OUTSIDE THE OFFICE
1551 Words
Chapter Nine
Outside the Office
By the end of the month, I had learned three things about working for Adrian Vale.
He expected people to be prepared.
He hated unnecessary meetings.
And he had absolutely no patience for people who wasted his time.
I was beginning to suspect that was why our meetings worked.
Neither of us liked wasting time.
Our fourth meeting ended ten minutes early, which felt almost suspicious.
Adrian closed the file in front of him.
“That will be all.”
I looked at the clock.
“You're letting me go early?”
He glanced at me.
“Would you prefer another hour?”
“No.”
“Then don't question it.”
I smiled and gathered my things.
“You know, you're becoming predictable.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Careful.”
I laughed quietly.
I was almost at the door when he spoke again.
“Lilian.”
I turned.
“The industry gala is tonight.”
I frowned.
“I know.”
“Vale Holdings is sponsoring it.”
“I know that too.”
“You'll be there.”
It wasn't a question.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
I waited.
He seemed to realize I was waiting for an explanation.
“You're representing the creative division.”
“Oh.”
I nodded.
“Fine.”
I walked out.
For some reason, I found myself smiling.
Maybe it was because our conversations had become easier.
Not easy.
There was still something strange between us.
Something neither of us mentioned.
But easier.
Adrian no longer looked at me as though every time he saw my face, he was being reminded of something painful.
At least, not all the time.
And I had stopped feeling like I needed to defend myself every time he spoke.
It was progress.
Small progress.
But still.
The gala was held at one of the city's grandest hotels.
I almost didn't go.
Sophie had spent twenty minutes convincing me that staying home in sweatpants was not an acceptable alternative.
“You work in fashion,” she said as she stood behind me, fixing the clasp on my necklace. “You cannot attend a fashion industry gala looking like you've just come from the grocery store.”
“I wasn't planning to.”
“You were thinking about it.”
“I was considering comfort.”
“You can be comfortable and fashionable.”
I looked at her through the mirror.
“You sound like a magazine.”
“I'll take that as a compliment.”
She stepped back.
I looked at my reflection.
The dress was simple, elegant, and nothing like what I'd worn five years ago.
I didn't know why that thought crossed my mind.
I pushed it away.
“You look beautiful,” Sophie said.
“Thank you.”
“And I look incredible.”
I laughed.
“You're impossible.”
“I know.”
She grabbed her clutch.
“Come on.”
The ballroom was already crowded when we arrived.
Music drifted through the room while waiters moved between groups of guests.
There were designers, photographers, models, investors, actors, executives.
People I recognized from magazines.
People I didn't.
Sophie disappeared almost immediately after spotting a photographer she knew.
I wasn't offended.
She had her own life.
That was something I had learned to appreciate about her.
We didn't need to be attached at the hip to be friends.
I took a glass of sparkling water and wandered toward one of the quieter corners of the room.
Then someone approached me.
“Lilian?”
I turned.
A man around my age smiled.
“I thought that was you.”
I searched his face.
“I'm sorry.”
He laughed.
“It's Daniel.”
I stared at him for another second.
Then I recognized him.
“Daniel Carter?”
“Finally.”
I laughed.
“I haven't seen you in years.”
“Exactly. You disappeared.”
The words made me pause.
He didn't notice.
“You used to work with the editorial team, remember?”
“Yes.”
“I've been trying to get in touch with you.”
“I changed my number.”
“So I noticed.”
We talked for several minutes.
It was easy.
Familiar.
Daniel had known me before the acquisition, before Adrian, before the wedding.
He knew Lilian.
Not Elena.
Not some woman from Adrian's past.
Me.
And for the first time that evening, I relaxed.
Across the room, Adrian noticed.
He had just finished speaking with two investors when his attention drifted toward the ballroom.
He saw me.
Then he saw the man standing beside me.
He stopped.
His expression didn't change.
But something inside him tightened.
He watched as I laughed at something the man said.
Adrian didn't know who he was.
He told himself he didn't care.
He turned back to the investors.
Five minutes later, he found himself looking in my direction again.
I was still talking to the same man.
He frowned.
“Mr. Vale?”
He looked at the investor beside him.
“Yes?”
“We were discussing the London expansion.”
“Continue.”
The man continued speaking.
Adrian listened.
Mostly.
“Who is that?”
Sophie had returned.
I looked over.
“Who?”
She glanced toward Adrian.
“Him.”
“Oh.”
I followed her gaze.
Adrian was speaking to a group near the stage.
“That's Adrian.”
“I know who he is.”
I smiled.
“Then why did you ask?”
She gave me a look.
“You know what I mean.”
I laughed.
“He's my boss.”
“Uh-huh.”
“That's all.”
“I didn't say anything.”
“You didn't have to.”
Daniel returned with two drinks.
“Sorry. Someone pulled me aside.”
He handed me one.
“Thanks.”
Sophie smiled politely.
“I'm Sophie.”
“Daniel.”
They shook hands.
I noticed Adrian looking in our direction again.
This time, I wasn't imagining it.
His gaze moved from Daniel to me.
Then away.
I frowned.
“What?”
Sophie asked.
“Nothing.”
About an hour later, I stepped outside.
The ballroom had become too warm.
I stood on the terrace, breathing in the cooler night air.
The city looked beautiful from that height.
“You disappeared.”
I turned.
Adrian.
Of course.
“I needed some air.”
He stopped a few feet away.
“You've been working too much.”
I smiled.
“That's rich coming from you.”
He almost smiled.
Almost.
“You're right.”
We stood in silence.
It wasn't uncomfortable.
That surprised me.
“You did well with Milan,” he said.
“Thank you.”
“And the new campaign is progressing.”
“It's going well.”
“I know.”
I looked at him.
“You always say things like that.”
“Like what?”
“As if you're trying not to compliment me.”
His eyebrows lifted.
“Maybe I am.”
I laughed.
He looked at me for a moment.
Then his expression softened.
“You seem different outside the office.”
“Different how?”
“Happier.”
I shrugged.
“I like my life.”
Something about my answer made him quiet.
“Good.”
I looked at him.
“Do you?”
He frowned.
“Do I what?”
“Like your life?”
He looked out over the city.
“It's complicated.”
I didn't push.
For some reason, I felt like Adrian Vale wasn't a man who answered personal questions easily.
Then Daniel appeared through the terrace doors.
“Lilian.”
I turned.
“There you are.”
Adrian's expression changed almost imperceptibly.
Daniel smiled.
“I was looking for you.”
“I was just getting some air.”
“We're leaving soon. Do you want a ride?”
I glanced at Adrian.
He was already looking away.
“I'll be fine.”
Daniel nodded.
“Call me if you need anything.”
He left.
I turned back toward Adrian.
He was silent.
“Something wrong?”
“No.”
“You look annoyed.”
“I'm not.”
I smiled.
“You're a terrible liar.”
He looked at me.
For a second, his eyes held mine.
Then he said quietly, “You should enjoy your evening.”
“I intend to.”
He nodded.
“I'll see you Monday.”
And just like that, he walked away.
I watched him disappear into the ballroom.
I didn't understand why my chest felt strangely tight.
I didn't understand why I'd noticed the change in his expression when Daniel appeared.
And I definitely didn't understand why Adrian Vale had started feeling less like a stranger.
Inside the ballroom, Adrian stopped beside one of the tall windows.
He could still see Daniel speaking to me.
He didn't like it.
He didn't know why.
That was the problem.
Five years ago, he had known exactly why he felt everything he felt.
Now he didn't.
He watched me laugh.
And for the first time, he realized something that unsettled him more than his anger ever had.
He was beginning to enjoy seeing me happy.
Even when it had nothing to do with him.
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