Chapter 16: Victoria’s Schemes Begin

Chapter 16: Victoria's Schemes Begin

Elena was in the middle of reviewing inventory when the door to her boutique swung open. She barely looked up—Lisa was handling customers today—but something in the air shifted. A presence. Familiar and unwelcome.

"Elena."

The sickly sweet lilt of Victoria's voice made Elena's spine stiffen. She exhaled slowly before looking up. There stood Victoria Marcus, draped in an effortlessly chic white ensemble, the picture of practiced grace. But her eyes held nothing but veiled malice.

Elena met her gaze coolly. "Victoria. To what do I owe this pleasure?"

Victoria stepped further inside, her heels clicking against the polished floors as she feigned interest in a nearby display of evening gowns. "I was in the area and thought I'd stop by. Your little store is… quaint."

Elena's smile didn't waver. "And yet, it has more class in one square foot than you have in your entire existence."

Victoria chuckled, tilting her head as if amused. "Still as feisty as ever. I can see why Jason is entertained."

Elena folded her arms. "If you came here to trade empty barbs, I'm busy."

Victoria sighed dramatically, running her fingers along a silk dress before turning back to Elena. "I just wanted to offer a bit of… insight. Woman to woman."

Elena arched a brow. "That would require mutual respect, which we don't have."

Victoria ignored her. "Jason has a habit of keeping women exactly where he wants them. But you already know that, don't you?"

Elena clenched her jaw. She wouldn't take the bait.

Victoria leaned in slightly, her voice lowering conspiratorially. "He was with me last night."

Elena's fingers curled against her arms, but her expression remained unreadable. "Really? I don't recall him mentioning irrelevant events."

Victoria smirked. "We ran into each other. He didn't tell you? Funny, considering how possessive he is. We had a long… conversation."

A flicker of something unsettled deep in Elena's chest. She shouldn't care. Jason was free to do whatever he wanted once their contract ended. This wasn't a real marriage. But that didn't stop the unease from settling in.

Victoria, sensing the crack, pressed on. "You know how Jason is. He gets bored so easily. You're his amusement now, but let's be honest—once this little arrangement is over, do you really think you'll matter?"

Elena let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head. "You must be exhausted from all this reaching, Victoria. What exactly are you hoping for? That I'll break down in a jealous rage? Please."

Victoria's smirk faltered just a fraction. "Oh, sweetheart, I don't need to do anything. Jason's history speaks for itself."

Elena refused to give her the satisfaction of a reaction. Instead, she smiled. "Well, if he's so predictable, then I suppose that makes you the fool for still chasing after him."

Victoria's eyes flashed with irritation, but she quickly masked it. "Enjoy your temporary title while it lasts, Elena. When it's over, you'll realize you were never really part of his world."

She turned on her heel and left, the boutique door swinging shut behind her.

Elena exhaled slowly, rolling her shoulders back. It doesn't matter. Victoria was grasping at straws, and Jason's personal life outside of their arrangement was none of her concern.

So why was she standing here, fuming?

An Unexpected Confrontation

Later that evening, when Elena arrived back at the penthouse, Jason was already there, shrugging off his jacket. His expression was unreadable, but he paused when he saw her standing just inside the doorway, arms crossed.

"Elena."

She didn't return his greeting. Instead, she studied him for a long moment, weighing her next words. "Victoria stopped by my boutique today."

Jason's features darkened instantly. "What did she say?"

"She claims she saw you last night. Had a 'long conversation' with you." Elena's voice was neutral, but something in her stomach churned at the memory of Victoria's smug expression. "Is it true?"

Jason's jaw ticked. "She ran into me at an event. It wasn't a conversation—it was a nuisance."

Elena nodded slowly, her expression impassive. "And you didn't think to mention it?"

Jason exhaled, rubbing a hand over his face. "Because it was irrelevant."

She let out a short, humorless laugh. "Funny. She seemed to think otherwise."

Jason stepped closer, his gaze sharp. "If I wanted Victoria, I wouldn't have married you."

Elena's breath hitched slightly. His voice was low, certain. There was no hesitation in his words.

She swallowed, suddenly feeling foolish for even entertaining Victoria's games. Why had it bothered her so much? Why did she care?

She forced herself to hold his gaze. "Then why didn't you shut her down immediately?"

Jason's jaw tightened. "Because some things aren't worth my time. And I thought you knew better than to believe her lies."

Elena hated how her heart twisted at his words. Was that what truly bothered her? That she'd doubted him, even for a second?

She looked away. "I don't expect anything from you, Jason. This is a contract. A temporary arrangement."

His gaze darkened, his voice quiet but firm. "Then why are you acting like it's something more?"

The words settled between them like a challenge, like a truth neither of them wanted to acknowledge. Elena could feel the heat of his stare, the weight of something unspoken between them.

She took a slow breath, forcing herself to regain control. "You're right. It doesn't matter."

Jason studied her for a long moment before nodding. But there was something unreadable in his expression—something almost… disappointed.

Elena turned on her heel, walking away before she let herself think too much about what had just transpired.

But as she closed the door behind her, one thought refused to leave her mind:

If it didn't matter… then why did it feel like it did?