Elliott stared down at his watch and then at the letter in his hand. It really had been an invitation to discuss business. But, for some reason, he felt wary. However, he did not have the option to refuse. When the CEO of the biggest production house in the country called you over, there was no such thing as saying no. You showed up, whether you wanted to or not.
For the hundredth time that evening, he wondered if he should have left the letter unopened. If Skylar had succeeded in driving away the man, then this would not have happened. He could have gone on with his life without knowing. He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. Now, there was no turning back.
Anyway, he didn't understand what the CEO would want to do with him. He had not hears any news about any upcoming big productions. There was also the fact that even if there were any new big projects coming up, they would be diverted by Clara.
His hands clenched. At this rate, he would soon be pushed into the dark side of the entertainment industry. Skylar had been trying to hide things from him but he knew his fan following had already started to fall drastically. It was only a matter of time.
Elliott sighed. Now was not the time to think all this.
With a minute to spare, he stepped out of the car and walked into the Golden Moon. The place was known for its indulgence, a favorite of the ultra rich, with polished marble floors and gold trim everywhere. But Elliott didn't care for any of it. He was long used to all the extravagance. His thoughts circled only around one thing: the reason he'd been called here tonight.
He reached the private room and pushed the door open- only to freeze for a moment.
He blinked, his eyes moving over the space slowly. A low table. Two glasses of wine already poured. A single candle flickering at the center. It looked nothing like a place set for a business meeting. It looked like a date. An intimate one.
Elliott frowned, stepped back, and even checked the number plate outside, just to make sure he hadn't come into the wrong room. The absurdity of it almost made him laugh, except there was nothing funny about any of this.
And then—before he could think further—he felt it.
A hand at his lower back as fingers presed into him just enough to move him forward. It wasn't a shove. More like a quiet insistence, a push that slipped into his personal space and left no room to resist.
Elliott stumbled inside, his shoulders stiff. He turned quickly, only to see a woman closing the door behind her. The soft click of the lock made his chest tighten. When she faced him, his jaw locked.
Vanessa Grant was standing there. The CEO of the biggest production house- The Grant Studios.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Elliott looked at the woman carefully as she stared back. She was dressed in a sleek black dress. It didn't scream 'date' exactly but it did not look business-like either.
"Mr. Ross," she said finally, her voice calm, smooth, almost too pleasant. "I'm glad you came."
Elliott gave a stiff nod, his throat dry, a sinking feeling in his stomach. He forced himself to look around the room again, at the candlelight, the wine, the setting that seemed designed to disarm him. "This doesn't look like a business meeting," he said quietly, his words sharper than he intended.
Vanessa tilted her head, the faintest trace of amusement tugging at her lips. "Perhaps business doesn't always need to look like business." She walked toward the table, the sound of her heels clicking against the floor filling the silence. She lifted one of the glasses, swirling the wine as though she had all the time in the world. "Please. Sit."
Elliott didn't move. His instincts screamed at him to leave, but he knew he couldn't. Not when this woman held the kind of power that could crush his career with a single word. Something he could not afford right now.
Vanessa's eyes glimmered as though she had read his hesitation. Slowly, she reached toward the centerpiece on the table, plucked a single white flower from the small arrangement and then walked to him.
"For you. Its for peace, of course," she said simply, holding it out. The gesture was almost playful, yet there was nothing casual about the way her gaze held his.
Elliott looked at the flower, then at her, his body rigid. Countless women had tried to give him flowers. Fans claiming to want to woo him but it was always red roses, declaring their love. Hesitantly, he took the rose and walked to take a seat.
Vanessa smiled. Even when cautious, the man was really beautiful. He made her want to put the world at his feet. Slowly, she walked towards him but instead of taking a seat, she walked to him.
"Elliott..." She slowlt took his name and smiled when he looked as wary as a trapped cat. "Do you know why I have called you here tonight?"
She watched as he shook his head and watched her as stopped at the edge of the table, leaning back against it so that her legs were almost brushing his knees and he was forced to look up to her. In slow motion, she lifted her hand and let her fingers trail lightly across his cheek and watched as he stiffened.
Vanessa's smile deepened at his reaction. She let her hand linger just long enough to feel his resistance, then tapped his cheek lightly, almost playfully in a coaxing voice. "Don't look so tense, Elliott."
Finally, the man moved back, away from her hand and said coldly, "Miss Grant, please get down to the proposal you had for me. You are a busy person. I would not want to waste your time."
Vanessa laughed at that and nodded," Okay okay. Indeed, we should not waste our time.."
Vanessa's gaze dropped to his tie. With a slow, deliberate motion, she caught it between her fingers and gave a gentle tug, drawing him closer. Her lips curved as her eyes met his. "Elliott… I want to romance you."