6

ELENA DUVAL 

“Tyler Whitman is a shameless thief and a conniving bastard. I don't know what happened between you both right before he broke off the engagement, you never told me and whenever I asked, you didn't want to talk about it,” Tiffany shifted closer. “But what I do know is that Tyler is a fake. He stole your work and idea, Elena, and now he's living his best life off your work. Over the last two years, Tyler has skyrocketed from being a complete nobody in the industry to the top actor of all time, all thanks to your script being stolen. Remember, the script you wrote two years ago when we were—”

“Still in college,” I completed. “But Tyler isn't the type of person who would do that. And his father would have never allowed him to pursue a career in the entertainment industry,” Tyler was the only son left after his elder brother died in a plane crash back in high school. It was no secret I had wanted to major in directing back in college instead of business, and Tyler had an interest in acting. But we knew it was a dream we could never have because we were both set to follow our fathers step in business.

“Who said Mr Whitman did, Tyler is set to take over the BB Group in a few weeks, after he returns from his tours. He's giving up acting and everyone is sad to lose such a perfect star. Trust me he has everyone bewitched,”

“Tiff, I must meet with Tyler—” I started but she cut me off.

“Were you not listening? Elena, Ty is bad news. He stole your work. He broke your heart and called off the engagement when you needed him the most. Even though I have no idea how, but Tyler hurt you,”

“And that's why I need to meet him. I don't care about whatever he did, I just have to get my memories back. Maybe meeting him can help me. My parents are dead, Tiff. Chloe and Zoey are missing. I need to find them. I need to find out the truth behind everything that happened two years ago, and if Dad didn't commit suicide, it means they were murdered. My poor parents were murdered. I have to find out who's responsible and this time I'll make them pay. But first, I must meet Tyler,”

Tiffany swallowed a deep breath. “Fine. I understand, and trust me, I'm with you. But it's not easy to meet Tyler. He's become super famous and he won't be in the country until later this week for the gala night. That's the only chance you'll get to meet him,”

“Gala night? Won't the security be right?”

“Yes, but the event is being sponsored by the Ford Empire,”

I notched my brows. “As in Mr Castello's company?”

Tiffany nodded with a wide smile. “Yes. Which you can attend as Dimitri Castello's wife,”

“Wait a second, how's the Ford Group sponsoring such an event?”

Tiffany sent me a deadpan look. “Do you even know the man you're married to?” Her eyes narrowed on me. “Elena, you are married to the Dimitri Castello of the Ford Empire Group, the wealthiest and biggest multinational company across several countries,” Without even hesitating, Tiffany pulled out her phone and googled his name.

I leaned in, taking a peak at her screen. I was momentarily riddled with shock at what I was reading. I knew Dimitri Castello. He was my father's business partner and CEO of the Ford Empire. He was a top dog in the business world. I knew that much. But from what I was reading, he was much more than that.

I snatched the phone from Tiffany, scrolling through the feeds with the tip of my fingers on my lips.

Dimitri Castello. 

The ruthless, powerful, and boringly attractive Lord of the Ford Empire Group, a Fortune 500 legend. He was the man who'd created a buzz at the Houston's Wildlife Trust gala three nights ago. Rumored to be ruthless and anyone who got in his way was disposed of without ceremony or even, it was said without emotion.

He was like a permanent face card on every major magazine cover. He owned all of New York, and his connections and affluence extended across countries. He was the man every woman wanted and yet no one could get. His name alone screamed power.

I released a shaky breath as Tiffany's phone fell on my lap. And that was the man I was married to. A man of power and influence. He had the money and connection I needed.

I was up from the sofa, pacing back and forth in the mini living room.

“What's wrong, Elena? Did you remember something?” Tiffany was up instantly.

“He's exactly what I need, Tiffany. Dimitri Castello is what I need,” I muttered, with so many thoughts and ideas running through my mind.

“I'm not following you, sweetheart—”

“He has everything I want. Everything I have lost. Money. Power. Affluence and connection,”

“Elena, I'm not still following —”

I gripped her hand, and her eyes widened a little. Probably in worry and confusion. “To uncover what happened to my parents, to find my sisters. I need Dimitri Castello. Being his wife gives me the power and connection I need to find my sisters and get the truth,”

Tiffany had a wide mischievous smile on her face. “It brings me so much joy you are finally using that wonderful brain of yours. This is exactly what I've been telling you. Well, the stubborn old you. Instead of hating the man, you could use him, Elena, to get what you want. Find your sisters. Uncover the truth and get justice. But for now, he can help you meet that insufferable bastard, Ty.”

“Yes, he can. Yes, he—” I paused, and the huge smile on my face vanished as quickly as it came. “Fuck!” I gripped my rough hair. “No, he can't,” My instant words caused the skin of my friend's forehead to crease in confusion.

“Why not?”

“He hates me,” I breathed out. A flash of our brief encounters over the last few weeks raced through my mind. And last night was worse.

“That's strange. I thought you were the one who hated him,” Tiffany plopped on the sofa, bringing a cookie to her lips.

“The feeling is mutual. But that's not the point Tiff. He won't take me. He can't even stand the sight of me,” I continued pacing.

“But he did come to Texas to get you, and he punched the cop that hit you, didn't he?”

“That was because I ran from his cage, and the other, he just wanted to save his image. But that's not the point Tiff, I need to fix this problem,” I said, cracking my brain for a solution. But I couldn't come up with anything.

Mr Castello was the devil in a nice suit. And from the second I woke up from my coma, it was obvious he hated me. There was no way I could slice through his heart made of stone and hellfire.

“I don't see the problem, Elena. You are his wife, and he's your husband. Usually, it takes just a flip of your fingers to have a man wrapped around your fingers,”

I stopped pacing, turning around just in time to see the naughty smile on Tiffany's face. I knew exactly what she was insinuating. “Whatever you are thinking Tiffany it's a no. We have to figure out another way to get Mr Castello to take me to the gala,”

Tiffany groaned, but she still had that naughty smile on. “Then why don't you just ask him, he might just agree,”

“Might is not good enough but you are right though. I could call him and have him come home early for dinner,”

“That's a good idea. I would have said maybe you could cook something nice for him, but we both know that isn't your forte. So just call him,” Tiffany said and I nodded, taking in a long breath.

I borrowed Lydia's phone again and dialed Dimitri’s number.

I didn’t know why but my heart had spiked a beat and I couldn't control the wild beating. It grew worse as I listened to the first ring. And then the second ring. And then the third.

Oh, God. He's not going to pick up.

Just as the thoughts echoed in my mind, there was a click over the phone.

“Yes,” His cold voice filtered through, sending a series of shivers down my spine, and leaving me completely tongue-tied. 

What the fucking hell!

“Who's this?” He asked calmly, but no amount of calm could mask the dark tone and irritation in his voice.

“Who—” Before he could ask again I forced my lips to move quickly. Something in my gut told me he didn't like to repeat himself. 

“It's me, Elena,” I breathed out, and what followed next was utter silence from his end. For a second, I thought he had disconnected.

A second, two seconds, three seconds passed before I heard his voice again.

“Whose phone is this?” He asked, even though it was not the question I was expecting.

“It's Lydia's,” I responded, and there was another beat of silence. It was uncomfortable.

“Did something happen?”

“No, nothing much happened,” I breathed out. God this was so awkward. I wondered where all my bravado had suddenly gone. I was nudged back to reality by Tiffany, who had her ear on the other side of the phone, urging me to speak. “I… uhm… I was wondering what time you'd be home for dinner,” I closed my eyes as the words left my lips. 

Jesus, I hated this.

“Home? For Dinner?” I could only imagine the cold look in his eyes. I listened for any sign of shock in his voice, but I couldn't pick up on any.

“Yes. Dinner,” I responded. “So what time would you be home?”

Another seconds of uncomfortable silence, this time it was stretching into a minute.

I was about to speak when I heard another voice over the phone. It was a woman's. Tiffany must have heard it too because her eyes were a second from exploding from their sockets as she leaned closer.

“Come on Dimitri. What's taking you so long,” The woman said. “You promised we won't be interrupted,”

Every bone in my body stiffened at her words and my hand on the phone tightened. 

“I have work to do, Elena. Have your dinner on time and get some rest,” He said, and without leaving room for me to speak, he disconnected.

I remained frozen. Completely speechless. “What do you think, Tiff?” I finally spoke after a moment of silence.

“I would've said your husband is having an affair, but I don't think Dimitri Castello is that kind of a man that would —”

“You heard everything she said, didn't you? And she called him by his name,”

“Okay,” Tiffany fell back against the softness of the sofa. “Yes, your husband might indeed be having an affair, but come on, you can't seriously blame him. He's the Dimitri Castello and if he can't get some action at home, he might as well get it from a cheap whore outside,”

I sent her a look, not saying anything.

“Come on Elena, don't give me that look. You know I'm right. I don't assume you and him have been together since your flash marriage. What do you expect the man to do? He has needs too and any woman wouldn't hesitate to jump on the opportunity to have him. What you need to be thinking about is getting him back. If you really want him wrapped around your pretty little fingers, you need to get him back,”

“And how do you propose that?”

“Simple. Seduce him. No one would be able to resist you, and you know it. Wear your big girl pants and do what you must to get what you want. Make him fall for you,”

“It's easier said than done, Tiffany. Look at me. I'm not the girl I used to be, and with the calibers of women he has sucking his dick, trust me I'm no match, especially looking like this”

“Well that's true,” She eyed me up. “I didn't want to say anything earlier, but what the hell happened to you? How did you let go of yourself so much? And what's up with those baggy clothes? The Elena I knew would rather go to her own funeral than to wear those,”

“I have no idea what happened to me either. Take a look at my hair, it looks like I haven't touched it in ages, and my nails are gross,” I groaned. “This is already a failed mission,”

“No. No. Elena Duval. I refuse you to give up. You have no idea the amount of power you wield, sweet Elena. If you really want to find out what truly happened to your family, you need that power, and your dear husband has more than enough of it. All you have to do is have him wrapped around your fingers. Make him fall helplessly and insanely in love with you,” Tiffany said with a mischievous smile and I held my breath. “Do you think you can do that, Elena?”

I held my breath for a second, before releasing it. “For my sisters, I'm willing to do anything. So if I have to sleep with the devil himself, I'd do it without batting an eye. I need to find out what truly happened to my family. I have a bad feeling there's more to what happened two years ago, and it's somehow related to my accident three weeks ago,”