Divorced, She Became a Powerhouse

Chapter 5 Adrian Beaumont

The next day, not only did Lee bring the contract as promised, but he also invited Anastasia and Tessa to a weekend hunting trip at Silverpeak Mountain.

Once Lee left, the entire office broke into cheers, congratulating Anastasia for landing such a huge deal right off the bat.

"I didn't even do much," Anastasia said with a smile that hadn't graced her face in years, feeling a little lightheaded from all the praise.

This was a feeling she hadn't experienced once during her two years of marriage to Garrett.

She'd always been behind the scenes, helping Garrett's company out of sight, sparing his fragile ego.

Yet, back when she'd leveraged all her connections and resources to rescue the bankrupt Stone Group, Garrett hadn't even bothered to thank her.

The more Anastasia thought about it, the colder her heart became. She swore Garrett would pay her back.

"Oh, come on! They're doing this because they want to work with Pearl!" Tessa winked, a playful glint in her eye. "And I bet Adrian Beaumont's going to that hunting trip too."

"Really?" Anastasia's interest was piqued. The more she heard about Adrian, the more curious she became.

*****

Anastasia didn't have to wait long to meet the elusive Adrian.

Tessa had mentioned that Anastasia's old college professor had fallen ill, and Anastasia immediately decided to pay him a visit.

Back in her university days, Elliot Sterling, a prominent figure in psychology, had been Anastasia's mentor. He'd been disappointed when she married Garrett right after graduation, leaving her promising academic future behind. Anastasia had always felt a deep sense of guilt for not continuing her studies under his guidance.

Upon arriving at Elliot's home, the housekeeper led Anastasia to the study door.

Just as she was about to enter, she overheard Elliot speaking, "Adrian, I wish I could help, but I'm afraid my health would interfere with the treatment. Therapy takes time, and stopping in the middle could be disastrous for your sister."

Anastasia paused, surprised to find the professor already had a guest.

Then she heard a calm, soothing voice respond, "I understand. If you could recommend someone suitable, I'd appreciate it."

The deep, resonant tone of his voice, like a rich cello note, sent a shiver through Anastasia.

*****

Elliot nodded just as a servant knocked on the door and opened it slightly. "Mr. Sterling, Ms. Langley has arrived."

Elliot's face lit up. "Anya, come in!"

As Anastasia stepped into the room, she was struck by the dim lighting. A soft, warm glow illuminated the man standing in front of her.

He was tall, and his presence felt overwhelming, even from across the room.

Anastasia had to tilt her head back just to get a proper look at him.

The man stood quietly in the shadows. His low brow and sharp, high cheekbones gave his face a defined, somewhat stern look, while his deep-set eyes held an unreadable expression. Yet there was something unexpectedly warm about the faint smile playing at the corner of his lips.

When their eyes met, Anastasia sensed a fleeting hesitation in his gaze, but it vanished as quickly as it came.

The man composed himself and turned to Elliot. "Since you have a guest, I'll come back another time," he said, his voice as composed as before.

Before he could leave, Elliot waved him back, smiling.

"Don't rush off, Adrian. You were just asking for a recommendation, and now you've got one right in front of you."

Anastasia's lashes fluttered, and a sinking feeling settled in her stomach. She had a pretty good idea of what Elliot was about to say.

"Let me introduce you. This is Anastasia, one of my most talented students from back in the day."

Elliot stepped between them, his hand gently resting on Anastasia's shoulder, a gesture of encouragement.

"Ms. Langley, this is Adrian Beaumont."

*****

Anastasia's eyes widened in surprise. 'Adrian Beaumont?' She looked up at him, meeting his gaze more intently now, and that's when she noticed his eyes—a piercing shade of blue.

Beaumont Holdings had risen to prominence in the past two years, becoming the leading real estate giant in Veridale, all thanks to its enigmatic CEO, Adrian Beaumont.

He was known for his sharp business instincts, his ruthless decisions, and his mysterious, low-profile lifestyle. Many sought a meeting with him, but few had succeeded.

Anastasia never expected to run into him here at Elliot's. Tessa had mentioned that Adrian would be attending the hunting trip this weekend, but Anastasia had only half-believed her.

With his polished, gentlemanly appearance, it was hard to imagine him enjoying something as rugged as a hunting trip.

And yet, there was something undeniably powerful about his tall, commanding presence.

She was so lost in thought that she didn't realize Elliot had called her name until the second time.

"Anya?"

Anastasia snapped out of her reverie and quickly extended her hand to shake Adrian's.

His hand was warm and broad, easily enveloping hers in a firm grip.

She winced slightly from the strength of it, but before she could say anything, he suddenly released her.

"Professor Sterling, I have to go. There are matters I need to attend to," Adrian said briskly, then turned, and left.

Anastasia watched him go, a frown creasing her brow.

'Did he just... escape?' she wondered, shaking her head and chalking it up to her imagination.

*****

"Adrian must've had something urgent to take care of," Elliot explained, seeing the confusion on her face. "He's usually very composed."

Without Elliot's reassurance, Anastasia might have thought Adrian had taken an instant dislike to her.

Elliot sighed softly before continuing, "Adrian's had a tough time lately. If his sister's condition doesn't improve soon, I'm afraid..."

He trailed off with a shake of his head, clearly distressed. "But enough of that," he said, gesturing for Anastasia to sit.

As they settled into conversation, Anastasia mentioned her impending divorce.

To her surprise, Elliot seemed relieved to hear it. He had been worried about her, but now she looked healthier and more radiant than she had in years.

"Anya, you were the brightest student in the psychology department. Even though you left the field, I've been reading the reports you've been sending me every month. They're excellent," Elliot said, his voice filled with genuine pride.

Anastasia felt a lump rise in her throat. She hadn't realized Elliot had been paying attention to her all these years.

"Have you ever thought about returning to psychology?"