Elena swallowed visibly and nodded.
“Of course,” she replied. “I – sorry I asked.”
Aaric returned to his newspaper, trying to ignore his wife and focus on the words on the page. He desperately wished she would leave him in peace.
“I’m off to school,” she announced and Aaric found himself exhaling in relief.
“All right,” he called back cheerfully. “Have a good day.”
Elena stalked toward him, pausing to look down at him. She placed a hand on his cheek and kissed him sweetly on the lips.
“Try to come home tonight,” she whispered. “I would like to sleep with you beside me at least once this month. I bought a new teddy which you may like.”
Aaric offered her a brief smile and nodded.
“I will do my best,” he assured her.
Elena disappeared from the dining room, and Aaric finally puts the periodical at his side.
He hadn’t been reading it, not really. It only served as a barrier between him and Elena at the table.
He had maintained the façade of doting husband, he and Elena joining society and portraying themselves as a happily wedded duo.
As Cameron had predicted, the image change had helped with Cornerstone’s damaged reputation, Elena making a wonderfully relatable wife. The public loved her and in turn, grew to like Aaric.
Immigration had finally stopped with their surprise visits a year earlier, but Aaric could not shake the sense that Agent Dane still followed him, especially with his legal issues magically disappearing. The whistleblower had vanished, and as soon as the troubles had started, they seemed to end abruptly.
No doubt they realized what a costly mistake taking me to court would be for the economy, Aaric thought arrogantly. It was a shame that Agent Dane could not leave well enough alone.
That man was like a dog with a bone. Just because I don’t see him about, doesn’t mean he isn’t. There is nothing that man won’t stoop to in order to get his way, the CEO thought with anger.
Aaric never forgot the look of betrayal on Elena’s face when she told him about the pictures the ICE agent had shown her.
He was sure that Elena was devoted to him with all he had done, but he could not know what she would do if she felt her heart was broken.
I only need to keep this up a while longer, and then I can go back to the way my life was before Elena.
Aaric tried to remember life before Elena, and he found he could not.
“Mr. Buckley, the car is waiting out front,” Carter announced from the doorway. Aaric nodded at the old butler and rose, throwing his napkin from his lap to the table.
As he passed by the seat which Elena had occupied, he exhaled tiredly.
I’m staying in Miami tonight for sure, he thought. But no Ilona either. I have had enough of women today already, and I haven’t even started to listen to Lilyanne’s kvetching.
It was bound to be another long day.
“I’m going to be sorry to lose you, Elena,” Professor Adler said, grasping her hands firmly in his. She could detect a sexual undertone in his meaning, and she politely wrested her palms free of his sweaty mitts.
He had made several covert comments to her throughout their classes, but Elena had brushed off everything with a smile.
He’s just flirting. He knows you’re married to the richest man in Florida, Elena thought. She reasoned that some men simply enjoyed living on the edge.
Not that I am entirely sure that Aaric would care if I carried on with David Adler or any other man for that matter.
Elena forced herself to maintain eye contact with the prof.
“You have been a wonderful teacher,” she replied, grabbing her knapsack from the table.
“Please drop by anytime you’re in Miami Beach,” he told her. “Although I am sure you are quite content tucked away on your island all cozy.”
Elena could hear the contempt in his words, and she felt her eyes narrow slightly.
“I wouldn’t be getting a formal education if I did not want to put it to good use,” she replied lightly, half-turning to leave.
“I am surprised your husband lets you out from under his thumb at all,” Professor Adler commented. Elena whipped her head around and confronted him.
“Excuse me?” she demanded. “What do you know about my husband?”
The ethics teacher seemed to recognize his mistake instantly and backed away, smiling tersely.
“Oh, no, nothing,” he replied quickly.
“I just meant that if I had a wife as beautiful as you, I would never let her out of my sight.”
Elena stared at him, his words sinking into her mind.
Why doesn’t Aaric feel the same way?
Without responding, she turned and left the classroom for what would be the last time. In September, she would be heading to Florida State University in Miami. She would have no occasion to see the professor or Florida International University again.
She had enjoyed her time at the school, and she had learned a lot, but she was not sorry to see it go.
She was on to bigger and better things.
With the help of Aaric. If not for him, I would still just be a maid in his house, hating him as I always had. I would never have known how wonderful he is genuine, what a true heart he has.
He father had undergone the kidney transplant and was thriving wonderfully, his body accepting the organ without issue.
Her parents had wanted to move back to their house in Naples, but Elena had convinced them that it was better for them to stay in the retirement community.
“You have your own house anyway,” she told her mother. “And you have already started a garden. Don’t worry about the house on 8th Street. The couple who rented it is nice and old as you. You can’t uproot them now. Let them live out their lease at least and see if you still want to move home. The caretaker I hired is a good man, and he’s maintaining your roses perfectly.”
Begrudgingly, Frank and Angela agreed to stay in the retirement home, and Elena reasoned that it was the first time in their lives that anyone had ever taken care of them.
It feels good to depend on someone else for once, Elena realized. Aaric has done so much for us.
As she made her way to her Mercedes coupe in the parking lot, she hoped that Aaric would be home that night.
It had been over a week since he had stayed on Fisher Island, the previous evening being the first and even then, he had holed himself up in his study all evening. He did not come to bed, and eventually, Elena drifted off into a fitful sleep waiting.
She tried to tell herself that she did not have anything to worry about, that Aaric was simply busy.
He has always been busy. It wasn’t going to change when you got married.
It was a conversation she had with herself often over the past two years, but perhaps it was her fatalistic view on life which kept her questioning his love for her. She was never quite able to put the image of Aaric and the prostitute wrapped up in each other’s arms from her mind.
She made her way down Washington Avenue toward South Pointe beach where she would catch the private ferry back to Fisher Island.
A small part of her wanted to turn back around and take the bridge across to the mainland and surprise Aaric at work, but she worried that he might become angry with her.
He specifically told you he has work to do. You shouldn’t interrupt him.
Elena drove her car onto the waiting ferry and turned off the engine. Usually, she would get out and go up to watch Fisher Island approach for the short ride, but she wanted to be alone with her thoughts.
You are graduating in a few days, she thought. A two-year program done. You and Aaric have been married for two years. That also means that his papers are coming through soon.
She tried to push the dark thoughts out of her mind, knowing that she would have a hard time coming back from where she was going.
How much more does he need to do for you to prove that our marria
ge is not the sham it began as? She asked herself. If you keep doing this to yourself, you will only be rewarded with bad luck. Stop over analyzing everything and embrace the fact that you have been affording something no one else in your position has; an education, a future and the love of a good man.
The boat glided effortlessly beneath her and Elena willed herself to think of her father tending to his tomatoes or her mother baking a lasagne.
Immediately, she began to feel better.
I should see a doctor about this anxiety, she told herself. It isn’t natural to always expect the worst, especially when everything is going so well in your life.
She thought about talking to Aaric about it.
He's got enough on his plate, she thought, shaking her head. He doesn’t need to know how insecure you feel. You’ll only make him feel bad if you tell him you doubt him.
She felt the boat’s bumper hit the dock gently as they stopped at the island and Elena waited for the attendant to allow her off.
She made the short drive to the mansion, and as the gate fell away, her heart skipped a beat. The town car and Mercedes were in the driveway.
Aaric was home. And he was home early!
Hurrying from her own vehicle, she bounded toward the house happily.
Maybe I’ll give Veronica the night off and cook dinner myself. We can eat on the back deck and make love under the stars.
The idea filled her with excitement, and she looked for Veronica immediately. Elena found the housekeeper in the kitchen, cutting baby potatoes.
“I am giving you the night off, Ronnie,” Elena announced. Veronica wiped her hands on her apron and arched an eyebrow.
“Really?” she asked and Elena nodded.
“I’m going to cook supper and plan a romantic night for Aaric and me.”
Veronica beamed and stepped away from the counter.
“If you care much, I already have glazed salmon marinating in the fridge, and I was going to do up roasted potatoes and asparagus.”
Elena nodded gratefully.
“Sounds perfect. Aaric loves salmon.”
“I will be in my room if you need me,” Veronica offered, and Elena smiled.
“I won’t need you but thank you,” she replied, winking and the maid seemed to understand her meaning.
“I will keep a very low profile, ma’am.”
“Thank you, Veronica.”
Almost skipping, Elena hurried toward the counter to take over the task of making dinner, a smile on her face.
This will be perfect, she thought. I hope he’s in the mood and not distracted by work.
She prepped for supper, tossing the potatoes in the oven and went looking for Aaric.
He was in his study, pouring over a pile of papers.
“You made it home,” she said, beaming as she entered. Aaric seemed surprised to see her, and he sat back, a somewhat guilty expression on his face.
“Ah…yes,” he answered. “So have you.”
They examined each other and Elena felt an undercurrent in the room which she did not understand.
“I gave Veronica the night off,” she offered. “I thought it would be nice if I made dinner for once. We can eat out back and watch the boats?”
Aaric nodded slowly, but Elena got the sense that he did not hear a word coming from her mouth.
“Lovely,” he replied.
Elena walked slowly toward him and watched as he scurried to cover the files on his desk.
“Is something the matter?” she asked. “What are you hiding?”
Aaric gave her a weak smile, but Elena could read the stress in it.
“We can discuss it later,” he told her. “After our romantic dinner.”
A sense of de ja vu flooded through Elena as she remembered the last time she had insisted he tell her news before he was ready.
That time he had found a kidney for dad. I wonder what surprise he has this time.
Elena bit back a protest and nodded.
“I’ve already got dinner going. Why don’t you pop open a bottle of pinot griot when you have a minute. We’re having salmon.”
Aaric bobbed his head in agreement, seemingly relieved that she did not press the issue.
I don’t want to ruin another perfect moment with my demands; she thought to hurry off to finish making dinner.
It was magical, the dusk splaying a dozen mystical colors across the Cut and the two chatted easily about nothing specific.
Elena had expected Aaric to spill the beans, but he remained surprisingly quiet, his conversation light but strained.
After supper, they snuggled on a lounge chair by the pool and eventually, gave into their inhibitions as they finished the second bottle of wine. They made love with wild abandon as the stars twinkled above the water and the moon rose crescent into the sky.
Naked and spent, Elena nuzzled neck, savoring the scent of his aftershave.
I could stay like this forever, she thought sleepily, twirling Aaric’s hair between her fingers.
“Are you going to keep me in suspense all night?” she finally asked, smiling at his head which was resting on her bare breasts.
Immediately, he stiffened beneath her.
“What do you mean?” he asked innocently, and suddenly Elena was concerned.
“Don’t be coy, Aaric,” she said tensely. “What were you looking at in the office.”
He hesitated, raising his head and turning his back. Instantly, he found his cargo shorts and slipped them over his sculpted rear.
“Aaric?” she could hear the pitch in her voice, and Elena realized it was fear.
“It was my citizenship papers. I am officially an American citizen,” he told her, his back still to her.
“What? Congratulations!” Elena squealed, jumping up to embrace him but he pushed her gently away.
“What’s wrong?” she implored. “Why is this bad news?”
His next words were like a physical blow to Elena’s stomach.
“It is time we file for divorce.”
Chapter Ten
“As I am sure you understand, Mr. Collier, this matter is extremely sensitive and requires the utmost discretion,” Aaric said, his gray eyes boring into the eyes of the troll-like man before him.
Bradley Collier would not have been Aaric’s first choice as a private investigator. There was something about his overly pleasant manner, and beady eyes which rubbed Aaric the wrong way but his reputation was stellar, and Aaric did not want to drag things out any more than necessary.
Elena is upset enough as it is. We must sever ties and move on with our lives, both of us.
“And you’re certain that you want to meet with her yourself when I’ve found her,” Collier asked, his nasally voice grinding on Aaric’s last nerve.
“That is what I said, isn’t it?” the CEO snapped. “Just tell me where she is. It should not be hard to find her. She is not some criminal mastermind avoiding arrest.”
“If you don’t mind me saying so, Mr. Buckley, you have supplied her with a substantial allowance during your marriage. It would be very easy for her to disappear without leaving a paper trail.”
Not to mention two million dollars in cash, Aaric thought. He had initially wondered if that hadn’t been her intent from the beginning; taking the money and starting a new life somewhere.
That probably was the plan – before she fell in love with me.
Aaric glared at him balefully.
He already had some idea of how difficult it was to find Elena.
She had left the night he had told her they were divorcing without a goodbye or another word.
The look on her face would haunt Aaric until the day he died, he was sure, but he refused to think of it.
We had a deal. She changed it. The fault is not mine. She changed the rules, not me. I don’t want a wife, and she knew that. Why am I made to feel terrible about this?
Aaric had tried the usual suspects in his search for his estranged wife, reaching out
to her parents and brother but they were a tight-knit Italian family, and he had wronged their kin. Aaric was as good as dead in their eyes. It was also then that Aaric realized where the money had gone that he had given Elena.
When he visited Angela and Frank in the lavish retirement villa, his heart had sunk even lower, knowing how much the facility must cost.
She only wanted her parents to be well cared for. That’s why she asked for the money in the first place. She never thought about herself, not once.
The conclusion filled Aaric with great shame, knowing that Elena had stayed only to benefit everyone else.
First, she committed to me but only to better her parents. Has she ever put herself first? Only when she thought I loved her back, I suppose.
After three months of searching, he decided that it was time to hire a professional.
We both need to move on. I don’t need the shadow of a fake marriage following me around until I die. And who knows if Elena will just resurface one day and try to pull some insanity? The broken-hearted have done crazy things. I must cut ties with her in all ways. The divorce has to go through. She will heal better when this is behind her.
Bradley Collier stood and extended his pale, emaciated hand which Aaric accepted. He could not think about Elena anymore. He was passing the ball to Collier to do the rest.
“I expect to hear from you soon, Mr. Collier. It has already been too long. She could be anywhere, really but I doubt she had gone far from her parents.”
“I will be in touch,” the private investigator assured him, and Aaric watched him walk out the door.
Truthfully, there was no rush to find Elena, but Aaric dared not admit that to himself. The reality of the situation was that he, Aaric Nigel Buckley, was afraid.
Would she hurt herself? She just left without a word to anyone, not Veronica, not Wen, not Carter. Where did she go?
He was sure if she had done something tragic, the Mancinis would never let him forget it, and aside from their stony silence, there was no indication that she was in danger but how could he know for certain?
Sighing, Aaric turned to stare out the glass of his open office window. The ships were out, sailing across Norris Cut and for a minute, Aaric thought he could make out Elena on one of the boats. He leaned forward for a better look at the woman in the distance and immediately felt foolish.
The Lost Seal: A Seal Romance Page 25
