Chapter3
899 Words
Chapter 3: The Name’s True Significance
Ariana’s POV
The night didn’t end with the door slamming.
It ended with me sitting on the couch, knees to my chest, while Adams paced the living room like a man caught between two worlds.
“I should’ve told you,” he said finally, voice low. “About my father. About Roy.”
I watched him carefully. “Why didn’t you?”
He stopped pacing and turned to me. “Because I didn’t want you to see me as someone like them. My father and Roy. That kind of man.”
I shook my head. “You’re nothing like Roy.”
A muscle in his jaw ticked. “You saw how fast Roy snapped. My dad… wasn’t much better, all charm in public, cold as ice in private. I grew up watching men like him succeed while women like my mom and—” he hesitated, “—you were left in the wreckage.”
I stood slowly, walking toward him. “So what changed? Why did you take the job?”
He exhaled. “He’s retiring early due to excessive controversies and overwhelming pressure. He offered me the company—said I had the ‘clean slate’ he needed to save the smart name. I thought… maybe I could fix what he broke.”
I studied his face. “But Roy works for the company, too.”Adams nodded. “Yeah. And when I found out you were his ex-wife—”
“You thought it would be too complicated?”
“I didn’t want to pull you into it,” he admitted. “But then I saw you at the love garden all alone, meditating, looking so gorgeous and reserved. And I forgot everything else. You smiled like someone who hadn’t smiled in a long time.”
I looked away, swallowing a lump in my throat. “You’re right. I hadn’t.”
He stepped closer. “But I wasn’t trying to use you. I swear, Ariana. I didn’t plan any of this.”I believed him but belief didn’t make this situation any less explosive. Roy wasn’t just my angry ex; he was now Adams’s subordinate, and Adams was walking into a company with secrets buried under marble floors and polished smiles. If Roy was angry enough, he’d dig them up—and drag everyone down with him. Just as I was about to ask more, my phone buzzed again.
Unknown Number.
Normally, I would’ve ignored it. But something in my gut told me to pick up.
“Ariana,” came a familiar voice on the other end. “It’s me.Annie.”
I froze. “Annie?”
Roy’s sister.
We hadn’t spoken in over a year, I murmured.
“You need to listen,” she said quickly. “Roy’s spiraling bad, he’s not just mad about you, he’s mad about the job and Adams, he’s going to do something stupid.”My blood ran cold. “What kind of stupid?”
She hesitated, “he’s got files”. Stuff from the company, he said he’s going to leak it, take Adams down, ruin him—then make sure everyone knows you were sleeping your way into power.”I felt like the floor fell out from under me.
Adams was watching me carefully. I lowered the phone, still hearing Annie’s voice.” He’s going to destroy you both,” she said. “I tried to stop him, but he won’t listen to me.”Then the line went dead.”I stared at the screen, the silence ringing in my ears.
“Ariana?” Adams asked, voice tight. “What is it?”
I looked up, my throat dry. “It was Annie, Roy’s sister, she said he has something… files, that’s the company’s confidential information, he’s planning to spill them and drag you through the mud.”Adams didn’t move for a long second. Then he turned toward the window, his hands balling into fists.
“I knew he’d self-destruct,” he muttered. “I just didn’t think he’d take you with him.”
I stepped closer. “What’s in those files, Adams? What’s he holding over you?”Adams glanced at me, his expression dark. “Before my father handed the company over to me, he covered up something. A safety scandal. If it goes public, not only could I lose my position… I could be held accountable. Even if I didn’t do it.”
I exhaled sharply. “Roy’s bluffing.”
“Maybe,” he said grimly. “Or maybe he’s the match that burns the whole house down.”
I reached for his hand.
His fingers trembled.
“Then we stop him,” I said quietly. “Together.”
He looked at me then, as if seeing something that surprised him. Hope, maybe.
“You’re not afraid?”
“I am,” I admitted. “But I’m more afraid of losing what we’ve started.”He let out a breath, resting his forehead gently against mine. “You’re stronger than I ever expected.”
“No,” I whispered. “I just finally stopped letting fear pick my future.”We stayed like that for a moment, holding each other against the chaos that loomed on the other side of the night.
But I knew one thing for sure.
Roy wasn’t done.
And neither were we.
- Writer
