Chapter 47
Chapter 47
~Elara’s POV
When we got back to the office, Darlon walked me to my office…then he stopped.
He touched the edge of the frame lightly, like he didn’t want to distract me too much.
“I’ll be in my office,” he said.
I nodded. “Okay p>
He hesitated. “If you need anything, call me p>
“I will p>
Then he left.
I watched his back for a moment, wondering why my chest felt warm. Maybe because he had defended me inside that boardroom. Maybe because he had stayed close enough for me to breathe.
I shook my head and slipped inside.
“Okay, work,” I muttered to myself.
I sat down and brought out my sketchpad and tablet. The designs were all over my head.
I didn’t even realise how fast time was passing. My hand kept moving, drawing, erasing, drawing again.
“Maybe a softer curve here… no, that looks weird p>
I whispered to myself as I worked.
I didn’t know how long I stayed that way until I heard:
“Elara p>
I looked up sharply.
Darlon was at the door.
“It’s time to go home,” he said with that serious face that always hid his warmth.
“Oh… already p>
“Yes.” He raised a brow. “You didn’t hear me the first two times p>
“I didn’t?” I blinked. “Sorry… I was… working p>
“I noticed,” he said, sounding almost amused.
We walked out together, his steps slow enough for me to keep up. He opened the passenger door for me. I entered, still clutching my sketchpad.
He got in, started the car, and we drove.
When we reached home, the guards and maids bowed the moment they saw us.
“Welcome, Alpha. Welcome, Luna p>
My cheeks warmed at that title every single time.
Inside, we went straight into his room. I still wasn’t used to it… stepping into a room that smelled like him, filled with his presence. My heart always reacted before my brain.
He didn’t say anything, though. He just took off his jacket, dropped it, and then walked into the bathroom.
Seconds later, the shower came on.
I stared at the door.
“Calm down, Elara,” I whispered.
But honestly… how was I supposed to be calm when I was sharing a room with him?
When he came out, his hair was wet and pushed back, a towel around his waist. My stomach tightened, and I quickly looked away before he caught me staring.
“You can shower,” he said, drying his hair with another towel.
“Okay… I will p>
Inside the bathroom, I took longer than usual. I think I was trying to steady myself. When I came out, I quickly changed into something simple and sat on the bed with my designs again.
He raised a brow. “You’re working p>
“Yes… I just want to perfect everything,” I said. “I don’t want to mess up p>
“You won’t mess up p>
“I think I might p>
“You won’t p>
“But p>
“Elara.” His voice softened. “Why do you think you’ll mess up p>
“I… I just know,” I whispered. “I’ve never handled anything like this p>
He shook his head gently. “Don’t carry that fear in your mind. You will do well. And if something goes wrong, it’s part of learning. Not a failure p>
I stared at him. Really stared. Something in me melted… slowly… helplessly.
Is this how people start falling in love?
His lips curved slightly, like he could read my mind.
“Put the designs aside,” he said quietly. “Continue tomorrow. Focus on your food now p>
“Okay p>
Dinner was served downstairs, and I carried the designs with me again without thinking. When he saw that, he actually laughed.
“Really p>
“I’m sorry,” I said with a small smile. “I just… don’t want to get anything wrong p>
“You won’t. Now eat p>
We ate mostly in silence. Comfortable silence. Now and then, I felt his eyes on me, and my heart would jump a little. After dinner, we went back upstairs.
We slept on the same bed again. At first, I stayed on my side, stiff like a statue. But slowly, as the night grew quiet, I relaxed. His breathing was steady. I don’t know when I fell asleep.
The next morning, we both showered again. I opened my closet, and picked a gown… body-hugging… a bit more defined on the waist.
When I stepped out, he froze.
His eyes ran from my shoulders to my waist to my thighs.
“What?” I asked, confused.
“You look he stopped, then said it plainly. “Wow p>
I blinked. “No, no… my figure is not p>
“Elara,” he said firmly. “Your figure is perfect. Your shape is perfect. You are well endowed! So stop hiding it p>
I felt heat rush to my cheeks.
Why was he suddenly doing this to me?
A soft smile crept onto my lips before I even realised it.
After breakfast, we went to work together again. I was settling down to start the day when my phone rang.
“Hello p>
“Miss Elara, please… we need you at Blueberries company for the designs p>
“Oh. Okay p>
Darlon walked into my office at that exact moment.
I lowered the phone. “They said I need to come over for the designs p>
His expression changed instantly.
“Give me the phone p>
I handed it to him, confused.
He raised it to his ear.
“This is Alpha Darlon. My wife is not going to the Blueberries company. If they need her, they should come to her. Goodbye p>
Then he hung up.
I blinked at him. “You… you didn’t have to p>
“Yes,” he said simply. “I did p>
I didn’t know what to say, so I just smiled a little.
Not long after, Lira and Ronan arrived for the meeting.
A few minutes after the meeting commenced, Ronan immediately moved to sit beside me. “Elara… you look stunning today p>
I forced a polite smile. “Thank you… But can we focus on work, please p>
He leaned closer. “Of course. But you look p>
“Ronan,” I said gently. “Please p>
Before he could say anything, Lira scoffed loudly.
“Please be grateful he’s even looking at you,” she said. “With that amoeba shape p>
My breath caught in my chest. It stung. I swallowed, trying to hold myself together.
Ronan blinked, surprised. “Lira… what’s wrong with you p>
She folded her arms, side-eyeing me like I had personally offended her existence. “Nothing is wrong with me. I’m just saying the truth. Look at her. And look at you. It doesn’t match p>
I sat there quietly, hoping the ground would just open up and swallow me a little. Not completely. Just enough so I wouldn’t have to sit here listening to this.
“I… I didn’t ask him to look at me,” I murmured, almost under my breath.
Lira rolled her eyes. “Exactly. Because you know you don’t have anything worth looking at p>
I felt the sting move from my chest to my throat. There was a part of me that wanted to shrink… like I used to. Back when any small insult would fold me in half.
But I had changed a bit, I think.
Still, my voice wasn’t strong when I spoke. “We’re here to work. Can we please just… do that p>
Ronan sat up straighter, his jaw tightening. “You don’t talk to her like that p>
“Oh, please,” Lira muttered. “Stop pretending you’re some gentleman. You’ve flirted with me. Elara should even thank the moon that you’re sparing her any attention at all p>
I swallowed again. My hand found my pen and gripped it harder than necessary, probably to stop myself from shaking. I didn’t want to show how the comment burrowed under my ribs.
Ronan turned fully to her. “What is your problem today p>
Before I could respond, Darlon opened the door.
His eyes swept the room once. Then they stopped on Lira.
And his voice dropped, low and dangerous.
“What did you just say to my wife p>