CHAPTER 41: CHAPTER-41. (BE THE STRONG ONE).

After Caroline told me the whole story, I called a cab for her. I, too, insisted on going with her, but she refused. At one point, I felt relief that I still had time to make it to my meeting, and on the other hand, I felt like a total selfish loser who only cared about herself.

Caroline somehow knew what I was thinking and tried to lessen my guilt as she consoled me, "Hey, it’s not your fault. I was the one who hid things."

Her consoling did the total opposite thing.

Instead of decreasing my guilt, it grew more. I gulped down the lump formed in my throat and tried to reply in my hoarse voice, "But I am your friend. I should have known."

I took a deep breath, almost losing my composure. My eyes started to burn like crazy.

Caroline reached forward and grabbed my hand across the table. Her grip was warm, firm, and desperate. "Stop blaming yourself, okay? You already have enough going on. I didn’t want to dump my mess on you too."

Her words stung more than she realized. Dump. As if her pain was some garbage bag I wasn’t strong enough to carry.

God, that made me feel worse. My chest tightened, and I had to blink fast before the tears actually spilled out.

I gave her a wobbly smile, my lips trembling. "You idiot. You think I wouldn’t have listened? That I wouldn’t have dropped everything to be there for you?"

My voice cracked on the last part, and I had to look away before I completely broke down right in front of her.

She squeezed my hand harder, her eyes soft but tired. "You’re here now. That’s what matters."

That sentence hit me straight in the gut. Here now. But what about before? What about all those times she needed someone and didn’t call me because she thought I was too wrapped up in my mess of a life?

I bit my lip so hard I almost tasted blood, forcing myself to nod. "Fine. But promise me something."

Caroline tilted her head, waiting.

"Next time—no matter what, no matter how bad—don’t shut me out. Don’t decide for me what I can handle. I’m not that fragile." My voice shook, but I meant every damn word.

For a moment, she just stared at me, like she was weighing if she could actually do that. Then she let out a small, broken laugh and whispered, "Okay. I promise."

And that was it. My wall cracked. I leaned forward and hugged her tight, probably tighter than she wanted, but I didn’t care. My throat burned, my nose stung, and I muttered into her hair, "I’m sorry. I should’ve been there."

Caroline didn’t say anything back, but her arms wrapped around me, and for once, she let me be the strong one.

Caroline wiped her eyes and forced a tiny smile. "Go. I will be fine."

I opened my mouth to argue, but she shook her head firmly. And honestly, I had no strength left to fight her. Hugging her tight, I whispered, "Please text me the second you reach home."

She nodded, but the redness in her eyes made my chest squeeze even harder. Watching her leave felt wrong, like I was abandoning her when she needed me most. But the time flashing on my phone screamed otherwise. I had no choice.

Then she left in the cab, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

The guilt still chewed me up, but somewhere deep inside, a selfish little voice whispered: at least I won’t miss my meeting.

I hated that voice, yet I booked another cab for myself.

When the cab finally stopped, I slid inside and leaned back, trying to steady my breathing. Caroline’s broken face wouldn’t leave my mind, and on top of that, the photos with that mysterious blonde haunted me.

My gut told me it was him. And that hickey...God, that damn hickey...burned in my thoughts.

Still, one step at a time. First Caroline. Then this mess. And now... Silver Fox.

The city blurred past the window, lights and buildings merging into one. By the time the cab slowed down, my stomach dropped.

Because right in front of me was the sleek, intimidating building of Silver Fox Agency.

If Big Star Agency screamed glamour and celebrity sparkle, Silver Fox looked like it belonged in some futuristic movie.

The glass walls reflected the sky so cleanly that for a second I thought I’d walked straight into heaven or maybe hell, depending on how this meeting went.

The entrance was wide, tall, and kind of intimidating with these sleek black doors that looked like they could swallow me whole.

I paid the driver and stepped out, straightening my blazer like it would magically make me confident.

My heart was hammering so fast I thought it might jump out. And of course, my heels clicked like a drum, way too loud for my liking. Everyone was probably staring already.

Great. Perfect first impression.

"Breathe, Ele. Just a meeting. Totally normal. You got this," I muttered to myself, which basically sounded like a tiny panic attack.

The glass doors slid open, and cold air hit my face.

The lobby looked insane. Chandeliers hanging like shiny icicles, marble everywhere, and people... dressed like they were born to be in magazines. I swallowed hard. Yep, this was intimidating.

Clutching my bag like it was my life, I walked up to the receptionist. "Uh... hi. I’m here to meet... uh... someone from the editorial team? Marian Steele?"

She looked at me like I had three heads. Clicked a few buttons. "Elena Kingsley?"

"Yes," I squeaked, feeling like a little kid caught sneaking into a movie.

"Take the elevator to the 12th floor. Someone will meet you there."

The 12th floor. Fancy. High. Scary. Perfect.

I nodded quickly and ran to the elevator, trying not to trip over my own heels.

Once inside, I stared at my reflection. Pale, nervous, hair slightly messy. Yep, total pro.

"Okay Ele, don’t freak out. It’s just a building. Not a lion’s den," I whispered, pressing the 12th floor button.

But honestly? I felt like I was about to face a lion... or a tiger... or maybe a whole pride of lions.

The elevator dinged. Floor 12. Deep breath. Time to do this.