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Chapter_116
Elaine’s jaw clenched at Whitney’s words, but she quickly masked her irritation with a smile. “Is that so?” she said, her voice laced with forced sweetness. “Well, I suppose I should take a lesson from you, then. It seems you’re managing quite well with the ‘enemy’ part.”
Ludwik’s gaze shifted between the two women, noting the tension simmering beneath their polished exteriors. He was well aware of the complex dynamics at play—Whitney had her own way of navigating the world, and Elaine, always calculating, was no stranger to playing the game either. But in this moment, it was clear that the balance had shifted, and Ludwik couldn’t help but be impressed by Whitney’s ability to hold her ground.
He leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable as he observed the exchange. “Enough with the games,” he said, his voice low but carrying an unmistakable edge. “If you two have something to discuss, do it somewhere else. I’m not interested in listening to another round of your little power plays.”
Whitney caught the hint in his voice and gave a playful roll of her eyes. “Fine,” she muttered, crossing her arms. “I’ll let you two sort out your business. Just try not to destroy the room with all the tension.”
Elaine stiffened, but Ludwik’s presence kept her from retorting. Instead, she turned to Castor, who had been observing the scene with a mix of curiosity and mild concern. “Let’s get back to the proposal,” she said smoothly, though her eyes never left Whitney’s retreating figure.
Whitney made her way back to the kitchen, silently acknowledging Ludwik’s silent command to give him space. She could feel the heat of his gaze following her, but she refused to let it rattle her. For the first time, it was clear to her that the rules had changed. She wasn’t just some passive player in his world—she was carving her own path, and no one, not even Ludwik, could dictate the terms of the game.
As she pulled the vegetables from the fridge and began chopping, her thoughts wandered back to the earlier exchange with him. His worry had been palpable when he’d thought she was hurt, and though he’d quickly masked it with frustration, she knew he cared. But was it enough to bridge the gap between them? Or would his insecurities continue to haunt their relationship?
Her mind was pulled back to the present when Felix entered the kitchen, his hands awkwardly fumbling as he attempted to help with the vegetables. “I’m not exactly a chef,” he muttered under his breath, and Whitney couldn’t help but smirk.
“You’ll do,” she said with a smile, appreciating the effort. “But if you’re going to help, just try not to burn anything, alright?”
Felix raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue, instead focusing on the task at hand. He knew better than to push his luck with Ludwik’s unpredictable moods, but he also knew that his boss’s feelings for Whitney were far more complicated than either of them would admit.
Back in the main room, Ludwik and Elaine continued discussing business, but the air between them was thick with unspoken tension. Ludwik’s thoughts were elsewhere, on the woman in the kitchen, her resolve, her calm in the face of his outbursts. He had always been able to control every situation—except, it seemed, when it came to Whitney.
The silence stretched on, broken only by the clinking of dishes in the kitchen and the occasional murmur from the two assistants. But in that quiet, a shift was happening. Whitney was no longer just his wife in name; she was his equal, a force to be reckoned with in her own right.
And Ludwik found himself reluctantly acknowledging that he might just need her more than he was willing to admit.
