The A Designs conference room filled gradually as shareholders took their seats. Low murmurs of conversation rippled through the space, a mix of casual small talk and anticipation for the day’s agenda.Mike sat at the head of the table, checking the time. His jaw tensed slightly.Emily had always been the responsible one—timely, professional, never one to leave people waiting.The chair beside him, her usual seat, remained empty.One of the older board members leaned toward him with a reassuring chuckle. “Relax, Mike. She’ll be here. She wouldn’t embarrass you by not showing up in front of everyone agian.”Another scoffed. “Yeah, she’s dragged this on long enough. After all the fuss, she’s bound to come around today.”Mike didn’t respond.He didn’t like uncertainty.And right now, something felt off.Before he could dwell on it further, the doors swung open.Mike turned sharply—expecting Emily, expecting her hesitation, her last-minute return to reason—But instead, a man walked in.
Hale glanced at him over his shoulder. “Excuse me?”Mike’s expression was dark, unreadable.“I’ll pay you double to walk away from this ridiculous act,” he said, voice dangerously low. “She’s throwing a tantrum. I’ve indulged her long enough, but I’m not letting her take this too far.”For a moment, Hale didn’t speak.Then, he chuckled.Low, quiet, entirely unbothered.“Mr. Lowell,” he said mildly, “I regret to inform you that your assets are, unfortunately, not high enough to meet the minimum threshold for our firm’s clientele.”Mike’s jaw ticked.A beat of silence passed before Hale strode out of the room, the doors clicking shut behind him.The tension in the boardroom remained heavy, suffocating.Mike’s assistant hesitated before speaking, his tone uncertain for the first time.“…All the law firms in the city—we’ve worked with them all. I’ve never even heard of this guy before.”He swallowed.“Who the hell did Emily hire?”Mike didn’t answer.His grip on the back of the chair tigh
Emily sat on the couch, the empty ice cream tub resting in her lap. Adrian’s voice was calm, matter-of-fact—as if his decision had already been made. “I’ve prepared a residence for us in Westwood District. Tomorrow, I’ll have someone help you move.” Emily’s grip tightened slightly around the spoon. Move? She had assumed they would maintain their own spaces, separate lives. Even though their marriage was on paper, it already felt like she owed him too much. Now he wanted her to move into his home? Her first instinct was to refuse. She didn’t want to take more from him, to feel like a guest in someone else’s place. This was temporary. She shouldn’t get too comfortable. Emily opened her mouth to decline, but before she could speak— Lila cut in. “That’s actually a great idea.” Emily turned to her, surprised. “Lila?” “You’re about to leave A Designs,” Lila continued, scooping another bite of ice cream. “Mike isn’t going to let that go easily. And if he finds out yo
Emily stepped into Adrian’s residence, immediately struck by the sheer elegance of the space.It was grand but not ostentatious—a perfect blend of luxury and comfort. Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows flooded the space with natural light, showcasing a breathtaking view of the city skyline. The decor was a mix of sleek modern touches and classic sophistication, each piece of furniture curated with precision.But what caught her attention wasn’t the luxury, It was the fact that all her things had been moved directly into the master bedroom.A small knot of awkwardness settled in her chest.Turning toward Adrian, she hesitated before asking, “…Why is everything in the master bedroom?”Adrian, who had been checking a message on his phone, glanced at her without the slightest trace of concern.“It’s fine.”That’s it?Emily wanted to argue, but before she could, Lila strolled in, taking in the space with an approving
As the last of Elliot’s team left, the quiet elegance of the room settled back in. Emily exhaled softly, still adjusting to the fact that her entire wardrobe had just been replaced in a single afternoon.She turned, expecting Lila to make another comment, but it was Adrian who spoke first.“In a few days, I have a formal event to attend.” His tone was casual, but there was a certain weight to his words.Emily glanced at him, curious. “A business event?”Adrian nodded. “Yes. And I’d like to ask you for a favor.”She lifted a brow. “Me? What could I possibly help you with?”Adrian stepped closer, his piercing blue eyes steady. “I want you to choose a cufflink for me.”Emily blinked. “…A cufflink?”“You’re a jewelry designer,” Adrian reminded her smoothly. “And if I’m going to wear something, I want it to be worthy of my wife’s taste.”A small flush crept up her neck. She wasn’t used to compliments from him—at least, not ones that caught her off guard.“That’s not a problem,” she said, b
Mike’s so-called assistant. A man who once belonged to a prominent business family, but after their company collapsed, had been left with nothing. Mike had graciously offered him a position—a convenient way to keep an old connection indebted to him. Lucas, who had never accomplished anything on his own, now strutted around as if he were entitled to look down on her. “Well, well,”Lucas drawled, swinging the bag lightly in his grip.“You skipped the shareholders’meeting just to come shopping? Don’t tell me you’re here picking out a peace offering for Mike?” Emily’s voice was sharp and firm.“Give it back.” Lucas let out a low chuckle, his gaze sweeping over her silk dress and the delicate white jade begonia embroidered on the chest. “No need to be shy,”he continued smugly.“I was heading to Mike’s office anyway. I’ll deliver it for you.” Emily’s patience snapped.“Give it back. It’s not for him.” Luc
As Emily disappeared down the street, Vivian let out a soft sigh, tilting her head in a delicate display of confusion. “I really don’t know why Emily is so hostile toward me,”she murmured, her voice laced with just the right amount of gentle concern. Lucas, still irritated from the encounter, scoffed.“You don’t need to waste your energy thinking about her.” Vivian hesitated, then bit her lip, as if torn.“It’s just…I don’t want there to be any misunderstandings.” Lucas arched a brow.“Misunderstandings?” Vivian sighed again, brushing her fingers lightly against the fabric of her dress.“For example, this outfit Emily was wearing today—it’s identical to the one I picked out for next week’s A Designs campaign shoot.” She turned to Lucas, her eyes wide with feigned innocence.“I really hope she doesn’t think I copied her again. That would be so unfortunate.” Lucas frowned.“Wait—you’re saying Emily’s dress is the same one you planned to wear for the campaign?” Vivian nodded
A soft rustling of fabric stirred the quiet air. Adrian had returned home. The study was dimly lit, and as he stepped inside, his sharp gaze immediately landed on the figure sprawled over his desk. Emily. She had fallen asleep, her cheek resting lightly against her folded arms, the soft glow of the desk lamp casting a gentle warmth over her features. For a moment, he simply stood there, his expression unreadable. Then, his eyes flickered to the desk. Scattered across the surface were brushes, tubes of paint, and the cufflink box—now adorned with delicate strokes of color. He stepped closer. Emily had painted over the damaged area with intricate detail, transforming the flaw into something uniquely beautiful. Adrian’s gaze softened. She did all this…for him? Just as he reached for the box, Emily stirred. Her lashes fluttered open, her sleepy gaze meeting his. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Adrian’s voice, low and gentle, broke the silence. “
Their expressions shifted almost instantly.“What is it?” Emily asked, watching them trade sharp glances.Adrian’s mother frowned, turning the phone so Adrian could see. “Some celebrity nonsense.”Adrian’s brows furrowed as he read the screen.“Apparently a well-known actress posted a photo of me on her social media,” he said, voice flat.Emily blinked. “You?”He turned his phone to show her.It was a candid shot—Adrian’s profile, taken from across a restaurant terrace. The caption beneath it read:The view here is amazing.Her fans had already flooded the comments.“Is that your boyfriend?”“That’s Adrian Blackwood from E International!”“When did this happen?!”Emily stared, then let out a short laugh. “You don’t even know her, do you?”Adrian shook his head. “Never met her.”“Well… I mean, that was the day we got married,” Emily added lightly. “So unless sh
Upstairs, Emily face was warm. Her chest was tight.And she felt… awkward.Awkward, because she couldn’t understand why she cared so much. Why her first instinct had been to ask about Adrian’s past. Why it mattered so much whether there had been someone else.People had histories. She did too.And this wasn’t even a real marriage.Except…Except they’d shared things in the last few days that went far beyond their agreement.She touched her lips lightly, remembering how he’d kissed her.Remembering the way he had looked at her.And suddenly, everything felt very… complicated.Two hours later, the first draft was finally done.Emily sat back in her chair, exhaling slowly as she looked at the sketch on her screen. She tapped her fingers lightly against the edge of the tablet, then snapped a screenshot.The women’s ring featured twenty-five round b
She wanted to ask Adrian what style he liked—what kind of design he imagined wearing every day.But the question caught in her throat.What if he hadn’t meant it? And what if he’d just said that to pacify his mother?What if he didn’t care? That thought dropped into her stomach like a stone. Adrian’s mother stood from the sofa with a soft smile,announcing that she needed to rest and recover from jet lag.“Your father will arrive tonight,”she said,stretching slightly.“We’ll have dinner together,all of us.” Emily nodded and watched her disappear down the hall. She turned to go upstairs,already reaching for the railing—when Adrian’s voice stopped her. “Don’t you have something you want to ask me?” She paused,glancing back at him.“About the wedding rings?” He arched an eyebrow,as if amused by her hesitation.“Mm.&
Emily froze for a second, caught off guard by the question.Adrian’s mother had shifted her gaze—not just to Emily’s bare finger, but then to Adrian’s hand as well.No ring.Her eyes narrowed slightly. “You two got married and didn’t bother with rings?”Emily’s heart gave a faint stutter.In a flash, her mind flew back to that quiet little chapel, to the ring Adrian had handed her that day.She hadn’t even thought to bring it with her when she moved into his home. Maybe, deep down, she hadn’t wanted to pretend more than necessary. After all, this wasn’t real. It wasn’t supposed to be real.But now, under the scrutiny of Adrian’s mother, it felt like a glaring omission.Especially in a world like theirs—where a wedding ring wasn’t just a symbol of love, but a silent boundary, a social shield.Before she could scramble for an excuse, Adrian spoke up smoothly.“Emily’s designing our rings,” he said, tone calm and sure. “She’s putting a lot of thought into it. Once they’re ready, we’ll we
“I thought about it.”Adrian’s voice was low, his jaw tight. His gaze dropped for a second, shadowed with something unreadable.“But after five years…I still can’t watch her end up with someone else.” His mother’s sharp eyes narrowed slightly, but she said nothing. Not yet. Adrian exhaled, slow and steady.“It was at that summit in Geneva. I overheard Mike—bragging to someone about how, once they were married, he’d have Emily transfer all her shares to him. Said it was for her own good. So she could stay home, stop worrying about work.” He gave a bitter smile. “Like she was just some pretty accessory to keep on a shelf.” His mother’s silence deepened. There was no judgment in her face, only calculation—and perhaps, the faintest trace of sympathy. “I asked Lila,”Adrian continued,“and she told me they’d already argued over it. Emily didn’t want to give up her work, her independence. But Mike didn’t care.” His gaze lifted, sharp again. “There’s a saying in business—timing
The orgasm crashed through her like a riptide, wringing a broken cry from her throat. Adrian gentled her through it, his mouth softening but not stopping until she pushed weakly at his shoulders. As she floated back to awareness, she felt him press a kiss to her damp stomach before shifting up to gather her against his chest. Her cheek landed on his pounding heartbeat. Neither of them spoke for a long time. "Sleep,"he said, tucking the covers around them both. His voice was rough, his body still visibly aroused beneath the sheets, but his arms around her were firm. Emily traced idle patterns on his collarbone."What about you—" His fingers laced through hers, bringing her hand to his lips."This wasn't about me." The room had long since settled into a heavy hush, the air warm with the remnants of shared heat. Emily lay still, her head on his shoulder, but sleep didn’t come. She couldn’t stop thin
Emily lay on his side, the soft hush of the evening wrapping around the room. The shadows on the ceiling shifted gently as the breeze moved through the curtains. She hadn’t spoken in a while. Adrian, lying beside her, finally broke the silence. “You’re still awake,”he said quietly. Emily hesitated.“I’m just…thinking.” “About?” She turned her head slightly, catching the faint outline of his profile in the dim light.“Us,”she admitted, voice barely audible. For a beat, he didn’t respond. Then—“I see.” “I mean…”she searched for the words.“It’s just…things feel different now. We’re still pretending, but sometimes it doesn’t feel like pretending.” Adrian’s gaze remained steady, though his voice dropped just a touch.“It doesn’t feel like it to me either.” Her breath caught, her heartbeat fluttering in the silence that followed. Then he shifted slightly, reaching up to brush a stray strand of hair from her cheek. His fingers lingered, soft and warm. She shifted sli
Emily returned from the bathroom with her damp hair tucked behind her ears, a towel draped loosely around her neck. When she stepped into the bedroom, she paused. The small breakfast table near the window had already been set. A silver tray held a bowl of warm congee, a few side dishes, and a cup of ginger tea, still steaming. Adrian was seated nearby, scrolling through his tablet with casual ease. She blinked, surprised.“You…set this up?” He looked up, his expression calm.“I asked the kitchen to bring it up.” Emily hesitated, then smiled faintly.“Thank you.” Adrian nodded. Then, as if remembering something, he added,“By the way, your phone rang while you were gone. I answered—it was someone named Claire? She said she’s from your design team.” Emily froze for a half-second, then relaxed and picked up her spoon.“Oh, Claire. She’s nice. Did she say anything?” Adrian leaned back slightly, watching her reaction—maybe expecting more. But when she stayed composed, he onl
The room was dark and quiet, save for the soft sound of Emily’s breathing. She had drifted into sleep, her body curled gently against Adrian, her cheek resting on his arm. He watched her for a long moment, her features softened by exhaustion and the glow of the moonlight.Carefully, he slid out from under her without waking her.He pulled the covers over her exposed shoulders, tucking them in with a tenderness that came from somewhere deep inside.Then he stepped out of the room, walking silently down the hall to his study. The city lights spilled in through the tall windows, casting long shadows across the sleek furniture.Adrian picked up his phone and dialed a number.The line clicked.“Mr. Blackwood,” came the voice on the other end. “Any further action on the A Design security breach?”Adrian’s voice was low, clipped. “Continue the investigation. I want a full report on every vulnerability. Especially the ones Mike tried to cover up.”There was a pause, then: “Understood. Should