Chapter 20: Elena’s Growing Suspicion

The plan was simple: Candace, Stern’s mistress, was unhappy. She had been his secret for three years, and she was tired of waiting for him to leave his wife. If they could offer her something Stern couldn’t—independence, a future—she might be willing to help.

Elena volunteered to talk to her.

“I know what it’s like to be kept in the shadows,” she said. “She’ll trust me.”

Julian wanted to argue. He wanted to protect her.

“Be careful,” he said.

“I’m always careful.”

She went to meet Candace at a coffee shop near the office. Julian waited in his car, watching through the window.

The conversation lasted an hour. Elena did most of the listening. Candace did most of the crying.

When Elena came back to the car, her face was pale.

“She’ll help us,” Elena said. “On one condition.”

“What condition?”

“She wants a job. A real job. Somewhere Stern can’t touch her.”

“Then hire her.”

“I also wants to know who you really are. I don’t believe you’re just an assistant.”

Julian’s stomach tightened. “What did you tell her?”

“I told her the truth. That I don’t know who you are either.”

They sat in silence.

“Jay,” Elena said, “I ran a background check on you. On Jay. There’s nothing. No records before two years ago. No social media. No digital footprint. It’s like you were born the day you walked into my office.”

“I wasn’t.”

“Then prove it. Tell me who you are.”

Julian took a breath. This was it. The moment he had been dreading.

“My name is Julian Vane,” he said. “I’m the CEO of this company. I’ve been in disguise since the day we met because I wanted to see the truth about VaneTech. And I stayed because I fell in love with you.”

Elena stared at him. Her face was unreadable.

“Julian Vane,” she repeated. “The man who was supposed to be on sabbatical.”

“Yes.”

“The man who owns the company I’m trying to save.”

“Yes.”

“The man who lied to me every single day.”

Julian didn’t answer. There was nothing to say.

Elena opened the car door.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“To find the truth,” she said. “By myself.”

She walked away.

Julian watched her go, and for the first time in his life, he had no idea what to do next.