Chapter 3

Elena and Sloane walked into the main VIP lobby. A group of men blocked their path. Jett, Andrew's best friend, stood in the center. He held a half-empty glass of whiskey. His face was flushed with alcohol. "Well, well," Jett slurred, a nasty grin on his face. "Is the country mouse throwing another tantrum?" The other rich kids in the group laughed. They looked at Elena's beige coat with obvious disgust. Andrew and Kaitlynn rushed into the lobby from the hallway. Andrew didn't tell his friends to stop. He just stood there, crossing his arms. Kaitlynn peeked out from behind Jett's shoulder. "Guys, please don't be mean to Elena," Kaitlynn said softly. "She's just upset." Sloane's cheeks flushed crimson with fury. She moved forward to shout at them, but Elena lifted a hand and pressed it flat against Sloane's chest, bringing her to a halt. Elena cast her one placid glance, and Sloane withdrew. Elena then redirected her focus to Kaitlynn. "Did you enjoy your art therapy in Europe, Kaitlynn?" Elena asked. Her voice was loud enough for the entire lobby to hear. The laughter died down. Kaitlynn's smile stiffened. "Yes. The scenery was very healing for my soul." Elena took a slow step forward. "The scenery around Lake Geneva is beautiful," Elena said. "Especially near that private medical clinic hidden in the mountains." Kaitlynn stopped breathing. Her pupils dilated. Her fingers lost their grip, and her expensive clutch slipped, hitting the marble floor with a loud smack. Andrew frowned. He looked at Elena. "What the hell are you talking about? Shut up." Elena ignored him. She kept her eyes locked on Kaitlynn. "Dr. Hoffman is a true professional, isn't he?" Elena asked. Kaitlynn's face turned completely pale. She started shaking. "You're crazy!" Kaitlynn screamed. "You are making things up!" Jett stepped in front of Kaitlynn, pointing his finger inches from Elena's face. "You jealous bitch," Jett spat. "You can't stand that Kaitlynn is pure and Andrew actually loves her." Elena didn't blink. She looked at Jett's pointing finger, then back to Kaitlynn. "If she's so pure," Elena said, her voice dropping to a deadly calm, "why did she need a surgical procedure to remove a six-week-old embryo?" Dead silence. The music from the club seemed to fade away. Everyone in the lobby stared at Kaitlynn. Andrew looked like he had been struck by lightning. His mouth opened slightly. He slowly turned his head to look at Kaitlynn. "Kaitlynn?" Andrew asked. Kaitlynn grabbed Andrew's arm. Tears poured down her face. "She's lying! Andrew, she's trying to ruin me!" Elena crossed her arms over her chest. "A white building near Lake Geneva," Elena said smoothly, her eyes unblinking. "A heavy door with the number four on it. And a bank statement, fluttering in the wind, with the final numbers 8802." Kaitlynn's knees gave out. She collapsed onto the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. The details were classified. No one could possibly know them. Andrew stared at the woman crying on the floor. His chest heaved. For the first time in two years, doubt crept into his eyes. Jett's face turned purple with rage. "You hired a hacker!" Jett yelled. "You stole her medical records! That's a federal crime!" Elena slowly turned her gaze to Jett. "Just like the massive mess you are currently hiding from your father?" Elena asked, her voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "You better clean up your own backyard, Jett. Those Vegas debts won't stay buried forever." Jett choked. The sound died in his throat. His face drained of all color, terrified by her terrifyingly accurate warning. He looked like he was going to vomit. The people standing next to him shifted uncomfortably. Elena brushed a piece of imaginary lint off her sleeve. She looked at the group of stunned, terrified people. She looked at Andrew one last time. "You treat a liar who once carried another man's child like a treasure," Elena said. "You're pathetic." Elena grabbed Sloane's hand. They walked through the crowd. No one dared to stop them. As they pushed open the front doors of the club, Elena heard Kaitlynn's hysterical sobbing and Andrew's frustrated shout echoing in the lobby. She didn't look back.