ELARA POV
At that point, I was absolutely caught off guard.
"Why would I step into their office to give a complaint, and they are telling me congratulations like they were actually expecting me?"
"I'm all ears," I stated when they remained silent.
"We are congratulating you because you have made a positive impact. The CEO has seen something in you after last night," she said as I stood up sharply.
"No. You did not install secret cameras in that room. Please tell me you did not," I said, feeling like the floor had dropped beneath me, like every bit of privacy I thought I had was already gone.
"They had actually seen my intimacy with Kael. Please tell me you didn't," I said bitterly, biting the inside of my lip.
"No, no, we didn't. But from what we observed and from some information gathered, we did not get any footage of you, because obviously you were smart enough to turn off the security feed, but the hallway camera saw you enter the lab and exit, and how... eager you were on your way out," she said, making sure to lower her voice for the last part, as though the two men beside her were nothing but decorative statues. They both just sat there with slight smirks on their faces, looking from her back to me.
"I had to. I was only doing what you all wanted me to do," I said, trying to cover my tracks as they laughed.
"We never said you did anything wrong. Actually, you did exactly what was needed, and we have decided to raise your salary even further. For all your efforts, working overtime and creating genuine progress, I am sure very soon he will begin to share real information with you," they said as I raised my hand to stop her.
"No, you will not play games with me again. I told you I did not want to do this. Please, please do not make me use an innocent person this way," I said to her as she laughed.
"Because you love him. Because he showed you something Marco, your ex, never could. That is why you think he deserves your protection. But what do you think his own kind are trying to do? What if they are planning to wipe out the entire human race, and we cannot even protect ourselves from them? They can camouflage at will, they can walk into our lives, and we wouldn't even know. They could be among us right now in this very building, and we wouldn't be able to tell. Doesn't that bother you at all?" she said, her hands clenched tight, her voice sharp with frustration.
"It bothers me, but I think it bothers you far more because you are terrified of what they are capable of. Please, let us not do this to them. Mostly not to Kael. He has been suffering. He is being tortured every single day. I came here because I wanted to beg you to stop. Stop torturing him," I said loudly, already heading for the door.
"The CEO has placed you at a higher level. Don't disgrace him and don't reject this assignment. Everything you say here, I will not relay to him. Instead, I will tell him you accepted with a wide smile on your face. Understood?" she said.
I stood there, gripping the hem of my dress tightly, because I knew I had no choice. I had walked in here riding on the happiness of this morning, and they had taken it apart with one sentence.
"Do whatever you want," I said and stormed out of their office. I couldn't hold my tears anymore. I walked past the secretary, wiping my eyes, trying to hold myself together.
I stepped into the elevator, and at that moment, Marcus and his team walked in.
Why was I always running into him? Why was I even asking that? I worked in the same company as him, and if I hadn't been placed in a secret project, I would be seeing him every single day of my life.
I didn't bother saying anything to him. I brought out my handkerchief and cleaned my eyes, making sure my face was back in order. I was not going to let him see me fall apart. He looked at me, studying me closely, like he was trying to dig something out.
"You look weak, tired, scared. Is something happening? I am very eager to know," he said as I looked at him briefly and then looked away.
I wasn't ready. His team laughed in the elevator as the sound bounced off the walls, growing louder and more irritating with each second. I felt so frustrated, but I knew I just had to hold it in. This was not the time to pour out my aggression. I was just ready to leave this floor, ready to cry my eyes out to the only person who would actually listen to me, the only person who loved me and wanted me so badly at this point.
Kael. The only one for me.
At that moment, the elevator doors opened, and his team stepped out, but Marcus stayed. I decided I wasn't about to share a confined space with him and moved to step out as well, when he pulled me back.
"Let's talk," he said.
I didn't even flinch, because I knew he was about to say something dismissive or take another shot at my career. I wasn't ready to entertain it, no matter what he said. I was not about to give him the satisfaction of seeing me crack, even if it meant enduring his presence a little longer.
I looked at him sharply as the elevator continued upward.
"What project are you working on?" he said as I scoffed.
"Oh, now you are interested in my life? I am not telling you anything. Now let me go," I said, noticing he was still gripping my hand firmly.
"I'm not letting you go until you give me a clear answer. Why are you acting this way? Why aren't you shouting like the Elara you are, pouring out your anger, your bitterness for the betrayal I put you through?" he said as I rolled my eyes.