Chapter 2: The Dinner
1164 Words
By six o'clock that evening, Elena had changed her mind at least twenty times about the dinner.
She had spent most of the afternoon trying to convince herself that it was simply part of her new job.
A professional obligation.
Nothing more.
Yet every time she remembered Adrian's expression that morning, she felt the same uneasy sensation settle in her stomach.
You should be.
Those three words had stayed with her all day.
Elena stood in front of the mirror, smoothing the dark burgundy dress Mrs. Hawthorne had left on her bed.
"You don't have to wear it," Elena had said when she'd found it.
Mrs. Hawthorne had only smiled.
"Mr. Blackwood prefers his guests properly dressed."
"Guests?"
"Tonight, you are accompanying him."
That distinction somehow made Elena even more nervous.
She studied her reflection.
The dress was elegant without being revealing, falling just below her knees. She pulled her long dark hair over one shoulder and reached for a pair of simple earrings.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Miss Vale?"
"I'm ready."
She opened it.
Adrian stood in the hallway.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
His gaze traveled over her carefully, not hurriedly, before returning to her eyes.
"You'll do."
Elena raised an eyebrow.
"That's your compliment?"
"I wasn't complimenting you."
"Clearly."
She walked past him.
"Shall we?"
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"After you."
---
The drive into the city was silent.
Elena sat in the back seat beside Adrian while the city lights passed outside the window.
She tried not to look at him.
She failed.
He was staring through the opposite window, his expression unreadable.
"Can I ask you something?"
"You just did."
She looked at him.
"Are you always like this?"
"Like what?"
"Impossible."
He turned his head.
"Usually."
Elena laughed despite herself.
It was the first time she'd seen his expression soften.
Then his phone rang.
Adrian answered.
"Yes?"
His face changed almost immediately.
"What?"
A pause.
"Where?"
Another pause.
"Don't touch anything. I'll handle it."
He ended the call.
Elena watched him.
"Is something wrong?"
"No."
"You don't look like nothing is wrong."
"I said it's handled."
She turned toward the window.
Fine.
She didn't know why she cared.
The car continued through the city until it stopped outside an exclusive restaurant hidden behind black iron gates.
Two security guards opened the doors.
Elena stepped out.
The restaurant was beautiful.
Soft golden lights illuminated the entrance, while expensive cars lined the street.
Adrian placed a hand lightly against the small of her back.
The gesture was brief.
Protective.
Possessive.
Elena stiffened.
He immediately removed his hand.
"Stay close."
"Why?"
"Because I asked you to."
She sighed.
"Of course."
Inside, the restaurant was almost completely private.
A waiter led them toward a secluded room at the back.
Three men were already waiting.
The moment they saw Adrian, they stood.
"Blackwood."
Adrian nodded.
"Mr. Romano."
Elena noticed the man's eyes move toward her.
"Who's this?"
"My assistant."
Romano smiled.
"Beautiful assistant."
Adrian's expression became colder.
"She's not part of the negotiation."
Romano chuckled.
"Relax."
Adrian pulled out Elena's chair.
"Sit."
She did.
The conversation began.
At first, Elena tried to ignore it.
Business.
Numbers.
Territories.
Shipments.
Words she didn't understand.
But then she heard something that caught her attention.
"Blackwood's people were seen near the old warehouse."
Elena looked up.
Adrian noticed.
His eyes met hers.
"Continue," he said.
Romano leaned forward.
"We know someone is leaking information."
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"Do you know who?"
"Not yet."
A glass shattered somewhere outside the room.
Everyone froze.
Adrian stood instantly.
The room changed.
His entire demeanor became different.
He wasn't the controlled man she'd met at the mansion.
He was something else.
Something colder.
Something dangerous.
"Stay here."
Elena stood.
"Adrian—"
"Stay."
The door opened.
Two men entered.
One whispered something into Adrian's ear.
Adrian's eyes immediately went to Elena.
She didn't understand why.
Then she heard it.
A gunshot.
Elena gasped.
The lights went out.
Someone grabbed her wrist.
She tried to pull away.
"Let me go!"
"Elena."
Adrian.
She recognized his voice immediately.
He pulled her against him.
"Don't move."
Another gunshot echoed through the restaurant.
Elena's heart pounded.
She could feel Adrian's arm around her waist, holding her firmly against his chest.
"What's happening?"
"Nothing you need to worry about."
"Nothing?"
She could barely hear herself over the pounding of her heart.
"You brought me to a restaurant where people are shooting at each other!"
"I said stay behind me."
He moved her behind him.
A few seconds later, the emergency lights came on.
Security rushed into the room.
The threat was gone.
Adrian turned toward Elena.
"Are you hurt?"
She shook her head.
"No."
He took her hand anyway.
His fingers moved over her wrist where she'd been grabbed.
A faint red mark was forming on her skin.
His expression darkened.
"Who touched you?"
"I don't know."
"Did you see him?"
"No."
Adrian's jaw tightened.
Elena pulled her hand away.
"I'm fine."
"No, you're not."
"I'm scared, Adrian."
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
His expression changed.
For the first time, she saw something in his eyes that wasn't anger.
Fear.
Not for himself.
For her.
He stepped closer.
"I won't let anyone hurt you."
Elena stared at him.
"You can't promise that."
"I can."
"How?"
His gaze locked onto hers.
"Because I'll kill anyone who tries."
She froze.
Adrian seemed to realize what he'd said.
But he didn't take it back.
Instead, he turned toward his men.
"We're leaving."
---
The ride back to the estate was silent.
Elena stared out the window.
Her mind was racing.
The shooting.
The strange conversation.
Adrian's reaction.
And the way he'd looked at her afterward.
She finally turned toward him.
"Who are you?"
Adrian didn't answer.
"Seriously. What kind of business are you involved in?"
Still nothing.
"Adrian."
He looked at her.
"You're asking questions you aren't ready to hear the answers to."
"Then tell me anyway."
His eyes darkened.
"You're better off not knowing."
"That's not your decision."
"No."
His voice was quiet.
"But keeping you alive is."
Elena frowned.
"Why do you care so much?"
Adrian stared at her for several seconds.
Then he leaned closer.
"That's the question you should be most afraid to ask."
The car continued through the darkness.
Neither of them spoke again.
But Elena couldn't shake the feeling that tonight had changed something between them.
And she was right.
Because when they arrived at the mansion, Adrian gave his security team a single order.
"No one gets near Elena."
He paused.
Then added quietly:
"Not even me."
But he knew it was already too late.
He had spent months keeping his distance.
Now that Elena was finally close, distance was becoming impossible.
And somewhere beneath the control, beneath the secrets and the carefully constructed walls, Adrian had already crossed a line he could never uncross.
He had become obsessed with her.
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