The Man, Adrian Cole.
1766 Words
I tried not to look at him again.
I failed.
Across the ballroom, Adrian Cole stood near the bar, speaking to two men in expensive suits. Or rather… they were speaking to him.
He barely said anything.
Yet both men seemed eager to keep his attention.
One of them laughed nervously at something Adrian said, while the other nodded repeatedly like a student agreeing with a strict professor.
It was strange to watch.
Adrian didn’t raise his voice.
He didn’t gesture much.
He simply stood there with that calm, unreadable expression while everyone else adjusted themselves around him.
Like the entire room moved according to his gravity.
“Hey, Sis.”
Sophia’s voice appeared beside me again.
I nearly jumped.
“You move quietly,” I said.
She laughed softly.
“You’re just distracted.”
I didn’t bother denying it.
Sophia followed my gaze.
Straight to Adrian.
“Oh,” she said slowly.
She tilted her head.
“What do you think?”
“I think he looks like someone who hates weddings.”
Sophia burst out laughing.
“That’s actually very accurate.”
I smiled slightly.
“So what’s his story?”
Sophia glanced around quickly before lowering her voice.
“Adrian is… complicated.”
“That’s not very specific.”
“He’s brilliant,” she said. “But really scary.”
“Why?”
“He’s ruthless in business.”
Her tone turned serious.
“Three years ago, he took over one of the Cole companies that was failing.”
“And?”
“And within six months he rebuilt it into one of the most profitable divisions in the entire family empire.”
I raised my eyebrows.
“That’s impressive.”
“Yes.”
“But also terrifying.”
“How so?”
“Because three rival companies went bankrupt in the process.”
“Oh.”
Sophia nodded.
“Hmm, scary like I said. Adrian doesn’t lose.”
Her eyes drifted back toward him.
“And he doesn’t forgive easily either.”
Something about the way she said that made me curious.
“You sound like you know him well.”
“Not really,” she admitted.
“But Daniel told me enough.”
“Your husband doesn’t like his brother?”
Sophia hesitated.
“It’s… complicated between them.”
Before I could ask more, Daniel suddenly appeared beside us.
The groom looked relaxed now that the formal ceremony was over. His tie was slightly loosened, and he had that confident smile people expected from someone born into power.
“There you are,” he said warmly.
He wrapped an arm around Sophia’s waist and kissed her cheek.
“My beautiful wife.”
Sophia beamed.
“Still getting used to hearing that.”
Daniel chuckled.
“You better.”
Then his attention shifted to me.
“And Lena…”
He extended his hand politely.
“I’m glad you could make it.”
“Of course.”
His smile was charming.
Effortless, but a little rehearsed.
Like he had practiced that exact expression a thousand times before.
“I hope Adrian hasn’t scared you away yet,” Daniel added.
I blinked.
“What?”
He chuckled.
“My brother tends to intimidate people.”
I glanced toward the bar again.
Adrian was no longer talking to the businessmen.
Instead…
He was looking directly at me.
My stomach flipped unexpectedly.
Daniel followed my gaze and smiled knowingly.
“Ah,” he said.
“So you’ve already met.”
“Yes,” I said quickly.
“Briefly.”
Adrian lifted his glass slightly in our direction.
Not quite a greeting.
More like an acknowledgment.
Then he turned away again.
“See?” Daniel said lightly. “Terrifying.”
Sophia nudged him.
“Be nice.”
“I am being nice.”
He grinned.
“I didn’t tell her about the time Adrian made a CEO cry during a meeting.”
I stared at him.
“You’re joking.”
“I wish I was.”
Sophia rolled her eyes.
“Daniel exaggerates.”
“Only a little.”
I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or feel concerned.
But before the conversation could continue, a woman approached Daniel.
She was stunning.
Tall.
Elegant.
She had long blonde hair and wore a dress that probably cost more than my rent for a year.
“Daniel,” she said smoothly.
“There you are.”
Daniel’s smile changed slightly.
Still charming.
But less relaxed.
“Victoria,” he said.
“Sophia, Lena—this is Victoria Hayes. An old family friend.”
Victoria’s eyes flicked toward me briefly.
Then back to Daniel.
“Your mother is looking for you,” she said.
Daniel sighed dramatically.
“Duty calls.”
He kissed Sophia’s cheek again.
“I’ll be right back.”
As he walked away with Victoria, Sophia watched them with a thoughtful expression.
“Who was that?” I asked quietly.
“Victoria Hayes,” she repeated.
“And?”
“She used to date Adrian.”
I blinked.
“Used to?”
Sophia nodded.
“They were engaged once.”
That caught my attention immediately.
“Engaged?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
Sophia hesitated.
Then she lowered her voice.
“Adrian broke it off.”
“Why?”
“No one knows exactly.”
“But it was… dramatic.”
My curiosity deepened.
“How dramatic?”
“Well…”
Sophia glanced toward the bar again.
“Victoria didn’t speak to the Cole family for almost two years afterward.”
I followed her gaze.
Adrian was still there.
But now Victoria had joined him.
The two of them stood only a few feet apart.
Talking.
Or at least Victoria was talking.
Adrian looked like he was barely listening.
His expression remained calm and distant.
Then suddenly his eyes lifted.
And locked with mine again.
My heart skipped.
For a brief moment, the rest of the room faded away.
Victoria noticed his distraction.
She turned slightly following his gaze.
Right to me.
Her expression changed instantly.
Cold and evaluating.
Like she had already decided she didn’t like what she saw.
I looked away quickly.
“I should get some air,” I muttered.
Sophia smiled knowingly.
“Sure.”
I slipped away from the crowd and stepped onto the quiet balcony.
The cool night air wrapped around me immediately.
It felt peaceful out there.
Quiet.
For the first time all evening, I could breathe.
“Still trying to escape?”
The deep voice behind me made my heart jump.
I turned slowly.
Adrian stood in the doorway.
Watching me.
“You followed me,” I said.
“Yes.”
“That’s a little suspicious.”
He stepped closer.
“You looked like you needed the company.”
I crossed my arms.
“Do you follow all the women at weddings?”
“No.”
“Just the uncomfortable ones?”
“Just you.”
My heart skipped.
The confidence in his voice made it hard to respond.
He leaned casually against the railing beside me.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
The city lights stretched endlessly beyond the balcony.
“Why are you really out here?” he asked.
“I needed air.”
“That’s not the whole reason.”
I glanced at him.
“And do you read people now?”
“It’s part of my job.”
“What job exactly?”
“Running companies.”
I smiled faintly.
“So the rumors are true.”
“Which rumors?”
“That you’re terrifying in business.”
His lips curved slightly.
“Only when necessary.”
“Do you enjoy it?”
“Winning?”
“Yes.”
He considered the question.
“Winning is useful.”
“That’s a very strategic answer.”
“And you?”
“What about me?”
“What do you enjoy, Lena?”
The way he said my name made something strange flutter in my chest.
“I like simple things,” I said.
“Such as?”
“Quiet mornings. Books. Coffee.”
His gaze softened slightly.
“You really are different from everyone here.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“Yes.”
I hesitated before asking the question that had been lingering in my mind.
“You kept staring at me earlier, why’s that?”
Adrian didn’t answer immediately.
Instead he studied my face carefully.
“You noticed.”
“Hard not to.”
“And you’re curious why.”
“Yes.”
He took a slow breath.
“Because you’re honest.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s rare in this room.”
I laughed softly.
“That’s a very strange reason to stare at someone.”
“Maybe.”
Then his voice lowered slightly.
“Or maybe there’s another reason.”
My heartbeat quickened.
“And that is…?”
His eyes held mine steadily.
“I find you interesting.”
The words were simple.
But the way he said them made my pulse race.
“You barely know me,” I said.
“True.”
“Then how can I be interesting?”
“Because you’re not trying to impress me.”
“Well… I didn’t know who you were earlier.”
“That’s exactly why.”
The silence in the air felt heavy.
Adrian’s gaze shifted toward the ballroom.
Where Sophia and Daniel laughed with their guests.
Then he looked back at me.
“So,” he said finally.
“What do you think of my brother?” he asked.
The question surprised me.
“I just met him.”
“And?”
“He seems… charming.”
Adrian’s lips curved slightly.
“Yes.”
There was something about the way he said that.
Something sharp.
“You don’t agree?” I asked carefully.
“Daniel is very good at making people like him.”
“That sounds like criticism.”
“It’s an observation.”
Our eyes met again.
Something unspoken passed between us.
A quiet tension.
“You don’t trust him,” I said slowly.
Adrian studied my face.
“You’re very perceptive.”
“You didn’t answer the question.”
“No,” he admitted.
“I don’t.”
A strange chill ran through me.
“Why?”
For a moment he didn’t respond.
Then he said quietly,
“Because I know him.”
I opened my mouth to ask more—
But the balcony door suddenly opened.
Victoria stepped outside.
Her eyes moved between us.
Cold.
Sharp.
“Well,” she said.
“This is unexpected.”
The tension in the air instantly shifted.
- Writer
