I finally made my way to the table where Elias sat, his usual cocky smirk firmly in place. The confidence he exuded was as effortless as the light blue button-down he wore, the sleeves rolled up just enough to showcase his forearms. His tousled sandy blonde hair gleamed faintly in the morning light pouring in from the nearby window. He leaned back in his chair with one arm draped casually over the backrest, a picture of ease and arrogance.
"Well, princess," he began, his light blue eyes sparkling mischievously as they met mine, "your chauffeur was practically glaring at me just now. I promise I don't bite—unless I have permission, of course."
I blinked, feeling heat rush to my cheeks. I quickly took the seat across from him, fumbling for words. "Aiden? Jeez, Elias, I've told you already—he's not my chauffeur. He's my friend. And he wasn't glaring at you. Even if he was, he was probably just looking out for me."
Elias let out a low chuckle, leaning forward to rest his elbows on the table, his fingers laced together. "Alright, princess, whatever you say."
I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest and narrowing my eyes at him. "And don't call me 'princess.' It's Raven. Seriously, why do you insist on being so difficult?"
He tilted his head slightly, his smirk never faltering. "Hmm. Alright. I won't call you 'princess'... in public. But between us?" His eyes glinted with teasing amusement. "I think it suits you."
I groaned, already knowing it was pointless to argue further. "Y'all are so stubborn."
"I know," he said, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. "It's part of my charm."
I couldn't stop the exasperated sigh that escaped me as I shook my head. Before I could say anything else, his expression softened slightly, the playful edge easing from his voice. "Alright, princess—" He caught himself, smirking as I shot him a glare. "Sorry. *Raven.* Enough fun talk. Let's get to the real reason I came. Are you sure you want to do this?"
I frowned, leaning back in my chair, my arms crossed tightly against my chest. His sudden shift in tone caught me off guard, and I couldn't help but feel a knot forming in my stomach. "I guess?"
Elias' expression grew serious, his blue eyes locking onto mine. "No guessing, Raven," he said firmly. "You need to be sure about this. You're not just going against some random guy here. It's… bigger than that. And I don't know if you'll be able to handle everything that comes with it—or how it'll all play out, especially when it comes to your mom." His voice softened at the last part, but the weight of his words still settled heavily on my chest.
I swallowed hard, feeling the familiar burn of fear and uncertainty rise in my throat. "I kept pondering on everything last night," I began, my voice shaky but resolute. "And honestly? I don't even know if I want to be here right now. Every fiber of my being is scared out of its mind. But… this whole issue is starting to—no, it's already—affecting my siblings. James and Lily deserve better. They deserve a chance at something normal." I took a deep, trembling breath, staring at my hands in my lap. "I may be a coward, Elias. I know that. But I can't let this affect them. I already hate myself for what's going on, for how I've let it get this far. But… I want to do something. I need to do something."
Elias was silent for a moment. Then he leaned back slightly, his lips curving into a faint, sincere smile. "Well, they're really lucky to have you as a big sister."
I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. "I doubt that. I'm not who everyone keeps making me out to be."
His smile widened just a little, softening at the edges. "True," he admitted with a playful glint in his eyes. "But you're working on being that person. And that's all that matters."
"Thanks," I murmured, my voice quieter now.
Elias straightened and motioned to a waiter, who quickly approached our table. "Two smoothies, please," he said easily, glancing at me with a teasing grin. "Strawberry cheesecake for her and blueberry-vanilla for me."
I blinked at him, surprised. "Strawberry cheesecake?" I asked as the waiter walked away. "That actually sounds really good."
He smirked, leaning back in his chair with an air of self-satisfaction. "Figured you'd like something sweet."
"Oh, so now you're a mind reader too?" I shot back, raising an eyebrow.
He shrugged, the corner of his mouth lifting in that signature mischievous smile of his. "I don't need to be a mind reader to know what suits you, princess."
I groaned, rolling my eyes. "I told you to stop calling me that."
"And I told you I'd stop… in public," he quipped, his grin widening. "But since it's just the two of us…" He trailed off, his tone light but teasing.
"You're impossible," I muttered, unable to hide the faint smile tugging at my lips.
"Guilty," Elias said, leaning forward slightly, his elbows resting on the table, a playful smirk lingering on his lips. There was something both infuriating and strangely comforting about his confidence.
I sighed, deciding to shift the conversation to something more serious. "So… how will this go?" I asked, the weight of my question pressing down on me like a heavy blanket. My fingers traced idle patterns along the edge of the table as I avoided his gaze, unsure of what I wanted—or expected—him to say.
Elias tilted his head slightly, his expression softening. "Well, I don't know much about your life—especially when it comes to that sick bastard," he said, his voice low but steady. His jaw tightened momentarily, and for a second, I saw a flicker of something sharp in his eyes—anger, maybe, or frustration. "But I spoke to my family lawyer about it. He's willing to help you with the case whenever you're ready to come out with your story. You just have to give the word."
I blinked, startled. "You… spoke to a lawyer?"
Elias shrugged, his usual air of nonchalance returning as he leaned back slightly. "Of course. I wasn't just going to stand by and do nothing, Raven. "I've seen enough to know something's wrong, Raven. And you shouldn't have to carry that weight by yourself."
The words hung in the air between us, and I could feel my chest tightening again. "What do you think you've seen?" I asked quietly, almost afraid of the answer.
He hesitated, his fingers drumming lightly against the table as if he were choosing his words carefully. "Look," he began, his tone gentler now, "I'm not going to pretend I know everything. I don't. But from what I've pieced together, it's clear that he's been crossing lines that no one should ever cross. The way he… touched you, the way he talked to you—it's not normal, Raven. It's not okay. And you… you shouldn't have to deal with that alone."
His words settled over me like a soft blanket, offering a kind of comfort I hadn't realized I needed. I managed a small smile, though the ache in my chest didn't completely fade. "Thanks," I murmured. "I think."
Elias grinned, setting his glass down as the teasing glint returned to his eyes. "Don't get used to it. I'm only nice to people who deserve it."
Before I could respond, the waiter arrived with our smoothies, setting them down with a polite smile. Mine was a vibrant pink, topped with a swirl of whipped cream and a strawberry slice—exactly the kind of overly sweet indulgence I'd never admit to craving. Elias's was a deep, rich purple, swirled with streaks of creamy vanilla, creating a marbled effect, condensation already forming on the glass.
"Oh, so you're selective now?" I shot back, raising an eyebrow.
"Absolutely." He motioned toward my smoothie. "Besides, I already knew you'd like the drink. Clearly, I'm just a mind reader."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the quiet laugh that escaped me. "Mind reader, huh? That's ambitious."
He smirked. "Ambitious or accurate?"
"More like delusional," I retorted, taking a sip of my smoothie. The sweetness lingered on my tongue, a small reminder of something lighter, simpler.
Elias watched me for a moment, his smile fading just slightly. "Raven," he said, his voice quieter now, "I know this isn't easy. And I don't know the full story. But… you don't have to do this alone. When you're ready, I've got someone who can help. A family lawyer. He's good—really good. He's handled cases like this before. He'll believe you."
I hesitated, the words catching in my throat. "You've already done so much. I don't even know why you're doing this."
"Because someone needs to," he said simply. "And because I hate the idea of you feeling like you don't have options. You do, Raven. Maybe not all of them feel good right now, but they're there."
I stared at him, unsure of how to respond. The thought of trusting anyone with my secrets—let alone someone I'd only known for a couple of days—felt terrifying. But the alternative? It felt worse.
"I'll… think about it," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper.
Elias nodded, his expression unreadable. "That's all I'm asking."