Chapter 6

Elena’s POV

“Will you be my girlfriend?” He asked again, his eyes filled with hope and expectation. I stood there,speechless and confused as Alex’s words hung in the air.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Alex, the kind and generous man who had taken me in and cared for me, wanted to be my boyfriend? It was too much to process.

“Elena, please say something”, Alex urged, his smile starting to falter.

But I couldn’t speak. My mind was racing with thoughts and emotions, and I couldn’t form a coherent sentence.

Just then, a voice behind us interrupted the moment. “Alex,what’s going on here?”

We turned to see a woman standing in the doorway, her eyes narrowed and her arms crossed.

“Rachel what are you doing here?” Alex asked, his tone firm but polite.

“I could ask you the same thing”, Rachel replied,her eyes flicking to me. “Who is this…girl?”

Alex hesitated,and I could see the conflict in his eyes. “Elena, this is Rachel,my business partner. Rachel, this is Elena, my…friend.

Rachel’s eyes widened in surprise and she took a step forward. “Your friend? Alex, what game are you playing?”

What is going on here I thought. I was so confused Alex never told me about having a girl as his business partner and why is she causing so much drama. I just kept observing what was happening at the moment.

Rachel’s eyes narrowed, her gaze flicking between Alex and me. “You’re telling me that this… girl is just a friend? After all the time that you’ve spent with her, taking her in, buying expensive clothes and jewelry?”

What is happening here?and how did she get to know that Alex took me in and bought this outfit for me? Was Alex gossiping about me ? I was still confused and didn’t want to distract them for now.

Alex sighed, his expression calm but firm.

“Rachel,that’s enough. Elena is a friend and I care about her deeply but that’s all it is for now”.

Rachel snorted,her voice dripping with disbelief. “Save it, Alex I know you too well. You’re not just friends,and you’re not just being kind to her out of the goodness of your heart. You have feelings for her, and you’re using your wealth and influence to try and win her over”.

I felt a snurge of discomfort at Rachel’s words, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she was right . Was Alex’s interest in me genuine, or was it just a product of wealth and power?

Alex’s face darkened, his eyes flashing with anger. “Rachel, that’s enough. You’re crossing the line.

But Rachel didn’t back down. “I’m just telling the truth, Alex and you know it”.

The tension between them was palpable and I felt like I was caught in the middle of a storm. But I didn’t know what to say or do, I just stood there, frozen in uncertainty.

Finally, Alex spoke up, his voice cold and detached. “Rachel, leave us now”.

Rachel’s eyes flashed with anger, but she didn’t argue. She turned and stormed out of the room, leaving Alex and me alone in the tense, uncomfortable silence.

I didn’t know what to say, so I just stood there waiting for Alex to speak. But he didn’t. He just stood there, his eyes fixed on me, his expression unreadable.

The silence between us stretched out for what felt like an eternity, until finally, Alex spoke up. “Elena, I think it’s time we had a talk.Let’s sit down”, Alex said, gesturing to a nearby couch.

I nodded, feeling a sense of trepidation. What was he going to say?

We sat down, and Alex turned to face me. “Elena, I know Racheal can be blunt. But she’s right. I do have feelings for you. And I want to be honest with you about them.

My heart skipped a bit. I hadn’t expected him to be so direct.

“Alex, I…I don’t know what to say, I stuttered.

He took my hands in his, his eyes locked on mine. “Just listen, I know we come from different worlds. And I know I’m a lot older than you. But I can’t help how I feel. I want to be with you, Elena. I want to take care of you, to protect you, to make you happy”.

I felt a flutter in my chest, a mix of excitement and fear. No one had ever said anything like that to me before.

“Alex, I…I need time to think”, I said finally, trying to process my emotions.

He nodded, his face understanding. “I know. Take all the time you need. But you know that my feelings for you wont change. I want to be with you,Elena. And I’ll wait for you, no matter how long it takes”.

I looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity there. And I knew that I had a decision to make. One that would change my life forever.

As I gazed into Alex’s eyes, I felt a sense of uncertainty wash over me. A part of me was drawn to his charming smile and genuine words, but another part of me was screaming to be cautious. I had only known him for a month, and yet he was declaring his undying love for me.

I gently pulled my hand out of his trying to create some distance between us. “Alex, I appreciate your honesty but I need to think. This is all so sudden, and I don’t want to rush into anything.

Alex nodded understandingly but his eyes seemed to hold a hint of disappointment. “I understand, Elena. Take all the time you need. But know that I’ll be waiting for you,patiently”.

I smiled weakly, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. “Thank you, Alex. I appreciate that.

As we sat there in silence, I couldn't help but think about the pros and cons of getting involved with Alex. He was charming, successful, and seemed to genuinely care for me. But he was also older, and Rachel sounded like his past was shrouded in mystery. I didn't know much about him, and that scared me.

Just as I was about to get up and leave, Alex spoke up again. "Elena, can I ask you something?"

I turned to him, curious. "What is it?"

"Do you believe in love at first sight?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with intensity.

I hesitated, unsure of how to answer. Did I believe in love at first sight? I didn't know. But what I did know was that I was drawn to Alex in a way that I couldn't explain.

"Yes," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "I think I do."

Alex's face lit up with a radiant smile, and he leaned in closer to me. "I'm glad we're on the same page, Elena. Because I know that I've found something special in you."

As he whispered those words in my ear, I felt a shiver run down my spine. Was I ready to take the leap and see where this journey with Alex would take me? Only time would tell.

“Elena, I have something important to show you," he said, his voice low and mysterious. "Follow me."

He stood up and walked towards the door, beckoning me to follow him.

I hesitated for a moment, feeling a sense of trepidation. But my curiosity got the better of me, and I stood up to follow him.

As we walked out of the room together, I realized that I had no idea where we were going or what he had planned.

And that's when I saw it: a door at the end of the hallway with a sign that read "Private. Do Not Enter".