[ELENA]

    "You look . . . different," Elena began, her voice smooth, like silk wrapping around every word. She was trying—Cole could see that. "More mature, of course. You''ve grown into yourself. You''ve always had this . . . edge to you, though."

    Cole didn''t respond right away, letting her words hang in the air, cold and detached. Instead, he toyed with the edge of his water glass, eyes flicking toward the door, counting the seconds until he could make his escape.

    Elena''s presence, her polished persona, the way she tried to pull him in—it didn''t interest him.

    Not anymore.

    "I''m glad you''re doing well," he said, his tone flat, as he looked her over again. Her smile faltered a little, but she quickly recovered.

    "Well, of course, you wouldn''t have heard the news," Elena continued, leaning forward slightly, as if trying to hook him into a deeper conversation. "My family''s business is expanding—huge contracts, international deals, everything''s falling into place. But I''ve come back for something more . . . personal."

    The words hit Cole, but they barely registered. Personal.

    That was an interesting way to put it. He took another sip of water, letting the cool liquid settle in his throat as he thought about Eve. What would she be doing right now? Probably waiting for him. They''d spoken earlier, and he couldn''t help but feel an ache in his chest—a feeling he hadn''t experienced in years, certainly not for someone like Elena.

    Elena, on the other hand, wasn''t missing a beat. She was staring at him now, her gaze becoming more intense, and Cole could almost feel the heat of it. She had grown up, no question about it. And as she spoke, it became clear that she had become very aware of her beauty, of the way men looked at her now. But Cole didn''t bite. He wasn''t interested in being one of those men.

    It was a strategy she had perfected—a delicate, calculated move that had never failed to make men fall over themselves to oblige her.

    But Cole? Apparently, he wasn''t like the rest. Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire

    "I''m allergic to lotions," he said curtly, his tone leaving no room for further conversation. He reached over, grabbed the box of tissues on the table, and placed it in front of her with indifference.

    The meaning behind the gesture wasn''t lost on Elena. Wipe your own mess.

    For the first time in years, Elena felt a flicker of dismay. Not at herself—no, she never took the blame—but at Cole''s apparent immunity to her charms. This wasn''t how things were supposed to go.

    She studied him as he leaned back in his chair, exuding the kind of composed arrogance she once admired in his father, Cain Fay. Back then, Cain had been the dream of every girl her age. Charismatic, untouchable, and devastatingly handsome. It was no wonder Cole had inherited those same qualities, making him the perfect catch.

    And yet, he was nothing like the boy she once knew. The Cole she remembered had been easier to manipulate, bending to her whims with a single bat of her lashes or a sly suggestion.

    But this man? He was colder, sharper, and far more detached—a man who seemed utterly uninterested in anything she had to offer.

    Elena''s fingers tightened slightly on the tissue, but her serene expression didn''t waver. She wouldn''t give up that easily. She''d learned too much from her travels, picking up methods that most would dismiss as old folklore but had proven to be surprisingly effective.

    This one particular country had taught her the art of gayuma—a love spell, as the locals called it. It wasn''t magic in the fairytale sense, but it was potent enough to tip the scales in her favor.