Chapter 597
Elodie’s success wasn’t universally admired in her industry. When it came to competition, the uglier side of human nature often revealed itself.
She understood this well enough. She didn’t linger; instead, she was headed out to meet Jarrod.
She had just come downstairs, not even reached her car yet, when she spotted a Bentley parked nearby.
Ivan stepped out, his expression cold and severe. The second he saw Elodie, he strode over and grabbed her wrist. “You really don’t know how to keep a low profile lately. Risking everything, now with your reputation in shambles—this is a mess, and it’s not easy to fix. For now, just stay out of sight.”
He was already trying to pull her toward the car.
He didn’t even bother bringing up the fact that she’d hung up on him earlier.
“Ivan! Let go of me!” Elodie’s voice was icy as she yanked her hand free from his grasp.
She was starting to think Ivan had gone off the deep end. He’d never been this controlling before.
Ivan turned back, his gaze dark and searching. “You’re still not giving up?”
He closed the distance between them, every word clipped and precise. “Don’t you see what’s going on? All of this-every bit of trouble-came from Jarrod. Who else but me actually cares what happens to you?”
His face twisted with old resentment. “Back when I got sent away, you couldn’t wait to find someone else. If you’d just waited for me, you wouldn’t be in this mess!”
He clearly still resented that Elodie had left him behind. They’d grown up together, always close. Of all the things she could’ve done, marrying Jarrod right after Ivan’s departure was something he’d never forgiven. It was as if she couldn’t wait to move on.
Elodie drew in a steadying breath and stared him down. “Wait for you? Why should I? What were we, besides siblings? Ivan, you need to wake up.”
She was sick of him treating her like some possession, as if she didn’t have a mind of her own.
Ivan had been good to her before; she’d repaid him as much as she owed, and that was enough.
His sharp features tensed for a moment, and he tried to remind
himself not to argue. Still, he stepped forward, brows drawn tight. “If you’d cut Jarrod off, none of this would be happening. He doesn’t care about you, and you know it. Elodie, I just don’t want you to throw yourself away-no one else will have your back but me.”
Whatever warmth Elodie might have had for him vanished. She was ready to walk right past him.
As she turned, she caught sight of Jarrod approaching from across the lot.
He looked calm, no particular expression on his face, his stride long and purposeful. As Ivan watched, amusement flickering in his eyes, Jarrod glanced briefly at Elodie and asked, “I came to grab the car-did you take the keys with you?”
Elodie hadn’t expected him to show up in person, but she wasn’t about to waste another second arguing with Ivan. She needed to talk to Jarrod anyway. “They’re in my office. Come up.”
She didn’t give Ivan another look as she headed back inside.
As Jarrod walked past, Ivan turned and gave him a smile that didn’t come close to reaching his eyes. “Mr. Silverstein, you’ve got quite the patience. After everything Elodie’s put you through, you’re still here? I know her better than anyone. When I was out of the picture, she just needed someone to lean on-it didn’t matter if there were feelings or not. And you, Mr. Silverstein, with all your charity work, still let her get away with it?”
Jarrod paused, glancing sideways at Ivan with the barest hint of a smile. “She’s not anyone’s shadow, Ivan. She doesn’t need a man to survive. For someone you claim was so close to her, it’s telling that she chose to marry someone else the moment you were gone.”
He let that hang in the air. “Mr. Harcourt, maybe your bond wasn’t as deep as you thought.”