CHAPTER SIX
1175 Words
I shouldn’t have been thinking about her.
But I was.
Victoria’s words wouldn’t leave me alone.
He made me the same offer.
He made sure I had nothing left to stay for.
Every time I tried to push it away...It came back louder.
Stronger.
And the worst part?
I didn’t know if I believed her,
or if I was just afraid that I did.
“Lena.”
I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts.
Adrian was watching me.
Closely.
“You’re distracted.”
I forced a small shrug. “Just tired.”
He didn’t believe me.
Of course he didn’t.
But he didn’t push.
“Good,” he said instead. “You’ll need your focus tonight.”
I frowned slightly. “For what?”
“Another event.”
Of course.
“More pretending,” I muttered.
His gaze darkened just slightly.
“More being convincing.”
Right.
Same thing.
The event this time was different.
Louder.
Busier.
Less controlled.
Music. Laughter. Conversations overlapping.
Too many people.
Too many eyes.
I stayed close to Adrian at first, just like before.
But something had changed.
Not outside.
Inside.
I was more aware now.
Of him.
Of his distance.
Of the way he avoided looking at me for too long.
Like he was...adjusting.
Pulling back.
And for some reason,
that bothered me more than it should have.
“Adrian Wolfe.”
A new voice cut in.
Male.
Confident.
I turned slightly.
The man approaching us didn’t look intimidated.
At all.
Tall. Relaxed. Sharp suit, but worn like he didn’t care about it.
His eyes moved from Adrian...
to me.
And stayed there.
“Well,” he said, a faint smile forming. “You’ve been hiding this.”
Something in Adrian’s posture shifted instantly.
Subtle.
But there.
“This is Lena,” Adrian said evenly.
The man stepped closer, extending his hand toward me.
“Daniel Hayes.”
His grip was warm.
Easy.
Nothing like Adrian’s controlled intensity.
“Nice to meet you,” I said.
“The pleasure is definitely mine,” he replied without hesitation.
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
Barely noticeable.
But I saw it.
“Oh,” Daniel added lightly, glancing between us, “this is real, then?”
“Does it matter?” Adrian said coolly.
Daniel smirked.
“Only if I’m about to make things complicated.”
My eyebrows lifted slightly.
Bold.
Very bold.
Adrian didn’t smile.
“Don’t.”
One word.
Low.
Warning.
Daniel didn’t look impressed.
“Relax,” he said casually. “I’m just talking.”
But his eyes were still on me.
“Can I steal her for a minute?” Daniel asked suddenly.
I blinked.
Adrian didn’t.
“No.”
Immediate.
Firm.
Final.
Daniel chuckled softly.
“You don’t own her.”
Silence.
Adrian stepped slightly closer to me.
Not touching.
But close enough to make a point.
“I don’t share.”
My breath caught.
That wasn’t,
That wasn’t part of the act.
Was it?
Daniel’s smile widened just a fraction.
“Interesting.”
His gaze flicked to me again.
“What do you think?”
The question caught me off guard.
Both of them were looking at me now.
Waiting.
Tension coiled tight in the air.
I could feel it.
That push.
That pull.
That invisible line I was standing right in the middle of.
“I think,” I said slowly, “I can decide who I talk to.”
Adrian’s eyes snapped to mine.
There it was.
The reaction.
Finally.
Daniel let out a quiet laugh. “I like her.”
Of course he did.
He turned back to Adrian.
“Relax. Five minutes won’t ruin your... arrangement.”
That word again.
Arrangement.
Adrian didn’t move.
Didn’t speak.
Just watched me.
Waiting.
And for a second,
I hesitated.
Because I knew.
I knew this mattered.
More than it should.
Then I stepped back.
Just slightly.
Enough.
“I’ll be right there,” I said.
Daniel guided me a few steps away, just far enough for privacy, but not enough to disappear completely.
“You’re brave,” he said.
I crossed my arms slightly. “Or stupid.”
“Definitely not stupid.”
His tone was lighter.
Easier.
“So,” he continued, “how does someone like you end up with someone like him?”
I hesitated.
“Circumstances.”
“Dangerous ones,” he said.
I let out a small breath. “You have no idea.”
“Oh, I think I do,” he replied.
His gaze softened slightly.
“Just be careful.”
That again.
Why did everyone keep saying that?
“I’m fine,” I said.
“Are you?”
I didn’t answer.
Because I wasn’t sure anymore.
“And him?” Daniel added. “He doesn’t look fine.”
I frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”
He nodded subtly behind me.
“Look.”
I turned.
And my breath caught.
Adrian was watching us.
Not casually.
Not calmly.
His entire focus was locked on me.
On us.
His expression,
tight.
But his eyes,
dark.
Sharp.
Burning.
“Oh,” Daniel murmured. “Yeah. That’s not fake.”
My heart skipped.
“Stop,” I said quietly.
“Stop what?”
“Reading into things.”
Daniel smiled slightly.
“I’m not reading. I’m observing.”
That sounded familiar.
Too familiar.
“I should go back,” I said.
“Of course,” he replied easily. “Before he comes and drags you back himself.”
I hesitated for a second,
then turned and walked back.
Each step felt heavier.
Slower.
Like I already knew what was waiting for me.
The moment I reached him,
“I said no.”
His voice was low.
Dangerously controlled.
I met his gaze.
“And I said I’d be right back.”
“That wasn’t the point.”
“Then what was?”
Silence.
His jaw tightened.
“You don’t walk away from me like that.”
Something inside me snapped.
“I’m not your possession, Adrian.”
“I didn’t say you were.”
“You didn’t have to.”
The tension between us spiked instantly.
People were around.
Too many.
But it didn’t matter.
Nothing did right now.
“He was flirting with you,” Adrian said.
“And?”
The word slipped out before I could stop it.
His eyes darkened.
“That’s not part of the agreement.”
I let out a short, disbelieving laugh.
“Oh, so now there are new rules?”
“Yes.”
The answer came instantly.
I blinked.
“What?”
“You don’t entertain other men.”
My heart pounded.
“That wasn’t in the contract.”
“It is now.”
No.
No, it wasn’t.
That wasn’t control anymore.
That was...
Something else
I stepped closer.
Lowering my voice.
“You don’t get to change the rules just because you’re jealous.”
“I’m not jealous.”
Lie.
A very obvious one.
I held his gaze.
“Then prove it.”
A beat passed.
Then another.
Surprisingly, he didn't have a comeback.
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