72 An Accidental Reveal
Elara’s POV
“That’s Beck Harper,” I said to Julian, feeling a slight hesitation in my voice.
Julian raised an eyebrow, curiosity evident in his expression. “Harper? The shipping magnate? I didn’t know you were acquainted with him.”
I glanced back at Beck’s table, where he was now helping Shanice cut her pancakes. “I’m not, really. I just happened to pull his niece out of the hot spring yesterday when she fell in.”
Julian’s eyes widened. “You saved a child from drowning and didn’t think to mention
it?”
I shrugged, uncomfortable with his amazement. “It wasn’t that dramatic. She slipped, I was there, I pulled her out. That’s all.”
“Classic Elara,” Julian said with a knowing smile. “Doing extraordinary things and then dismissing them as nothing.”
I shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. “Anyway, are we still meeting with the team at
ten?”
Julian nodded, but his attention remained on Beck and Shanice. “They seem quite
taken with you.”
“It’s just gratitude,” I said firmly. “Nothing more.”
“If you say so,” Julian replied, his tone suggesting he thought otherwise. “I’m heading back to my room to prepare for the meeting. See you in the conference room.”
As Julian walked away, I couldn’t help but feel relieved. The last thing I needed was for my professional and personal worlds to collide any more than they already had.
From across the restaurant, Beck observed Elara talking with the tall, dark–haired man he’d seen her with several times during their stay at the resort. They seemed comfortable together, with an easy rapport that spoke of familiarity and trust.
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>>72 An Accidental Reveal
“Is Mrs. Elara leaving?” Shanice asked, noticing his distraction.
“Looks like it,” Beck replied, watching as the man walked away and Elara headed toward the exit. “Finish your breakfast, munchkin”
“I like her,” Shanice declared. “She’s pretty and nice.”
Beck smiled at his niece’s simple assessment. “Yes, she is.”
He’d always known Elara Vance–or rather Elara Thorne–was beautiful in a quiet, elegant way. But seeing her outside the context of Thorne Industries, where she’d always seemed reserved and somehow diminished, he was struck by how differently she carried herself now. There was a confidence to her movements, a lightness that had been absent before.
The man she’d been talking to–her colleague, Beck assumed–seemed to bring out that lightness. They looked good together.
The thought came unbidden, and Beck pushed it aside. Elara’s personal life was none of his business, regardless of who she might be seeing. His connection to her was tenuous at best, linked only through business dealings with her husband–soon–to–be ex–husband, if the rumors were true.
“Uncle Beck, can I have more syrup?” Shanice’s voice pulled him back to the present.
“Just a little,” he conceded, reaching for the syrup pitcher. “We don’t want you bouncing off the walls all morning.”
That evening, I lay on my bed, savoring the peace and quiet after a full day of meetings and team–building exercises. The resort’s king–sized bed was heavenly, and I’d just settled in with a book when my phone rang.
Damien’s name flashed on the screen.
I stared at it for several rings, debating whether to answer. Our communication these days was sparse and usually conducted through lawyers. A direct call from him was unusual.
Curiosity won out. “Hello?”
“Elara.” Damien’s voice was crisp and businesslike. “I’m calling to inform you
that
72 An Acoldental Reveal
Grandmother expects us for dinner tomorrow night.”
No greeting. No pleasantries. Just a directive. Typical.
“I’m not in town,” I replied evenly. “I’m at a company retreat until Sunday evening”
There was a brief pause. “Where?”
“Does it matter?” I countered, irritation flaring. “I won’t be back until late Sunday?
“Fine.” His tone grew more clipped. “I’ll tell Grandmother you’re unavailable. She’ll be disappointed.”
The familiar weight of guilt began to creep in, but I pushed it back firmly. Eleanor had been kind to me, but I was no longer obligated to arrange my schedule around Thorne family expectations.
“Please give her my regrets,” I said, keeping my voice neutral. “I’ll call her next week.” Without another word, Damien hung up.
I stared at my phone, a mixture of annoyance and relief washing over me. There was a time when such a dismissive interaction would have left me devastated. Now, it was merely an unpleasant reminder of what I’d left behind.
The next morning dawned bright and clear. With meetings concluded, we had the day to ourselves before departing tomorrow. I decided to take advantage of the resort’s facilities one last time.
After an invigorating workout in the gym, I headed to the hot springs. The early hour meant I had the outdoor pool to myself. Steam rose from the surface of the mineral–rich water as I slipped in, feeling the tension in my muscles begin to dissolve. I closed my eyes, leaning my head back against the edge of the pool. The contrast between the cool morning air on my face and the hot water enveloping my body was delicious.
“Mrs. Elara! Mrs. Elara!”
The excited voice broke through my peaceful reverie. I opened my eyes to see Shanice bouncing toward the edge of the pool, her nanny hurrying behind her.
72 An Accidental Reveal
“Shanice, don’t run!” the young woman called out, catching up to the child before she could get too close to the water.
“Good morning,” I greeted them, sitting up straighter and making sure my bathrobe was securely tied.
“I’m so sorry to disturb you,” the nanny apologized. “Shanice saw you from the pathway and insisted on saying hello.”
“It’s no trouble,” I assured her, though I’d been looking forward to my solitary soak.
“Thank you again for saving her,” the nanny said earnestly. “I’ve been so careful with her since the incident, but Mr. Harper needed me to pack their things for check–out while he’s in a meeting.”
“You’re leaving today?” I asked, surprised at the twinge of… something I felt at the
news.
Shanice nodded vigorously. “Uncle Beck has to go back to work. But I didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye to you!”
Her genuine enthusiasm was impossible to resist. I smiled at the little girl. “That’s very thoughtful of you, Shanice.”
“Can I get in the water with you?” she asked hopefully.
“Not today, sweetheart,” her nanny answered firmly. “We need to finish packing. We just came to say goodbye.”
Shanice’s face fell. “But I want to play with Mrs. Elara.”
“I’m actually about to get out,” I said, not wanting to cause a scene. “I need to get ready for the day too.”
I stood carefully, making sure my blue bathrobe was securely covering my swimsuit beneath. The hot water had done its work; I felt relaxed and refreshed.
“I can walk with you to the elevator,” I offered, seeing Shanice’s disappointed expression.
The child’s face immediately brightened. “Yes! And you can carry me!”
Before either adult could respond, Shanice had launched herself at me. I caught her
72 An Accidental Reveal
reflexively, lifting her into my arms.
“Shanice!” the nanny scolded. “That was very rude. You can’t just demand to be
carried.”
“It’s all right,” I said, adjusting the child on my hip. Despite the unexpected weight, holding Shanice felt natural. A pang of longing for Cora swept through me. “I don’t mind.”
We started toward the elevator, Shanice chattering happily about the dolphins she’d seen on a boat trip the day before. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and I found myself genuinely engaged in the conversation.
As we approached the elevator, the doors opened to reveal Beck Harper, his attention fixed on his phone.
He looked up, surprise registering on his face when he saw me carrying his niece.
“Uncle Beck!” Shanice exclaimed. “Look who I found! Mrs. Elara is carrying me because she’s my friend now!”
“I see that,” Beck replied, his eyes meeting mine with an unreadable expression. “I was just coming to find you two.”
Shanice wriggled in my arms, stretching toward her uncle. “Uncle Beck, can Mrs. Elara come visit us in our house? She can swim in our pool!”
As Beck reached to take his niece, Shanice twisted and lunged toward him, her small hands still gripping the collar of my robe. The sudden movement caused the loosely tied belt to give way.
The front of my robe fell open, revealing the blue lace lingerie I’d worn under my swimsuit. For a long, frozen moment, Beck’s eyes dropped to my exposed body–fair skin, the curve of my breasts outlined in delicate lace, the flat plane of my stomach, and the matching blue lace below.
His eyes widened, color rising to his cheeks as he quickly averted his gaze.
“I’m so sorry,” he muttered, taking Shanice and turning slightly away.
Heat flooded my face as I clutched my robe closed, retying the belt with trembling fingers. The nanny stood nearby, pretending to be fascinated by a potted plant.
72 An Accidental Reveal
“It’s… it’s fine,” I managed, my voice strained. “Accidents happen?
The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife. Shanice, oblivious to the adults‘ discomfort, continued chattering about swimming pools and play dates.
Beck finally looked back at me, his expression a complex mixture of embarrassment and something else I couldn’t quite identify.
“Elara, I…” he began, then stopped, seeming unsure how to continue.
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