Chapter 4 - THE FIRST LIE JULIAN TOLD
The photograph had been taken inside Elena's bedroom.
She recognized the blanket.
The chipped bedside lamp.
The book lying open beside her pillow.
She did not recognize the camera angle.
Julian had photographed her while she slept.
She sat in the attorney's office staring at the image.
Her attorney, Maya Bennett, waited until Elena looked up.
"Would you like a break?"
"No."
"All right."
Maya was forty-two, with short dark hair and the calm efficiency of someone who had spent years listening to frightened people tell stories they were ashamed to repeat.
"Julian's conduct may support several criminal allegations," she explained. "We'll preserve the messages and coordinate with investigators. But I also want to discuss your immediate safety."
Elena nodded.
Her phone vibrated.
Julian.
Come home. We can fix this.
Another message.
You know I didn't mean what I said.
Then:
Castellane is using you.
Elena showed Maya.
"Don't answer yet," Maya advised. "Let's document everything first."
Elena placed the phone facedown.
"Do you think Nikolai is using me?"
"I don't know him."
"Everyone seems to know him."
"That doesn't mean anyone knows his intentions."
Elena almost smiled.
She liked that answer.
***
Julian Pierce spent that afternoon in a glass-walled office overlooking Madison Avenue.
His colleague, Martin Bellman, watched him pace.
"You made a scene."
Julian stopped.
"She embarrassed me."
"You threatened her in front of Castellane."
"Keep your voice down."
Martin leaned back.
"Did she talk to him?"
"I don't know."
"Then we have a problem."
Julian stared.
"You told me Elena didn't know anything."
"She doesn't."
"Then why did you take her father's file?"
Martin said nothing.
Julian's face tightened.
"Arthur Ashford was supposed to be dead history."
"He is."
"Then why is Castellane suddenly interested in his daughter?"
Martin stood.
"Because you couldn't control your temper for one dinner."
Julian stepped forward.
"Watch yourself."
Martin laughed.
"You think I'm afraid of you?"
The room became silent.
Then Martin opened his desk drawer.
Inside lay a thin blue folder.
Arthur Ashford's name was printed across the front.
Julian stared.
"What's that?"
"The reason you were told to date Elena in the first place."
***
Elena discovered the first lie that evening.
Three years earlier, Julian told her they had met by chance at a bookstore.
He had reached for the same novel.
She had laughed.
He had offered coffee.
It was one of the few memories she still associated with uncomplicated happiness.
Maya obtained an old email through records Elena had preserved.
It was from Martin Bellman to Julian.
Dated six days before their supposed chance meeting.
Elena Ashford. Thirty-eight West Twenty-Second. Works at Halcyon Hotel. Approaches bookstores on Thursday evenings. Establish contact.
Elena read it three times.
Then set the paper down.
"He didn't meet me."
Maya remained silent.
"He found me."
Elena began shaking.
The relationship she had spent three years trying to escape had begun before Julian ever said hello.
And somewhere behind him, someone had been interested in Arthur Ashford's daughter.
The question was no longer simply why Julian had hurt her.
May you like
It was why he had chosen her.
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