Trust? Can I trust you?? And what about you, David? Is it really so hard to trust me? To tell everything like it is. Or am I one of those girls who are not given such honor?" The girl"s face reflected pain and resentment.
David"s heart sank, he could not resist it. The man rushed to her and hugged the girl tightly.
"Forgive me, forgive me, please," he was whispering, kissing her hair, "You being sad is the last thing I want in this world. I thought I was protecting you, but it turned out that I just hurt you. Forgive me."
The warmth of his body enveloped Elena, and she felt that tears were about to come out in her eyes. She wanted to push him away, but she could not. To feel that he was near, to feel herself in his strong arms - all this was like a magical trance, before which she was defenseless.
"And the strangest thing," she continued, but the tears were already rolling down her cheeks, "When I look at you now, the only thing I think about is "How was his flight?", "Did he rest after the trip?", "Did he eat or sleep at all?" That"s what I really think about, you know? How can I, after such thoughts, after all that has happened, look my father in the eyes?"
Having heard the words of the girl, David"s eyes became moist, "d.a.m.n, I love you so much!" he whispered and pulled her closer to him.
He brushed the tears from her face and kissed her eyelashes that were still wet. Then he looked into her eyes, and a tender smile lit his face.
"Let"s meet tonight? This is not the best place for such a conversation. I will answer every question you have, tell the whole truth as it is. I will even tell you what you don"t ask me yourself. I"ll tell you what I"m afraid to tell you. That n.o.body but me knows. What I thought I could never tell anybody in my life.
If you listen to me and after all you hear, you will still agree to be with me... It will make me the happiest man on earth. Well, what do you say?"
"You, little fool," Elena said, and hugged him tightly in response, "How can I refuse, after such words. But, I hope that your arguments will really be substantial, otherwise, I will beat you right there."
"Ahaha, alright. Only then do not regret finding out about it," David replied and leaned over her lips.
Knock Knock.
"Um, guys, Rick is asking Elena and me to come back. It seems Mr. Lee is going to come up here. We"d better hurry," Corey interrupted them.
David frowned a little, and instead of Elena"s lips, he gently touched her forehead.
"Okay, go. I"ll be waiting for you in the park tonight. Come there, please."
Elena smiled and nodded her head in response.
She and Corey left the room and walked along the corridor toward the elevator.
"Well, and how did it go?" Corey immediately asked her friend.
"I don"t know yet. I hope to clarify everything completely tonight," she replied to Corey.
"Hmm, judging by your face, everything should get better. Oh, G.o.d, let my girlfriend have a calm and happy personal life!" Corey folded her palms together and raised her head.
Elena giggled and poked her friend in the side, "Okay, don"t over play it. Everything will be fine."
The girls went to the elevator and pressed the call b.u.t.ton.
"Elena?"
A familiar female voice addressed them from behind. They reflexively turned around and saw Melinda behind them. The girl looked a little confused.
"Melinda?" Elena asked in surprise, "What are you doing..."
Before she could finish her question, the elevator doors opened. Melinda grabbed Elena"s hand and squeezed tight, "Congratulations on your engagement."
The girl gave Elena and Corey a sweet smile, then quickly pushed them inside the elevator and pressed the b.u.t.ton to close the doors.
Elena and Cory looked at each other with wide eyes.
"And what was it all about?" Corey asked, not understanding the whole logic of what had just happened.
"I don"t know," Elena replied thoughtfully. She opened her hand and saw a small note.
"What is it?" Corey asked.
Elena opened a piece of paper, and a shiver ran down her back.
[I know who killed the professor and arranged your kidnapping. If you want to know the truth, let"s meet tonight. Melinda.]