[ELENA]
Elena glanced down at her hand, where her brief touch had lingered on Cole's shoulder earlier. It was quick, almost meaningless, but she had been ready. A single strand of hair plucked from his suit jacket.
Perfect.
Her mind worked quickly, laying out the next steps. With the right incantations and materials, she could ensure that Cole's thoughts turned to her. She didn't need his affection willingly—only his attention.
It might be the twenty-first century, but the ways of bending fate hadn't been entirely lost to time. Elena smiled to herself, tucking the hair into a hidden compartment in her bag.
Eve might think she had won, but this game wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
And speaking of the devil, Eve arrived, her presence cutting through the air like a sudden gust. She looked slightly frazzled, as if she had rushed over from something important, her usually polished demeanor now tinged with urgency.
