Just as Alex ended the call with his mother, his phone buzzed again. He glanced at the screen, and a flicker of recognition passed through his eyes before he answered in his usual cool, composed tone.
"Hello, Elena. What's up?"
The voice on the other end was upbeat, almost expectant. "Alex, can you come with me to a friend's gathering tomorrow night? I don't have a partner, and it'll be awkward going alone."
Alex leaned back in his seat, eyes flicking to his digital calendar on the car's display. He hesitated a fraction of a second—just enough to be noticed—then replied with an apologetic hum.
"Uhh, sorry. I'm quite busy tomorrow. Meetings all day, and a follow-up inspection in the evening."
There was a pause. Elena's voice came back, quieter and clearly disappointed. "Ugh, fine. I'll manage."
Before he could respond, the call ended.
---
Elena's POV – That Evening
Inside a grand, tastefully decorated mansion nestled in the hills, Elena tossed her phone onto the velvet cushion beside her with a quiet huff. Her fingers drummed impatiently on the armrest of the antique settee, her expression a mix of frustration and stubborn affection.
Sitting across from her was her elegant mother, Sarah Devereux, draped in pearls and calm wisdom. She sipped her evening tea, watching her daughter with the knowing gaze only a mother could offer.
"He rejected me again," Elena said, exasperated. "Seriously, can't he appreciate that a beautiful, intelligent girl is inviting him out?"
Sarah set her cup down delicately. "Honey, you need to take it slow. Don't rush things. You know how Alex is—he's always been a little shy with girls."
Elena scoffed, folding her arms. "Shy? Seriously? That man walks into a boardroom like he owns the galaxy. I didn't see any of that shyness when we were in school."
Sarah smiled faintly. "Maybe not, but Alex has always kept his emotions tucked away. You know that better than anyone."
Elena looked out the tall window beside her, watching the soft glow of the garden lanterns flicker in the evening breeze. Her expression softened, but the longing in her eyes remained.
Their families had been close for generations—business partners, trusted allies, almost like royalty in their circles. It was no secret that many saw Elena and Alex as the perfect match. Beautiful, refined, and equally bred in the world of luxury and legacy.
But for Elena, it wasn't about status.
It never had been.
She hadn't always been the polished, graceful woman people saw now. Back in school, she'd been a tomboy through and through—wilful, brash, and unapologetically bold. The kind of girl who climbed trees in designer boots, raced motorbikes after class, and challenged the boys to football during lunch breaks. She was spoiled, confident, and never cared what anyone thought.
Until that fateful day.
It was during a casual school festival, tucked behind the auditorium, that she'd overheard Alex talking to a friend—his voice cool, thoughtful as always.
"I admire girls who are calm... elegant. Someone who carries herself with grace."
He hadn't known she was there. But those words had struck Elena like lightning.
She didn't change overnight, but from that day on, something shifted. She began paying attention to the way she spoke, walked, dressed. She traded her denim jackets for silk blouses, her loud swagger for quiet confidence. People thought it was just her maturing—but deep down, she knew the truth.
She'd wanted to become the kind of girl Alex might turn to.
And now, all these years later, as she sat in her family's gilded sitting room—elegant, composed, and admired by high society—she couldn't help but wonder if he'd ever truly noticed.
Not just the girl she had become.
But the girl who had changed for him.
She'd been in love with him since school—since the moment he held the door open for her with a rare smile that made her heart skip. She had followed him to study abroad, enrolled in the same university, tracked his lectures, noted his favorite coffee spots, remembered what music calmed him after long days.
She knew his schedules. His likes and dislikes. His moods. His silences.
If there was anyone who knew Alex Walton best, it was Elena Devereux.
But even now, after all those years… he still didn't look at her the way she looked at him.
Not yet.
But Elena wasn't about to give up. She believed with all her heart that if anyone was worthy to stand beside Alex and share his burdens, it was her—Elena Devereux. No one else deserved him. She had felt this way from the very start, back in their college days when it seemed like every girl was falling over themselves for a chance to be near him.
Tall, rich, impossibly handsome, and naturally charismatic—Alex Walton was the dream. Girls flocked to him like moths to a flame. But unlike them, Elena wasn't dazzled. She was determined.
And if any clueless girl ever dared to step too close, Elena would be the first to warn her. She wasn't just another admirer. She had already claimed a place by his side in her heart—and she wasn't about to let anyone steal that future away.