A week had passed since that night. Silverbook continued its slow pace, but for Elena, the days had been a mixture of anxiety and tension. She had visited her mother daily at the hospital, where the treatment was finally underway. With each visit, she saw her mother's gradual improvement but also felt the growing weight of what she had done to get to this point.

She and Clara hadn't spoken since then. Not that Elena really wanted to reconnect with her sister. She had been completely rude and discourteous by throwing all the financial responsibility on the journalist, especially after saying such vile things.

There was a knock on the hotel room door. Huffing, Elena said she didn't want room service, but whoever it was insisted.

"I said I don't want room service," Elena complained again.

The door opened anyway.

A handsome man with light hair and blue eyes entered the room, dressed in sophisticated and elegant attire.

Elena felt her mouth go dry.

"James? What are you doing here?"

Closing the door behind him, the man put his hands in his pockets and raised one wheat-colored eyebrow.

"Is that how you talk to me, pet?"

Elena swallowed hard, trying to regain her composure. James being there, in her hotel room, could only mean trouble.

"What do you want?" She tried to sound firm, but the tension in her voice was noticeable.

James turned his head to the side, as if considering punishing her for the insolence, but decided to let it go.

"I'm here to get you."

"What?"

"We need to go back. You must return to work immediately. There are still things you need to do for us."

"But..." Exasperated, Elena got up from the bed. "But my mother is still here, and I—"

"Your mother is already receiving all the necessary care. There's no need for you to stay here to monitor her. You will be informed if any... news occurs. You have a contract with us, Elena, have you forgotten that?"

The woman clenched her fists.

"Of course not."

"Then pack your bags and get ready. I'll be waiting for you downstairs."

"But what about my sister?"

James gave an enigmatic smile, his blue eyes fixed on hers.

"Clara is not our problem. She can take care of herself. And frankly, after how she treated you, I think you should focus on more important things."

"How do you know about that?"

"Isn't it obvious? Evan tells me everything that happens with you. And vice versa."

Elena felt a knot in her stomach. He was right about one thing: Clara had been cruel. But it was hard to simply turn her back on the only family she had.

"Evan didn't mention anything about us leaving so soon."

"He doesn't mention many things. But it's not as if we're obliged to help you or inform you of anything, pet." James stepped a bit closer, his voice low and controlled. "The question is, are you going to follow orders, or do I need to force you to do so?"

Elena hesitated, anger and frustration building inside her.

"No need to force me, James. I'll get ready."

He nodded, satisfied.

"Good. You have one hour. Don't make me wait."

With that, he turned and left the room, leaving Elena alone with her turbulent thoughts. She looked around, trying to absorb the reality of the situation. The time she had spent in Silverbook had been a chaotic mix of hope and despair. Now, she was returning to uncertainty and manipulation.

She started packing, each movement heavy with resignation. As she folded her clothes and stored her belongings, her thoughts ran wild. She thought about her mother, who was finally receiving the treatment she so desperately needed. That, at least, was a consolation. But she also thought about Clara, who, despite everything, was a constant in her life.

When she finished packing, she picked up her phone and hesitated for a moment. Finally, she decided to send a quick message to Clara:

"I'm leaving. Take good care of Mom. I'll try to keep in touch. Take care."

There was no response. Not that she was expecting one.

When she finally reached the ground floor, James looked her up and down.

"That was faster than I expected."

Resigned, she sighed.

"I didn't bring much."

Getting up from the comfortable puff where he was sitting, James looked her up and down again and muttered:

"Let's go."

Inside the car, the first twenty minutes of the trip were absolutely silent. Curious, James asked:

"So... What exactly does your mother have?"

The woman swallowed hard before answering.

"Metastasis."

James raised his eyebrows, surprised by the direct answer and the gravity of the situation.

"That's serious," he commented, his voice slightly softened, perhaps for the first time showing a trace of empathy.

"Yes, it's serious. That's why I was so desperate when I found out."

"Is she in the terminal stage?"

"The situation is... complicated. The head doctor said there is hope, though he also prepared me for the worst. Honestly, I believe in her recovery."

Silence.

"What will you do if she dies?" James asked in a low voice.

Elena didn't know if the question was a provocation, a challenge, or mere curiosity. Staring at her own nails, she replied:

"I don't know. I can't... imagine a world where my mother is dead."

"She moved with your sister to another city and left you alone."

"I know."

"Explain it to me."

Elena was tired of having to explain herself to everyone, but what choice did she have at the moment?

"There's nothing to explain, I just don't want to see the person who gave birth to me dying on a hospital bed. That's all."

"Why? Why care about someone who doesn't care about you?"

She breathed in to give a fitting answer but gave up, retreating into silence instead. They didn't understand. James and Evan were different kinds of people—people who eliminated, discarded, and replaced as they saw fit.

Gathering courage, the journalist mused, more to herself than to the man himself:

"Not all of us see life as a mere game."

James remained silent for a moment, reflecting on Elena's words. He glanced at her, trying to understand what was going on in her mind. Finally, he broke the silence again.

"I understand, Elena. Not all of us are made of the same material. Some of us have to be strong and cold, but that doesn't mean you have to be that way."

She didn't respond immediately. Instead, she looked out the window, watching the trees and houses pass by quickly. The Silverbook landscape now seemed like a distant memory.

"I know," she finally said, her voice low. "But sometimes, I feel like I'm stuck in a role I didn't choose."

James sighed.

"Welcome to the club, then."

His response surprised her. Elena turned her head to look at him, expecting to see some sign of sarcasm or irony, but James's face was serious. She briefly wondered what he might have gone through to be so hardened but quickly dismissed the thought.

The rest of the trip continued in silence, the sound of the engine filling the space between them. The Silverbook landscapes passed quickly by the window, and Elena felt a pang in her heart as she left behind the town that, despite everything, had begun to feel like a refuge.

When they finally arrived at their destination, an imposing building that exuded authority and control, James parked the car and got out, opening the door for Elena. She stepped out slowly, gripping her suitcase firmly.

"Evan is waiting for you upstairs," James informed, nodding towards the building. "I'll join you shortly."

Elena nodded and began walking towards the entrance, feeling the growing tension with each step. The building's imposing facade made her feel small and insignificant, but she forced herself to keep her head held high. Passing through the glass doors, she was greeted by a security guard who led her to an elevator.

The elevator doors closed, and she was taken to one of the upper floors. When the doors opened, Evan was waiting on the other side, his cold, calculating gaze fixed on her.

"Elena, welcome back," he said, with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I hope you had a good rest."

The dark-haired billionaire was shirtless, displaying a tattoo of a wolf on his muscular, defined chest. His appearance exuded power, but more than that, he was very attractive.

That hit Elena, despite her efforts to hide it.

"I rested enough," she replied, trying to hide her nervousness.

"Great. We need you at your best for what's coming."

Only then did the young woman realize she was not in an austere environment like an office or a secretary's office but in a room. A furnished room, even comfortable and cozy.

Elena looked around, surprised by the unexpectedly welcoming environment. The walls were adorned with contemporary artwork, and a large window allowed natural light to flood in, making the room even more inviting.

Evan watched her reactions closely, and when he noticed her confusion, he gave an enigmatic smile.

"I hope you like it," he said. "After all, you'll be coming back here many, many times. We want you to feel comfortable here, Elena. It's important that you're well-rested and prepared for what's to come."

"Why?" she asked, unable to hide the distrust in her voice.

Evan took a step forward, approaching her. He raised one of his hands and, with a gentle touch, lifted Elena's chin, making her look directly into his eyes.

"Because, my dear," he began, his voice low and seductive, "we need you at your best. And that means taking care of you in every possible way."

Elena felt her heart race. The proximity of Evan, combined with his words, made her feel a mixture of fear and excitement

.

"I'm going to let you settle in," he continued, releasing her chin and stepping back a bit. "Later, we'll discuss the details of everything. And remember, you can ask for anything you need."

He turned and left the room, leaving Elena alone. She let out a deep sigh, trying to process everything. She put her clothes and belongings away in the wardrobe, trying to get used to the new environment.

Hours passed, and when night fell, the room's soft lights created an even more intimate atmosphere. Elena was lying on the bed, her thoughts racing, when the door opened again. This time, James entered, followed by Evan.

Both were more relaxed, without the usual tension on their faces. James carried a tray with a bottle of wine and three glasses. Evan carried a plate of fruits and cheeses.

"Good evening, Elena," James said with a genuine smile. "We thought you might like a little company tonight."

Elena sat up, surprised by the change in the two men's behavior. James placed the tray on the table next to the bed and began pouring the wine.

"Evan and I thought it would be a good idea to relax a bit, considering the difficult days you've had," James explained.

Evan nodded, sitting next to her on the bed.

"We want you to feel welcome here, Elena. And we also want to get to know you better."

She accepted the glass of wine James offered her, trying to understand what was happening. It was hard to completely relax, but something about their attitude made her lower her guard, at least a little.

"Thank you," she said, bringing the glass to her lips. "It's... unexpected."

James gave a soft laugh.

"We also have our moments of humanity, you know?"

Evan picked up a piece of cheese and offered it to her.

"Eat something, Elena. We need you strong and healthy."

As she ate and drank, Elena felt the tension slowly dissipate. The two men conversed casually, asking questions about her life, her passions, and her dreams. She answered sincerely, surprised by how easily the words flowed. It was as if they were completely different people now.

The night wore on, and the atmosphere in the room grew even more intimate. Elena couldn't help but feel a growing attraction to both men, and something in the way they looked at her suggested that the feeling was mutual.

Finally, Evan leaned closer to her, his eyes fixed on hers.

"Elena," he whispered, his voice laden with desire, "you are special to us. We want to show you just how special you are."

James approached from the other side, his hands gently touching her arm.

"We want you to know that, despite everything, we are here for you. Tonight is about you."

Elena's heart was pounding. The combination of wine, closeness, and sweet words made her dizzy with desire. She knew that tonight would change everything between them.

She looked from Evan to James, seeing the sincerity and desire in their eyes. Making a decision, she smiled softly and nodded, giving herself over to the moment.

Evan pulled her closer, his lips meeting hers in a deep, passionate kiss. James, meanwhile, began kissing her neck, his hands exploring Elena's body with a gentle, loving touch.

That night, entwined between the two men, Elena found an unexpected refuge...