bChapter /bb238 /b

    ADRIAN’S POV

    The shape, the color, even the way it seemed tomand attention without trying, felt strangely familiar. My grip tightened slightly as I leaned forward. narrowing my eyes, watching for the smallest movement.

    It could have been nothing. It could have been a coincidence, a random investor showing up for the event. This was, after all, an open ceremony. People came and went freely, and strangers were expected. But my gut wasn’t buying that exnation. A prickling sensation ran along the back of my neck as kept my attention fixed, waiting for confirmation.

    Then, the door opened.

    One polished shoe touched the ground first, the motion calm yet deliberate, as though the person stepping out wanted the world to notice themb. /bbA /bsecondter, the rest of their frame emerged from the vehicle, unfolding with that sameposed grace. And just like that, bI /bknew my instincts had been dead on.

    I recognized him instantly.

    From the seat beside me, James let out a low, almost annoyed exhale. “What’s he doing here?” he asked, his voiceced with the kind of wariness that mirrored my own thoughts.

    Marcus.

    He straightened his posture the moment he was fully out of the car, the air around him shifting as though he owned the very space he stood on. His eyes scanned the area with calcted precision, taking in the building, the people, the surroundings every detail, as if cataloging them forter use. bHe /badjusted his suit jacket with an unhurried motion, exuding confidence in a way that always felt just a little too intentional. Then, without hesitation, he began making his way toward the entrance of the building.

    James followed my gaze, his expression tightening. “Do you think they know each other?” he asked, referring to the person we had originallye to

    see.

    “It’s possible,” I said slowly, my eyes still trailing Marcus’s movements. “They both have a habit of traveling abroad… he might be here bfor /bher, I mean what other reason would he be here for?”

    James leaned back slightly in his seat, still watching. “Do you want to reconsider going in? You haven’t stepped out yet, so no one would know you were

    here.”

    His suggestion hung in the air for a moment. I could see his point perfectly, in fact. There was an undeniable truth to what he was saying. Avoiding Marcus was never a bad idea if it could be helped. The man and i had never been able to coexist peacefully in the same space for long. Too much history.

    Too much friction.

    But I had to remind myself why I came.

    “And why would I do that?” I asked, tearing my gaze from Marcus long enough to give James a sideways nce.

    “Because Marcus is here,” James said inly, his voice steady, “and you and Marcus… don’t exactly thrive in the same environment.”

    I allowed myself the briefest of smirks. He wasn’t wrong. But today wasn’t about him. Today wasn’t about old rivalries bor /bpride,

    It wasn’t even about business.

    uilding’s ss bdoors/bb, /bbthe /bfaint “I know,” I said quietly. “But I didn’te here for him. I didn’t evene here for business.” My gaze bdrifted /btoward reflection of the event inside catching my eye. b‘/bI came here because I wanted to say helloi… /ito someone I bthought /bwase bfrom /bbthis /bworld bfor /bfive years.”

    James studied me for a second, as if weighing whether to push the matter. But in the end, he just bgave /bba /bbshort /bbnod /b

    “Don’t worry,” I added, pushing open my door, “I’m fine. Let’s go in.”

    b1/3 /b

    b19:10 /bbTue/bb, /bb19 /bbAug /b

    The hinges gave a soft groan as the door swung open, letting in the faint hurn of voices and distant music from the ceremony, My shoes hit the ground. the polished pavement firm beneath my feet,

    Tadjusted my coat, making sure it sat perfectly on my shoulders, and then began walking forward with a steady, purposeful strideb. /bThe co?t breeze tha swept across the entrance met my face, carrying with it a faint scent of fresh flowers and polished wood. James followed closely behind me a located, in sync with mine..

    The moment I stepped inside, the interior design immediately caught my attention. It was even more stunning than the exterior. The marble floor gleamed under the warm glow of the chandeliers, and the tall ss windows let in just the right amount of sunlight, making the entire ce feel open yet sophisticated. Elegant floral arrangements stood on every table, and the air was filled with a light, soothing melody from the live band tucked away

    in one corner.

    I had to give her credit she had done well. Both the outside and the inside of this ce spoke volumes about her taste and attention to detail. bFor /ba moment, I almost forgot why I was here, distracted by the sheer elegance of the venue.

    But as I walked further in, a thought began to form in my mind, one that had been lingering for a while. This… this was the kind of ce bthat /bmade ban /bimpression, the kind of ce that announced you to the world. I realized then that perhaps it was time to start nning for Westwood Cooperation bto /bexpand beyond New York. I’d always told myself there was no point in doing so when we already had our headquarters and were dominating the city’s market. But looking around, I understood why otherpanies did it. They weren’t just making more money they were proving a point. They were showing the world that one city couldn’t hold them, that their reach was limitless.

    And perhaps it was time I showed the world that about us too.

    A waiter approached, dressed immactely in a crisp ck uniform, carrying a silver tray of drinks. Without breaking my strideb, /bbI /btook ba /bss of champagne, feeling the cool condensation on my fingertips. James did the same.

    I began scanning the entire room almost immediately, letting my eyes sweep across the guests in a slow, deliberate motion. I wasn’t here for small talk with investors. I wasn’t here for any of these well–dressed women lingering in their designer gowns, nor was I here to exchange forced pleasantries with Marcus. No, I was here for one person and one person only the reason I’d even set foot in this ce tonight.

    Even though the crowd wasn’t overwhelming, she was nowhere in sight. The thought unsettled me. After all, even after five years apart, I knew I could recognize her from a mile away. Some faces, some presences, just stayed with you no matter how much time had passed.

    But as my gaze moved from one face to another, there was still ino /isign of her. My brow furrowed slightly. She was the host of this event wasn’t bit /bonly natural for her to be here, greeting people, making her presence known? Why was she absent?

    A faint trace of impatience stirred in me. My fingers tightened slightly around the stem of the champagne ss as I took another nce toward the far corners of the hall, but still, nothing.

    “Rx,” James said beside me, his voice calm and reassuring, as though he had read my mind. He ced a hand lightly on my shoulder. “She’s probably still at the back supervising. You know how these events go she’lle out eventually.”

    I let out a small breath through my nose, but the truth was, his words didn’t fully settle me

    “Was it obvious I was looking for someone?” I asked, turning my head just enough to meet his eyes.

    James smirked slightly, his tone carrying a note of teasing familiarity. “We’ve known each other since we were kids, Adrian. How wouldn’t I know? Back

    at your ce earlier, I told you there was a twitch in your voice when you mentioned she was in a rtionship.”

    I gave him a sideways nce, the corner of my mouth lifting faintly in disbelief. “A twitch of jealousy? That’s far from what this is, bJames/bb./bb” /b

    He raised his brows, unconvinced but not pushing further.

    “Seriously,” I continued, my voice low and steady, “I just came here to say hi. That’s it.”

    Without giving him the chance to reply, I lifted the ss in my hand and downed the champagne bin one /bbsmooth /bbmotion/bb, /bbthe /bbcool/b, bfizzy /bbburn /bbsettling /bin my chest as I swallowed.

    “Am sure that’s what you want everyone to believe.” Another voice came from the back of me.