7 Big Rewards
Adrian’s jaw tightened. His fingers clenched hard around the keys. His chest lifted as he took a deep breath and exhaled sharply.
“I know you loved me once,” he said finally, the words raw, cracked with emotion. “You gave me your everything and I blew it all to hell.” He reached out again, cupping her chin in his large palm, his touch warm but heavy. He tilted her face up, forcing her to meet his eyes. “But now, I can’t even give you a car?”
“I don’t want to talk about the past,” Sienna muttered, looking away, trying to pull back again, but he didn’t let her go this time.
Adrian grabbed her hand again, slipping the keys into her palm and folding her fingers into a fist around them, his grip lingering on her fist.
“Then take it for now. Use it. Use it for your father’s business if you want. Keep it in your garage. I don’t care. Just… have it. Until you decide what you want to do about us.”
“And what if I never change my mind? What if there’s no ‘us’ ever again?”
Adrian leaned in, towering over her as his face dipped into the curve of her neck. She could feel his breath—warm, familiar. Then came a soft kiss, just above her collarbone. A sigh escaped her lips before she could stop it.
“Then it’s still yours,” he whispered against her skin, his voice deep and possessive. “Even then, this car is yours. It always was. I bought it for you. It belongs to you.”
Sienna shuddered. His beard brushed against her neck, coarse and warm, and his hand slid down to her waist. She trembled as his fingers slowly inched up her side, caressing her breast softly. Her breathing hitched when his lips met hers, but just as his kiss deepened, she pushed him away.
She slipped out of his hold and walked back toward the hall, her arms folded tight across her chest. Her body trembled slightly, but she held her head high, refusing to let him see the effect he still had on her.
***
The presidential suite at the Ritzwood Hotel was like a dream spun out of memory and regret. It was lavish, romantic—the kind of setup that screamed of apology and longing. Soft candlelight flickered on every surface. Pink roses spilled across the bed. A gourmet dinner set for two sat on the side. Champagne. Pictures of them from the past displayed with care.
Adrian stood by the window, tall and powerful in a black dress shirt rolled up to the elbows, his sleeves showing off the muscles in his forearms. He held his phone tight, staring at the last message he had sent her over an hour ago.
‘When will you be here?’
It wasn’t the first. He had sent dozens since the day they’d met again. She had never replied.
A deep line cut across his forehead, his dark brows furrowed.
“I’ve let you down once,” he murmured, more to himself than anyone else. His voice was thick, strained. “But not again.”
He walked back into the room, and took a seat on the edge of the bed. He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, the phone gripped between his fingers like it was the only thing holding him together.
“Just one chance, Sienna,” he whispered. “One more. I swear, I won’t disappoint you ever again.”
***
Sienna stood in front of her dresser, a strange mix of tension and anticipation pulsing through her.
She had changed out of her party clothes and slipped into something more casual. The event had drained her, but the calm of being home gave her just enough space to breathe.
She rummaged through her dresser, fingers hesitating on a particular piece—a short nightie in black and pink. Backless. With a plunging neckline.
She swallowed hard, her fingers brushing the fabric.
“Adrian always loved it when I wore little nighties like this,” she muttered under her breath, biting her lip as flashes of their past invaded her mind. The way his voice would drop when he saw her in them, the way his eyes devoured her. And then the memory of his body on that video call… it sent a tremor through her.
She reached for the nightie. But her hand froze mid-air.
‘What am I doing?’ The thought struck like lightning.
The smile on her face faltered.
‘He only wanted me for sex. That’s all he’s ever wanted. He mistook lust for love, and I’m falling for it again.’
Her hand fell away from the nightie. She turned, leaning back against the dresser, her head lowered, sadness spreading across her face like a quiet storm.
‘I won’t make the same mistake twice. I’ve already been fooled once. Am I really going to let it happen again?’
A soft ping broke the silence.
She glanced at her phone. It was a message from Adrian.
He’d sent a photo.
She reached for the phone hesitantly, her heart skipping despite everything. Her thumb tapped the message open, and her breath caught.
It was a picture of a room, set up romantically with flowers, champagne, and soft yellow lights that gave everything a dreamy glow.
But instead of feeling touched, it only made her heart ache more.
Sienna’s hands trembled as her fingers curled around her phone. Her chest rose and fell with shallow breaths, her throat tightening. She squeezed her eyes shut, resting her head against the dresser. No matter how hard she tried, the memories wouldn’t stop. If anything, they crashed back even harder.
She had done something similar before, years ago. More beautiful. More heartfelt.
It was their first Valentine’s Day.
She had decorated his bedroom from scratch, pouring her entire heart into every detail—red roses, fairy lights, a dinner she made herself, even the scent of his favorite flowers drifting in the air. She had been so excited. So hopeful.
He had promised he’d be there.
But the night came and went. She had waited, wide-eyed and hopeful, calling him again and again. Nothing. Only silence.
He never came.
He had shown up the next morning.
The second he stepped in, she had shot to her feet, sleep instantly broken.
“Adrian! You’re back. Finally!” Her voice had been breathless, filled with so much joy it almost masked the pain. “It’s our fir—”
“What the hell is all this?” he snapped, voice sharp and cold. His expression twisted in distaste as he looked around the room, eyes narrowing.
She hadn’t even cared about the hour, or the ache in her chest. She just wanted to see him.
“It’s Valentine’s Day... I wanted to surprise you.”
“Get rid of all this bullshit,” he barked. His hand shot up to rub his temple in irritation, barely glancing at her. “I told you, we’re not a fucking couple. What are you doing, Sienna?”
Then he stormed out.
And the second he did, she broke. She collapsed on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably, her heart shattered.
She had spent the entire day back then, carefully planning, preparing. Hoping to make it special.
Now, years later, he was the one doing it for her.
What an irony.
Tears welled at the corners of her eyes, but she held them back. She sniffled, scoffing at herself, and turned away from the screen.
“Sienna?” Theo’s voice came from outside her room, and a second later, he burst in, grabbing her hand. “Let’s go.” He pulled her along immediately.
“Where?” she gasped, startled.
He gave her a tight look, his jaw firm. “Something important. Just come with me.”
***
It was past 3 in the morning.
Adrian sat on the floor beside the bed, legs stretched out, back leaned against the wall. A half-empty bottle of whiskey dangled from his fingers. His eyes flickered to the clock, dull and bloodshot.
He exhaled slowly.
Then suddenly, with a grunt of frustration, he pushed himself up, tossing back the last sip of alcohol before hurling the bottle across the room. It shattered into pieces against the far wall.
His jaw clenched tightly as he staggered to his feet, muscles aching and stiff. He grabbed another bottle from the table and dropped himself onto the floor beside the dinner table he had set up for Sienna. The lights above flickered slightly, casting shadows across his face as he drank again—and again—until sleep dragged him under.
But even sleep didn’t last long.
A sharp clink broke the silence as the bottle slipped from his hand and hit the floor. He blinked, dazed, his body heavy and sore. His head pounding.
His eyes instinctively turned to the bed.
Empty.
He let out a bitter laugh, low and hoarse.
“So this is what it felt like when I didn’t show up for you. When I left you alone,” he muttered, his voice rough with regret. His heart burned, searing in his chest like punishment.
He got up on shaky legs, groaning softly as his head throbbed. He picked up his phone and called Matthew.
“Find out where Sienna was last night,” he ordered. “Tell me where she is right now.”
“Yes, sir,” Matthew replied quickly before the call ended.
Adrian ran a hand down his face, his palm rough against his unshaven jaw. The sun had begun to rise, casting a golden hue across the room. It was just past 7 a.m. when the call came back.
“Mr. Vaughn, Ms. Donovan was also at the Ritzwood Hotel last night,” Matthew said. “But she never went to your room. She was in Room twenty-eight, First Floor.”
Adrian’s grip on the phone tightened until his knuckles turned white. His eyes narrowed as tension rippled through his expression.
“She was at the same hotel?” he whispered, more to himself. “Then why didn’t she come to me?”
But a darker thought crept in next.
‘Was she alone in that room?’
Without thinking, his feet moved on their own. He stormed out of the suite, taking the stairs down to the first floor two at a time. When he reached Room 28, he saw the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign hanging loosely on the doorknob.
He stepped forward to knock.
But just as his hand lifted, he heard the soft click of the lock from inside. He quickly backed away, stepping behind the nearby wall.
The door opened.
Sienna stepped out, stretching her neck with one hand, a soft groan leaving her lips. “Ugh, I’m so sore.”
Adrian’s foot moved forward instinctively, but then another figure stepped out behind her.
Theo.
“Gosh, I’m so tired,” Sienna muttered with a sigh. “Seriously, stop pulling all-nighters already, will you? My back is killing me.”
“It’s fun,” Theo chuckled, shutting the door behind him. “What’s the point of doing something if you’re not putting everything into it?”
“Ugh, stop talking. I don’t want to remember,” Sienna whined, placing her head on Theo’s shoulder with a pout. “That was too much in one night.”
Adrian’s jaw clenched so hard it ached.
He stood behind the wall, fists curled tightly, nails digging into his palms until blood dripped from his knuckles. His chest heaved, every breath a battle against the storm inside him.
Their words stabbed into him like knives. The way she leaned on Theo. The way she smiled.
He knew she was married now. He knew they had a life together. They sleep together in one bed. But hearing it—seeing it—was something else entirely.
He had turned a blind eye all this time. He had never let himself think of her sleeping with another man. Never allowed the thought to fester.
But now it was eating him alive.
His head fell back against the wall, his throat raw as he swallowed the rage boiling inside.
“Why the fuck did I ever let you walk away, Sienna,” he muttered, his voice laced with pain. “Why did I let you go?”
But he kept still.
Because he had made a promise.
He had promised her he wouldn't interfere. That he’d wait in the shadows if he wanted to stay in her life.
"Alright, my bad, Your Highness.” Theo chuckled, placing his hands on her shoulders. He turned her around and pulled her into a tight embrace as they walked down the corridor toward the elevator. “I swear I’ll reward you properly for all that hard work. Big rewards. Top-tier performance bonus.”
Sienna giggled, walking alongside him into the elevator.
Adrian’s eyes burned into her back until the elevator doors shut.
And then, his fist slammed into the cold, concrete wall beside him. The sound cracked through the hallway like a gunshot.