Burning Secrets

Chapter 6 — What Isn’t Yours

Adrian noticed it immediately.

He wasn’t looking for Luca.

He told himself that.

Repeated it.

Believed it—

Until the moment he walked into the lobby and saw him.

Luca wasn’t alone.

A woman stood close to him.

Too close.

Laughing at something he’d said, her hand briefly brushing his arm like it belonged there.

Like she belonged there.

Adrian slowed.

Just slightly.

Barely noticeable to anyone else.

But inside—

Something tightened.

Sharp.

Unexpected.

He shouldn’t care.

He didn’t care.

This was exactly what he wanted, wasn’t it?

Distance.

No complications.

No… whatever this was.

So why did it feel wrong?

Luca looked up.

Their eyes met.

And just like that—

Everything else faded.

For a second—

There was something there.

Recognition.

Tension.

Something unfinished.

Then Luca smiled.

Not the slow, dangerous one Adrian knew.

Something lighter.

Easier.

And he turned back to her.

That did it.

Adrian’s jaw tightened as he walked past them, his expression unreadable, his steps measured.

Controlled.

Always controlled.

But he heard it.

Her laugh.

Soft.

Close.

And Luca didn’t stop her.

The entire day felt off after that.

Adrian sat through meetings, signed documents, gave instructions—

But none of it stayed.

None of it mattered.

Because his mind kept drifting back—

To that moment.

To her hand on Luca.

To the way Luca didn’t pull away.

“Something’s wrong.”

Adrian looked up sharply.

Daniel again.

Watching him.

Too closely.

“Nothing’s wrong,” Adrian replied.

Flat.

Final.

Daniel leaned forward slightly. “You’ve been distracted all week.”

A pause.

Then—

“Is this about the new consultant?”

Adrian’s gaze hardened.

Careful.

“No.”

Daniel didn’t look convinced.

“If he’s causing issues, I can have him removed.”

Something in Adrian snapped—

Fast.

Immediate.

“No.”

The word came out sharper than intended.

Too quick.

Too defensive.

Silence followed.

Daniel raised a brow. “That sounded personal.”

Adrian leaned back in his chair, forcing calm back into his voice.

“It’s not.”

But it didn’t sound convincing.

Not even to him.

That evening—

Adrian didn’t go home.

He didn’t plan to.

Didn’t think about it.

Didn’t question it.

But somehow—

He ended up at the same place.

The bar was dimly lit, quiet enough to think, loud enough to forget.

Adrian stepped inside, loosening his tie slightly as he scanned the room—

And then he saw him.

Luca.

Sitting at the bar.

That same woman beside him.

Closer this time.

Her hand resting lightly on his shoulder as she leaned in to say something.

Adrian felt it again.

Stronger now.

Jealousy.

The realization hit hard.

Unavoidable.

He didn’t like this.

Not one bit.

Luca glanced up again.

Saw him.

And this time—

He didn’t look away.

The woman followed his gaze, curious, then smiled politely before turning back to Luca.

Saying something else.

Laughing again.

Adrian’s grip tightened at his side.

Enough.

He moved.

Crossing the room without thinking, without stopping, without giving himself time to reconsider—

Until he was standing right in front of them.

“Adrian.”

Luca’s voice was calm.

Too calm.

The woman looked between them, sensing something.

“Friend of yours?” she asked lightly.

Adrian didn’t answer her.

Didn’t even look at her.

His eyes were locked on Luca.

“We need to talk.”

A pause.

Luca studied him for a second.

Then glanced at the woman.

“Give me a minute?”

She hesitated—

Then nodded, sliding off the stool.

“I’ll be over there,” she said softly, walking away.

Silence settled between them.

Heavy.

Charged.

“You’ve been busy,” Adrian said.

Low.

Controlled.

But there was something else beneath it now.

Something sharper.

Luca leaned back slightly, studying him.

“Didn’t think you cared.”

Adrian’s jaw tightened.

“I don’t.”

A beat.

Luca’s lips curved slightly.

“Right.”

That tone—

That knowing tone—

Adrian stepped closer.

Not enough to touch.

But enough to make it clear.

“Then what is this?” Luca asked quietly.

Adrian didn’t answer immediately.

Because he didn’t have one.

Not a real one.

Instead—

“You don’t get to play games with me,” he said.

Luca’s expression shifted slightly.

Not amused anymore.

“I’m not playing,” he replied.

Silence.

“Then what are you doing?” Adrian pressed.

Luca held his gaze.

Steady.

Unmoving.

“Living my life.”

That shouldn’t have hit.

But it did.

Because suddenly—

Adrian realized something he didn’t like.

Luca didn’t belong to him.

And that—

That was the real problem.