Chapter 10: A Deal With A Stranger
1217 Words
The determination in Rose’s eyes surprised him.
There was no hesitation in her expression. No uncertainty. Just a quiet firmness that made it clear she had already made up her mind.
Most women Adrian met tried to impress him the moment they learned who he was. Some became overly friendly, others suddenly changed their behavior, eager to gain his attention.
Rose, on the other hand, was rejecting him without hesitation.
She wasn’t trying to flatter him.
She wasn’t trying to win him over.
She simply didn’t want him.
It was… refreshing.
Adrian leaned back slightly, studying her with an unreadable expression. The faintest hint of amusement tugged at the corner of his lips.
“You know,” he said calmly, “you could simply date me instead. Forget your ex.”
Rose’s eyebrows lifted slightly.
Before she could respond, Adrian paused, his gray eyes remaining fixed on hers.
“Or marry me.”
Rose stared at him in disbelief.
For a moment, she wondered if she had heard him correctly.
“Marry a complete stranger?”
Adrian remained surprisingly composed, as though suggesting marriage to someone he had met only minutes ago was the most normal thing in the world.
“The man you’re trying to get revenge on…” he said evenly, “…was once a stranger too.”
His words caught her off guard.
Rose’s lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
He was right.
Ethan had been a stranger before becoming the love of her life.
A stranger she had once known nothing about.
A stranger who had slowly become someone she trusted, someone she loved, someone she had imagined spending her future with.
And look where that had ended.
For the briefest moment, doubt crept into her heart.
Is he actually trying to win me over?
Her eyes flickered across Adrian’s face.
He looked completely serious.
Rose quickly pushed the thought away.
No.
She wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice.
Straightening her shoulders, she met his eyes with renewed determination.
“Mr. Sterling, I’m not interested in love.”
Her voice was calm, but firm.
She stood from the sofa, smoothing down her dress and reaching for her handbag.
“I should go.”
Adrian’s gaze followed every movement she made.
He watched as she adjusted the strap of her handbag over her shoulder, her fingers tightening around it as though it gave her something to hold on to.
Curiosity had completely taken hold of him.
There was something about Rose Bennett that refused to let him look away.
She wasn’t like the women he usually encountered.
She wasn’t impressed by his wealth.
She wasn’t eager to stay in his company.
And, strangely enough, the more she tried to distance herself from him, the more interested he became.
Almost without thinking, Adrian reached out and gently caught her wrist.
“Wait.”
Rose froze.
The warmth of his hand against her skin sent an unfamiliar shiver through her.
Her eyes dropped to where his fingers rested lightly around her wrist.
For a second, neither of them moved.
Then Rose slowly lifted her eyes to his.
Their gazes locked.
Adrian seemed to realize what he had done at the same moment.
He immediately released her.
“Sorry.”
Rose rubbed her wrist lightly, more out of nervousness than discomfort.
She folded her arms across her chest again, trying to ignore the strange flutter in her chest.
Why had that simple touch affected her?
She didn’t like the feeling.
She looked at him suspiciously.
“Why?”
A smile slowly spread across Adrian’s face.
He couldn’t remember the last time a woman had intrigued him this much.
Usually, he knew exactly what women wanted from him.
But Rose?
He couldn’t figure her out.
And somehow, that only made him want to know more.
“Who knows?”
He slipped both hands into his pockets, his expression relaxed.
“I might change my mind and accept your deal.”
Rose nodded slowly.
At least he understood the arrangement she was proposing.
“I don’t do love.”
She emphasized every word, making sure there was no room for misunderstanding.
“It’s strictly a fake relationship.”
Adrian held her gaze for a moment before giving a small nod.
“I understand.”
Rose watched him carefully, as if trying to determine whether he actually meant it.
After searching through her handbag, she finally found what she was looking for.
She pulled out a neatly printed business card.
Holding it between two fingers, she extended it toward him.
Adrian accepted it.
Their fingers brushed against each other for the briefest moment.
Rose quickly pulled her hand back.
Adrian glanced down at the card before slipping it into his wallet.
“I’ll call you…”
He looked back at her.
“…if I change my mind.”
“Okay.”
Rose gave a small nod.
There was nothing more to say.
Without another word, she turned and walked toward the staircase.
Adrian remained where he stood.
He didn’t call after her.
He simply watched.
Rose descended the stairs, her figure gradually disappearing from his view as she made her way back toward the lower floor.
A nostalgic smile slowly spread across Adrian’s face.
He wasn’t sure why he was smiling.
He had only known her for a short while.
Yet somehow, the encounter already felt different from anything he had experienced in a long time.
Resting his thumb and forefinger against his jaw, he silently watched her graceful figure disappear down the stairs.
The music from the nightclub continued below, the bass vibrating through the walls as colorful lights swept across the crowd.
But Adrian barely noticed any of it.
His attention remained fixed on the staircase long after Rose had disappeared.
For reasons he couldn’t explain…
He was already looking forward to seeing her again.
Adrian pressed his lips into a thin line, his expression thoughtful as he slowly swirled the glass of beer in his hand. The amber liquid moved gently against the sides of the glass, catching the faint glow of the lights around him.
He lowered his gaze to his phone and stared at the screen for a moment before typing a quick message to his driver.
‘Get ready to move’
Once the message was sent, he slipped the phone back into his pocket.
His eyes drifted toward the dance floor one last time.
Rose was no longer there.
Still, his gaze lingered on the spot where she had been, as though he expected to catch another glimpse of her among the moving crowd.
Something about that woman had unsettled his usual composure.
He had met countless women who wanted his attention.
Yet the one woman who had made it clear she didn’t want it was the one he couldn’t stop thinking about.
Interesting.
Adrian took another slow sip of his beer, his eyes still lingering on the empty space.
‘I don’t do love.’
Her words echoed in his mind.
He almost smiled again.
Neither had he.
At least, that’s what he had always believed.
He set the glass down and and turned toward the exit.
With his hands in his pockets, Adrian made his way through the crowded nightclub, his expression unreadable as he disappeared into the night.
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