Chapter 16: A Brewing Storm (1/2)

**Elena's POV**

As I walked out of the café, the night air felt heavy with tension. The conversation with David replayed in my mind on a loop, each word laced with malice. His cold, determined eyes bore into me, making it impossible to shake off the lingering dread. I couldn't ignore the gravity of his threats any longer. David wasn't just angry—he was vengeful, and that made him dangerous.

I made my way back to my apartment, my mind racing. Every instinct told me to keep Sienna as far away from David as possible, but how could I do that without raising her suspicions? I needed to protect her, even if it meant distancing myself from her. The thought alone was unbearable, but I couldn't afford to be selfish.

When I finally reached my apartment, I was met with a comforting sight—Sienna was sitting on the couch, a soft blanket draped over her as she flipped through the channels on the TV. Her presence grounded me, even as the storm inside me raged on.

She looked up as I entered, her face lighting up with a smile that made my heart ache. "Hey, you're home," she said, her voice warm and inviting. "I made some tea. Thought you might need it."

I forced a smile and nodded, trying to push away the dark thoughts clouding my mind. "Thanks, Sienna. I could use some."

She patted the spot next to her on the couch, and I hesitated for a moment before joining her. She handed me a cup of tea, and I took a sip, the warmth soothing my nerves a little. But the conversation with David hung over me like a shadow.

"How was your day?" she asked, her tone casual, but I could sense the underlying concern.

"It was... eventful," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "Had a bit of a run-in with Victor, but nothing we can't handle."

Sienna frowned, setting her tea down on the table. "Elena, you know you don't have to do this alone, right? We're a team. I'm here for you."

Her words were a balm to my frayed nerves, but they also made me feel incredibly guilty. She had no idea the lengths I would have to go to in order to protect her—from Victor, from David, and even from myself.

"I know," I said softly, my eyes meeting hers. "I just... I need you to be careful, Sienna. Victor is getting more aggressive, and I don't want you caught in the crossfire."

Her frown deepened, and she reached out to take my hand. "Elena, you're scaring me. What happened today?"

I hesitated, unsure of how much to tell her. She deserved to know the truth, but I couldn't bring myself to burden her with the full weight of what I was dealing with.

"Victor's been tampering with the project," I admitted. "And I confronted him about it today. I think he's planning something, and I don't know how far he's willing to go."

Sienna squeezed my hand, her expression determined. "Then we'll stop him. We'll figure this out together."

I looked at her, my heart swelling with a mix of love and fear. She was so strong, so unwavering in her support, and it only made me want to protect her more.

But before I could respond, my phone buzzed, cutting through the tension. I pulled it out of my pocket, and my heart sank when I saw the message.

*We're not done yet, Elena. This is just the beginning.*

—David

I stared at the screen, my stomach twisting into knots. Sienna noticed my reaction and leaned closer to see the message. Her eyes widened, and she looked at me with alarm.

"Elena, what is this? Who's David?"

I swallowed hard, knowing there was no way to avoid this conversation now. "He's... he's someone I used to be involved with. Things ended badly, and now he's trying to make my life difficult."

Sienna's eyes searched mine, concern etched on her face. "Is he dangerous?"

I hesitated before answering, not wanting to scare her. But I couldn't lie to her either. "He can be. And I think he's starting to lose control."

Her grip on my hand tightened. "Elena, you need to tell me everything. If he's threatening you, we need to go to the police."

I shook my head, my mind racing. "No, going to the police would only escalate things. David has a way of making himself look like the victim. I need to handle this carefully."

Sienna opened her mouth to protest, but I cut her off. "Please, Sienna. I just need you to trust me on this. I'll deal with David. You focus on the project and staying safe."

She looked at me, her eyes filled with worry and frustration. "I don't like this, Elena. I don't like the idea of you facing this alone."

"I'm not alone," I assured her, reaching up to cup her cheek. "I have you. That's what keeps me going."

For a moment, we just sat there, the air between us thick with unspoken emotions. The tension between us had been building for weeks, and I could feel it all coming to a head. The way she looked at me, the way her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something more—it was all too much.

Before I could stop myself, I leaned in, closing the distance between us. Our lips were so close, I could feel her breath mingling with mine. My heart pounded in my chest, and every rational thought flew out the window.

But just as our lips were about to touch, my phone buzzed again, breaking the moment. I pulled back, my face flushing with a mix of frustration and embarrassment. Sienna looked just as flustered, her cheeks tinged with pink as she quickly looked away.

I glanced at my phone, half-expecting another message from David, but it was a notification about a late-night meeting with one of our clients. The timing couldn't have been worse.

"I—I should take this," I stammered, my voice thick with emotion. "It's important."

Sienna nodded, her eyes downcast. "Of course. Go ahead."

I stood up, putting some distance between us as I answered the call. But my mind was still on her, on the kiss that almost happened. On the fact that I had let myself get so close to her when I knew how dangerous it was.

As I spoke to the client, I watched Sienna from the corner of my eye. She was still sitting on the couch, her hands clenched into fists as she stared at the floor. I wanted to go to her, to reassure her that everything would be okay, but I couldn't. Not when I was the one putting her in danger.

When the call ended, I turned back to her, my heart heavy with regret. "Sienna, I—"

"It's okay, Elena," she said quickly, cutting me off. "I get it. You have a lot on your plate right now."

Her words were kind, but there was an edge to her voice that told me she was hurt. And that made it hurt even more.

"Let's just focus on the project," she added, standing up and heading for the door. "We'll figure out the rest later."

I watched her go, my chest tightening with a mix of guilt and longing. I knew I needed to keep my distance, to protect her from the mess that was my life. But every time I looked at her, all I wanted was to pull her closer.

As the door closed behind her, I sank back onto the couch, burying my face in my hands. The storm was closing in, and I wasn't sure how much longer I could hold it at bay.

**Victor's POV**

The next morning, I walked into the office with a spring in my step. My little run-in with Elena yesterday had gone exactly as planned. She was on edge, and that was exactly where I wanted her.

I had known for a while that Elena was getting too comfortable, too complacent in her position. It was time to remind her who really held the power around here. And with David in the picture, things were about to get even more interesting.

As I made my way to my office, I noticed Sienna sitting at her desk, her expression unusually tense. That was new. She was usually all smiles and cheer, a ray of sunshine in an otherwise dreary workplace.

Curious, I made a detour and stopped by her desk, leaning casually against the edge. "Morning, Sienna. Everything alright?"

She looked up at me, and I could see the hesitation in her eyes. "Morning, Victor. I'm fine, just… a lot on my mind, I guess."

"Anything I can help with?" I offered, knowing full well that she would never confide in me. Not when she was so clearly under Elena's spell.

She shook her head, forcing a smile. "No, it's just work stuff. Nothing I can't handle."

I nodded, pretending to accept her answer, but my mind was already working overtime. Something had definitely happened between her and Elena. Something that had put that lovely little frown on her face.

Interesting.

"Well, if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask," I said smoothly. "After all, we're all in this together."

Her smile was tight, and I could tell she was eager for me to leave. "Thanks, Victor. I'll keep that in mind."