Unexpected Love

chapter 9: The Ex Returns

Bonny’s POV

I stared at Adrian.

For a second, I thought I had misheard him.

“Your what?”

“My ex-fiancée.”

He said it the same way someone might announce rain.

No emotion.

No hesitation.

No visible reaction.

Which meant the reaction was buried somewhere dangerous.

I folded my arms.

“The woman who left you publicly?”

“Yes.”

“The one who apparently damaged your faith in humanity?”

“I never said that.”

“You implied it dramatically.”

“I did neither.”

I ignored that.

“She’s back?”

“Yes.”

“And Vanessa said send her in tomorrow?”

“She requested a meeting.”

“At your office?”

“Yes.”

I blinked.

“She has confidence.”

“She has poor instincts.”

That almost made me smile.

Almost.

Instead, I studied him carefully.

His tie was loosened. Sleeves slightly rolled. Hair less perfect than usual. The polished billionaire shell had cracks tonight.

Tiny ones.

But enough.

“Are you going to see her?” I asked.

“Yes.”

The answer came too fast.

I hated that it bothered me.

Why should it bother me?

This was a contract marriage.

A business arrangement.

A temporary disaster in expensive packaging.

Still…

“Why?”

He walked toward the study again.

“Because unresolved matters become recurring problems.”

“That sounded rehearsed.”

“It was accurate.”

I followed him.

“Or because you still care.”

He stopped so suddenly I nearly walked into him.

Then he turned.

The look in his eyes was sharp enough to slice paper.

“Be careful what assumptions you grow comfortable making, Bonny.”

There it was.

The wall.

Back up again.

“Fine,” I said coolly. “Be careful pretending you don’t have feelings.”

I turned and walked to my room before he could answer.

My heart was beating far too hard for someone who absolutely did not care.

---

I slept badly.

Again.

Dreams came in fragments.

Seth laughing.

Amelia smirking.

Adrian touching my hair.

A woman in shadow walking away from him while cameras flashed.

I woke irritated with everyone.

Especially myself.

By morning, Mara had tea ready.

“You look troubled,” she said.

“I’m surrounded by emotionally constipated rich people.”

She nearly dropped the teapot laughing.

Before I could continue, Adrian entered the dining area already dressed for war—also known as work.

Navy suit.

Perfect cufflinks.

Unreadable face.

He poured coffee.

“We leave in ten.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“You look annoyingly unaffected.”

“I slept well.”

“Liar.”

“I sleep efficiently.”

“That is not a thing.”

“It is for disciplined people.”

“Then I’m thrilled not to qualify.”

Mara quietly retreated before we weaponized breakfast further.

---

At Knight Holdings, tension hung in the air.

Employees moved carefully.

Whispers started the moment Adrian passed.

Then stopped when he glanced anywhere near them.

Vanessa met us outside his office with a tablet.

“She confirmed eleven o’clock.”

I knew instantly who she was.

Adrian took the tablet.

“Reschedule the investors to one.”

“Done.”

Vanessa’s gaze flicked to me.

Then back to him.

“She requested privacy.”

“No.”

One word.

Flat.

Final.

Vanessa gave the smallest nod.

Interesting.

After Adrian disappeared into his office, I leaned on her desk.

“So.”

“So?” she replied without looking up.

“The famous ex.”

Vanessa typed calmly.

“Her name is Celeste Monroe.”

Even the name sounded expensive.

“And?”

“And she was engaged to him.”

“I know that part.”

“She ended it three weeks before the wedding.”

Ouch.

“Why?”

Vanessa finally looked up.

“She married a European investor six months later.”

I blinked.

“That’s brutal.”

“She divorced him last year.”

“Convenient.”

Vanessa’s lips twitched.

“You learn quickly.”

“Does Adrian still love her?”

She went back to typing.

“I value my employment.”

Not helpful.

---

At ten fifty-five, the elevator doors opened.

Every woman on the executive floor subtly looked up.

Every man pretended not to.

Then Celeste Monroe stepped out.

Tall.

Elegant.

Cream coat over a fitted black dress.

Diamond earrings.

Graceful posture.

The kind of beauty that didn’t need effort—but clearly invested in it anyway.

She looked like old money and bad decisions.

Her gaze landed on me first.

Interesting.

Then moved past me to Adrian’s office doors.

“Mrs. Knight, I presume?” she said smoothly.

Her voice was warm honey over sharpened glass.

I smiled just as sweetly.

“And you must be the delayed apology.”

Vanessa made a suspicious coughing sound.

Celeste’s smile thinned.

“I’m here to speak with Adrian.”

“Many people are. There’s usually a process.”

“I don’t wait in lines.”

“Life has clearly under-disciplined you.”

She studied me more carefully now.

“You’re younger than I expected.”

“You’re ruder than I expected.”

“I was engaged to him.”

“And now you’re at reception.”

A direct hit.

Her eyes cooled.

“Temporary wives often become footnotes.”

“Former fiancées often become cautionary tales.”

Vanessa abruptly stood.

“Would either of you like water before this becomes litigation?”

The office door opened.

Adrian stepped out.

He looked first at Celeste.

Then at me.

Then at Vanessa, who innocently resumed typing.

“Inside,” he said.

Celeste moved immediately.

I did too.

He stopped me with a glance.

“Not you.”

I crossed my arms.

“I’m your secretary.”

“This is personal.”

“So I can sit silently and judge.”

“No.”

Celeste smiled faintly.

I wanted to trip her elegantly.

Adrian’s gaze returned to me.

“Bonny.”

The warning tone irritated me more because it worked.

I stepped back.

“Fine.”

Celeste entered his office.

The door shut.

I stared at it.

Then at Vanessa.

Then back at the door.

“How soundproof is that room?”

“Very.”

“Tragic.”

---

Twenty minutes later, I was still angry for no defensible reason.

I reorganized pens.

Twice.

Checked schedules.

Alphabetized folders that were already alphabetized.

Vanessa watched all this with detached interest.

“You’re spiraling.”

“I’m productive.”

“You’re jealous.”

I nearly dropped a stapler.

“I am not.”

“Then stop glaring at the wood grain.”

“I dislike closed doors.”

“Sure.”

I leaned in.

“You enjoy this far too much.”

“Immensely.”

The office door opened.

Celeste emerged first.

Still poised.

Still polished.

Still smiling.

But her eyes were harder now.

She looked directly at me.

“You should ask him why he kept my letters.”

Then she walked away.

My blood went cold.

I turned slowly toward the office.

Adrian stood near the window, expression unreadable.

I entered and closed the door behind me.

“What letters?”