Chapter 5 An Unwelcome Date

Elena's POV

Jaxon Graves.

I repeated the name silently, my gaze lingering on the man standing in front of me.

Graves.

It was an unusual coincidence, considering the empire Daniel had been so desperate to impress over the past few weeks. Graves Corps had dominated the business world for years, yet nobody knew the identity of its owner. Daniel had practically driven himself insane trying to secure his company's future before the mysterious heir finally revealed himself.

Could this man have something to do with them?

My eyes travelled over Jaxon's bandaged torso and the casual way he leaned against the wall, looking at me with an irritatingly smug expression. I quickly dismissed the thought.

Please.

The heir to an empire like Graves Corps wouldn't be hiding in a shabby little apartment, recovering from an accident and attempting to intimidate a woman into dating him. He was probably just another man who happened to share the surname.

And an insufferable one at that.

I folded my arms, refusing to let his expression get to me. "I'm not interested in dating you," I told him firmly, taking a step away from the wall.

His lips curved slightly, as though my rejection had amused him rather than offended him.

"That's unfortunate," he remarked, watching me with those unnervingly calm grey eyes.

I narrowed mine. "What's unfortunate is that you seem to think I have nothing better to do than entertain your ridiculous proposition."

"You're welcome to think about it," he replied, his gaze drifting briefly to the papers on the table before returning to my face.

"I don't need to think about it."

"Then you're making a decision without considering what I'm offering."

I let out a disbelieving laugh, wondering how a man who had spent the past two days receiving medical care from me could have developed such an impressive sense of entitlement. "You threatened to report me to the police, offered to destroy my husband's company, and somehow decided that dating you was a reasonable condition. Do you hear yourself?"

He tilted his head, his expression remaining maddeningly composed.

"I hear you perfectly well."

"Then you should understand that my answer is no," I snapped, trying to move past him.

He shifted slightly, blocking my path again, and I stopped so abruptly that my patience nearly snapped along with it.

"Could you get out of my way?" I demanded, glaring up at him.

Instead of moving, he studied my face for a moment before asking, "Do you have a cigar?"

I blinked.

A cigar?

Of all the things he could have asked me, that was what came out of his mouth?

I stared at him, wondering whether the injuries had affected his brain after all. "What?"

"A cigar," he repeated, as though I were the one having difficulty understanding a simple question.

"Do I look like someone who keeps cigars lying around?" I asked, gesturing incredulously at the small apartment.

He straightened, muttering something under his breath as he adjusted the bandage beneath his shirt.

"Wonderful. This is my chance to have a cigarette before that old hag comes breathing down my neck again."

I continued staring at him.

An old hag?

Who was he talking about, and why did he sound like a rebellious teenager sneaking a smoke behind someone's back?

Before I could ask, a loud car horn sounded outside.

My stomach tightened.

Daniel.

The thought came so quickly that I almost reached for my phone before remembering that I had no reason to believe he knew where I was. Still, after two days of ignoring his calls, it wouldn't be surprising if he'd finally decided to look for me himself.

Jaxon glanced towards the door, apparently unconcerned by my sudden change in expression.

"That's for me," he announced, reaching for the jacket draped over the armrest.

I stared at him. "Someone is waiting for you?"

"Obviously."

He slipped into the jacket with some difficulty, and I couldn't help noticing the slight tightening of his jaw as the movement pulled at his injuries. I wanted to tell him that he was being reckless, but considering how thoroughly he had ignored my advice since waking up, I doubted he'd listen.

"Where are you going?" I asked, watching him head towards the door.

"Leaving."

"Good. Finally, some peace."

He paused, looking over his shoulder with that same infuriating smile. "You should come with me."

I frowned. "Why would I do that?"

"Because we'll be having our first date soon," he answered, as though he were informing me of an appointment already written into his calendar.

My mouth fell open.

The audacity of this man!

"Did you hit your head during the accident?" I demanded, stepping towards him. "Because I distinctly remember telling you that I'm not interested."

"And I distinctly remember telling you to think about it," he replied, his amusement only deepening.

"There is nothing to think about!"

My phone chimed before I could continue, and I glanced down at the screen, expecting another missed call notification.

Instead, a message from Daniel appeared.

I've tracked your location. I'm coming.

For several seconds, I simply stared at the words, my fingers tightening around the phone.

He had tracked my location?

How?

I hadn't spoken to him since leaving the hospital, and I certainly hadn't given him any indication of where I was staying. Yet somehow, he had found me.

My throat tightened as I imagined him standing outside the apartment, demanding explanations while I struggled to look at the man who had spent years pretending to love me.

I wasn't ready.

I wasn't ready to hear his excuses, look into his eyes, or pretend that the life we'd built together hadn't been a carefully constructed lie.

"Problem?" Jaxon asked, his voice drawing my attention away from the screen.

I quickly locked my phone, but his gaze remained on my face.

"None of your business," I muttered, slipping the device into my pocket.

He studied me briefly before opening the door. "Are you coming or not?"

I looked towards the entrance, then down at the message still burning in my mind.

I had nowhere else to go. My former apartment was the only place I had thought to hide, and Daniel was already on his way. I could stay and face him, but the thought made my chest tighten with an anxiety I couldn't quite control.

Jaxon was an unknown quantity, an arrogant stranger who had somehow managed to make himself comfortable in my apartment and my personal space. Following him was hardly a sensible decision, but staying was no longer an option I could bear.

I drew a slow breath before grabbing my handbag.

"Don't get the wrong idea," I warned him as I approached the door. "I'm only leaving because I don't want to see someone."

Jaxon stepped aside, allowing me to pass with an expression

that suggested he found my explanation entertaining.

"Of course," he murmured, following me out. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, sweetheart."