Chapter 14 - The Woman in the Mirror
A year after the bedroom photograph, Elena stood before another mirror.
This time she was wearing emerald green.
Daniel waited downstairs.
Meditron had invited her to an ethics and procurement reform gala after the company completed a massive restructuring.
Elena initially refused.
Then Margaret convinced her.
“You didn’t cause the scandal,” Margaret said. “You helped expose it.”
At the gala, Elena received an unexpected standing ovation.
She hated being watched.
But she did not hide.
Afterward, Daniel found her on the terrace.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“You’re lying.”
“A little.”
He offered his hand.
She took it.
Below them, Chicago glittered.
Daniel reached into his jacket.
Elena immediately narrowed her eyes.
“Daniel.”
He froze.
“What?”
“If that’s a ring, put it back.”
His face turned red.
Elena burst out laughing.
“It’s not!”
He pulled out a package of antacids.
She laughed harder.
Daniel stared at them.
“Well, this is less romantic than I expected.”
“You thought I thought you were proposing.”
“You looked terrified.”
“I was.”
He became serious.
“Then I’m glad it wasn’t a ring.”
Elena looked at him.
“Someday, maybe.”
“Someday is enough.”
She kissed him beneath the city lights.
May you like
For once, the future did not feel like something she needed to control.
It felt like somewhere she actually wanted to go.
