Gratitude and vulnerability and something deeper that neither of them had time to examine, but she nodded. The next 4 hours were a blur of activity. Amanda arrived within 20 minutes, her professional composure intact despite being called in at midnight. The communications team assembled. Lawyers joined via video conference.
They crafted a statement that walked the razor's edge between transparency and damage control. Marcus stayed in the background, watching Elena command the room with the same authority she'd shown in every crisis. But now he could see the cost. The way her hands shook slightly when she thought no one was looking, the tightness around her eyes that spoke of pain, she wouldn't acknowledge. Around 3:00 a.m., during a brief pause while the lawyers reviewed language, Elena caught his eye and gestured toward her private office.
He followed, closing the door on the controlled chaos outside. "I can't do this," she said the moment they were alone, her voice breaking. Marcus moved to her immediately. "Yes, you can. You've been doing it for hours."
"I mean," she gestured between them, her eyes bright with unshed tears. I mean this whatever happened between us earlier, whatever we said, I can't think about it right now. Can't process what it means or what I want or how to fit something personal into a life that's about to become a media circus. The words hurt, but Marcus understood them. Okay.
Elena looked at him like she'd expected an argument. You need time, he said gently. space to handle the crisis without worrying about us. I get it. I'm not going anywhere, Elena. When you're ready to think about this, I'll be here.
You make it sound simple. It is simple. Not easy, but simple. He reached out slowly, giving her time to pull away, took her hand. I care about you.
That doesn't change because you need to focus on your company right now. Do what you need to do. I'll wait. Elena's fingers tightened around his What if waiting means weeks, months. What if by the time I have space to breathe, you've realized that a single father with a six-year-old daughter doesn't need the complications that come with me?
Then I guess you don't know me as well as I thought. Marcus met her eyes because complications don't scare me. losing you before we even have a chance to see what this could be. That terrifies me." She kissed him then, desperate and brief, like she was trying to memorize the feeling before duty pulled her away. When they broke apart, she was crying silently.
"I need you to take care of yourself," she whispered. "Go home after this. Be with Lily. Let me handle the corporate nightmare without worrying that you're exhausting yourself trying to protect me from everything. "Elena—" "Please."
Her voice broke completely. Please, Marcus. I need to know you're safe and resting. That's how you help me right now. He wanted to argue, wanted to insist on staying.