#Chapter 134: Whispers and Warnings

Ella POV I answered the phone as I walked through the upper levels of the shopping center. Alexander's warm voice greeted me, and my mind drifted for a moment to the first day we officially met. It had been in his office building, on the day this very shopping center opened. Back then, Alexander had no reason to trust me. He didn’t truly know who I was, yet he had agreed to the terms of my offer—to help me get revenge against David. In exchange, I would help him achieve his ultimate goal: becoming king. So much had changed since that day, and yet that was still what tied us together. That, and the contract Alexander had drawn up. The contract guaranteed his loyalty to me for the duration of our "relationship." It was an odd thing to promise someone you weren’t actually involved with, but I understood why he’d done it. Alexander was determined to protect me from any potential scandals that might tarnish my reputation. It had been a thoughtful gesture to c