ENTANGLED HEARTS; THREADS OF DECEIT

CHAPTER FOUR

(ADRIAN’S POV)

The light from the setting sun filters through the tall windows of my office, casting long shadows on the polished wood floor. I sit behind my desk, the hum of the city below nothing but a faint whisper in the background. My eyes fall on the folder in front of me—the Luxe file.

Lia Donovan’s company.

It’s strange how fate works. Years have gone by without a word, and now here I am, reviewing a business proposal from her. A company she’s built from the ground up, no less. I flip open the folder, letting my eyes skim through the proposal. The designs are bold, the strategy solid. But this isn’t just about the numbers, not for me.

This… this is something else.

A knock at the door breaks my focus. I glance up as Sienna Moore strides in, her presence immediately filling the room. She moves with the kind of confidence that commands attention, her eyes sharp and calculating as she takes in my office.

“Lost in thought again, Adrian?” she asks, a teasing lilt in her voice, though her gaze holds something more—something watchful.

“Not lost,” I reply, leaning back in my chair. “Just thinking.”

Sienna raises an eyebrow, her lips curving into a knowing smile. She approaches the desk, her fingers grazing the edge of the Luxe file before flipping it open casually. “Ah, the famous Lia Donovan,” she muses, her voice soft but pointed. “I’d almost forgotten about her.”

I don’t respond immediately, letting her words hang in the air. Sienna knows the history, at least the parts I’ve let her in on. She knows about the mistakes, the regrets, the way things ended. But she doesn’t know everything. She doesn’t know why I’m really interested in this deal. Hell, I’m not sure I know either.

“Quite the history between you two,” Sienna continues, flipping through the proposal with casual interest. “High school sweethearts turned business rivals, or something like that?”

“Something like that,” I say, though the words feel heavier than they should.

Her eyes flick up to meet mine, sharp and probing. “So, tell me. Why invest in her company? What’s in it for you, Adrian? Don’t tell me this is just about business.”

I shrug, though I can feel the weight of her gaze. “It’s a good opportunity. Luxe has potential. The designs are solid, the strategy’s smart. And the luxury fashion market is evolving—sustainability is the future. I’d be a fool not to consider it.”

Sienna’s smile widens, but there’s something predatory in the way she looks at me. “You’re not fooling anyone, least of all me,” she says, her voice lowering. “This isn’t just business for you, and we both know it.”

I hold her gaze, saying nothing. There’s no point in denying it. Sienna’s always been able to see through me, to catch the threads of my intentions before I’ve even fully untangled them myself. But I can’t give her the full picture. Not yet. Not when I’m still trying to figure out what this really is.

She tilts her head slightly, studying me. “You’ve avoided her for years, Adrian. Why now? Why suddenly swoop in with an investment offer, of all things? What are you really after?”

Her questions are valid, and they echo the ones I’ve been asking myself since the moment Lia’s name resurfaced in my life. I tell myself it’s just business, that Luxe is a promising investment, but deep down, I know that’s not the whole story. There’s something about seeing Lia again, about having her company’s future in my hands, that’s stirring up more than just professional curiosity.

But I won’t let Sienna—or anyone else—see that. Not yet.

“I’m after a good deal,” I say smoothly, my tone measured. “That’s all.”

Sienna lets out a soft laugh, clearly unconvinced. “You’ve always been a terrible liar,” she says, closing the file and placing it back on the desk. “But that’s fine. Just don’t let this little reunion cloud your judgment. If you’re not careful, this could get… messy.”

Her eyes glint with something dark, and I know she’s not just talking about the business deal. Sienna thrives in chaos, but she doesn’t like losing control. And I can see it now—her unease, her uncertainty about Lia. She senses a shift, and that makes her dangerous.

I lean forward, folding my hands on the desk. “I can handle it.”

Sienna watches me for a moment longer, then gives a slight nod, though the amusement never leaves her expression. “If you say so. But just remember, Adrian, people change. You don’t know who Lia Donovan is anymore. And you certainly don’t know what she wants.”

Her words hang in the air like a warning, and I can’t help but wonder if she’s right. Lia isn’t the same girl I knew back then. She’s built something on her own, without me. And now I’m about to step back into her world, whether she wants me there or not.

Sienna pushes off the desk and heads for the door, but she pauses before leaving. “Oh, and one more thing,” she says, glancing over her shoulder. “If things do get messy, you know where to find me.”

With that, she’s gone, leaving me alone with the Luxe file and my thoughts. I stare at the folder for a long time, the weight of it settling over me. Sienna’s right—this isn’t just business. It never was. But what exactly am I after? Am I trying to prove something? To make up for the past? Or is there something else, something deeper, that’s driving me toward this deal?

I close the folder, pushing it aside as I stand and walk to the window. The city sprawls out below, lights flickering on as the sun dips lower behind the skyline. I can’t shake the feeling that this meeting with Lia is about more than just an investment. It’s a reckoning, one I’ve been avoiding for too long.

And as much as I want to believe I can keep this professional, something tells me that once I see Lia again, all the old wounds will open up, bleeding into the present.

I glance back at my desk, at the Luxe file that seems to pulse with the weight of unanswered questions. Sienna’s voice echoes in my head, reminding me to tread carefully. She’s right, of course. I don’t know who Lia Donovan is anymore, or what she’s capable of.

But I’m about to find out.