Charming

The distance to Elena's studio apartment seemed tiresomely long. Anxiety had overtaken the overwhelmedness of seeing Theo after so long. She shouldn't have made such a drastic decision in the first place, and now cancelling the mission to Xuhetti Country felt like a mistake.

A huge one.

If only she’d waited just one more day. A frustrated sigh escaped her lips.

"Is there anything bothering you, Elena?" Theo asked, his voice gentle, breaking through her contemplative silence.

Elena decided not to dodge the issue. "There is," she admitted with a nod, her gaze fixed on a distant point.

"Come on, you can tell me, I probably can be a helping hand," he offered.

"Actually," she began, gathering her thoughts, "I need to retrieve something important from my old apartment…" Her voice trailed off as she avoided his gaze.

"Well, let's go then," Theo replied simply.

"But, my ex-boyfriend is living there now…"

The mere thought of encountering them filled her with dread. The memory of his betrayal was a festering wound, a constant reminder of the love she once believed was unshakeable.

To think of the intimacy they had shared—the laughter, the tears, the lovemaking—now felt like a twisted violation. Every item she owned in that apartment was tainted by infidelity. She longed to burn down the place, leaving nothing behind but ashes.

The vivid memory of that day flashed before her eyes. She had come home early, to surprise Tony.

The apartment was quiet, too quiet.

A strange sense of unease crept over her as she pushed open the bedroom door. The scene that unfolded before her was a betrayal etched into her memory forever. Tony was entwined with another woman, their bodies moving in a rhythm that was a stark contrast to the harmony they once shared. The sight of them, lost in their own world of pleasure, was a dagger to her heart. The idea of revisiting the apartment they had once shared was like reopening an old scar.

The memory clenched her heart tightly, and the lingering ache returned.

"Anything you need, I'm happy to help," Theo offered. "Perhaps a fair trade for letting me crash for the night?"

Elena's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Are you being serious?"

"Yes, absolutely, I am," he confirmed.

"How about you, you know, teleport in or turn invisible and grab my passport?" she suggested with a hint of sarcasm.

A chuckle escaped Theo's lips, briefly amused at Elena's request. "Can we keep it a little more... realistic?" he suggested.

"Then maybe you could, uh, beat him up while I get my stuff?" she offered, a glint of mischief in her eyes.

Theo's laughter erupted, unable to suppress his laughter anymore. In between stifled chuckles, he said, "While teleportation is certainly an option, causing a scene isn't my style. It would be messy and attract unwanted attention. Let me handle it discreetly. You lead the way." He extended a hand, expecting Elena to take him and lead the way.

After a moment's hesitation, Elena decided to accept his offer. She took his hand.

The flush on Elena's cheeks sent a jolt of unexpected pleasure through Theo. A small, satisfied smile crept across his face. He was certain she was the one.

⁕⁕⁕

They arrived at a modest apartment building, a typical urban dwelling. Elena pointed out her apartment, providing detailed instructions.

"It should be an easy job, then. I'll be quick," Theo promised.

As he watched him disappear inside, Elena found herself grappling with the absurdity of the situation.

First, she'd agreed to let a complete stranger into her home.

And secondly, he was a stranger who claimed to be from another dimension.

How crazy was she, really? It all hinged on Theo retrieving the passport without breaking into the house or confronting Tony.

Trouble arrived before she could fully process the situation. "Elena? You are here again?"

Without even turning around, she knew it was Tony.

"Damn you, Tony!" Elena silently fumed. "What does he mean, 'here I am again'?"

Tony swaggered into view, his arm casually draped around his new girlfriend. The smug smirk on his face was a stark contrast to the turmoil churning within Elena. His presence was a physical assault on her senses, a constant reminder of the betrayal she had endured.

In fact, how could she have been so blind to his deception? His charm, once intoxicating, now seemed shallow and manipulative.

Probably just the sweet talk and good looks, now that she thought about it.

Poor her.

She needed to buy time, to give Theo a chance to finish what he needed to do. Her mind raced, searching for a distraction.

"Is there any problem with me being on this very street, Tony?" Elena countered calmly.

"I'm just afraid you might get the wrong idea," Tony replied, his voice dripping with false concern. "I was about to explain everything, but you caught us off guard." His tone was devoid of remorse, as if the betrayal was merely a minor inconvenience.

"Just another episode of your dramatic soap opera, Tony," Elena retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. The urge to unleash a torrent of pent-up frustration was overwhelming, but she maintained her composure.

"Elena, my feelings for Samara are… inevitable," Tony began, his voice dripping with false sincerity as he pulled Samara closer.

Ah, tacky! At this moment, Elena wished that Theo had gone ahead and confronted him. He deserved a punch in the face!

Tony's attitude was consuming the last of Elena's patience.

"Baby, there you are." Theo's voice cut through the tension.

Theo's timely appearance from nowhere had saved her day after all.

"Hey, what took you so long?" Elena unexpectedly ran to his embrace, deciding to go along with her version of the drama.

"Long line, but I snagged your favourite pastries and fruit juice," Theo explained, holding up the paper bags to her.

"Sweet, thank you, love!" Elena beamed, turning to face Tony. "Just dropping by to show off my man, Tony," she said, her voice laced with defiance.

Tony's face contorted in annoyance. "Whoa, hold on a minute, you are fast," he sneered, his arm tightening around his girlfriend's waist. "Are you cheating on me all along, Elena?"

The accusation hung heavy in the air, a blatant attempt to shift the blame.

"Watch your words, boy. You were the one who strayed first." She retorted, her voice steady.

Theo's calm demeanour was a stark contrast to Tony's aggressive posturing. "Let's not make a scene," he said quietly, his voice carrying a low undertone of warning.

Elena couldn’t suppress a smirk as she witnessed the power dynamic shift. "Ah, Samara dear," she drawled, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "cheating is a choice, a cheap one at that."

"You—"

Tony's face flushed with anger, but he couldn’t find the right words to counter her.

"Elena, I hope you understand..." Tony began, his voice trailing off as he realised the futility of his attempt to regain control of the situation.

Theo’s arm found its way naturally around Elena’s waist, a protective gesture that sent a jolt of electricity through her. It was a silent declaration of ownership, a challenge to Tony.

"Let’s go, baby," Theo said, his voice firm.

As they turned to leave, Elena couldn’t resist one final glance at Tony. His expression was a mixture of anger and disbelief. She felt a strange sense of satisfaction.

The moment they were out of earshot, Elena turned to Theo. "Thank you," she breathed, relief washing over her.

Theo smiled, his eyes holding a warmth that was both comforting and exhilarating. "Anytime," he replied, squeezing her hand gently.

Theo’s demeanour had undergone a subtle shift. The seriousness that had marked their first encounter was replaced by a relaxed confidence that was both intriguing and reassuring. Elena found herself drawn to this new side of him.

Pushing aside the awkwardness, Elena asked, "As promised, did you get my passport?" Her voice was filled with a mixture of relief and anticipation.

Reaching into his pocket, Theo produced a pristine passport and handed it to her.

Elena's jaw dropped in astonishment. "Wow," she breathed, her voice filled with awe. "I… I should have gone with you."

Theo chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Perhaps next time," he replied, taking her hand. A surge of electricity shot through her at his touch. "Now, let's get you home and settle. We can discuss the details of this Xuhetti trip you mentioned."

A thrill of excitement coursed through Elena. With Theo by her side, she felt a sense of security and anticipation she hadn’t experienced in a long time.