Adrian excused himself and went upstairs to change. Emily sat in the dimly lit kitchen, swirling her tea absently as her thoughts raced. She could still feel the weight of their earlier conversation, the way Adrian’s calm, steady gaze seemed to quietly unravel all the worries she hadn’t even voiced aloud.
When he returned, Adrian had changed into casual loungewear—a fitted black shirt and dark sweatpants that looked effortlessly elegant. His damp golden hair had been lightly tousled, and his steady presence filled the room once again as he walked over to the counter to pick up his tea.
He noticed her shift her fingers slightly on the cup, as if the heat was bothering her. Without a word, he reached into a nearby drawer, pulled out a cup sleeve, and gently slid it over her mug. "Here," he said in his deep, measured voice. "Don’t burn yourself."
Emily looked up at him, startled by the gesture. Under the dim kitchen light, with his relaxed posture and calm demeanor, he looked impossibly composed—and yet disarmingly handsome. She quickly glanced away, murmuring, “Thank you.”
Adrian gave her a small nod, then leaned casually against the counter, watching her intently. "So," he said, his tone even, "what’s making you think this can’t be fixed?"
Emily hesitated, then sighed. “Adrian, I appreciate your offer to help, but this isn’t something you can fix. It’s… complicated.”
His silence prompted her to continue. She tightened her grip on the tea and began. “First of all, every piece I’ve ever designed belongs to Mike’s company—A Designs. Legally, my name isn’t attached to anything. And then there’s the issue with my shares.”
Her shoulders sagged as she spoke. “I own 20% of A Designs, but recently, Mike and the other shareholders have been pressuring me to sell. Mike was planning to bid on this huge design project—something that could make or break the company—but then a competitor came in and completely disrupted the plan.”
Adrian’s eyes sharpened slightly, though his expression didn’t change. “A competitor?” he prompted.
Emily nodded, her tone growing more bitter. “Yes. They’re incredible. They have brands everywhere, in every major city around the world. And they don’t just do jewelry—they’ve invested in tech, luxury goods, fashion houses, you name it. And now, they’ve launched a new jewelry division with a flagship brand. Their expansion has been so aggressive that A Designs’ board is panicking.”
Adrian picked up his tea and took a deliberate sip. Then, without breaking eye contact, he asked, “You’re talking about E International, aren’t you?”
Emily blinked in surprise. “Yes! That’s exactly who I’m talking about. They’re the reason A Designs is falling apart.” She let out a small, bitter laugh, setting her cup down. “And that’s why it’s so hard for me to leave. Between the pressure to sell my shares, the ownership of my designs, and the way the board is watching my every move, I don’t see a way out.”
Adrian set his cup down with a soft clink, his sharp gaze never leaving her face. He straightened slightly, his presence commanding yet calm.
“Emily,” he said, his voice steady, “if you trust me—and if you’ve truly decided to end things with Mike—I can help you.”
Emily frowned, confusion flashing in her eyes. “Help me? How?”
Adrian leaned forward slightly, his tone calm but deliberate. “I can make sure E International cancels its bid for the project A Designs is pursuing. Then, I’ll acquire A Designs myself. That way, your shares won’t lose their value, and I’ll ensure that the rights to all your designs are returned to you.”
Her breath caught, her mind struggling to process his words. “What?” she whispered, barely audible.
“I’ll acquire A Designs,” Adrian repeated firmly. “I’ll buy out the entire company, secure your rights, and free you from them completely.”
Emily stared at him, her chest tightening. “Adrian… You can’t be serious. That would take—” She stopped mid-sentence as the realization struck her like lightning. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Wait… Are you saying… You’re the CEO of E International?”
Adrian’s lips curved into the faintest smile, one that softened his otherwise serious expression. “Yes,” he said simply.
Emily froze, her pulse quickening as she stared at him. “You’re the CEO of E International,” she repeated, her voice trembling with shock.
“Yes,” Adrian confirmed, his gaze unwavering. “And if you want to be free, Emily, I’ll make it happen.”
Her tea sat forgotten in her hands, her fingers trembling. Adrian Blackwood—her best friend’s enigmatic older brother, the man she thought she knew—was the head of the very empire that had turned A Designs upside down.
Finally, she found her voice. “Adrian, you don’t understand. A Designs has… issues. There are a lot of unclear accounts, mismanaged funds. If you buy them, it might not be good for you.”
Adrian didn’t respond immediately. Instead, his gaze softened as he reached out and tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. His fingers brushed lightly against her skin, and for a moment, Emily felt her heart skip a beat.
Realizing what he’d done, Adrian pulled back slightly and cleared his throat. “For you,” he said quietly, “I’m willing to take that risk.”
Emily’s breath hitched, her heart pounding. For a brief moment, she thought she saw something warm and tender in his usually stoic expression, but it was gone almost instantly, leaving her wondering if she’d imagined it.
“Adrian,” she began hesitantly, “we’re friends, but this isn’t a good idea. It’s too much.”
Adrian tilted his head slightly, his gaze steady and unwavering. “Emily, if I acquire A Designs and secure your rights, isn’t that the perfect solution?”
Emily hesitated. “Even if you return the copyrights to me, I couldn’t afford them. If E International owns them, I’d never be able to buy them back.”
Adrian’s lips curved slightly. “There’s a way you could own them.”
Her brows furrowed. “What way?”
Adrian leaned in slightly, his voice dropping lower. “Marry me. Share my assets, my company, my life. As part of E International, you wouldn’t have to buy anything—you’d already own it.”
Emily’s eyes widened, her mouth falling open. “What?” she stammered, staring at him in disbelief. “Marriage? You’re saying we should get married?”
“Yes,” Adrian said, his tone calm yet firm. “Marry me, Emily.”
Emily’s breath hitched, and her fingers tightened around the now-empty cup in her hands. Her eyes widened as she stared at Adrian, whose face remained composed and serious, the weight of his words still hanging in the air.Her thoughts raced wildly. This was her first time being proposed to, and it wasn’t in some romantic, expected setting—it was here, in a dimly lit kitchen, under circumstances she couldn’t have imagined. And the reason? To escape her entanglement with Mike.“Why?” she finally blurted out, her voice trembling. “No, Adrian, I know you want to help me, but you don’t need to go this far. Getting married like this—it’s too... casual.”Adrian tilted his head slightly, studying her reaction. Then, to her surprise, his lips curved into the faintest hint of a smile. “You’re right,” he said, his deep voice carrying a note of dry amusement. “Proposing to you in a kitchen with tea wasn’t exactly my finest moment. Next time, I’ll prepare a proper setting.”Emily blinked, fluster
Every time she closed her eyes,Adrian’s voice echoed in her mind. "Marry me,Emily." It wasn’t just the proposal that unsettled her—it was the quiet certainty in his tone,like he had already decided this was inevitable.And what was worse…a small,reckless part of her wasn’t entirely against the idea. She groaned and buried her face in the pillow.This is insane. Emily tossed and turned,but sleep refused to come.The weight of the day pressed heavily on her chest—the whispers outside Mike’s office,the way he looked at that woman,the sound of his colleagues laughing as they speculated about her. Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. She knew who it was before she even looked. Mike. For a moment,she debated ignoring it,but curiosity—or maybe old habits—got the best of her.She unlocked her phone and read his message. Mike:How long are you planning to sulk?You’ve been acting ridiculous all day.If you keep up this childish tantrum,maybe we should just end this. Emily stared at the
She grabbed her coffee and took a quick sip to cover her reaction.But it was too late—her entire face felt like it was on fire. "When we what?"she managed to say. Adrian remained perfectly calm,as if he hadn’t just casually mentioned marriage over breakfast. "When we get married,"he repeated,setting down his coffee cup with ease."I assume you’ll want to keep eating food like this." Emily stared at him,utterly thrown. He had said it so naturally,so certainly,as if their marriage was already a settled matter. "Adrian…"She swallowed,suddenly feeling restless."You can’t just—say things like that so casually." His gaze softened ever so slightly."You don’t have to be nervous,"he said smoothly."I’m not forcing you to decide anything right now." Emily opened her mouth,then closed it,unsure how to respond. He was so calm about it.So assured. As if he knew she would say yes eventually. She set
The distraction worked. Lila blinked,then let out an excited shriek. “Finally!” Emily flinched as Lila all but launched herself across the couch,grabbing Emily’s hands and shaking them with unfiltered glee.“Oh my God,Em,do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this?” Emily chuckled despite herself.“Gee,thanks.Love the support.” Lila waved a dismissive hand.“Oh,please.Mike was the worst.Self-absorbed,arrogant,and honestly?A total red flag parade.” Emily raised an eyebrow.“You didn’t say any of this before.” Lila huffed.“Because you were still with him!But believe me,I’ve been silently praying for this day.”She grinned,wiggling her eyebrows.“So tell me,what was the final straw?Did he finally propose to himself in a mirror?” Emily burst out laughing.“Close enough.” Lila sighed dreamily.“So,he’s officially out of the picture.Which means…”She wiggled her brows again.“You’re single.”
Letting out a slow breath.Then, she grabbed her phone from the table and turned it on for the first time that day.As the screen lit up, a notification from her calendar immediately popped up.Shareholder Meeting – A DesignsThursday | 10:00 AMHer thumb hovered over the notification for a moment before she exhaled and tapped out a message.Emily: I need to take a few days off. I won’t be attending the shareholder meeting.A moment later, a reply came through.Assistant: Understood. Should I reschedule any of your upcoming meetings?Emily hesitated for only a second before responding.Emily: No. Just handle things as needed. I’ll be unreachable for now.She wasn’t going back.Not to the company.Not to Mike.Not to any of it.For the first time in years, she had truly let go.And with that, she powered off her phone and tossed it onto the couch.For the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel like she owed anyone an explanation. Emily spent most of the day in the quiet solitude
Adrian had just finished his meeting when he heard footsteps outside his study.He glanced up as Emily appeared in the doorway.For a moment, neither of them spoke.The setting sun bathed the room in amber light, casting long shadows across the polished wood floors.Then, Emily stepped inside.Adrian leaned back in his chair, studying her carefully. “Emily.”Her hands curled into fists at her sides, as if bracing herself.Then, with quiet determination, she met his gaze and said—"I’ll marry you."Silence.The kind that stretched thick in the air, wrapping around them like an invisible thread.Adrian’s expression didn’t change.Didn’t move.But his fingers—just barely—tightened against the armrest of his chair.Finally, after a long pause, he exhaled.And then, he said the only thing that mattered."Are you sure?"
Slowly, she turned back to Emily, then back to Adrian, her brain struggling to catch up.Then, still staring at her brother, she mouthed the words, How did you pull this off?Adrian’s expression remained composed, but his blue eyes darkened slightly, as if in silent response.Lila’s jaw nearly dropped.Emily, oblivious to the silent exchange, shifted slightly. “Lila?”Lila snapped out of it, looking at Emily again, still reeling.“You’re—you’re what?” she stammered.Emily swallowed. “We’re getting married.”Lila blinked rapidly, then exhaled sharply. “Are you guys insane?”She turned to Adrian, pointing a finger at him. “You—explain. Now.”Adrian didn’t even flinch. “We’ve made our decision.”Lila let out a frustrated groan, throwing her hands in the air. “That is not an explan
The conference room carried an air of quiet authority, the scent of freshly brewed coffee mixing with the polished mahogany and sleek leather chairs. The shareholders of A Designs took their seats, murmuring in low, measured tones as they prepared for the discussion ahead.At the head of the table, Mike leaned back, fingers tapping lazily against the surface. His expression was one of practiced confidence, his sharp navy suit tailored to perfection. He looked every bit the man in control—or at least, that’s what he told himself.The senior partner, an executive who had been with the company since its early days, cleared his throat. “Alright, let’s get started. We have several pressing matters today. First—the Luthmere Luxury Towers Development Project. The bidding process begins next month, and securing this contract would give us a strong foothold in the high-end market.”A few members nodded approvingly, flipping through the proposal documents in front of them.“The profits look pro
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
With a quiet breath,Adrian shifted—his hands gliding down to the curve of her waist,then lower,lifting her gently but firmly into a new angle that made the world tilt with it. Emily gasped,her breath hitching as the sensation changed,intensified. Her hands clutched at the sheets,knuckles white with the effort to stay grounded,even as her body responded with a helpless urgency she couldn't contain. Each motion sent a ripple through her—low and aching,centered deep in her core,radiating outward like heat curling through her spine.Her lower belly tightened instinctively,muscles fluttering under the rhythm he set,as though every part of her was tuned only to him. She felt her lower abdomen pumping rhythmically. She could barely think.Could barely breathe. It wasn’t just the way he moved—it was the way he held her,the way he breathed her in,as if she were something he had longed for in silence and now finally held in both hands. Her name left his lips like a prayer—raw and
Her fingers clung to the sheets,her eyes fluttering closed as a soft moan escaped her lips,unbidden. It was as if her entire body had been lit from within,the warmth building and building until it crested—breaking over her like a tide she couldn’t stop,even if she tried. And she didn’t want to. The world blurred around her,sound fading,thought fading—everything reduced to the electric rush between heartbeats and breath. She barely registered the shift in his body until she felt it—his presence,closer now,heavier,his breathing rough against her skin.There was something unmistakably tense in his stillness,as if he were waiting,holding himself back with every ounce of control he had. Her eyes fluttered open,hazy and full of something she didn’t quite have a name for. Adrian’s gaze met hers—intense,searching. And without a word,he leaned in,brushing a kiss to her temple.His voice was barely audible,rough and strained. “Tell me to stop.” But she didn’t. She couldn’t.