Elena barely slept.
The black car remained parked across the street for almost an hour before finally driving away.
Even after it disappeared, the uneasy feeling stayed.
Watching.
Waiting.
The thought followed her into the next morning.
She sat at the kitchen island, stirring coffee she had no intention of drinking.
Adrian had already left for work.
The apartment felt strangely empty without him.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
Her gaze drifted to her phone.
Then to her laptop.
Then back again.
A bad idea formed.
The kind of idea that always started with curiosity and ended with trouble.
She knew she should leave the past alone.
She knew Adrian wouldn't want her digging.
Unfortunately, Elena had never been very good at following instructions.
Especially when someone told her not to do something.
Twenty minutes later, she was sitting in front of her laptop.
Searching.
The first few results were useless.
Business articles.
Interviews.
Magazine covers.
Nothing personal.
Nothing about Victoria.
Then she found something.
An old charity gala article from years ago.
Her heartbeat quickened.
A photograph loaded onto the screen.
There they were.
Adrian and Victoria.
Together.
Elena stared.
Victoria was beautiful.
Not just pretty.
Beautiful.
Dark hair.
Bright smile.
Confident eyes.
The kind of woman people noticed when she entered a room.
She stood beside Adrian with one hand resting on his arm.
And Adrian...
He was smiling.
Actually smiling.
Not the small rare expressions Elena occasionally saw.
A real smile.
The sight caught her off guard.
Because she had never seen that version of him before.
For some reason, it bothered her.
More than it should have.
Elena leaned back in her chair.
"What happened to you?" she whispered to the screen.
The answer, of course, never came.
A sudden knock on the apartment door nearly made her jump.
Her laptop snapped shut instantly.
Her pulse raced.
Another knock.
Who would be here?
Slowly, she walked toward the door.
She checked the security screen.
Daniel.
Relief washed through her.
She opened the door.
Daniel entered carrying a paper bag.
"I brought food."
Elena blinked.
"What?"
"Adrian said you forget to eat when you're stressed."
She stared at him.
Then laughed.
The sound surprised both of them.
"That's ridiculous."
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
"Is it?"
Elena glanced at the untouched coffee.
Daniel followed her gaze.
"Exactly."
He placed the food on the counter.
For a few moments they ate in comfortable silence.
Then Daniel suddenly spoke.
"You're investigating Victoria."
Elena nearly choked.
"What?"
"You have the guilty face."
"I do not."
"You do."
She groaned.
Daniel laughed.
"Relax. You're not the first person to be curious.
His smile faded slightly.
"But be careful."
The warning immediately reminded her of Marcus.
"What does that mean?"
Daniel became serious.
"Victoria's death destroyed people."
People.
Not just Adrian.
People.
That caught Elena's attention.
"What happened?"
Daniel looked away.
For the first time since she'd met him, he seemed uncomfortable.
"I wasn't there."
"Daniel."
"I wasn't."
The frustration in his voice surprised her.
"I only know what happened afterward."
Something about his reaction made Elena pause.
He wasn't hiding information.
He genuinely didn't know.
Or maybe didn't want to know.
A few moments later, his phone buzzed.
He checked the screen.
And immediately stood.
"What is it?" Elena asked.
Daniel's expression darkened.
"Adrian wants me at the office."
"Why?"
His eyes met hers.
Because something had happened.
Something bad.
"I don't know yet."
But the look on his face suggested otherwise.
As he reached the door, he stopped.
Then turned back toward her.
"Lock the door."
Elena frowned.
"Daniel—"
"Seriously."
His tone had changed completely.
No humor.
No teasing.
Nothing.
Just concern.
A chill ran down her spine.
After he left, the apartment felt colder.
Elena walked to the window.
Almost against her will.
She looked across the street.
And froze.
The black car was back.
Parked in exactly the same spot.
Waiting.
Watching.
And this time...
The driver was staring directly at her