Chapter 3 Cold Awakening

The morning after the gala, Eleanor woke to the soft clink of china and the scent of fresh coffee. Sunlight streamed through the penthouse windows, painting the room in shades of gold, but her heart was ice. She lay still, her eyes tracing the ceiling as memories of the previous night churned in her mind. The gala had been a triumph-not in the way Cedric believed, but in the quiet steps she'd taken toward his downfall.

Every smile, every calculated word, had been a weapon, and she'd wielded them with precision.

Cedric stirred beside her, his arm slipping around her waist with a familiarity that made her skin crawl. "Good morning, darling," he murmured, his voice warm, almost tender. "You were the star of the show last night. Everyone was talking about you."

She turned her head, meeting his gaze. His blue eyes sparkled with what he thought was charm, but she saw through the mask now-the calculated sweetness, the pretense of devotion. He believed her the same naive Eleanor, dazzled by his affection, blind to his betrayal. The thought fueled her resolve, sharpening it like a blade.

"You're too kind," she said, her voice soft, her smile a perfect imitation of the adoring wife she'd once been. "I just wanted to make you proud."

His lips curved, satisfied, and he pressed a kiss to her forehead. "You always do." He rolled out of bed, humming as he headed for the shower, oblivious to the storm gathering in her chest.

Eleanor sat up, her hands clenching the silk sheets. Proud. The word was poison. He'd used her pride, her love, her trust, to build his empire while plotting her ruin. She could still hear his voice from that night a year from now, cold and mocking as she bled out: "You were merely collateral." Her jaw tightened, and in the silence of her mind, she made a vow as fierce as the one she'd whispered in death: I will tear you apart, Cedric. Piece by piece.

She slipped from the bed, her movements deliberate, and crossed to the walk-in closet. The emerald dress from the gala hung there, its rich fabric catching the light. It had served its purpose, transforming her from a shadow into a force, but it was also a relic of the woman she'd been forced to play last night-poised, compliant, Cedric's perfect wife. She wouldn't wear it again.

It belonged to a lie.

She pulled it from the hanger and carried it to the living room, where a sleek gas fireplace flickered. Without hesitation, she tossed the dress onto the flames. The fabric caught instantly, green silk curling and blackening as the fire consumed it. She watched, unblinking, as the dress burned, its destruction a quiet rebellion, a promise to herself. No more pretending. Not for you.

The scent of scorched fabric filled the air, and she felt a weight lift, as if the flames had burned away a piece of the old Eleanor. She was no longer the woman who had died, betrayed and broken. She was something new-something dangerous.

Her phone buzzed on the coffee table, snapping her from her thoughts. A text from Marianne: Lunch today? Loved your energy last night! 😘 Eleanor's lip curled. Marianne's faux sweetness was as transparent as Cedric's now, but she'd play along-for now. She typed a quick reply: Sure, 1 PM at Via's. Can't wait. Every interaction was a chance to gather ammunition, to spot cracks in their facade.

As she set the phone down, Cedric emerged from the bedroom, dressed in a tailored suit, his hair damp from the shower. "What's that smell?" he asked, frowning as he glanced at the fireplace.

"Just burning some old fabric," she said lightly, brushing past him to the kitchen. "Spring cleaning."

He chuckled, oblivious. "You're full of surprises lately." He grabbed his briefcase, pausing to kiss her cheek. "I've got meetings all day, but I'll see you tonight. Dinner at Le Jardin?"

"Of course," she said, her smile unwavering.

Enjoy your day, Cedric. It's one of the last you'll have without looking over your shoulder.

Once he was gone, Eleanor moved with purpose. She opened her laptop, pulling up the screenshots she'd taken from Cedric's server-financial records showing discrepancies in her father's company accounts. The numbers were subtle, easy to miss unless you knew what to look for, but they painted a clear picture: Cedric had been funneling millions into offshore accounts, likely to fund his political ambitions. She saved the files to an encrypted drive, her mind already mapping out how to leak them without implicating herself.

Next, she scrolled through her contacts, pausing on a name she hadn't thought of in years: Julian Kane. Her father's former business partner, a man Cedric had pushed out of the company after their marriage. Julian was sharp, ruthless, and-most importantly-held a grudge against Cedric. He was a risk, but a calculated one. If anyone could help her dismantle Cedric's empire, it was him.

Her fingers hovered over the screen. Reaching out to Julian would cross a line, pulling her deeper into a game where one misstep could ruin her. But she was done playing safe. She typed a message, her heart pounding:

Julian, it's Eleanor. We need to talk. Discreetly. Can you meet tomorrow?

She stared at the words, her thumb hovering over Send. This was it-her first move beyond the shadows, a step toward an alliance that could either save her or destroy her. Julian wasn't just a business rival; he was a wildcard, a man with his own motives and a reputation for playing dirty. In another life, she might have called him a friend, maybe even something more, before Cedric's charm had blinded her. Now, he was a weapon.

The fire in the hearth had died to embers, the dress reduced to ash. Eleanor took a deep breath, her resolve hardening. She hit Send.

The phone vibrated almost instantly, and her pulse spiked as Julian's name flashed on the screen. His reply was brief: Name the place. I'm listening.

She exhaled, a mix of fear and exhilaration flooding her veins. The game had just gotten bigger, and there was no turning back.

As she slipped the phone into her pocket, the city skyline glittered beyond the windows, a reminder of the world she was about to upend. Cedric and Marianne thought they held all the cards, but they were wrong. Eleanor was no longer their pawn. She was the player now, and she would burn their empire to the ground.

To be continued...