Chapter 7
Under Adrian’s care, I slowly get better.
Even though I can move around now, he insists on staying.
Half my hospital room has become his makeshift office-stacks of documents everywhere. At night, when I’m asleep, he works under a desk lamp, handling his company business.
I watch him rubbing his temples, face set in concentration, and find myself fascinated.
The reckless, showboating teenager is gone, replaced by this focused man.
I quietly lift my phone and snap a picture. The camera sound echoes through the silent room.
Adrian looks up, smirking. “Want me to pose? Devoted husband or brooding CEO-your choice.”
I scramble to explain. “Who’d want pictures of you?! I was checking our class group chat. They’re wondering if you’ll show up at the reunion.”
He walks toward me, and I instinctively try hiding my phone.
Suddenly both our phones blow up with notifications, buzzing like crazy.
Turnd out in my panic, I accidentally sent his photo to our entire class group chat.
I freeze.
I expect Adrian to be pissed, but instead, he grabs my phone and zooms in on his picture. “My jawline looks better from the left. Want to try again?”
I throw my pillow at him. “Get lost!”
The group chat is absolutely losing it:
[Dropping thirst traps at 2AM to mark your territory, Vivian? ]
[The gossip I stay up for…]
[You two better show up to the reunion or I’m personally hunting you down]
[OMG MY HIGH SCHOOL OTP IS REAL]
[Can we skip to the wedding please? I’ve waited 10 years for this]
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
The next second, Adrian replies to the group: [Drinks on me next time we meet.]
He doesn’t deny any of their speculation about us.
I say nothing, letting our relationship appear more intimate than it is.
Only this way can Adrian and the Cross empire become my stepping stone to save my company.
A business on the brink of bankruptcy has external pressures, sure-but also internal parasites.
Dad thought he was helping family by giving them jobs, but he turned the company into a glorified family business.
From procurement to admin to sales, documents pile up in my study. Some days I can’t even stop to eat.
Meanwhile, that jerk investor Michael West keeps mansplaining on every call, hinting that “a woman shouldn’t wade into troubled waters.”
19:52
You Chose the Bastard? Then Prove It’s Yours
21.6%
Chapter 7
Between the stress and frustration, my appetite has basically disappeared.
Adrian finally snaps and drags me to dinner.
“Vivian, are you seriously ignoring your own health now?”
I reluctantly set my work aside.
“I have a business dinner tomorrow. Want to come as my plus one?”
I figure having Adrian there might convince the investor to sign the contract, seeing the Sterling Cross power couple.
But by the time I finish my salad, he still hasn’t answered.
I start realizing that maybe mixing relationships with business deals isn’t what normal people do.
The next day at Eleven Madison Park, I walk in to find Michael already chatting with Adrian.
Completely different from the condescending ass on yesterday’s call.
Adrian stands and walks over, naturally taking my hand. “Your fingers are ice cubes. I’ll tell them to turn down the AC.”
This casual display of intimacy has Michael falling over himself to apologize for yesterday’s comments.
I’d expected a brutal negotiation-my purse was packed with Advil and Pedialyte.
But Adrian claimed he was “doing keto” so drinks turned into sparkling water.
I hadn’t even gotten through my pitch deck when Michael was already asking where to sign.
Then Adrian casually dropped: “I’m thinking 80/20 profit split favoring Vivian. That work for you?”
Michael’s face went through all five stages of grief. Adrian was clearly just flexing.
He agreed anyway, then tried some amateur detective work: “Don’t forget to send me a Save the Date, you two.”
Clearly fishing to see if we were actually together.
Adrian smiled. “You’ll make the A-list.”
On the Uber ride home, though, Adrian went totally silent.
The backseat vibes got weird fast.
I study his icy profile. “So we’re doing the silent treatment now?”
Adrian pulls the Audi over and stares at me. “What right do I have to be mad at you?”
He’s literally sulking like a Real Housewife.
“Vivian, you promised to marry me, but all you do is work. You talk more to your Roomba than to me!”
He’s genuinely upset. “Michael called you a ‘little girl playing business’ yesterday, and you still met with him.”
“You should’ve told him to shove that contract where the sun doesn’t shine.”
Seeing Adrian this protective makes my heart do something stupid.
No wonder he squeezed Michael for that 80/20 split-he was getting revenge for me.
All my strategic planning goes out the window.
21.8%
Chapter 7
I unbuckle, lean over, and plant a quick kiss on his lips.
I grin at his shocked face. “Better now?”
Adrian freezes, his ears turning tomato red. “No. I’m not mad.”
Now I need confirmation. I cup his face in my hands. “Adrian Cross, have you been in love with me this entire time?”
I’ve heard it from our entire graduating class. This time I want to hear it from him.
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