Chapter 4 Collision Course

Elena woke to sunlight streaming through unfamiliar windows and the scent of fresh coffee. For a disorienting moment, she forgot where she was-then memory flooded back. Alex's penthouse. His arms around her. Falling asleep talking as dawn broke.

She sat up quickly, looking around. The couch was empty except for her, a cashmere throw draped over her legs. Her phone showed 10 AM-she'd slept for four hours. She had to be at work at four, which gave her time to go home, shower, check on Ollie.

"Good morning." Alex appeared from what must be the kitchen, carrying two mugs of coffee. He'd changed into jeans and a soft gray t-shirt that made him look younger, more approachable. His hair was slightly mussed, and there was stubble along his jaw.

He looked perfect.

"I can't believe I fell asleep," she said, accepting the coffee gratefully. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. You were exhausted." He settled beside her, close but not crowding. "I would have let you sleep longer, but I thought you might panic if you woke up alone."

"Thoughtful and accurate." She sipped the coffee-it was perfect, the way she liked it. Had she told him that, or had he just noticed? "What time did you get up?"

"Around eight. I had some emails to handle." He gestured to a laptop on the dining table, open and clearly in use. "The joys of running a company-work never actually stops."

"Don't you have an office for that?"

"I do. But I didn't want to leave while you were here." His gray eyes were warm, sincere. "And I have a meeting at one that I can't miss, so I wanted to maximize our time together."

The meeting with Victoria. Elena remembered what he'd said last night about complications and obligations he couldn't explain yet. She wondered if Victoria was one of those complications.

"I should go anyway," she said, setting down her mug. "Let you get ready for your meeting. And I need to check on Ollie."

"Let me drive you."

"Alex, you don't have to-"

"I want to." He took her hand, threaded their fingers together. "Besides, I like the idea of people seeing us together. Is that selfish?"

"Maybe. But I kind of like it too."

His smile was worth any complications that might come.

They drove to her apartment in comfortable silence, his hand resting on her knee, her fingers playing with his. It felt natural, easy, like they'd been doing this for months instead of days.

"What are you thinking?" he asked as they pulled up outside her building.

"That this is happening fast. That it should probably scare me more than it does."

"Does it scare you?"

"Terrifies me," she admitted. "But in a good way. Is there a good way to be terrified?"

"If you find out, let me know." He squeezed her hand. "Dinner tonight? After your shift?"

"You're going to pick me up again?"

"Every night, if you'll let me."

She should say no. Should slow this down, put some distance between them before she got too attached. But looking at him, at the hope and warmth in his eyes, she couldn't make herself do it.

"Okay," she said. "Every night."

His kiss was soft, sweet, a promise of more to come. When she finally pulled away and headed up to her apartment, she was smiling like an idiot.

Ollie was awake, eating cereal and watching television. He looked up when she entered, his expression knowing.

"The walk of shame," he said, grinning. "Never thought I'd see the day."

"There's no shame in falling asleep on someone's couch."

"Is that all you did? Fall asleep?"

"Yes, actually." She dropped onto the couch beside him, stealing a bite of his cereal. "We talked. About everything. And then I fell asleep, and he let me sleep, and this morning he made me coffee exactly how I like it."

"So he's perfect."

"Nobody's perfect."

"But he's close." Ollie studied her face. "You really like him."

"I really do. Is that okay?"

"Why wouldn't it be okay?"

"Because he's complicated. Rich. From a different world. And we've known each other less than a week."

"So? Mom and Dad got engaged after three weeks."

Elena blinked. She'd forgotten that-her mother's favorite story about how their father had proposed in a rainstorm because he couldn't wait another day. It had seemed romantic when she was young, reckless when she got older, and now...

Now it seemed like maybe love didn't follow a timeline.

"Fair point," she conceded.

"Besides, you've been miserable for three years. If this guy makes you happy, I'm not going to complain about the timeline." Ollie's expression turned serious. "But if he hurts you, I will figure out a way to destroy him, cancer or no cancer."

"Very protective. I appreciate it."

"That's what annoying little brothers are for."

She hugged him, breathing in the familiar scent of his shampoo and the faint hospital smell that never quite went away. "I love you, you know that?"

"I know. I love you too." He pulled back, his hazel eyes concerned. "Friday's appointment is at ten. Dr. Kim wants to run some tests, see how the treatment's working."

"I'll be there."

"You have to work."

"I'll call in sick. You're more important."

"Ellie-"

"Non-negotiable." She stood, stretching muscles sore from sleeping on a couch. "Now I need to shower and change. Try not to judge me too harshly for my life choices."

"Too late. Already judging."

She threw a couch pillow at him, which he caught with a laugh.

In the shower, Elena let herself think about what she was doing. Getting involved with a man she barely knew. A man with money and power and a life so different from hers they might as well be from different planets. A man with complications he hadn't explained yet.

It was stupid. Reckless. The kind of thing that ended badly.

But for the first time in three years, she felt alive. Really, truly alive.

Maybe that was worth the risk.

---

Alexander sat across from Victoria Ashford at Marcello's, the same restaurant where he'd taken Elena two nights ago, and tried to focus on what his supposed fiancée was saying.

"...and Mother thinks we should do the engagement photos at the estate, but I prefer something more modern. Perhaps the penthouse? Your view is spectacular."

"Whatever you prefer," Alex said, not really caring.

Victoria's perfectly manicured eyebrow arched. "You're distracted. That's unlike you."

"I have a lot on my mind."

"Business?"

"Among other things."

She studied him for a long moment, her blue eyes sharp and assessing. Victoria wasn't stupid-far from it. She'd graduated top of her class at Yale, spoke four languages, and ran her family's media empire with ruthless efficiency. In another life, under different circumstances, they might have even been friends.

But there was no warmth between them. No spark. Just mutual understanding of what this arrangement meant for their respective families.

"You're seeing someone," Victoria said finally, her voice neutral.

Alex's coffee cup paused halfway to his lips. "What makes you say that?"

"You have that look. Distracted but not unhappy about it. Guilty but not enough to stop whatever you're doing." She leaned back in her chair, utterly composed. "Who is she?"

"Does it matter?"

"To me? Not particularly. To your mother? Very much so." Victoria's smile was thin. "I'm not naive, Alexander. I know what this is. A business arrangement that benefits both our families. I don't expect love or fidelity or whatever romantic notion people pretend marriage is about."

"That's incredibly cynical."

"That's incredibly realistic." She took a sip of her wine. "But your mother expects certain... appearances to be maintained. Discretion, if nothing else."

"I'm always discreet."

"Are you? Because you're sitting here thinking about her instead of listening to me discuss our engagement party."

She was right, and they both knew it.

"I'm listening now," he said.

"No, you're pretending to listen. There's a difference." Victoria set down her wine glass, her expression softening fractionally. "Look, I'm not going to lecture you about duty or family or any of the things I'm sure you've heard a thousand times. But I will say this-whatever you're doing, whoever she is, it can't interfere with the timeline. The engagement party is in three weeks. The wedding is in six months. Those things are happening regardless of your current... distraction."

"I'm aware."

"Are you? Because you look like a man who's forgotten what reality looks like."

Alex wanted to argue, but he couldn't. Because she was right. Since meeting Elena, he'd been living in a bubble where obligations and expectations didn't exist. Where he could be just Alex instead of Alexander Hartley, heir to an empire.

But bubbles always burst eventually.

"I'll handle it," he said.

"See that you do." Victoria stood, signaling the end of their lunch. "I'll send you the details for the engagement party. Try to look enthusiastic when you show up."

After she left, Alex sat alone at the table, staring at the spot where he'd sat with Elena just two nights ago. Where they'd talked and laughed and connected in a way he'd never experienced with anyone else.

His phone buzzed with a text from Elena: *Survived your meeting?*

He smiled despite everything. *Barely. Counting down the hours until tonight.*

*Dramatic.*

*Honest.*

*I like honest.*

*I like you.*

The response came quickly: *Smooth talker. See you at midnight.*

*Counting the minutes.*

Marcus appeared at his table, sliding into Victoria's vacated seat. "So I just saw your fiancée storm out looking like she wanted to murder someone. Should I be worried?"

"She didn't storm. Victoria doesn't storm. She exits purposefully."

"Semantics." Marcus flagged down a waiter, ordered coffee. "What happened?"

"She knows I'm seeing someone."

"Of course she does. You're about as subtle as a brick through a window." Marcus leaned forward, his expression serious. "Alex, what are you doing? The engagement party is in three weeks. The contracts are signed. Both families are committed. You can't just-"

"I know what I can't do," Alex snapped, then immediately felt guilty. Marcus was just trying to help. "Sorry. I know you're right. I know this is impossible."

"Then why are you doing it?"

"Because she makes me happy." The words came out raw, honest. "When I'm with Elena, I feel like the person I was supposed to be before all of this. Before David died. Before I became responsible for everything."

Marcus was quiet for a moment. "You really like her."

"I more than like her. And that's the problem."

"Does she know? About Victoria, the engagement, all of it?"

"Not yet. I told her I had complications, obligations I couldn't explain."

"Alex-"

"I know. I need to tell her. I will tell her. I just..." He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "I want a little more time. A few more days of this being real before I have to destroy it."

"That's not fair to her."

"I know that too." Alex met his friend's eyes. "But I'm a selfish bastard who'd rather have a few days of happiness than none at all."

Marcus sighed. "Your mother is going to lose her mind when she finds out."

"My mother lost her mind years ago. She just hides it better than most."

"That's not funny."

"It's a little funny."

They sat in silence for a moment, the restaurant buzzing with lunch conversations around them.

"For what it's worth," Marcus said finally, "I hope you figure out a way to make this work. You deserve to be happy, even if happiness wasn't in the five-year plan your family drafted."

"There's no way to make this work. Not without destroying everything my family has built. Not without breaking contracts and burning bridges and-"

"So burn them. Sometimes the only way to build something new is to tear down what doesn't work anymore."

"Spoken like someone who doesn't have a legacy to protect."

"Spoken like someone who thinks you're worth more than your last name." Marcus stood, clapped him on the shoulder. "But you're right. I don't have a legacy. I just have a friend who's been miserable for five years pretending to be fine. And I'd rather have that friend happy than dutiful."

After Marcus left, Alex sat alone with his thoughts and cold coffee.

He had three weeks until the engagement party. Three weeks to figure out how to have everything he wanted or accept that some things were never meant to be his.

Three weeks to choose between duty and desire.

He pulled out his phone and looked at Elena's last message. *See you at midnight.*

For tonight, at least, the choice was easy.

---

The Velvet Room was unusually slow for a Wednesday. Elena had time between customers to actually breathe, to think, to let her mind wander to gray eyes and soft kisses and the way Alex looked at her like she was precious.

"Earth to Ellie." Ruby snapped her fingers in front of Elena's face. "You're doing it again."

"Doing what?"

"That dreamy, far-away look. You've had it all night." Ruby grinned. "Let me guess. Thinking about Mr. Tall, Dark, and Stupidly Rich?"

"Maybe."

"Definitely. So when do I get to properly meet him? Because picking you up at midnight doesn't count. I need to assess his intentions, make sure he's worthy of my best friend."

"Your approval isn't required."

"But it's strongly encouraged." Ruby leaned against the bar, her expression turning more serious. "I'm happy for you, Ellie. Really happy. But I'm also worried."

"Why?"

"Because you're all in already. I can see it in your eyes. And guys like that... they have complicated lives. Complicated pasts. I just don't want you to get hurt."

"Everyone gets hurt eventually. That's life."

"That's pessimistic even for you."

"It's realistic." Elena started wiping down the bar, needing something to do with her hands. "But you're right. I am all in. And yes, it's probably stupid. But Ruby, when I'm with him, I forget to be tired. I forget to be scared. I just... am. Do you know how long it's been since I felt that?"

Ruby's expression softened. "Three years."

"Three years," Elena echoed. "Three years of survival mode, of barely keeping my head above water, of being so focused on keeping Ollie alive that I forgot I was alive too. And then Alex walks into this bar and suddenly I remember what living feels like."

"Okay, that's actually really beautiful and now I'm not allowed to worry because you just made it romantic."

"You're still allowed to worry. Just do it quietly."

They both laughed, the tension breaking.

The night wore on. A few more customers trickled in, enough to keep them busy but not overwhelmed. Elena found herself checking the clock more frequently as midnight approached, anticipation building in her chest.

At 11:45, her phone buzzed.

*Running a few minutes late. Meeting went long. Be there by 12:15. Sorry.*

She smiled at the apology, at the fact that he'd texted to let her know instead of just showing up late.

*No problem. I'll be here.*

*Miss you.*

Two simple words that made her heart skip.

*Miss you too.*

Ruby read over her shoulder, because boundaries weren't really her thing. "Oh my God, you two are disgusting. I love it."

"Privacy isn't a concept you understand, is it?"

"Not when my best friend is having a romance novel moment, no."

At 12:20, Alex walked through the door. Elena's breath caught the way it always did when she saw him-like her body recognized something her brain hadn't caught up to yet.

He looked tired. His tie was loosened, his jacket slung over his arm, and there were shadows under his eyes that hadn't been there this morning. But when he saw her, his expression transformed. Exhaustion became joy, stress became relief.

He crossed to the bar, and Elena met him halfway.

"Hi," he said.

"Hi." She wanted to ask about his meeting, about why he looked so drained, but Ruby was watching with undisguised interest. "Give me five minutes to close out?"

"Take your time."

While Elena finished her closing tasks, she watched Alex settle into a bar stool, watched Ruby approach him with her best intimidating-friend expression.

"So," Ruby said, crossing her arms. "You're the guy who's got my girl all twisted up."

"I suppose I am." Alex's smile was polite but genuine. "You must be Ruby. Ellie talks about you constantly."

"All good things, I hope."

"Exclusively. She says you're the reason she survived her first month here."

Ruby's expression softened slightly. "Yeah, well, someone had to take care of her. Girl doesn't know how to take care of herself."

"I'm standing right here," Elena called from across the bar.

"We know!" Ruby called back, then turned back to Alex. "Look, I'm going to be direct because that's how I am. Ellie's been through hell. She's had to be strong for everyone else for three years, and she doesn't let people in. But she's letting you in. So if you hurt her, I will find a way to make your life miserable. Understood?"

"Understood." Alex's expression was serious, no trace of amusement. "For what it's worth, hurting her is the last thing I want to do."

"Intentions and actions aren't always the same thing."

"No, they're not. But I promise you-and her-that I'm trying to do right by her. Even when it's complicated."

Ruby studied him for a long moment, then nodded. "Okay. You pass. For now."

"I'm honored."

"You should be. I don't approve of just anyone."

Elena finished closing out and grabbed her jacket, trying not to laugh at Ruby's protective routine. "Are you done interrogating him?"

"For tonight. But I reserve the right to continue this conversation later." Ruby hugged Elena. "Have fun. Be safe. Text me if you need anything."

"Yes, mom."

"I'm serious."

"I know. That's why I love you."

Outside, the night air was cool and clear. Alex's car waited at the curb, but he didn't move toward it immediately. Instead, he pulled Elena into his arms, holding her close.

"Long day?" she asked, her voice muffled against his chest.

"Very long. But it just got better." He pulled back enough to look at her. "Your friend is terrifying."

"She means well."

"I know. And she's right to be protective. You're worth protecting."

"Smooth talker."

"So you keep saying." He kissed her forehead, her temple, the corner of her mouth. "Take me home?"

"Your home or mine?"

"Wherever you want to be."

She thought about her tiny apartment, about Ollie probably still awake watching TV. Then she thought about Alex's penthouse, the view, the privacy.

"Yours," she said. "I want to see the city lights again."

His smile was worth every complication that might come.

They drove through the quiet streets, hands intertwined, neither speaking but both content in the silence. When they reached his building, the doorman greeted Alex by name, nodded politely to Elena.

In the elevator, Alex pulled her close, his hands on her waist, his forehead resting against hers.

"Thank you," he said quietly.

"For what?"

"For existing. For walking into my life. For being real when everything else feels like performance."

"Alex-"

"I know it's too soon to say things like this. I know we barely know each other. But Elena, you make me believe that maybe I can have something just for me. Something that's not about family or duty or legacy."

Her heart twisted. There was something in his voice, something sad and desperate that made her think of Ruby's warning. Complicated lives. Complicated pasts.

"What are you not telling me?" she asked.

He was quiet for a long moment, his gray eyes conflicted. The elevator dinged, doors opening to his penthouse, and the moment passed.

"Nothing that can't wait until tomorrow," he said finally. "Tonight, I just want to be with you."

She should push. Should demand answers. But he looked so tired, so vulnerable, that she couldn't bring herself to do it.

"Okay," she said. "Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow," he agreed.

They spent the night curled up on his couch again, talking about everything and nothing. He told her about his day, about boring meetings and business decisions. She told him about the drunk businessman who'd tried to propose to Ruby with an onion ring.

As the night wore on, the conversation grew quieter, more intimate. Elena found herself drowsy again, safe in Alex's arms, the city lights twinkling below them like fallen stars.

"I could get used to this," she murmured, half-asleep.

"Me too." His voice was soft, sad in a way she didn't understand. "Me too."

She drifted off thinking that tomorrow she'd ask about the sadness. Tomorrow she'd demand answers about his complications.

But tomorrow, she'd learn, had a way of bringing truths she wasn't ready to hear.

For tonight, in his arms with the world held at bay, Elena Morrison let herself be happy.

And Alexander Hartley, for a few stolen hours, let himself pretend that happiness was something he was allowed to keep.