Chapter 157
Elodie’s POV ~
Dante must have heard Sienna whisper that they were skipping the post-lunch debrief, because of course he did. He always knew exactly where she was.
He walked over to our table, that picture of politeness, and shook Johnny’s hand. “We’ll leave now. Please do join us next time, Mr. Gray p>
Johnny’s jaw tightened, but he nodded. Of course p>
Dante smiled that cold, perfect smile that never reached his eyes and glanced at me. Just a flicker. Like I was a piece of furniture he was debating whether to keep. Then he turned and walked out, Sienna falling into step beside him.
Back at Wilson Tech, the afternoon was a blur of every damn thing. Sienna’s team rolled in around two, looking like they’d just had a spa day, while Johnny and I had been grinding since nine.
By six, my eyes were burning. “Let’s go,” I said, shutting my laptop.
Johnny stretched. “I’ll treat you to a meal. You look like you need protein p>
“No,” I said, grabbing my bag. “I have other plans p>
Nonna had been texting me all afternoon.
Come home. The cook made the fish you like. It wasn’t a request. It was a summons.
When I got to the old residence, I saw his coat on the rack. His shoes by the door.
I froze. I hadn’t expected him to be back. I figured he’d be at the office, holding Sienna’s hand while she complained about a bug in the system.
He was in the living room, laptop on his knees, typing furiously. He glanced up when I walked in, then immediately looked back down. Not a word.
Dinner was agony. Nonna chattered away, trying to bridge the gap between us. Dante ate in silence. I pushed peas around my plate.
Then, out of nowhere, he stopped. He set his fork down and looked at me.
“Do you have time later? I need to talk to you about something p>
My heart did a stupid, painful lurch. Hope. I hated it.
I kept my voice flat. “Alright p>
Nonna smiled, her eyes crinkling. She thought it was happening. The talk. The fix.
If only she knew.
After dinner, Nonna bustled off to get my medicine, the bitter sludge Dr. Stanley prescribed. Dante stood up, his phone already to his ear. “I have to take this p>
He walked out onto the terrace, sliding the glass door shut.
I drank the medicine. It tasted awful. I set the bowl down, ready to go upstairs and wait for him, when I heard the low rumble of an engine. Headlights cutting through the trees.
I paused in the doorway. “He’s leaving p>
Nonna came up behind me, her face falling. “Yes. He said it was urgent. Left in such a rush. I don’t even know what he’s off to do p>
I did. I knew exactly what was so urgent. She was urgent.
He’d asked to talk to me. He’d looked me in the eye and asked for my time.
And then he left.
I stood there, staring at the empty driveway, the taillights disappearing into the dark. I waited for an hour. Then two.
He didn’t come back.
The next morning, the routine was a nightmare. Breakfast at the old house. Then the car to Wilson Tech.
Johnny was waiting at the entrance, looking like he hadn’t slept.
“Morning,” he grunted.
We walked in. Sienna’s team was already there, huddled around a whiteboard. They looked wrecked, pale, messy hair, eyes bloodshot but they were moving.
Johnny nodded toward them. “So early? I thought they were pulling an all-nighter p>
“They were,” the General Manager said, passing by with a stack of files. He looked exhausted. “But to catch up with the schedule, we had to come in early. We’re really pushing it p>
Pushing it for her. I knew it.
We got to work. I buried myself in the code. It was safer there.
About an hour later, my bladder was screaming. I was about to get up, to walk to the restroom and splash some cold water on my face, when the office doors opened.
Dante walked in.
For the first time in months, he didn’t seem to be here for Sienna.
He walked in, scanned the room, and actually greeted Sienna from a distance before turning his attention toward us. Toward me.
Johnny tensed up beside me. “Wilson,” he said, his voice guarded. “Is there something we can help you with p>
Dante stopped at our desks. He looked… professional. Calm. “I’ve had some time these past couple of days to learn about the system you’ve developed,” he said, his tone even. “It looks impressive. However, I still have a few ideas I’d like to discuss with both of you p>
Ideas. Right.
Johnny glanced at me, looking for an exit strategy. I just wanted to disappear.
“Sorry,” I said, my voice sounding hollow even to my own ears. “I need to use the restroom. Please go ahead p>
I didn’t wait for a reply. I just stood up and walked away, my back straight, refusing to run.
The restroom was cold. I splashed water on my face, staring at my reflection in the mirror. *Get it together, Elodie. He’s just talking shop. It means nothing p>
I dried my hands slowly, buying time. When I finally opened the door and stepped back into the hallway, I was only a few steps away from the open-plan office when a sharp cry pierced the air.
“Director Brown p>
Then came the sound of a crash. A commotion.
I turned my head, but before I could even focus, I saw Dante’s face change.
The calm mask shattered. His eyes went wide, and he moved.
He didn’t walk. He bolted.
He sprinted toward the meeting room, and in his haste, he didn’t even see me standing there. His shoulder slammed into mine, hard.
The impact was jarring. A shockwave of pain radiated down my arm, and I stumbled sideways, my breath leaving me in a gasp.
“Hey!” Johnny was there in an instant, his hand shooting out to steady me before I hit the floor. “You alright p>
I clutched my shoulder, wincing. The spot where Dante hit me was already throbbing. “I’m fine,” I lied.
I looked up just in time to see Dante disappear into the meeting room.
Two seconds later, he emerged.
And he was holding Sienna.
She was limp in his arms, her head resting against his chest. He wasn’t walking, he was carrying her, his face buried in her hair, murmuring something I couldn’t hear.
They vanished down the hallway toward the elevators.
The entire office was silent.
The General Manager cleared his throat, looking flustered. “What… what happened to Director Brown p>
One of Sienna’s assistants peeked out. “She fainted,” he whispered. “I think she’s been overworking and got exhausted p>
Exhausted.
I looked at Johnny. His face was dark. Thunderous. He was staring at the empty hallway where Dante had disappeared, his jaw clenched so tight I thought his teeth might crack.
“She won’t be worked to death,” Johnny gritted out, his voice low and vicious.
The GM hesitated, sweating. “John… Wilson is just really worried about Director Brown. You don’t need to p>
“Shut up,” Johnny snapped.
The GM clamped his mouth shut.
I rubbed my shoulder, trying to massage the ache away. It didn’t really hurt that much. Not physically. It was just… a bruise. Another one.
Seeing how furious Johnny was, I managed a small, tired smile. “It’s not serious,” I said quietly. “Doesn’t hurt much anymore p>
Johnny looked back at me, his eyes still blazing. “Should we go home and rest for a while p>
I shook my head. I patted his arm. “I’m not that fragile, Johnny. Let’s continue working p>
He let out a breath, subdued but still angry. “Mm p>
He sat back down, but he didn’t open his laptop. He just stared at the screen, his fingers hovering over the keys. After a long silence, he asked the question I’d been avoiding for three months.
“It’s been a while since you filed for divorce,” he said, not looking at me. “Why hasn’t it been finalized p>