Beneath the Veil of Shadows

Chapter 18

Sapphire stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows of Elias's penthouse, her reflection barely visible against the backdrop of the glittering city. The skyline stretched endlessly before her, its twinkling lights pulsing with a life of their own, but her thoughts were miles away. She pressed her forehead lightly against the cool glass, trying to anchor herself as the whirlwind of emotions inside threatened to overwhelm her. The chaos outside mirrored the turmoil within—each light a reminder of the tangled mess her life had become, especially now that Elias had entered it with all his complexities.

The quiet swoosh of a door closing behind her made Sapphire jump. She glanced over her shoulder, heart pounding, only to see Elias standing there, his expression as unreadable as ever. He moved like a shadow, appearing in the room without a sound, always catching her off guard.

“Sorry,” he said, his voice low and smooth, almost too casual. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”

Sapphire straightened, hoping he didn’t notice the flutter in her chest. “I am not scared of you,” she replied, her voice steady. She wasn’t lying—at least, not entirely. Elias’s presence had a way of unsettling her, but fear wasn’t the right word.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he turned his gaze to the view outside, his profile illuminated by the soft lights of the city. The silence stretched between them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable, at least not for Elias. He had a way of standing there, commanding the room without saying a word.

Sapphire wrapped her arms around herself, more for comfort than warmth. “What do you want, Mr. Monroe?”

“Do I need a reason to check on you?” he asked, his tone dry, yet somehow laced with amusement. He leaned casually against the window frame, his broad shoulders blocking a section of the view.

She raised an eyebrow, shifting her weight onto one foot. “Since when do you care about what I am doing?”

He tilted his head slightly, his dark eyes flicking over to meet hers. “I don’t. You look tired.”

The comment caught her off guard. She hadn’t expected him to notice, much less comment on it. For a moment, she was speechless, then she let out a soft laugh, trying to shake off the strange sense of vulnerability his words invoked. “Yeah, well, it has been a long day.”

Elias didn’t say anything else. He simply extended his arm, offering it to her in a way that almost seemed... gentlemanly. Sapphire stared at him for a second, eyebrows raised in disbelief. The ever-stoic Elias Monroe, offering her comfort?

“What is this? Are you actually being nice to me?” she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she crossed her arms, hesitating to take his hand.

Elias’s lips twitched. “Don’t get used to it. This is a one-time offer.”

“Well, in that case, I would better take advantage.” She sighed dramatically, slipping her arm through his. The warmth of his touch surprised her, a sharp contrast to his usual icy demeanor.

He led her through the expansive penthouse, his grip firm but not overbearing. As they reached the library, Sapphire couldn’t help but make a wry comment. “You know, for someone who works in... whatever business you work in, you have a lot of books. Didn’t take you for the intellectual type.”

Elias glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. “Don’t mistake me for a brute. I know more than you think.”

“Oh, I am sure you do,” she muttered under her breath as they entered the library.

The room was lit softly by the flames flickering in the hearth, casting a warm, golden glow over the dark wood and rich leather furniture. It was the kind of space that invited relaxation, though Sapphire wasn’t sure she could relax with Elias so close.