Perfectly Wrong (Elena & Sam Musical)

Chapter ten

I had no idea where to look for Elena anymore. I’d been wandering around the hotel corridors for hours, pretending I was searching for my room even though I didn’t have one. But I knew she was there with that goddamn John, and I had to find her. This urgency was pounding in my chest, driving me to figure out what the hell had happened, and why she’d done this to me. To us.

Even though I couldn’t be sure she was still at the Four Seasons, I couldn’t let myself believe she’d gone home. If she had, it meant John was with her, and I couldn’t bear the thought of them lying in the bed where I’d loved Elena so many times. I’d have to burn the damn thing and buy a new one because I’d refuse to ever set foot on it again. I almost laughed at myself. She’d put on this whole show, letting that asshole have her all night, and here I was, still thinking about getting back in her bed. God, I needed help.

My feet were killing me, and I gave up. I slumped down at the end of a long corridor I’d paced back and forth a hundred times. I stared at the plastic cup in my hand, watching the ice melt into nothing. I groaned, frustrated. The alcohol was watered down now, and it wouldn’t do much. Not that I needed it—I was already pretty hammered. One of the perks of being legal? You could drink as much as you wanted. The downside? You could drink too much, just like I had, and then suffer for it the next day. But right now, at 2 a.m., I couldn’t care less. I needed something to get me through the night until I found her.

I pulled out my phone and tried calling her again, but it went straight to voicemail, just like the last sixteen times I’d tried. No, I wasn’t counting—my phone was. I frowned as my thoughts scrambled for a moment, and I had to remind myself why I was even there. Oh, right. Elena.

A door clicked open down the hallway, and I glanced up, searching for where the sound came from. And there she was. My girl, stepping out of one of the rooms in the middle of the fucking night. Her hair was down now, falling over her shoulders. Her lips, no longer painted that light colour, were back to their natural shade, the one that always made me want to kiss her the second I saw them.

She didn’t notice me, sitting there like a fool, humiliated, waiting for her to come out of his room and give me some kind of explanation. Elena walked to the elevator and pressed the button, turning her phone on as she waited. The soft ding echoed in the hallway, and she stepped inside, disappearing behind the closing doors, leaving me breathless and on the verge of tears, like the stupid kid I was.

John decided to stay with us for Christmas, and I was more than pleased about that, though a part of me felt empty. Sam wasn’t responding to my messages or answering my calls, and I knew I deserved it. I just wanted a chance to explain.

My parents were thrilled when we arrived at their house. We were greeted with hugs, kisses, and my mom’s M we just reviewed the schedule. As we were leaving, Jeremy asked me to stay. For a moment, I considered lying and saying I had something urgent to work on. Sam was so close, but still so far, and we hadn’t had a proper chance to talk. It was killing me.

As soon as everyone left, Marco, the lawyer, walked in with a stack of papers. Jeremy closed the door, a faint smile on his face.

“That was Sam Martin, wasn’t it? The guy we met in Japan,” Marco asked casually.

I swallowed hard.

“You met Martin in Japan?” Jeremy looked at me, puzzled.

“Yeah, we were having lunch when he walked in.” Someone needed to shut this lawyer up. “He seemed surprised to see us, didn’t he, Elena? I’d even say he panicked a bit when he saw you. I don’t think he expected to bump into anyone he knew.”

“Right, but what did you want to discuss, Jer?” I tried to steer the conversation away. I couldn’t explain what Sam was doing in Japan without digging myself into a deeper hole. Marco set the papers on the table, and I noticed the bold letters at the top: PROJECT TS. A chill ran through me.

“This…”

“That’s the contract for the marketing project with Taryn Steward,” Jeremy said proudly, handing me a pen. I had to catch my breath. “If you’re still interested, just sign here, and you’re officially on her team.”

With trembling hands, I signed it, barely believing I’d actually secured the project.

As I left the room, I was in a daze. I’d done it, and I was ecstatic. My smile grew even wider when I spotted Sam standing near my office door. He looked incredible—his skin lightly tanned, cheeks flushed from the Jamaican sun. A familiar heat ignited in my stomach. The desire was so intense, I wanted to pull him into my office right then and there.

When our eyes met, I could see he felt the same. The corner of his mouth lifted in a smirk, and I bit my lip. I glanced around, weighing my options. The corridor was empty, and there was only one possibility. I’d already taken risks for him before—why not again?

Just down the hall, there was a staff restroom. It wasn’t as nice as the one for visitors, but it had a lock, and that’s all I needed. His eyes followed mine, and he smiled knowingly.

I walked past him, heading straight for the restroom, not bothering to check if he was behind me. I knew he was. I stood in the middle of the small space, my heart pounding. The anticipation was both exhilarating and maddening. The wait was agonizing and thrilling at the same time—agonizing because I felt like I might combust any second, and thrilling because I knew he would make it worth every second.

When I heard the lock click, I grinned.

Sam’s hands were gentle but firm as he turned me around to face him. I stared at his chest, taking in the black shirt that clung to his frame. His fingers brushed my jaw, tilting my head up. His pupils were blown, and when our lips finally met, it felt like my whole world exploded.

The intensity between us was overwhelming, an undeniable force that pulled us together. I couldn’t fully comprehend my feelings for him; I loved him so much it ached. It was the kind of pain that gripped my soul, a relentless burn that spread wherever he touched me. It was a madness I’d never experienced in all my twenty-eight years of life. Nothing compared to what we’d shared over these past months.

Sam groaned, and I clung to him, my nails digging into his neck. He drove me insane—always. Crazy in love, crazy with anger, crazy with anxiety, just completely crazy. And I trusted him so deeply that I didn’t even hesitate to have sex in the company restroom because I knew he’d protect me from anything.

“God, Elena,” he murmured, unbuttoning my pants. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“I know,” I replied, and he smiled.

In one swift motion, Sam stripped me of my clothes, leaving me half-naked. “We have to be quick, Lena, but I promise I’ll make it up to you later.” Promises. We usually avoided them, but I definitely wanted him to keep that one.

He lifted me onto the sink counter, positioning himself between my legs. I hurriedly unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it aside as he fumbled with his pants. I wanted to kiss him, undress him, admire him, and have him inside me—all at once. And when he finally entered me, I bit down on his shoulder to muffle my moan.

It felt so right, it was almost wrong. We were made for each other, and I was convinced of that since the day we met at that coffee shop. Sam’s fingers dug into my waist as he moved, his rhythm urgent. The sensation of skin against skin was electrifying.

It didn’t take long before I was falling apart in his arms, and he kissed me deeply, his voice breaking as he called my name.

“You’re getting bolder,” he teased, his voice breathless. “First, skipping work, and now pulling me into a restroom for a quickie.”

“All your fault,” I laughed, resting my head against his chest. “You give me those puppy-dog eyes, and I can’t resist.”

“You’re trouble,” he murmured, biting my cheek lightly before pulling me into a tight embrace. I closed my eyes, content to just stay there, wrapped in his warmth.

“We need to talk.”

Sam kissed the top of my head. “I know. Come over to my place when you’re done here.”

I pouted. “Your mom won’t be there, right?” I asked, feeling silly, and he chuckled.

“No, Elena. After that day, she always asks before dropping by. I think you might have traumatized her.”

I looked into his eyes, and he held my face gently between his hands.

“Can I wait for you?”

“Always,” I whispered, pulling him in for another kiss.

We got dressed and left separately, taking different routes back to the office. I was floating on cloud nine. I’d just completed an incredible project, signed on for an even bigger one, and reconnected with Sam. Things couldn’t get any better. Well, maybe if I won the lottery and only worked for fun, donating all my earnings to charity, that would top it.

But I hadn’t been in my office for long before Jeremy summoned me urgently.

“What’s up, Jer?” I asked as I walked in, shutting the door behind me. He looked agitated, his expression tense.

“Elena, I’m going to be blunt because there’s no way around this. Is there something going on between you and Sam Martin?”

I blinked, trying to process his question. “What do you mean?” I needed time to think. Did someone see us coming out of the restroom? That was impossible; the hallway was empty.

“You know exactly what I mean, Elena,” he snapped.

“There’s nothing going on between us.”

Not good. My heart raced.

“Elena, for God’s sake, tell me what’s happening!” Jeremy insisted.

Since I stayed silent, Jeremy slid a sheet of paper across the desk. I picked it up, confused. Written in his awful handwriting were numbered lines, quotes that made no sense.

“What is this?”

“These are lyrics from Sam’s latest songs,” Jeremy explained, gesturing for me to sit. He hit play on his computer, and the opening notes of a track filled the room. “Track number two, Anxious. ”

My stomach dropped as Sam’s voice started singing lines he’d once sung to me in my living room. I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. He couldn’t have…

“Martin mentioned meeting you at a coffee shop when we first spoke. Then on track nine, It Was For You, he sings about seeing you with someone else but thinking you looked unhappy. There’s no mistaking how irritated he was by you and John at that party.” Jeremy’s words cut like a knife. “What was that, Elena? He was practically performing for you. And when you left, he bolted out like he’d been shot.”

“Jeremy, this is ridiculous,” I said, tossing the paper back on the desk. “I didn’t know he had some kind of infatuation with me—”

“Elena,” Jeremy interrupted sharply. “He followed you to Japan.”

“He didn’t go to Japan because of me!” I snapped, raising my voice.

“Are you sure?” Jeremy clicked on another track. “Track three, You in Japan. He sings about it being more than friendship. Then Marco mentions seeing him there, and Rento claims a man kicked him out of your room. Who was that, Elena?”

“Rento shouldn’t be talking. He barged into my room, completely drunk, and was lucky to get out alive.”

Jeremy leaned over the desk, his face inches from mine. “Who was in your room, Elena?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“When Sam Martin goes to Japan and spends the night in your hotel room—paid for by this company—yes, it is my business.”

I didn’t know what hurt more—Jeremy’s words or Sam’s betrayal. I had begged him so many times not to write about us, knowing it would cause problems. Now, I watched my career crumble over a few stupid lyrics. How could he do this to me?

“I’m going to ask you one last time, Elena.” Jeremy’s voice was steely, his trust in me shattered. “What’s going on between you and Sam Martin?”

There was no point in lying anymore. Marco knew Sam had been in Japan, Rento knew there was a man in my room, and the lyrics were practically a confession. I shut my eyes, trying to find the right words. Nothing came out. “I’m sorry, Jeremy,” I whispered.

“ Sorry ?” he shouted. “Elena, what the hell is this? You just signed the biggest contract of your career with this company, you’re given opportunities people would kill for, and you’re telling me you’re sorry for sleeping with a nineteen-year-old? Are you out of your mind?”

I had nothing else to say. I knew I’d messed up. I’d berated myself so many times for getting involved with Sam. Now it was too late.

“What am I supposed to tell the board?”

“They can’t prove it, Jer.”

“They don’t need proof, Elena. They’ve got witnesses, and they’ve got a competitor for Martin who’s more than happy to use this against you.” His face turned red as he paced around the office, exasperated. “Did you stop to think, even for a second, about the chaos you’d cause if Rento decided to accuse you of violating the contract? You turned down the Japanese project because you were ‘too busy’ with the SM Project. And now I find out you weren’t just working on the project, but the artist too. They could sue us!”

My vision blurred, and I felt the room spinning. I took a few deep breaths to keep from passing out. I knew all of this. What I didn’t know was why Sam had decided to throw me under the bus like this. It couldn’t have been because of John. He’d been doing this for a while, and I couldn’t figure out why.

Jeremy ran his hands through his hair. “You could be fired, Elena,” he said, and I let out a shaky breath. “And you probably will be.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, a sharp pain stabbing at my heart. Icon Records was everything to me. My friends were here, my happiest memories. And now, they were going to kick me out because of Martin.

“Unless you can give me a damn good reason not to fire you. Did he force you? Is he blackmailing you?”

I shook my head. “Nothing I say can change what happened.”

Jeremy stared at me for what felt like an eternity before dropping into his chair again. “You’ve screwed up everything, Elena. Your job, your career… all of it.”

“Does the board know?” My voice cracked as I asked.

He nodded. “When I was listening to the song, Marco walked in with one of the directors.” Shit. “He started talking about seeing you two in Japan, how Sam freaked out when he saw you. The man heard ‘You in Japan’ and put two and two together. He demanded answers, and I told him I didn’t know what was going on. He told me to find out and report to legal.”

I closed my eyes. This was a nightmare. “And now?”

“And now one of you—if not both—is getting dropped from Icon Records.” If he’d slapped me, it would have hurt less.

“There has to be another way, Jer. This company is my life.”

“Yeah, and you’ve messed with your life. You’re under investigation, Elena. Can you believe that? One of our best leaders, now with a noose around her neck because of a nineteen-year-old kid!”

This was too much. I wasn’t going down alone, and I wasn’t going to lose everything because of him. It didn’t matter how much I cared about Sam, he didn’t get to walk away from this. I sprang up from the chair and snatched the paper off Jeremy’s desk.

“Where are you going?” he yelled as I stormed out of the office.

I barely had time to grab my purse. It was freezing outside, but I was burning with anger, frustration, and hurt. Tears streamed down my face before I even realized I was crying. Everything he had touched seemed to burn, but not in the way I used to crave. Now, I wanted to tear my skin off, erase every trace of Sam Martin’s scent, his touch, his kisses.

I called a taxi and gave the driver his address. Less than twenty minutes later, I was stomping through the lobby of his building, ignoring the receptionists who knew me all too well.

The elevator dinged on the eleventh floor, and I marched straight to his door. I didn’t knock—I pounded. Screw the polite neighbours, or the fact that we, as Canadians, were supposed to be quiet and courteous. I wanted to break down that door, tear apart the entire building. After a few more punches, he finally opened it, looking terrified.

“Elena?” His face was a mix of shock and confusion. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?” He reached for me, but I stepped back. I couldn’t stand his touch right now. Just looking into his eyes was hard enough.

“What did you do, Sam?” I whispered.

I was trembling in the hallway, clutching that crumpled piece of paper in my hand. Martin looked at me, bewildered, not knowing what to do. He stepped aside, gesturing for me to come in. I only made it as far as the kitchen island.

“What are you talking about?” he asked.

I threw the paper onto the counter and watched as his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

“ This , Martin,” I snapped. “This is what I’m talking about.”

He picked it up and started reading, glancing at me every few seconds. I was falling apart—physically, emotionally, completely.

“How could you do this to me?” I sobbed, tears pouring down my face again. “How could you ruin my life like this?”

“Elena…”

“You did everything I begged you not to do. You made me the centre of attention, you exposed me to everyone!”

“There’s no way they know the songs are about us!” He tried to reach for me, to calm me down, but I shoved his hands away. The anger I felt for him was suffocating, and I could barely breathe between words.

“They all know, Martin,” I shouted. “Everyone! Jeremy found out, then Marco, even Rento knows. How could you be so stupid? How could you think you could talk about seeing me at a café and no one would connect the dots when they heard it in a song?”

I was screaming, louder than I thought I could. Let the neighbours hear me.

“Deny it; they have no proof.” His voice was strained, and I could see he was losing his composure. “Elena, we can fix this. I’m sorry, I just thought…”

“Thought what?” I spat, the disgust clear on my face. “That I wanted some crappy songs about me out there?”

He took a step back. I hadn’t meant to say that, but my adrenaline was spiking. I could feel electricity buzzing through my veins, my throat burning, and all I wanted to do was scream more.

“How are you going to deny it when Marco saw you in Japan, Sam? He saw you there, you two talked. And what did you do? You wrote a goddamn song about it!” I stepped closer, jabbing my finger at him. “It’s over. My life is over, and it’s your fault!”

I turned away, hiding my face in my hands as I cried. I was overwhelmed by a mix of anger and betrayal. I had trusted him, believed he’d protect me.

“I’ll talk to Jeremy,” he said desperately. “It’ll be okay.”

“One of Icon Records’ directors found out, kid.” I turned to face him, my eyes blazing. “They cornered my boss. I’m screwed. Can you even comprehend that? Your selfishness, your childish behaviour, and your complete lack of respect for me have put a noose around my neck. I’m getting fired, Martin.”

“No,” he gasped, stepping towards me, but I backed away again. “They have no proof, Lena. I’ll just say they’re just dumb songs, okay? Please, listen to me.”

“They have witnesses !” I shouted back. “That asshole Rento told them there was a man in my room, and Marco confirmed you were there. They can even track our recent flights, Sam! Stop pretending you’re still a teenager and grow the hell up! There are consequences to face, and I have the most to lose.” We locked eyes, pain clear in both of us. “I signed a huge contract today, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And you destroyed it all!”

“Elena, please, stop.”

“I hope you’re happy. You got what you wanted—you ruined me, Martin. And right now, I can’t even tell you how much I hate you!”

He opened his mouth to respond, but his phone rang. I raised my eyebrows in warning, daring him to answer. If I meant anything to Sam, he’d focus on me and try to help, or at least listen to me while I raged in his kitchen. But he turned his back and took the call. He didn’t care about my feelings or what I was about to lose. He didn’t love me like I loved him.

I ripped off the earrings he’d given me and set them on the kitchen island. I walked out, the door slamming behind me just as I heard Sam shout my name. The elevator was still on the same floor, so I stepped inside, leaving for good.

I walked further than I should have without a coat. Eventually, I found a park some distance from his building and sat on a bench, crying like a child. I’d never truly been happy; that was the truth. I escaped an abusive husband only to end up with a reckless idiot who ruined my life and career. And the worst part was he didn’t even understand what it meant to me. Sam was selfish, always focused on his own success, never caring about mine.

He’d never asked about my work or how I felt at Icon Records. He had nothing to lose—he was famous online, and any label would overlook an indiscretion to sign him. But me? When they reached out to Icon for a reference, they’d know what I’d done, and that would be the end.

My career in music marketing was over.

My phone rang constantly during the forty minutes I spent at the park. Sam was desperately trying to reach me, but there was nothing left to say. I couldn’t even think about him. I felt betrayed, humiliated, and tired of always being the one who suffered.

The feeling of losing control of my life, of having no say in my own decisions, crashed back like a tidal wave, just like when I was with Noah. People thought they could make choices for me, leaving me voiceless. It was so absurd and infuriating, I laughed bitterly.

When my phone buzzed again, Jeremy’s name lit up the screen. “I need you to come to the office, Lena,” he said, his voice calmer than before. “We need to have an official conversation.”

I got up from the bench and hailed a taxi. On the way, I wiped my face and tried to pull myself together. I didn’t even realize how cold I’d been until I felt the warmth of the cab.

I headed straight to Jeremy’s office, but he led me to a meeting room through a side door.

“John is on his way,” he informed me, and I stared at him, stunned. “Yes, I called him. I never thought I’d say this, but I need that traitorous bastard right now. He should be here in three hours if he catches the next flight.” I nodded. “You look wrecked.”

“Thanks, I guess.” I exhaled deeply.

Jeremy sat in front of me, and for the first time, I saw something beyond his usual pride—compassion and even a hint of regret.

“I’m sorry if I was harsh before, but I was furious, Elena. You’ve always been my best leader, and I didn’t expect you to make such a serious mistake. I understand you have a private life, and if you and Martin are involved, that’s your business.” His tone was firm and serious. “But you should’ve stepped away from the project as soon as it started. Now I’m losing you, and I don’t know what to do.”

“Am I really getting fired?” I shut my eyes, bracing for the answer.

“I’ll fight it, but I need your help, Elena. There’s not enough space for both of you here anymore. If you stay, he goes. If he stays, you go. And I need the truth. If you declare you’re innocent, I’ll believe you and kick his ass out of here.” His phone dinged with a message. “Martin’s here,” he said, and I jumped out of my seat.

“You called him?”

“Yes, but it’s okay if you don’t want to see him.” Jeremy headed for the door. “I’ll talk to him in my office. Stay here, and we’ll talk to you after, all right?”

I nodded and sat back down, my leg bouncing with anxiety. My boss didn’t close the door completely, and I could hear everything happening in his office. Sam and Alex entered, and I heard them sit in front of Jeremy’s desk. Sam cleared his throat, anxious to get things moving.

“Martin, you know what’s happening, and I hope you understand the gravity of your actions.”

Sam stayed silent, shifting uncomfortably in his chair.

“My question is simple. Once I have your answer and Elena’s, the board will decide your fate.”

“Jeremy, it’s not that serious,” Alex interjected. “They’re young; it happens.”

“Other clients were involved, Alex. It is serious.”

“So, what’s the question?” Sam sounded tense.

“Who’s responsible for all of this? Who initiated it?”

Jeremy’s stern voice made me shrink in my seat. I closed my eyes, whispering a plea.

Please, just tell the truth, Sam. Just tell the fucking truth.

And then he spoke words I’ll never forget.

“It wasn’t me.”