Chapter Ten: Small gestures,big meanings
Elena woke up tired,not from lack of sleep. Just… heavy.
Some days felt like that. Like she was dragging pieces of herself through the morning.
She dragged to the kitchen, made coffee,walked back to the room and sat on the edge of the bed. Let the quiet settle.
Then she got up.
And kept moving.
---
Aiden didn't say good morning.
He was already on the phone when she walked into the kitchen. His laptop open. Suit half on.
She didn't say anything either.
Just grabbed a banana, poured a glass of water, and walked out.
Small things.
But they felt big.
---
Later, his assistant called her.
"There's a fundraiser Thursday. They're expecting you." He voice rang out,quiet,confident and professional.
Elena paused. "Did Aiden say that?" She asked looking up at nothing with her brows wrinkled.
"No, ma'am. The organizers did."
She waited a beat. "Tell them I'll get back to them."
Then hung up.
She didn't ask for permission.She wasn't going out of spite.
She just… wasn't sure she wanted to be seen next to him right now.
She was going for her.
And she wanted him to see that.
---
That night, he brought it up.
"You're not going to the fundraiser?"
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't RSVP."
She looked at him from across the room. "I don't jump when people call."
His jaw worked. "It's important." he breathed out slowly "as my wife,you should honour the invitation to the fundraiser"
"Then you go."she said simply like the answer was so clear and he was dumb for not seeing it
"Elena—" He sighed heavily
"I'll go if I feel like it." She cut him off
Silence.
And then: "You used to be more agreeable."
She met his eyes. "You used to be less cold."
That shut him up.
Who would have thought the great Aiden Black would have no words back??
Small wins…..
---
The next morning, flowers showed up at the penthouse.
White tulips. Her favorite.
No note.Just a card from the florist with her name on it.
She didn't ask.
She didn't need to,But when she walked past Aiden that afternoon, she said, "Thanks for the flowers."
He looked up from his laptop. "Who said they were from me?"he asked trying very hard to hide the look on his face,but his eyes were bright.
She kept walking. "You did." She teased…..
And for once, he didn't have anything smart to say.
And she smirked,enjoying the last words.
---
That night, she watched a movie alone in the living room.Something light. Quiet.Not erotic or action. Something like her,quiet, understated.
Aiden walked in halfway through,paused in the doorway,then sat on the other end of the couch.
Didn't say a word,not asking for the movie title or trying to make small conversations. He didn't try to take over.
Just watched with her.
Half an hour passed like that.
No words.
But it didn't feel empty. It felt meaningful.
---
Before bed, she stopped in the hallway.
Turned to him.
"Are you trying?"She asked without anymore words or elaboration,but he understood.
He looked at her. Honest. Tired. "I don't know how."
She nodded once. "Figure it out."
Then walked into her room…