Chapter 6: The First Encounter After Five Years

Reginald's POV

The Vanderbilt Estate was lit up. The usual crowd was there - rich Manhattan people drinking fancy champagne and pretending to care about classical music. Sure, they said they were here for my grandfather Richard's 82nd birthday. But really? They just wanted to network and gossip.

I stood by the upstairs window, watching black cars pull up one after another. Used to hate these parties. Now they were just part of the job.

"Sir." Adam showed up with his tablet. "Phoenix Group's CEO is coming tonight."

I took a sip of scotch. Finally. "Show them to the study when they get here."

"Yes, sir. Also..." Adam hesitated. "Miss. Drake is on her way."

Perfect. Fan-fucking-tastic. Ever since the divorce hit the news, she'd been showing up everywhere.

"Have security stall her," I said. "I don't need her drama tonight."

"Already taken care of, sir." he paused and continued, "Sir, maybe Miss Drake could help distract from—"

"From Elena?" My voice cracked. "She's supposed to be in France, wasting her family's money at some spa."

What a joke. I'd spent five years looking for her. Hired the best private investigators money could buy. Nothing. Not one trace. It's like she'd vanished into thin air.

"About Miss Stewart—" Adam started.

"Save it." I couldn't take my eyes off her. I was about to change the topic when the crowd downstairs suddenly went quiet. I looked down and almost dropped my drink.

Holy shit. She walked in wearing a deep blue dress that made every head turn. This wasn't the same woman who left five years ago. That Elena was shy, always trying to please everyone. This one? All swagger.

The vultures moved in fast. Some rich woman with too much Botox took the first shot.

"Elena, sweetie!" Her fake voice made me cringe. "Heard France wasn't working out?"

Elena's smile was ice cold. She looked at the woman like she was nothing. "I'm sorry, who are you?"

Botox lady's face twitched. "Don't play dumb. Everyone knows you only got into the Vanderbilt family because of that drunk setup. Then you ran away to France like a coward."

Hearing these vultures tear into her made me want to put my fist through the nearest wall. Even now, I still couldn't stand anyone else attacking what used to be mine.

"Trying to score points?" Elena shot back. "Save it for Vivian. She might actually care."

I couldn't help the smirk that spread across my face. The old Elena would've never clapped back like that.

"She's really changed," Adam muttered beside me.

"Yeah, no kidding." I watched her work the room like she'd been doing it forever. When did she learn to handle people like that?

"Look at that," another woman sneered. "The gold-digger thinks she belongs here."

Elena turned with a fake smile. "Better a successful gold-digger than a bitter woman who couldn't even get a ring. How many times did he turn you down again?"

The crowd gasped. Time to step in.

"Let's go say hello," I called out to Adam, my feet already moving before my brain could catch up. I brushed past him, ignoring his worried "Sir?" as I headed for the stairs, each step bringing me closer to her. Elena might be my ex, but she was still—

Elena looked up. Those green eyes knocked the wind out of me. Last time I saw that look was the night she disappeared. "Mr. Vanderbilt." Her voice was perfectly polite.

Five years of disappearance, and here she was, acting like we never happened. Like we were just two people at a party. Something in me snapped.

"Got some nerve showing up here." I made it loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Really?" She raised an eyebrow. "Last I checked, showing up for your grandfather's birthday isn't a crime."

"Did Stewarts put you up to this? Running low on cash?"

"I'm not a Stewart anymore, Mr. Vanderbilt." Her smile was sharp. "No need to worry about that."

"You think you can just..." My voice was dangerously low. The whiskey from earlier wasn't helping my self-control. "After everything..."

She must have seen something change in my expression because she took a step back, those green eyes widening slightly. But it was too late - I was already moving.

I grabbed her before she could scream, one hand over her mouth, and pulled her into a hallway. The silk of her dress slid beneath my fingers as she struggled.

Elena fought back until I stopped her, pinning her against the wall. I seized her hands and held them high above her head, my body pressing against hers. The scent of her perfume - still the same after all these years - made my head spin.

"This isn't some game," I snapped, my voice rough with anger. "You can't just walk in and out of Vanderbilt whenever you want."

"We're divorced, Reginald!" she shouted back, struggling against my grip. I could feel her trembling, her chest rising and falling rapidly against mine. "Five years! You have no right to treat me like this!"

"No right?" I laughed coldly, leaning closer until our faces were inches apart. "That's rich, coming from the woman who drugged me."

At the mention of what happened five years ago, Elena's face paled slightly, her beautiful eyes glistening with tears. The pulse at her throat jumped visibly.

My grip got tighter as memories flooded back. Ever since I took over Vanderbilt Group, I'd controlled everything perfectly - both the family and the company.

But Elena... she walked in and suddenly I was a mess again. I hated it. I hated how she made me feel. I hated things I couldn't control. That was why I needed to keep her in check, even though I didn't like her.

Elena suddenly smiled seductively, her lips curving in that way that used to drive me wild. "Oh, Mr. Vanderbilt," she purred, her voice dropping to that soft, sexy tone that still haunted my dreams. "You say I can't get to you, but look at you now."

My expression darkened as I roughly pushed her away, disgusted with myself for still responding to her.

She quickly put distance between us, smoothing down her dress with trembling hands. Then she sneered, "Still so rough after all these years, Mr. Vanderbilt."

I could see it now - the tears, the trembling - it was all an act. But knowing that didn't stop my heart from racing, didn't stop me from wanting to grab her again.

My control snapped. Before she could react, I closed the distance between us. One hand seized her wrist while the other gripped her chin, forcing her to look at me as I backed her against the wall.

Her breath hitched, those green eyes widening as I leaned in close enough to feel her pulse racing beneath my fingers. "Cut the crap, Elena. Who the fuck do you think you are, waltzing back in here like nothing happened after disappearing for so long? What the hell are you really here for?"