Chapter 2 Ch2 - Never been friends

If her friend Diya hadn't been forbidden by her family from contacting her, Lena wouldn't have had to turn to that so-called "fiancé" of hers-who broke up with her the moment her family hit financial trouble. Lena stepped out of the club, her solitary figure starkly contrasting with the lively scene she'd just left behind.

The memory of what happened inside left her feeling sick to her stomach, lingering unshakably.

Feeling unsteady, Lena clutched her transit card and headed toward the bus stop. Ironically, she'd only learned how to use public transportation a few days ago. Even though she was adopted, her parents had never treated her any less than their own, spoiling her like a little princess.

But times had changed. Now she couldn't even afford gas, let alone a car of her own. She sighed softly.

After walking just a short distance from the club, she felt an intense gaze from the street. Looking up, she saw a tall figure leaning against a red sports car. She didn't need to see his face to know who it was; she knew this person all too well, as loud and showy as his car. She was already having a rough day and had no desire for a confrontation, so she pretended not to see him and kept walking.

"Lena." A deep voice reached her ears.

Lena's mouth twitched. She knew he wouldn't let her go that easily. Shooting him a glare, she said coldly, "Alaric, I'm not in the mood to spar with you today."

"Let me guess-your fiancé threw you out?" Alaric said, his arms crossed casually, his relaxed stance highlighted by the warm streetlight reflecting off his prominent nose, deep brown hair, and piercing brown eyes.

Knowing the type of place she'd just left, he could easily guess who she'd been trying to meet.

His words were like a sharp stone striking her. The frustration she'd held back inside the club bubbled to the surface.

Lena turned back, stepping into the same pool of light, her doll-like face now clear, tinged with a trace of anger. Her long, wavy, light-brown hair swayed as she glared up at him, standing her ground with piercing blue eyes. "Thrown out? Watch your wording!"

With their height difference, she had to look up to meet his gaze, but she wasn't about to back down. "Does he own this place? I have every right to be here."

Alaric raised an eyebrow. "No need for the attitude. I was just concerned about you, you know. We've known each other long enough."

They'd known each other a long time, yes, but they'd never been friends.

From grade school through high school and even into the business world, they were often compared. Their families worked in similar industries, and they were close in age. Their rivalry started when they first met at six years old, in one summer incident where Lena accidentally hit Alaric with a ball. He thought she was rude; she thought he was soft. They'd been at odds ever since.

At that time, Alaric wasn't even taller than Lena. But by high school, his height and build shot up like a wild tree, towering over her.

"Oh, thanks for the concern." Lena's words dripped with sarcasm, each one squeezed out through gritted teeth. "I'm sure you were the first to cheer when my family's business went under."

Alaric's family was also in real estate, though recently they'd branched out internationally.

"Hey, don't make it sound like we caused your problems. Your company expanded too fast, over-leveraged, and that's what led to your financial crisis. It's a shame we've lost a competitor, but I really feel for the suppliers, creditors, and investors you all left hanging..."

"Shut up. I don't need your reminders."

The tension between them thickened in the air.

Alaric shrugged, feigning innocence. "I just can't believe you, of all people, would go crawling to your so-called fiancé... or should I say ex-fiancé. I told you years ago he was no good."

Stellan was well-known in their circle as a player. Alaric had warned Lena about him three years ago, but back then, she'd thought he was just being spiteful.

"Hah, like you're any better." Lena gave him a once-over. Wasn't he right outside the club too?

Alaric hadn't come to party; he was here for a business deal, though he saw no need to explain that to her. "Honestly, you'd be better off asking me for help. You'd have better odds."

He watched her, clearly amused.

"You?" Lena scoffed, as if he'd just told her a joke. "You think I'd ever trust you? Keep dreaming."

Her reaction was exactly what Alaric expected, and he didn't mind. "At least I have some principles."

Lena knew that Alaric, ever pragmatic and profit-driven, wouldn't just offer help out of kindness. "So what, you want to use me somehow? Or is there something I have that you need-information..."

Alaric's eyes narrowed slightly. "Of course I'd want something in return. I'm not running a charity."

Her suspicions confirmed, Lena's mind raced, a faint smirk appearing on her lips. "Then maybe it's you who should be asking for my help. After all, everyone wants something valuable."

The dynamic shifted; neither was willing to back down. Their gazes locked, an unspoken challenge to see who would break first, each trying to read the other's thoughts and emotions.

Finally, Alaric's expression relaxed as he reached into his pocket, pulling out a cigarette. With a click of his lighter, a small flame flared, illuminating his face. He took a slow drag.

"Heh, here you are, acting all tough. You wouldn't have gone to Stellan if you had any other option. I'm giving you a real chance, so take it."

Lena, disliking the smell of smoke, stepped back. Alaric's calm face was hazy behind a veil of smoke.

She blinked, an unreadable emotion flickering in her eyes. "No thanks. I don't have time to waste on you."

It had been a long day, and she was exhausted.

Alaric's expression shifted subtly. "If you change your mind, you know where to find me, right?"

Lena, already walking away, raised a middle finger over her shoulder without looking back.

The night swallowed her silhouette.