Elena didn't sleep.
Again.
Every time she closed her eyes—
His voice.
"You laughed."
"I remember everything."
Her chest felt tight.
Uncomfortable.
Uneasy.
Morning came too fast.
7:30 AM.
The car was already outside.
Of course it was.
She got in without speaking.
No message this time.
No warning.
Just silence.
When she arrived, everything felt… normal.
Too normal.
People walking.
Talking.
Working.
Like her life hadn't changed.
But it had.
She stepped into the elevator.
Top floor.
Again.
The doors opened.
And he was already there.
Waiting.
Not inside the office.
Outside.
Like he knew the exact second she would arrive.
"Miss Carter."
Her voice was steady.
"Mr. Wolfe."
A pause.
Different today.
He was watching her more closely.
Like he was measuring something.
"You didn't sleep," he said.
Not a question.
A statement.
She crossed her arms.
"That's not your concern."
His gaze didn't move.
"It is now."
Her jaw tightened.
"I'm here to work."
"Good."
He turned.
Walked toward the office.
She followed.
Inside, everything was the same.
Cold.
Perfect.
Controlled.
He didn't sit immediately.
Instead—
He picked up a file.
Thick.
Heavy.
Then placed it in front of her.
"Read."
Elena frowned.
"What is this?"
"Your life."
Silence.
Her fingers didn't move at first.
Then slowly—
She opened it.
Page after page.
Photos.
Records.
Details.
Too many details.
Her school.
Her university.
Her job history.
Her family.
Her friends.
Even…
Her hospital visits.
Her breath caught.
"This is—"
Her voice stopped.
She looked up.
"What is this?"
His expression didn't change.
"Preparation."
Her heart started beating faster.
"You've been watching me?"
A pause.
Then—
"Yes."
No denial.
No hesitation.
Nothing.
Her stomach dropped.
"For how long?"
Silence.
Long.
Heavy.
"Long enough."
That answer was worse.
Much worse.
Elena closed the file.
Hard.
"This is insane."
"Is it?"
"Yes!"
Her voice rose.
"This isn't normal!"
"No," he said calmly.
"It isn't."
Silence.
She stared at him.
Trying to understand.
Trying to find logic.
There was none.
"You planned this," she said.
"Yes."
"You chose me."
"Yes."
Her chest tightened.
"Why?"
This time…
He didn't answer immediately.
His gaze dropped slightly.
Then returned.
"Because you forgot me."
Her breath caught.
"That doesn't justify this."
"No," he agreed.
Silence.
"It doesn't need to."
That chilled her.
Elena stepped back slightly.
Distance.
She needed distance.
"This isn't revenge," she said quietly.
His eyes darkened.
"No?"
"This is obsession."
A pause.
Then—
"Maybe."
No denial.
Again.
Her heart raced.
"That's not normal," she said.
"I'm not normal."
Silence.
Everything about this was wrong.
But she couldn't walk away.
Not anymore.
He stepped closer.
Slow.
Measured.
"You want the truth?" he said.
Her voice was quieter now.
"Tell me."
A pause.
Then—
"I didn't forget you."
Her chest tightened.
"I remembered everything."
He stopped in front of her.
Close again.
"Your voice."
A step closer.
"The way you looked at me."
Closer.
"The way you dismissed me."
Her heart pounded.
"I built everything after that."
Silence.
"I became this…"
He gestured slightly around the office.
"…because of that moment."
Her breath caught.
"No," she whispered.
"Yes."
Her head shook slightly.
"That's not possible."
"It is."
A pause.
"You were the only one who saw me before I became… this."
Silence.
Heavy.
"And now…"
His voice dropped.
"You're the only one who can't ignore me."
Her chest tightened.
This wasn't just revenge.
This was something deeper.
Something dangerous.
Elena stepped back.
Again.
"You need help," she said quietly.
His expression didn't change.
"Maybe."
"But you're not getting it from me."
A pause.
Then—
"We'll see."
Always that.
She turned away.
Needed space.
Air.
Distance.
Her eyes fell back on the file.
Still open.
Still there.
"So this whole thing…"
She said slowly.
"…was planned from the beginning?"
"Yes."
Her stomach dropped.
"The job."
"Yes."
"The contract."
"Yes."
Her voice dropped.
"The meeting yesterday?"
A pause.
Then—
"Yes."
Everything.
Every step.
Controlled.
Calculated.
By him.
Elena looked at him.
Really looked this time.
"You're not just controlling the situation…"
A pause.
"You're controlling me."
Silence.
Then—
"Yes."
That was the most honest thing he had said.
And the most dangerous.
Her heart pounded.
But this time…
Something inside her shifted.
She wasn't just scared anymore.
She was angry.
"Then you made a mistake," she said.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Did I?"
"Yes."
A step closer.
Her turn.
"You think you know everything about me."
Silence.
"But you don't."
A pause.
Then—
"Show me."
A challenge.
Real.
Dangerous.
He watched her.
Longer this time.
Then—
A slow smile.
Not warm.
Not kind.
Interested.
"Good," he said.
That word again.
"I was getting bored."
Her breath caught.
Because now…
This wasn't just his game anymore.
She had stepped into it.
Willingly.