WAR GOD : Rise After Betrayal

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Elara closed the blue folder on her desk gently. She leaned back against her chair, stared at the ceiling for a moment, then let out a long breath. That morning already felt packed even before she had truly begun her day.

The door to her office was knocked twice.

“Come in,” Elara said.

Ares appeared at the doorway. The clothes he wore were simple, neat, and without any excessive impression. His face looked calm, as if last night had never left anything behind.

“You called for me, Miss?” he asked.

Elara nodded. “Come in.”

Ares stepped inside and stood not far from Elara’s desk. He waited without asking anything.

Elara took a cream-colored envelope from her desk drawer. She turned it slowly between her fingers, then held it out toward Ares.

“I received an invitation,” Elara said.

Ares accepted the envelope with slight confusion. “An invitation to what?”

“A wedding,” Elara answered briefly. “From Maxim Wilson and Rachel Corriere.”

Ares’s hand stopped moving for a moment. However, his expression remained flat.

“Oh,” he said shortly.

Elara observed Ares’s face, but did not find the reaction she had expected.

Elara fell silent for a few seconds. She was not surprised, only thoughtful.

“I understand now,” she said softly. “This invitation is indeed also addressed to me personally.”

Ares nodded. “The business world is small.”

Elara rested her elbow on the desk. “They invited me officially. Many important figures will attend the event.”

Ares lowered his head slightly. “In that case, Miss should attend.”

“I will attend,” Elara replied firmly. “That’s why I want to discuss something with you.”

Ares lifted his head. “What is it?”

“I want you to come with me,” Elara said without beating around the bush.

Ares fell silent.

A few seconds passed before he replied, “I’m sorry, Miss. I can’t go with you.”

Elara frowned. “Why?”

“That’s a personal matter,” Ares said calmly. “I don’t want to make the situation uncomfortable. For you or for them.”

Elara looked at him sharply. “I’m not inviting you as part of your past.”

Ares remained calm. “Even so, my presence could invite speculation.”

“And?” Elara asked.

Ares let out a small breath. “I don’t want to be a burden.”

Elara stood up from her chair. She walked around the desk and stopped right in front of Ares.

“Ares,” she said softly but firmly, “I’m asking you not because of who they are, but because I want you near me.”

Ares looked at Elara. “Miss Elara—”

“This is not a request,” Elara cut in. “This is my wish.”

Ares fell silent longer this time.

“You’re not worried?” he asked at last.

“I’m always worried,” Elara answered honestly. “But I’m calmer if you come with me.”

Ares lowered his gaze, thinking. “I don’t want to draw attention.”

“You don’t need to do anything,” Elara said. “Just stand beside me.”

Silence filled the room for a moment.

“All right,” Ares finally said. “If that is your wish.”

Elara gave a small smile. “Thank you.”

Ares nodded. “When is the event?”

“This week,” Elara answered. “And before that, I have to go to the company today. There’s an issue from yesterday that hasn’t been resolved.”

Ares immediately became professional. “I will prepare.”

“We leave in fifteen minutes,” Elara said.

Ares turned toward the door, then paused for a moment. “Miss Elara.”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for continuing to trust me.”

Elara looked at him gently. “I know what I’m doing.”

Ares left the room.

Elara stared at the closed door, then returned to her desk. In her hand, the wedding invitation felt heavier than it should have.

Elsewhere, the atmosphere was very different.

A large room with tightly shut windows. The smell of gunpowder still lingered in the air. Two bodies lay on the floor, blood slowly spreading.

A middle-aged man stood in the center of the room. His hand still gripped a pistol. His face was red with anger.

“Useless!” he shouted. “Failed twice! Twice!”

He kicked the chair in front of him until it toppled over.

“When the target was just one woman!”

Another man stepped forward cautiously. Hendri. His face remained calm despite the tense situation.

“Mr. Horicl,” Hendri said quietly, “emotion will not solve the problem.”

Horicl turned sharply. “Shut up! You’re part of this failure too!”

Hendri lowered his head briefly. “I take responsibility. But Miss Elara is not easy to reach. Her security is layered, and now the police are starting to be alert.”

Horicl laughed coldly. “She thinks she’s safe? As long as that woman lives, that wealth will never be mine.”

He raised his pistol again, then lowered it roughly. “My wife is lying in a coma, has no one except her. If Elara dies, everything is finished.”

Hendri stepped closer. “Precisely because of that, we need to be more precise.”

Horicl snorted. “Do you have any ideas?”

“Many,” Hendri answered calmly. “And not all of them need weapons.”

Horicl fell silent. His breathing was still heavy, but his eyes became more focused.

“Continue,” he said.

“Business pressure. Internal mistakes. Scandals,” Hendri listed one by one. “If Miss Elara falls in the eyes of the public or the law, our position will be stronger.”

Horicl gave a thin grin. “And if that fails?”

Hendri glanced briefly at the bodies on the floor. “There are still other ways. More subtle ones.”

Horicl let out a long breath. “Fine. But remember, Hendri. I don’t want to fail again.”

Hendri bowed. “I understand, Sir.”