I entered the Stavrakos Mansion and parked my car at the front door. It was the first time I came home after my breakup with Elena.

Stunned after my conversation with Celine, I felt cold, numbed and shocked. I didn't remember how I got here. My subconscious led me home.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Stavrakos. It's good to see you back," Bernard, the butler, greeted me, the moment I entered the house. I gave him a nod, and I went to the bar counter and took a shot of brandy.

I needed alcohol to relieve from the shock.

I recalled my conversation with Celine.

"We have no fear telling the truth anymore. Papa had a stroke, he could never threaten Elena anymore."

"What do you mean threaten?" I was stunned from what I heard. The thought of someone threatening Elena made my temper rise.

Her lips twisted, "let me start from the very beginning..."

I listened to her as she narrated her story. Eloping with the Englishman driver that made her father, Constantine Pallis so mad. Unfortunate events happened, the man she loved died on the eve of their wedding. She was pregnant and jobless. She asked for her father's forgiveness, but the latter callously disowned her.

My heart felt so heavy, like it was squeeze a million times, upon hearing how Elena suffered. She grew up working many jobs - a janitor in a public toilet, scrubbing floors and toilets bowls, a dishwasher, waitress, a gasoline girl on weekends and many more.

She did not go to college because Celine could not afford to enroll her. So she worked as an all-around assistant of a fashion manufacturing company. It figured why she was good in fashion designing. She learned from experience, and that made me so proud of her.

"I was terminally ill, I was dying. Liver cancer," she continued, "we had no choice but to beg for Papa's help. Elena would wait outside the gates of the mansion for hours. She would bear the heavy rain or the heat of the sun, for her grandpa to see her. Of course, you know him, he's a very stubborn man. He made sure that she'd suffer first."

I clenched my fist, not liking at all what I heard. That bastard old man!

"So, after many days of Elena waiting, he finally agreed to see her. He would pay all my medical expenses, in one condition. She should marry you."

"Of course, she accepted. She had no choice."

"Exactly. She would do anything to save me," she smiled, "she's very selfless. She would rather suffer instead of me."

"Yeah, I can see that now."

"You know, she's so brave. She agreed to marry you right away without even knowing who you were. The risk involved there was very scary. She never dated or had a boyfriend. She thought it was a waste of time."

"No boyfriend? But what about Christian Firth?"

"As her ex? That was fake. As well as all Elena's social media accounts, the shopping spree of luxurious brands, travels around the world, articles written in the Eekipedia... everything, they are all fake. Papa paid an internet expert to make it all up."

"Wait... you mean, she never had a relationship with Firth?"

"Never. She only set eyes on him during your mother's birthday celebration. I believe he owed something from Papa, so he had no choice also but to agree on it."

I couldn't believe what I heard.

"But I saw them together..."

She touched my arm, patting gently, "there's nothing going on between Elena and Christian. I should know, because she told me everything. They're just friends."

"Oh God..." I groaned, holding my temples together, "I made a terrible mistake. Do you think she could ever forgive me?"

Her lips pressed together, "I really don't know. She's very stubborn too, just like her grandpa."

-

I did something unimaginable and messed up my life. I made a rush decision that I definitely would regret for the rest of my life.

I took a double shot of brandy and headed out of the house. I left before I would go crazy.

I went to see Eros, who was at the gym, sparring in kickboxing with our friend, Iñigo Monteiro.

"Hey, what's going on?" Eros asked and got down from the ring.

"I fucked up," I punched a punching bag so hard, not minding the pain in my knuckles.

"Tsk. Tsk." Eros shook his head, "have mercy on your hand, man. You need gloves to punch that thing."

"What happened?" Iñigo questioned, following Eros and jumped out of the ring.

I let out a frustrated sigh, "I talked to Elena's mother, and I found out the truth. She didn't cheat on me."

"Of course she didn't. She doesn't look like she would cheat on someone," Eros said while removing his gloves, "I told you to not to make rush decision, man."

"Yeah, I made a mistake," I hissed, and sat down at the side of the ring, feeling so frustrated, "I have to fix it."

"How?" Iñigo sat beside me and removed his gloves.

"That's why I'm here, to ask for your advice. I love Elena so much, and I want to win her back."

"You think we're the best people to ask about that? I don't even believe in love. It's just another four letter word of lust," Eros chuckled, "you already decided, man. You let her go by giving her a divorce, so live with it."

"He's talking about love, Eros, not a business deal," Iñigo said.

"In my world, it's the same. Arranged marriage is purely about business, and does not involve love. We agreed on it, man," Eros looked at me disappointedly.

"I know what I said, but I could not help myself. She's so beautiful... wonderful beyond words."

"Fuck man, you got caught with that bug. You're poisoned," Eros lips twisted wickedly, "if I were you, I'll go to the bar and hook up with a hot chick. You just need to get laid."

"No way! I won't listen to you, Eros. You give me shitty advises," I replied, and he laughed aloud. I shook my head feeling more frustrated, "I could not even look at other women. All I think is Elena."

"Go talk to her and bring flowers. That usually works," Iñigo suggested.

"Do you think it will work? I kicked her out of the house and divorced her without giving her a chance to explain."

They both clasped their arms together, thinking.

"What?" I asked when they stopped talking, and just looked at me with a disappointed expression.

"You were savage," Iñigo twisted his lips, "I would never do that to Chloe."

"To whom?" Eros asked, his eyebrows furrowed.

"I said to anyone," Iñigo replied.

"I thought you mentioned my sister, bro."

"Your ears need cleaning, man," Iñigo said to Eros, then his attention went back to me, "you have to make a lot of pleading if you want her back."

"Of course, I will. I'll do anything," I replied.

"Then do it, man, and never give up," Iñigo motivated me.

"You're in a tough situation," Eros tapped my back, "I'm not a believer of love, but no matter what, we're friends, man. We're here to help you."

_

The following morning, I sent Elena a bunch of flowers with a note, asking if we could talk.

At ten, I was outside her office, waiting for her to arrive.

I would apologize to her for my offensive actions and explain to her what made me do it. She would listen to my side of the story, but I was not expecting her to forgive me immediately.

"What time does she usually arrive?" After an hour of waiting, I asked Elena's executive secretary, a petite Asian woman with a tight bun.

"She's usually here by nine. Something must keep her from coming early," she answered, then immediately left.

I continued to wait, and sip the already cold coffee, that was given to me an hour ago.

Two hours later, I was still in Elena's office. I asked the same employee, and she said, "she's on her way now, sir."

After three hours of waiting.

Where the hell is she? It's already past one.

I called Elena's number but it won't ring. Either she blocked me or changed her number.

Another employee passed in front of me, and I asked her.

"Excuse me. Is Elena coming? It's almost two in the afternoon."

She looked at me with a smile plastered on her face. A smile that did not even reach her eyes.

"Miss Pallis is not coming today."

What the hell! After three hours of waiting?

I was controlling my temper by forcing a smile, "The other employee said that Elena is on her way."

"Miscommunication. That's always the problem here, and of course, people who don't listen to explanation," she said curtly.

She looked angry and her eyes like bullets, aiming at me. Is she trying to imply something?

I read her name tag. Sheila. Elena's personal assistant.

"Sheila. Can I have Elena's personal number? I need to talk to her. This is very urgent."

"Hmm. We're not allowed to give her number, Mr. Stavrakos. I'm sorry."

"Come on, I'm her husband."

"Correction. Ex-husband, sir," Her plastered smile faded, her chin lifted so high, "if you'll excuse me, I'm very busy."

She left before I could ask her more about Elena.

Dammit!

I left the Pallis Center Building and went to the Pallis Mansion.

It was three in the afternoon, and I was hungry and thirsty. I realized I had not taken my lunch yet.

"I need to talk to Elena. Let me in." I insisted when the guards kept on denying my entry.

"You're not expected, sir. Miss Pallis don't accept visitors at the moment," the guard said.

"Dammit," I groaned aloud, "let me in. I'm her husband."

"Not anymore, sir," the guard clicked his tongue, "if you want to see her, ask for an appointment in her office. Look for Sheila."

Impossible. That woman obviously hated me.

I called my executive secretary, William to talk to Elena's personal assistant, Sheila, and book me an appointment for tomorrow morning.

After thirty minutes, William called back.

"I could not get you an appointment for tomorrow, sir. That woman," he hissed, "Sheila, is very stubborn. She said, Miss Pallis' schedule for this week and next, is fully book. The latest she can give you is in two months."

"Two months! What the hell! I need to talk to Elena now," I burst, "I'll go there tomorrow in her office, with or without an appointment."

"Um... I don't think that's possible anymore, sir. Sheila got so mad at me, we had a little... um argument. I apologize sir, she banned you from entering the Pallis' building."

"What?!"

The following morning, I was talking to the security guard at the Pallis building, asking him to let me in. I was becoming very persistent.

"We have strict order, sir. You're not allowed to enter the premises. If you really want to talk to Miss Pallis, book an appointment at the Pallis Mansion. Talk to Sheila."

What the hell. Sheila again!

I did everything, even bribe the guard, but it did not work.

"Okay, I'll let you talk to the receptionist in the lobby. That's all I can help, sir."

"Thank you."

I talked to the male receptionist and asked for an appointment. The latest he could give was three months.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Stavrakos, personal matters are not urgent in the office. Talk to Sheila instead. She's Miss Pallis personal assistant."

Her again.

"Then make it a business matter, for heaven's sake! I want to talk to Elena, NOW!" I burst at the middle-aged man, and his eyes grew enormous.

"Guard!! Guard!!" He shouted.

So fast, five men dragged me out of the Pallis Center building.

-

To see and talk to Elena was impossible.

For two days, I camped out of the Pallis Mansion, with my security guards, trying to catch her when she would leave or enter the house.

"We have to abort the mission, sir," Hugo said, "it's impossible to catch Miss Pallis. There are plenty of vehicles coming in and out of the house. They're all tinted, we can't see where she's in."

"Yeah, and they have very strict inspection than the white house," another guard butted in.

"Okay, abort. Let's find another way," I instructed and everyone looked happy to go home.

I was very desperate. I could not sleep or eat well, I became dysfunctional. I even left my work. I was dying to see and talk to Elena. But how?

I was totally banned in her office. They posted more guards around the Pallis Center building, preventing me from coming near the premises.

I tried to know her whereabouts, but she was invisible. Even in social media.

"This needs a more aggressive measure," I said to Hugo.

"What do you have in mind, sir?"

I had no choice. She would hate me more for it, but I had to do it.

"Get me a helicopter. Now."

_____

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