NOVPUBThe car hummed softly as it sped down the road, the late morning sun spilling golden light over the city skyline. Raelynn sat comfortably in the passenger seat, gazing out at the blur of buildings passing by. There was a peaceful lull in the air, though a part of her couldn’t shake the feeling from earlier—Zake’s carefully masked expression, the unreadable look Elion had given him.
She pressed a hand to her belly absentmindedly, tracing small circles over the fabric of her dress.
The sound of Elion’s phone ringing cut through the quiet atmosphere. Without taking his eyes off the road, he pressed a button on the steering wheel, answering the call through the car’s Bluetooth speaker.
"Kade," Elion greeted, his tone neutral. "What is it?"
From the other end, Kade let out an exasperated sigh. "What do you mean ’what is it’? Why aren’t you here yet? The meeting is about to start."
Elion’s brows furrowed, and then he groaned. "Shit. I forgot to tell you—I’m going to be late."
Kade’s frustrated sigh crackled through the speaker. "Late? Seriously, Elion? What the hell is so important that you—"
"There’s something I need to take care of first," Elion interrupted, his voice firm but not unkind.
Raelynn stiffened slightly in the passenger seat, her fingers curling in her lap. She didn’t need to ask what he meant—she already knew. This. Him bringing her to the hospital, making sure she was okay, even though she had never once asked him to.
Kade was still grumbling on the other end. "This isn’t just some casual briefing, you know. You’re supposed to be here."
Elion exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple with one hand while keeping his other steady on the wheel. "Yeah, I know, Kade. And I will be."
Raelynn lowered her gaze to the dashboard, a faint tightness forming in her chest. She hadn’t meant to make him late. It wasn’t like she had asked him to drop everything for her. Yet, he had done it anyway, without hesitation, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
And now, because of her, he was going to have to deal with Kade’s irritation and whatever mess his absence would cause.
Kade scoffed on the other end of the call. "You do realize you’ve never been late to anything before, right? Ever. And I’d really prefer if you kept that record intact."
Elion huffed a laugh, his grip tightening slightly on the steering wheel. "Kade, if you don’t stop nagging me, I might just lose control of the vehicle."
Raelynn’s head snapped up, eyes widening as she turned to look at him. What?
For a second, she actually considered grabbing the wheel herself.
Elion must have caught the movement from the corner of his eye because he let out an amused breath and spared her a glance while whispered, "Relax. I was joking."
Raelynn didn’t relax. If anything, she shook her head furiously, crossing her arms over her chest. That was such a scary joke.
Raelynn glanced at him in amusement. It wasn’t often she saw him caught off guard like this.
Kade, on the other end, sounded just as frustrated. "You better get here fast. The representatives from Oscars haven’t arrived yet, so you still have a window."
Elion sighed. "Fine." With that, he ended the call, running a hand through his hair as he focused back on the road.
Raelynn tilted her head. "So, what’s the plan?"
"What else?" Elion said, gripping the wheel with one hand. "I’ll bring you home first, then head to the office."
Raelynn nodded but then noticed the slight tension in his posture. He was calculating something, weighing his options. Then, as if deciding, he muttered, "I could call Sloane and Reinhart to pick you up instead, but I’m afraid they’ll take too long."
She arched a brow. "Or... you could just take me with you."
Raelynn watched as Elion’s fingers tapped against the steering wheel, his expression unreadable. He was clearly running through different scenarios in his head, trying to figure out the best course of action.
But honestly, wasn’t the answer obvious?
I’m the flexible one here, she thought. Elion’s the one with actual urgency.
Calling Sloane and Reinhart was an option, sure, but it wasn’t exactly the best one. Even if they left immediately, there was no guarantee they’d get here fast enough. Traffic, delays—anything could slow them down. Meanwhile, Elion was already here, ready to go.
It just made sense for her to go with him.
She leaned back in her seat, watching as Elion mulled over her words. The way his jaw tensed slightly told her he wasn’t completely opposed to the idea, but he was probably debating whether it was wise.
"Unless you want to be late," she added, crossing her arms.
Elion flicked a glance her way. "You really don’t mind?"
Raelynn shrugged with a small smile. "Why would I? Unless you mind."
"I don’t," he said easily. Then, a pause. "But will you be comfortable?"
She laughed, rolling her eyes. "Elion, I’m pregnant, not fragile. It’s not like your office is some kind of battlefield."
He smirked. "That depends. Board meetings can get pretty vicious and long."
Raelynn giggled. "Well, it’s my first chance to actually see what’s inside. Last time, I only got to step into the lobby."
Elion chuckled at that, clearly catching her meaning. The last time she had gone to his office, she had barely made it past the entrance before his assistant had turned her away.
Raelynn glanced at him before lowering her gaze to his clothes, suddenly realizing something. "Wait," she started, tilting her head. "What about your clothes? Shouldn’t you change before your meeting? I mean, you’re not exactly dressed for—" She gestured vaguely at him, as if that explained everything.
Elion let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head. "Relax, Raelynn. I have spare clothes at my office. I’ll just change when we get there."
Raelynn exhaled a breath of relief. "Oh, thank God."
"Again, sorry for the inconvenience. You really should have just gone with Reinhart."
Raelynn smirked, leaning back in her seat. "How about you just drive and not be late to your meeting?"
Elion’s lips curled into an amused smile as he shifted gears, smoothly maneuvering through the streets. "As you wish."
