CHAPTER FOUR
1143 Words
I wasn’t expecting to see him again so soon.
That was mistake number one.
Mistake number two?
Thinking I could walk into his world and not get pulled deeper.
The message came the next morning.
Adrian:
Be ready by 7 PM. Formal. We’re attending a private dinner"
No “good morning.”
No explanation.
Just instructions.
Of course.
I stared at the screen for a moment, then typed back:
Me:
You could at least pretend to be polite.
Three dots appeared.
Disappeared.
Adrian:
Be ready, Lena.
I rolled my eyes.
Same man. Same control.
And yet...
Something about last night still lingered.
That moment in the car.
The way his voice had changed.
The crack in his perfect composure.
I shook it off.
Rule number seven.
No feelings.
By the time 7 PM came, I was ready.
This time, I chose the dress.
Still elegant.
Still fitting his world.
But more...me.
When the car pulled up, I didn’t hesitate.
I stepped in, meeting his gaze directly.
For a second,
just a second,
something shifted in his expression.
Approval?
Maybe.
“You’re improving,” he said.
I smirked slightly. “Careful. That almost sounded like a compliment.”
“It was an observation.”
“Of course it was.”
His lips twitched faintly.
Barely noticeable.
But I caught it.
The restaurant was...unreal.
Private. Quiet. Exclusive.
The kind of place where deals were made and secrets were kept.
“This isn’t just dinner,” I said as we walked in.
“No,” Adrian replied. “It isn’t.”
Figures.
A hostess led us through a dimly lit corridor into a secluded area.
And that’s when I saw her.
Sitting at the table.
Perfect posture.
Perfect dress.
Perfect everything.
She didn’t look surprised.
She looked...prepared.
My steps slowed slightly.
Adrian didn’t.
“Adrian,” she said smoothly, standing up.
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
Then her eyes moved to me.
And for the first time,
her composure cracked.
Just a little.
“Well,” she added, a faint smile forming. “This is new.”
Something in my chest tightened.
I didn’t need an introduction.
I knew.
I just knew.
This was her.
“Lena,” Adrian said, his hand resting lightly at my back. “This is Victoria.”
Of course her name was Victoria.
It fit.
Elegant. Sharp. Dangerous.
“Nice to meet you,” I said, keeping my voice steady.
Her gaze scanned me slowly.
Assessing.
Comparing.
Judging.
“I’m sure it is,” she replied.
Not rude.
Not polite either.
Just enough edge to make it clear,
she didn’t approve.
We sat down.
Tension settled instantly.
“You didn’t mention you were bringing someone,” Victoria said, her attention fixed on Adrian.
“You didn’t ask.”
Her smile tightened.
“I didn’t think I needed to.”
There it was.
History.
Unresolved.
Messy.
I reached for my glass of water, pretending not to notice the silent war happening across the table.
“Things change,” Adrian added calmly.
Victoria’s eyes flicked to me again.
“Yes,” she said slowly. “Clearly.”
Silence followed.
Uncomfortable.
“How long?” she asked.
I blinked. “Excuse me?”
“You and Adrian,” she clarified. “How long has this been going on?”
Before I could answer,
“Long enough,” Adrian cut in.
His tone left no room for discussion.
Victoria leaned back slightly, studying him now.
Not me.
Him.
“You move fast,” she said.
“I move on.”
The words hit harder than they should have.
Even though they weren’t meant for me.
Victoria’s fingers tightened slightly around her glass.
There it was.
A reaction.
Finally.
“And yet,” she said softly, “you always end up in the same place.”
Adrian didn’t respond.
Didn’t need to.
Because whatever she meant,
it mattered.
I could feel it.
Dinner continued.
If you could call it that.
It felt more like watching two people fight without raising their voices.
Every word carefully chosen.
Every glance loaded.
And me?
I was right in the middle of it.
“Lena,” Victoria said suddenly, turning to me again. “What do you do?”
Simple question.
Not simple intention.
“I’m figuring that out,” I replied calmly.
“How refreshing,” she said. “Adrian usually prefers women with...clearer roles.”
I smiled slightly.
“And yet, here I am.”
Her eyes narrowed just a fraction.
Score one.
But she recovered quickly.
“Just be careful,” she added lightly. “His world isn’t easy to keep up with.”
I tilted my head.
“I don’t remember asking for advice.”
Adrian’s hand stilled beside mine.
Not touching.
But close.
Victoria noticed.
Of course she did.
“And I don’t remember you being part of this conversation,” she replied sweetly.
There it was.
The mask slipping.
I leaned back slightly, meeting her gaze fully now.
“Then maybe you should stop talking to me.”
Silence.
Sharp.
Immediate.
Adrian spoke.
“Enough.”
One word.
Low. Controlled.
But final.
The tension snapped.
Victoria exhaled slowly, leaning back again.
“Still protective,” she murmured.
Something about the way she said it made my stomach twist.
“Old habits,” she added.
Old habits.
I looked at Adrian.
At the tension in his jaw.
At the way he avoided her gaze now.
And suddenly,
I understood something.
She wasn’t just his past.
She was the reason for the rules.
The dinner ended shortly after.
Thank God.
As we stood up, Victoria spoke one last time.
“Be careful, Adrian.”
He didn’t respond.
Her gaze shifted to me.
“And you...”
A pause.
A small, knowing smile.
“Don’t fall for him.”
My breath caught.
“He doesn’t catch you when you do.”
The ride back was quiet.
Too quiet.
I stared out the window again, but this time,
my thoughts weren’t calm.
They were loud.
Messy.
Confused.
“She’s the reason, isn’t she?” I said finally.
Adrian didn’t look at me.
“Yes.”
No denial.
No hesitation.
Just truth.
“And she’s still in your life.”
A pause.
“Not by choice.”
That didn’t sound convincing.
I turned to him.
“And yet you had dinner with her.”
His jaw tightened slightly.
“That was business.”
“Sure.”
He looked at me now.
Sharp.
“You’re not in a position to question my decisions.”
Something inside me snapped.
“Then maybe you shouldn’t involve me in situations you can’t control.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Then, quietly,
“I control everything.”
I held his gaze.
“No,” I said softly. “You don’t.”
And for the second time since I met him,
Adrian Wolfe had no answer.
- Writer
