𝐁𝐋𝐔𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐃

17: New friend

A few days had passed since their return from Somalia, but the tension between Justin and Elle was thick, palpable, and impossible to ignore. They had meticulously avoided each other, neither willing to confront the memory of that night. The air between them was heavy with unspoken words and unresolved emotions, a silent storm brewing in their hearts.

Justin was restless, haunted by the memory of Elle. He tried to distract himself, seeking out other women to fill the void she left, but nothing worked. As soon as their plane touched down in New Orleans, he called Alice, a woman who had always been his refuge. But even as she eagerly met him, he couldn't bring himself to care. Her touch felt wrong, her presence only deepened the ache in his chest. The moment their bodies met, he recoiled, pushing her away as if she burned him. He couldn't stop thinking about Elle—the softness of her skin, the way she had looked at him that night, the connection they had shared. It was a memory that had taken root in his mind, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't dislodge it.

Elle, on the other hand, was drowning in her own turmoil. She felt betrayed, not just by Justin, but by herself. She had let herself believe in his words, allowed herself to be vulnerable, and now she felt foolish. She had proven Justin right—she was caught in a limbo, almost divorced but not quite. The weight of her situation bore down on her, suffocating her. Ethan had cut ties with Justin, ending their partnership, and Justin had replaced him with his old friend, Liam. Unbeknownst to Justin, Liam had taken an interest in Elle, finding her beauty captivating. But neither man spoke of her, even though she lingered in their minds. Justin, especially, avoided talking about her, as if by not acknowledging her, he could suppress the vulnerability she had awakened in him.

Despite the pain of that night, something had shifted within Elle. The experience had cracked open something inside her, and she found herself more open, more willing to explore the possibilities around her. She had lined up dates for the weekend with different men, seeking a change, seeking anything that would help her move on. She was also searching for her own apartment, eager to carve out a new space for herself, free from the shadows of her past.

Ethan hadn't spoken to her since their return, though their families were relentless in their efforts to reconcile them. They pushed her to reconsider having children, the one unresolved issue in their marriage. But Elle was certain she was done with Ethan. She couldn't see a future with a man like him as the father of her children. She was still young, with plenty of time and options. There were men who desired her, and she was ready to explore those opportunities, ready to reclaim her life.

Work became a battlefield, a place where she tried to avoid Justin at all costs. But the building was only so big, and their paths inevitably crossed. Justin was just as tormented, guilt gnawing at him for how he had treated her. He had never intended to hurt her, but he didn't know how to make things right.

"We need to put more effort into social media," Elle's assistant suggested during a morning meeting, pulling her out of her thoughts.

"For sure," Elle replied with a forced smile. "We should look for more employees to focus on social media marketing. We need to expand, bring in new partnerships. This company is great, but it's not enough on its own to make a significant impact."

Before she could continue, a voice interrupted their conversation. It was Liam, standing at the door with an easy smile. Elle's eyes drifted over him—his dark brown hair, full lips, hazel eyes that were too sharp, too observant.

"Yes?" Elle asked, her voice cool as she looked up at him.

"I just wanted to inform everyone about the welcome dinner we've organized tonight, to celebrate the new partnership," Liam announced, his gaze lingering on her a moment longer than necessary.