Babel Novel
24
He reached out tentatively, longing to bridge the growing chasm between them, but she pulled away from him, and Chandler let his hand drop.
“I thought there was something between us, something worth-”
Elena’s interruption cut through his words, her voice fraught with emotion.
“There is nothing between us, Chandler. You can’t decide for me.”
“I never meant to overstep, Elena. I just… I care about you.”
“You care about me.. Or yourself? Which is it?”
Chandler’s expression reflected both remorse and desperation. It was clear that she was too angry to listen to him at that moment, so he tried something else. “I know I overstepped, Elena. I was wrong to interfere. But it’s late now. Please, let’s head back to the hotel. We can talk about this.”
Elena shook her head vehemently, her frustration bubbling over. “I don’t want to talk about this with you right now or ever. I need some space.”
The air crackled with tension, the weight of their unspoken emotions lingering in the night. Chandler’s pleading eyes searched hers, silently begging for forgiveness.”It’s too late to head home now,” he continued softly, his voice tinged with concern. “Please, come back with me to the hotel. We can sort things out in the morning.”
Elena hesitated, torn between her anger and the practicality of the situation. She glanced around the parking lot, her resolve wavering in the face of the late hour and the chilly night. He was right. They couldn’t go home, and she sure as hell couldn’t spend the night in the parking lot. Finally, with a heavy sigh and a hint of resignation, Elena relented. “Fine, I’ll come back. But I’m not ready to talk yet and I’m not sharing a room with you anymore.”
Chandler nodded, a mix of relief and remorse flooding his features. “Thank you, Elena. I promise I won’t push and I’ll get another room booked for myself if that’s what you’d prefer. Let’s just get back and rest.”
Together, they walked back towards the hotel, a palpable tension lingering in the air, the unspoken words echoing between them. The night held an uneasy silence as they navigated the distance back, the weight of unresolved emotions hanging heavy over their shoulders, leaving their uncertain future shrouded in the shadows of the night
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They returned back to the party but Chandler left after a while. He told her he had to go get another room for himself and Elena simply nodded. It was the best thing for the both of them at the moment because she sure as hell didn’t want to be around him.
He returned later as the party ended and although Elena just wanted to be done with it, she stayed back to say goodbye to some of the few people she’d met. She handed her business card to one lady and smiled as she urged, “Please, feel free to reach out if you ever need catering for your events. I’d love to be of service.”
“The room is on the top level,” he said evenly when she was ready to leave.
He gestured toward the elevator and Elena strode in that direction. Chandler followed her into the empty elevator and she glared at him. “What are you doing?” she asked with a frown.
“Making sure you get to the room safely,” he replied without looking at her. “You forget that you don’t even know which one it is,”
“Oh” said Elena, realizing that he was right, but she wasn’t going to accept defeat. “Well, you don’t have to come with me. You can just tell me. I’m perfectly capable of taking good care of myself and finding the room or is this another thing you feel the need to take care of for me?”
Chandler ran his hand through his hair, messing it up, but for some reason the disheveled hair only seemed to make him look more attractive. Elena looked away. She didn’t understand herself and her body at all. What the hell was wrong with her? How the hell was it possible to be so angry at him, but yet she couldn’t stop herself from noticing him. She noticed his scent, his hair, his sharp jawline, shape of his lips and even the movements in his adams apple as he swallowed. She had to get far away from him as soon as possible.
They rode up in silence, the tension so thick Elena felt like the entire elevator would explode before it stopped. It was all she could not to tap her foot in agitation as she waited for the doors to open. When they finally did, Elena stepped out, glanced down the hall and then back at Chandler.
“My key,” she said pointedly. “What room am I in?”
Chandler sighed and pointed at the end. “The suite at the end.”
She reached forward and snatched the key card from his grasp. Then she spun on her heel and stalked down the hall. She jammed the card into the lock, listened for the snick and then shoved it open. She stepped inside and slammed the door in Chandler’s face. Her feet were killing her, she was angry as hell and she was hungry. She kicked off her shoes and then sat on the edge of the couch next to the table with the hotel directory and a telephone. Surely they could get something for her to eat.
The sound of the door opening had her on her feet again, and she glared indignantly as Chandler walked in and shut the door behind him. He held up another key card in explanation. He looked tired and resigned.
“Look, Elena, I know you’re angry.”
She held up a hand. “Don’t you dare patronize me. You have no idea how furious I am. Angry doesn’t even begin to cover it.”
He blew out his breath and ran a hand through his hair again. He took off his suit coat and tossed it onto the arm of the couch and began to unbutton his shirt, revealing his tattooed skin. Elena’s eyes widened and she pointed to the door with a shaking finger. “Out. I won’t share a room with you. I don’t care how sorry you claim to be, ”
“I need a drink,” Chandler muttered. He finished with all the buttons and Elena almost gasped. Yeah she was mad at him, but damn he sure was making it hard for her to concentrate on just being mad. She had known he had a nice body, but the sight of his bare, tattoed chest did something to her insides. She wanted to trace the ink, especially those ones ones around his abdomen leading to his – God, she had to stop thinking like this.