Chapter 210: Chapter 210 Games of Power and Hidden Affection
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Elara showed up at the auction house right on time and slid into a seat in the back row.
She did not bid on anything. She just sat there, watching Vanessa raise her paddle again and again.
Vanessa was having a good night. Every piece she wanted, she got.
When the auction ended, Vanessa headed for the exit. Elara followed her out the door and down the street.
Vanessa was walking toward a restaurant a few blocks away. Elara caught up to her just as she reached the entrance.
"Miss Taylor. I need five minutes to go over the partnership details."
Vanessa stopped and turned around. Annoyance flickered across her face. "I have a private dinner with friends tonight. I do not have time right now."
"Then after dinner," Elara said. "I will wait."
"Suit yourself." Vanessa shrugged and walked inside.
Elara found a seat in the restaurant lobby. She pulled out her phone and started answering emails. She could wait. The deal was worth it.
Meanwhile, Quinn walked up to the restaurant. She spotted the two women from a distance and watched their exchange.
Her eyes narrowed.[That was Alpha Dominic’s wife.]
Quinn pushed the door open and stepped inside. "Vanessa, is that woman in the lobby a friend of yours?"
Vanessa let out a short laugh. "A friend? Hardly. That is my fiancé’s little obsession. Zack is sentimental. He still has her photo as his chat background."
She leaned back in her chair, swirling her drink. "She came to me for a business deal. When she realized I was not interested, she went behind my back and talked to my brother instead."
Her smile turned cold. "So I am making her wait. Let her see what it feels like to be ignored."
Quinn frowned slightly. So the woman Alpha Dominic had been in love with for years was also tangled up with Zack Blackwood?
She remembered all those nights Alpha Dominic whispered that name in his sleep. Elara.
Yet this woman had loved someone else.
Yet this woman had loved someone else. And still, Alpha Dominic had come back for her. Married her. Never let go.
What kind of hold did she have on him?
"Quinn, are you even listening?" Vanessa’s voice cut through her thoughts.
Quinn smiled apologetically. "Sorry. I was thinking about a patient’s case."
She hesitated. Then she spoke carefully. "But Vanessa, do you not think this could backfire? If your fiancé finds out you are treating her like this, it could cause problems. Maybe it would be better to handle this more smoothly."
Vanessa knew her behavior was petty. But she could not help it. Something about that woman got under her skin.
"Relax. I am only making her wait one night. I will sign the contract with her in a few days."
Quinn nodded. "Fair enough."
She excused herself to use the restroom. When she stepped into the lobby, she saw the woman again.
Elara sat with her head down, looking at her phone.She wore a white Chanel-style jacket, her expression soft as she watched something on her screen.
Then she laughed. A quiet, private laugh. But her smile lit up her whole face, and her eyes sparkled.
Elara felt someone watching her. She looked up. "Can I help you?"
Quinn smiled gently. "Hello. I am a friend of Dominic. My name is Quinn Reed."
She paused. "And if you are waiting for Vanessa, I am afraid tonight is going to be a waste of your time."
Reed?
"Dr. Reed?" Elara asked, surprise flickering across her face.
She did not expect Dr. Reed to know Vanessa personally.
"Yes, that is me." Quinn’s voice softened when she said Dominic’s name, like they shared something private. "It seems Dominic has mentioned me to you."
Elara’s eyes narrowed slightly. She smiled politely, but there was a new distance in her voice. "Yes. Nice to meet you."
"Elara, you should take my advice. Waiting here tonight will not get you anywhere."
Quinn tilted her head, her smile steady. "Or you could mention this to Dominic? It might save you some trouble."
That was enough.
Elara’s expression cooled. She stood up and tucked her phone into her bag. "Dr. Reed, I appreciate the concern. But I do not need my husband to fight my battles for me."
She stepped closer, her voice low and calm. “I think I will leave now. Please tell Miss Taylor I got the message loud and clear. She can keep her little games. But the next time she wants a meeting, she can come to my office. My schedule is tight."
"Have a good night, Dr. Reed."
She turned and walked out without looking back.
Her heels clicked steady against the marble floor, fast and certain.
She was done being patient.
--
Elara walked through the front door just past ten.
Alpha Dominic was already waiting, sprawled across the couch with a look that screamed finally. "You have been busier than me lately. That is saying something."
Elara pressed her lips together. The words came out before she could stop them. "Is there a problem with me being busy?"
Her voice was sharp. Edgy. "Only you get to work late?"
Alpha Dominic froze. He could smell the frustration rolling off her in waves—sour, tired, thick. He sat up straighter. "Hey. That is not what I meant. Do not be mad."
Elara exhaled. The fight drained out of her as fast as it had come. "I know. I am sorry. Work has been hell this week. I am in a bad mood. I did not mean to take it out on you."
Alpha Dominic would never hold a grudge against his mate. Not ever.
But later, when he stepped out of the shower and climbed into bed, ready to pull her close, he found her already asleep. Her back was turned to him.
He smiled, helpless, and leaned in to press a kiss against her ear. Then he turned off the light.
