Read BENEATH HER CONTROL :: Chapter 7: Unexpected Company

The morning light drifted lazily through the soft curtains, painting pale gold across the white tablecloth. I sat at the dining table across from Elena, staring at the half-eaten slice of toast that had gone cold beside my untouched cup of coffee. My mind kept pulling itself backward—to the warmth of an embrace that hadn't been meant to linger, to a pair of arms that had felt too sure, too protective, too… dangerous.

Celestine's scent still clung to the edges of my thoughts. Even though the storm was gone, I could still hear the echo of the rain that had lulled me into her arms the night before.

"Selene, you're murdering that toast with your eyes," Elena's voice snapped through the quiet, light and teasing. "If you keep glaring at it, it's going to walk away."

I blinked, trying to summon a polite smile. "Sorry. I didn't sleep well."

She tilted her head, fork twirling through her scrambled eggs like a bored princess. "I'd say that's obvious. You've been spacing out since you sat down. Don't tell me the thunder scared you?"

I looked up, startled at how accurate that was. "Maybe a little."

Elena laughed, her laughter bright and girlish, the kind that made the morning feel less heavy. "That's adorable. You should have knocked on my door. We could have shared ghost stories until dawn."

"I didn't want to wake you," I said, fiddling with the napkin.

Her eyes softened for a second. "You're sweet, you know that?" Then her tone shifted, sly now. "But I bet my mom would have been the one to calm you down faster. She's good at that."

My hand froze mid-motion. Celestine again. The name echoed silently between us even though Elena didn't say it.

Almost as if she sensed it, Elena added lightly, "Don't worry, though. She's not around to tease you. She left early this morning—something about a work trip abroad. She'll be gone for a few weeks."

I nodded quickly, maybe too quickly. "Oh… that's good. I mean, she must be busy."

Elena grinned. "You sound disappointed."

"I'm not," I lied. My voice came out too fast, too defensive.

"Hmm." She leaned back in her chair, assessing me with mischievous eyes. "You really are bad at lying."

I tried to laugh it off, reaching for my coffee. It was already cold, but it gave me something to hide behind.

Elena wasn't done. "Anyway," she said, brushing off the air of suspicion with a flip of her hair, "since my mom's gone, the house feels too quiet. I was thinking… maybe we go out today?"

"Out?"

"Yeah. Town. Shopping. Coffee. Food that isn't from our overly polite chef." She smiled wider. "You can't keep hiding in that guest room forever, Selene."

She had a point. My chest had felt heavy since I woke up. Maybe a distraction would help.

"Okay," I said softly. "Let's go."

"Perfect." Elena clapped her hands like a child planning trouble. "Go get ready , there are clothes on your bed.Its cute I chose it . We're leaving in thirty minutes.."

I rolled my eyes, but there was a smile tugging at my lips now.

---

Half an hour later, the two of us stepped out of the mansion. The sun was already high, burning away the last trace of the storm. Elena looked effortlessly radiant in her short cream dress and oversized sunglasses. I'd chosen something simple—a pastel blouse tucked into high-waisted jeans.

As we walked down the garden path toward the waiting car, Elena looped her arm through mine. "You're smiling," she said, smirking. "That's new."

"I always smile."

"Not like that," she teased. "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing."

"Liar. Is it something…..nasty"

I laughed softly. "You really enjoy calling me that, don't you? And I don't think in nasty ways like you."

"Only because it's true. See you're lying again , I'm not a nasty thinker."

The drive into town was filled with Elena's chatter—half gossip, half playful commentary about every billboard we passed. I found myself laughing more than I expected to. She had that kind of energy that made you forget where your sadness began.

By the time we reached the mall, I almost felt like myself again. Almost.

---

The mall was alive with weekend noise—music drifting from open stores, the smell of coffee and perfume weaving through the air. Elena was already tugging me toward a boutique before I could say anything.

"Let's just browse," she said, eyes glinting. "You need color in your life. And maybe something that'll make Demian lose his mind when he sees you next."

My stomach flipped at the sound of his name. Demian Leclerc—my fiancé, chosen for me before I could understand what engagement meant. He was studying abroad, and I'd only met him at formal events where everything we said felt rehearsed.

I tried to play along. "He's not the type to notice clothes. Besides we haven't seen each other for a decade."

"Then make him notice,so he can fall for you" she said, grinning. "You're too beautiful to be hidden behind beige."

I rolled my eyes again, but inside, a tiny part of me warmed at the compliment.

We drifted from one shop to another until Elena finally grew tired. "I need coffee before I collapse dramatically," she said, fanning herself with her phone.

We found a café tucked beside a flower shop. I ordered iced tea; Elena went for something sweet and caffeinated. I was halfway through my drink when a familiar laugh reached my ears—a low, rich sound that stirred the air like sunlight through glass.

I turned, and there he was.

Adrian.

His black hair was slightly tousled, his smile disarmingly easy as he walked with two friends—Henry, who looked like trouble in designer clothes, and Peter, who radiated quiet sarcasm.

Elena groaned under her breath. "Oh great. Them." Adrian spotted us. His grin widened as he walked straight over.

"Well, this is a pleasant surprise," he said smoothly, eyes glinting as they landed on me. "Elena… and her mysterious friend who is protective in charming way ."

" You're more beautiful than the last time I saw you, Selene," Adrian complimented.

" You're impossible," Elena said rolling her eyes.

"Only when beauty demands it, and this one is too demanding," he replied, not even glancing her way.

Henry and Peter exchanged a look that said here he goes again.

"Care to join us?" Adrian asked, nodding toward the nearby restaurant. "My treat. It's rare to see Elena in civilized company."

"Excuse me?" Elena said, but she was smiling.

I hesitated, but my stomach growled loudly, betraying me. Adrian's grin widened.

"That's a yes," he said. "Come on, don't let me be the only one feeding your hunger."

Elena sighed, standing up. "Fine. But if you flirt with my friend too much, I'm leaving you with the bill."

"I'd gladly pay double for good company," Adrian said, eyes flicking back to me.

I looked away, feeling my cheeks warm.

---

The meal was loud, easy, filled with the kind of teasing that pulled laughter from me even when I tried to hide it. Adrian had a way of turning every sentence into a joke, and yet there was sincerity under the mischief.

"So," he said, leaning back after dessert, "what brings someone like you here, Selene?"

"Someone like me?"

"Elegant. Quiet. Looks like she belongs in an art gallery, not a noisy mall."

"Maybe I like the noise," I said, trying to sound unfazed.

He smiled slowly. "I doubt it. You're too composed for chaos."

"You'd be surprised."

Elena interrupted with a fake cough. "Don't mind him. He likes pretending he can read people. He once told a teacher she was secretly a poet."

"She was," Adrian said, shrugging. "She started crying two minutes later. That counts as proof."

Henry snorted. Peter just shook his head.

As the laughter faded, I caught Adrian still watching me. His expression softened just enough to make my heart stumble.

My phone vibrated , a message from Demian I told myself not to read into it.

Adrian leaned closer, voice dipping low, and said, "You have a smile that could ruin me," my resolve cracked.

Elena's fork clattered against her plate. "Ruin you? Really? How dramatic."

He grinned at her. "You'd know. You ruin people for fun."

"Touché."

I tried to hide my blush by sipping my drink. It didn't work.

---

After lunch, we wandered the open walkway of the mall. Elena walked ahead with Henry, arguing about which store had better shoes, leaving Adrian and me a few steps behind.

"Are you always this quiet?" he asked.

"I'm not quiet."

"You are. But it's nice. Makes people want to listen when you finally speak."

"I think you just like hearing yourself talk."

He laughed, that easy sound again. "Maybe. But you make me want to talk more."

I turned to him, meaning to come up with something clever, but the sincerity in his eyes made words vanish.

He smiled faintly, like he knew what that silence meant. "Careful, Selene. People might think you're starting to like me."

"I don't."

"Liar," he said softly.

I looked away, but my lips betrayed me with the smallest smile.

---

When we finally returned to the car, I read the message from Demian.