THE WIFE HE REPLACED

p walking. Not when the door closed behind her. Not when the silence wrapped around her like a

. Only then did she stop. Her shoulders rose and fell slowly as she took a deep breath, stea

een for a second. Not shaking. N

hen- "Ms. Carter." The voice on the other e

ed slightly. "It'

"As you wish," the voic

nreadable. Then she turned and walked toward a s

r her. "Good evening, ma'am." Elena nodded once and sli

smoothly, disappea

she was gone. Completely. He frowned

, her tone light with amusement. "I expected

ad left...It didn't feel right,

She'll come back when she reali

miled. "O

ont of a towering glass building. Lights shimmered

st the pavement as she looked up. For a brief mome

doors opened-Ev

. Carter." "Welc

voices filled with respect as she passed.

nod. Like this world-This place-Was completely normal to her. She

oman from earlier and gone was the hesitation. In her place stood someone else entirely. Someone cold

respectfully. "The board has been waitin

?" she rep

efused to make any fina

"Good." She walked past him, h

he morning," she continued. "It's ti

d slightly before adding-"Shoul

ned. For the first time since lea

voice was quiet bu

d immediately

er. Control. Everything she had quietly built-Hidden behind a life no one questioned. She placed her bag gently on the desk and walked to

drian," she murmured softly. Her phone buzzed i

Transfer ready upon

od in, the company he proudly ran, the life he thought was his, had neve

placed, was the one