Chapter 4 The Boy with the Red Balloon

Elena Vasquez

I woke to the scent of lavender and ocean breeze, a far cry from the stale coffee and mildew of my Brooklyn apartment. The guest suite in Alexander Kane's Hamptons mansion was obscene: king-sized bed with silk sheets, a balcony overlooking the Atlantic, and a closet stuffed with designer clothes that magically fit me. Too perfect, like a fairy tale with a catch. I sat up, rubbing sleep from my eyes, my phone buzzing on the nightstand. Another voicemail from Frankie, the loan shark who'd been hounding us since Dad's restaurant went under. Pay up, Elena, or we come for Sofia. My stomach twisted. I deleted it, same as always, but the threat clung like damp rot.

Yesterday felt like a fever dream. The interview, the black car, Alexander's piercing gaze as he handed me his tablet. Five grand a week. Enough to fix everything: Mamá's meds, Marco's school, the eviction notice. But that dinner last night, the way he looked at me over the wine, like I was more than his assistant? That was trouble. I didn't have time for rich men's games, not when my family was drowning.

I swung my legs out of bed, bare feet sinking into plush carpet. The tablet on the dresser blinked with a new email from Alexander: Morning briefing, 7 a.m. Study. Don't be late. Bossy as hell. I glanced at the clock, 6:45. Shit. I threw on a navy dress from the closet: simple, professional, but way pricier than anything I'd ever owned, and ran a brush through my hair. No time for makeup. He'd get the real me, Brooklyn grit and all.

The mansion was a maze of glass and marble, sunlight bouncing off every surface. I found the study, its oak doors heavy as my nerves. Alexander stood by the window, back to me, his broad shoulders filling out a crisp white shirt. The ocean framed him like a damn painting.

"You're late," he said without turning, voice low and clipped.

"By two minutes," I shot back, dropping into a chair. "Traffic was brutal in the hallway."

He faced me, a flicker of amusement in those blue eyes. "Sarcasm before coffee. Bold."

"Coffee's for closers. What's the brief?" I tapped the tablet, pulling up his schedule. Keep it professional, Elena. No falling for the billionaire charm.

He crossed the room, leaning over my chair to point at the screen. Too close. His cologne; sandalwood, sharp, hit me like a rogue wave. "Tokyo call at noon. Reschedule the London investors to tomorrow. And this" He tapped a folder labeled Merger X. "Confidential. Summarize it by lunch."

I nodded, ignoring the heat where his arm brushed mine. "Got it. Anything else?"

He straightened, studying me. "You're not like the others."

"Others?" I raised a brow. "How many assistants you burn through, Kane?"

"Enough to know you're different." His voice softened, just for a second, before he turned away. "Get to work."

I dove into the tablet, emails and contracts blurring together. The merger folder was a beast: hundreds of pages on a deal with Lang Enterprises, some rival company. Numbers in the billions, terms I barely understood. But I'd run a restaurant's books at nineteen; I could handle this. By eleven, I'd flagged key points: stock options, AI patents, a clause about "conditional assets." My head spun, but it felt good to wrestle chaos into order.

A knock interrupted me. The butler, James, stiff as a board; set a tray of coffee and croissants on the desk. "Compliments of Mr. Kane."

"Thanks," I muttered, grabbing a cup. The first sip was heaven, rich and dark. Okay, maybe billionaires had some perks.

My phone buzzed again. Another unknown number. I hesitated, then answered. "Hello?"

"Elena Vasquez," a raspy voice drawled. Frankie. "You dodging me?"

My grip tightened on the phone. "I'm working. You'll get your money."

"Workin' for Kane, huh? Fancy. Don't forget us little guys. Your mom's lookin' frail these days." He hung up.

I slammed the phone down, heart pounding. How did he know I was here? The mansion's walls felt tighter, the security cameras in the corners winking like spies. I shook it off, focusing on the merger summary. Work was my lifeline, not paranoia.

At noon, Alexander returned, loosening his tie. "Summary?"

I handed him the tablet, my notes crisp and color-coded. "Done. You're merging with Lang Enterprises. Risky, but the patents could make you untouchable."

He scanned it, nodding. "Not bad. You read fast."

"Had to. Restaurant suppliers don't wait." I leaned back, crossing my arms. "Why's this merger so important?"

His jaw tightened, just a fraction. "It's business. Power. You wouldn't understand."

"Try me."

He met my eyes, something dark flickering there. "Later. Tonight, gala in Manhattan. You're coming. Work-related."

My stomach flipped. "A gala? I'm your assistant, not your date."

"You're both tonight." His tone left no room for argument. "Dress is in your closet. Car leaves at six."

He walked out, leaving me staring at the ocean. A gala? Me, in some glittering ballroom with New York's elite? I wasn't Cinderella, and Alexander Kane sure as hell wasn't Prince Charming. But that look in his eyes, the way he said "both": it stirred something dangerous. Hope, maybe. Or stupidity.

I spent the afternoon buried in emails, but my mind kept drifting to Frankie's call. The merger. Alexander's intensity. By five, I found the dress in my closet: emerald green, floor-length, clinging in ways that screamed money. I slipped it on, the mirror showing a version of me I didn't recognize. Not Brooklyn Elena, but someone who could play the part.

The car ride to Manhattan was silent, Alexander typing on his phone, me staring out at the city lights. The gala was at a rooftop venue, all glass and chandeliers, the air thick with perfume and power. He offered his arm, and I took it, my pulse betraying me.

"Stay close," he murmured as we entered. "And smile."

I plastered on a grin, but my eyes scanned the crowd. Men in tuxes, women dripping diamonds. And then I saw him:a man watching us, slick hair, shark-like smile. He raised a glass to Alexander, who stiffened beside me.

"Who's that?" I whispered.

"Victor Lang," Alexander said, voice cold. "Trouble."

The name hit me like a brick. Lang Enterprises. The merger. Before I could ask more, Alexander steered me to a garden balcony, away from the crowd. The city sparkled below, but his face was all shadows.

"Elena," he said, stepping closer. "You're doing better than I expected."

"Then raise my pay," I quipped, but my breath caught as he leaned in, his hand brushing my cheek.

"You're not just an assistant," he said, voice low. And then he kissed me: soft, then fierce, like he'd been holding it back all day.

I kissed him back, heat flooding me, the world fading. For a moment, it was just us, the city a distant hum. Then reality crashed in. Frankie. The merger. Victor's smirk. I pulled away, heart racing.

"I need air," I lied, stepping back.

He nodded, eyes searching mine. "Don't go far."

I wandered the balcony, my lips tingling, my mind screaming. What was I doing? Falling for my boss after one day? No. This was a job, a lifeline. But as I glanced back, seeing Alexander watch me like I was the only one in the room, I felt the ground shift.

Back inside, I grabbed a drink, trying to steady myself. My clutch buzzed: Alexander's tablet, left unlocked. A new email notification glowed: From: Victor Lang. Subject: Bet's on. My finger hovered, dread pooling in my gut. Bet? What bet?

I clicked, and the words seared into me: Tame the spitfire in three months, or hand

over the merger. You've got your mark.

My glass slipped, shattering on the marble floor.