Episode 6

"Wait!" Rachel called out, her voice echoing outside the Civil Affairs Department.

James stopped by a sleek red car and turned, his usual easy smile in place. "Hello, Ms."

He pulled open the back door and gestured. "After you."

Rachel blinked, confused. She leaned slightly to peek inside and froze.

Adam was there.

He sat casually, wearing a blue shirt under a black wool jacket. His collar was open, revealing just enough of his collarbone to make him look effortlessly attractive, yet dangerously aloof. He lounged with one hand resting on the window, the other holding a phone to his ear.

"I'm out of town," Adam said into the phone, his tone firm but unhurried. "Keep an eye on the contract. I'll be back in California once I wrap things up."

Rachel felt her chest tighten. Looking at his cold and indifferent expression only made her uneasy.

"Ms.?" James's voice brought her back to the moment.

She shook her head slightly. "Umm... I don’t think I need to get in the car." Her voice wavered, but she quickly added, "Thank you for your help."

James chuckled, cutting her off. "You don’t need to thank me. If you want to thank anyone, thank the guy in the back."

Rachel’s eyes darted to Adam again. She hesitated, then reluctantly climbed into the car. The tension in the car was not friendly, like a string pulled taut.

Adam ended his call, slipping the phone back into his pocket. His eyes shifted to Rachel, cool and unreadable.

The sunlight filtering through the window only made his features to be sharp, making him look almost too perfect, like a statue carved from ice.

"Thanks for helping me earlier," Rachel said quickly, hoping to leave the car as soon as possible.

Adam didn’t reply right away. His eyes remained fixed on her, like he was reading her. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and deliberate. "What do I get in return?"

Hearing his words, Rachel’s stomach dropped. She stared at him, trying to read his expression, but his face was a mask of indifference.

Is he serious?

Her palms felt sweaty. "I... I don’t have any money," she stammered. "But I could work as a maid or something—"

Adam scoffed, a short, cold laugh. "Stop pretending," he said, leaning forward slightly. "You know exactly what I want. Do you really think a guy would go out of his way to help someone he doesn’t know for free?"

His cold and sharp words sounded in the car. He was close now, too close, his breath warm against her skin.

Rachel’s heart raced as She instinctively pressed herself against the car door, like that was the only way she could be save.

Is he implying...

In the front, James struggled to keep a straight face, his shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter. Rachel shot him a glance, but he seemed more amused by the tension between the two.

Adam trying to flirt with a lady? James couldn't believe it.

"Mr. Adam, I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you’re implying," Rachel said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Adam smirked, leaning in further. His voice dropped to a near whisper, teasing. "How about now? Is it clearer?"

Rachel flinched as his lips barely grazed her neck. "Please, Mr. Adam," she said, her voice trembling. "You’re crossing a line—"

The playful glint in Adam’s eyes vanished almost in an instant. His expression hardened, cold and dark. "Get out," he said flatly.

Rachel froze, but only for a moment. She quickly opened the door and stumbled out, her heart pounding in her chest.

The car sped off without another word, leaving her standing there feeling dazed. She pressed a hand to her forehead, trying to steady her thoughts. Did I do something wrong?

Before she could process what just happened, a familiar voice sounded her thoughts.

"Rachel!" Lucas stormed out of the Civil Affairs Hall, his face full of fury. His eyes shifted right to the red car disappearing down the road, then snapped back to her.

"You couldn’t even wait to sign the divorce papers before throwing yourself at another man, could you?" he spat, grabbing her arm roughly.

Rachel yanked her arm free, looking at him. "Who I choose to be with is none of your business, Lucas! We’re divorced!"

Lucas sneered, his lips curling in disgust. "Don’t think James can save you from everything. You think this is over? You caused Violet to lose her baby and her womb. The Armstrong family won’t let you walk away that easily. And the people backing them? They’ll come for you, too. Sure, James bailed you out today, but what about tomorrow?"

Rachel’s face drained of color. His words hit her like a punch to the gut. She knew he wasn’t exaggerating. Violet’s family was powerful, and their wrath was only a matter of time.

Lucas leaned in, his voice low and venomous. "You brought this on yourself, Rachel. James might help you now, but he’ll dump you like the cheap fling you are. And when that happens, you won’t even have a shoulder to cry on."

Rachel’s jaw tightened. With a steady voice, she shot back, "Whether James dumps me later or not is none of your concern. After all, he’s not a two-minute wonder like you."

Lucas’s face turned a deep shade of red, his jaw clenched so tight she thought he might snap. But before he could respond, Rachel turn on her heel and walked away, her heart pounding in her ears.

Behind her, Lucas stood frozen, fists clenched, seething with rage.