Chapter 12: Trapped in the Dark

Chapter 12: Trapped in the Dark

The drive had been long, the storm relentless. This trip hadn't been part of the original plan, but an urgent business meeting had demanded Jason's presence. With the merger at stake, every move mattered. And as his wife—whether she liked it or not—Elena was expected to be by his side. What was supposed to be a quick business trip had turned into an unexpected detour when their private flight was forced to land in a small city due to worsening weather conditions.

Jason had been silent most of the drive, focused on his phone, while Elena stared out the window, her thoughts still lingering on the investor dinner. She had proven herself that night—not just to the investors, but to Jason as well. And while she had no intention of seeking his approval, she couldn't ignore the subtle shift between them since that moment on the terrace. The way he had looked at her. The way he had touched her, however fleetingly. It had left an imprint, one she couldn't ignore.

"The next flight out isn't until morning," Jason finally said, slipping his phone back into his pocket. "We'll stay here for the night."

Elena exhaled, already knowing what that meant. "Where?"

The moment they arrived at the only luxury hotel in town, she knew fate had a cruel sense of humor.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Sinclair," the receptionist said with a polite but apologetic smile. "Due to the storm, we're fully booked—except for one suite."

Jason turned to her with a knowing smirk. "Standard practice for us, isn't it?"

Elena offered him a tight smile, playing her role in front of the staff. "Of course, darling. We always do."

At dinner earlier, Jason had controlled the narrative. Now, in the suite, Elena could feel the weight of his presence settling over the space. The room was opulent, intimate, unavoidable. A reminder of just how tangled their lives had become.

She placed her purse on the vanity and walked toward the seating area, keeping her movements measured, composed. She was used to luxury, but sharing this space with Jason felt too close, too exposed.

Jason unbuttoned the cuffs of his shirt, rolling them up as he poured himself a drink. "You're awfully quiet. Not plotting your escape, are you?"

Elena shot him a look. "Why would I? I'm exactly where I agreed to be."

He chuckled, taking a slow sip. "That almost sounded convincing."

She ignored him, instead stepping toward the large window overlooking the storm-soaked city. The wind howled, the rain relentless.

Then, suddenly, the lights went out.

A Sudden Blackout & Unspoken Truths

The suite plunged into darkness. Elena's breath hitched as she turned, blinking into the void.

"Jason?"

"Relax," his voice came from across the room, calm despite the unexpected shift. "Stay there. I'll find the emergency lights."

A few moments later, the warm flicker of candlelight illuminated the space. Jason set the candles down, casting long shadows across the room.

"Looks like we're stuck in the dark together," he mused, pouring another drink.

Elena folded her arms. "How poetic."

Jason studied her, something unreadable in his expression. "You always deflect when you're uncomfortable."

She scoffed. "And you always analyze people like you're solving a puzzle."

He smirked. "Only when the puzzle is interesting."

The blackout left them with nothing but silence and candlelight. The usual tension between them had shifted—not a battle for dominance, but something unspoken, fragile.

Jason leaned against the table, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. "When I was seventeen, I trusted the wrong person. And it cost me everything."

Elena stilled. Jason never spoke about his past.

She didn't push, didn't break the moment. Instead, she lowered herself onto the couch, her voice softer than before. "What happened?"

His gaze flickered toward the rain-laced window. "Let's just say I learned the hard way that power is the only thing you can rely on."

She knew that lesson all too well. Her own father's downfall had been proof of that.

"So that's why you are the way you are," she murmured.

Jason exhaled a quiet laugh. "And here I thought you had me all figured out."

Elena hesitated, then said, "No. But I'm starting to."

The air felt heavier now. Not with hostility, but with something neither of them wanted to name.

Jason watched her carefully, as if gauging how much she could see through him. And Elena—against all logic, against all sense—felt herself drawn in.

"You confuse me, Elena," Jason admitted, his voice low.

She swallowed, pulse unsteady. "Good. You deserve to be confused for once."

His lips quirked, but his gaze never left hers.

Then, without thinking, Jason reached out—a mere brush of his fingers against hers. The contact was brief, yet it sent a current through her veins.

Neither of them moved.

The candlelight flickered, the world outside drowned in rain. For a single breath, it felt like something was about to shift between them.

And then—

A loud crash of thunder rattled the windows, shattering whatever spell had settled between them.

The lights flickered back on.

Elena exhaled sharply, suddenly hyper-aware of just how close they had been. Jason didn't move, but something had changed—something neither of them was ready to confront.

She stood abruptly, smoothing the fabric of her dress. "I'm going to bed."

Jason remained silent, watching her with an expression she couldn't decipher.

But as Elena lay awake in the darkened room, staring at the ceiling, one thought refused to leave her mind.

Hating Jason Sinclair had always been easy.

Until tonight.