Chapter 27
ADRIAN
The manor house appeared through the trees like something out of a fairy tale.
The honey-colored stone and big-arched windows revealed the centuries of history the place had seen.
I didn’t know specifically how old it was, but at least two-hundred years.
It was perfect for the show. A slightly Gothic feel that would lean into the decadence theme.
The car wound up a long gravel drive. In a couple of hours, the driveway would be lined with limousines. As we rounded the final curve, the full scope of the estate revealed itself.
“Holy shit,” Elizabeth breathed beside me.
I’d seen it before during our initial location scouting, but even I had to admit it was impressive. The building rose three stories, with wings extending back to create a U shape. Manicured gardens stretched in every direction. But the thing that really tickled Sebastian was the fountain.
It was a massive creation featuring naked cherubs and nymphs in various states of frolicking. Naked, of course. Water cascaded over their marble forms in ways that were either artistic or pornographic depending on your perspective.
“Is that—are those—” Elizabeth leaned forward, eyes wide.
“Naked people? Yes. It’s hedonistic. Vulgar, but this is Sebastian’s thing.” I helped her out of the car. “He said it fit the theme of decadence.”
“It certainly does that.” But she was grinning, her eyes dancing with delight as she took in the whole scene. The fountain, the manor, the sheer opulence of it all.
She looked like a princess arriving at her castle.
There was wonder written across her face.
Watching her take it all in was an eye opener.
I’d been to countless venues like this. I stayed in houses like the one we were at while on vacation.
Visited friends that lived in actual castles.
I had become jaded to luxury. It was just another Tuesday in my world.
But Elizabeth made it new again. Her excitement was infectious. I loved watching and experiencing her joy at experiencing these things for the first time. It reminded me why I’d fallen in love with this industry in the first place.
I was having more fun with her around than I would have had without her. More fun than I’d had in years, actually.
“Adrian! Elizabeth!” Sebastian’s voice carried across the courtyard. He emerged from the manor’s entrance holding three champagne flutes, looking completely relaxed in dark jeans and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. “Welcome to my humble abode for the evening.”
He handed us each a glass. I noted with irritation that he looked far too calm for someone hosting a major fashion show in approximately six hours.
I hoped he was taking this seriously. Out of all my brothers, he was the one I worried about the most. He had a tendency to go with the flow.
Grab life by the horns and just go with whatever happened.
I was Type A and he was… God I didn’t even know what he was.
“You seem relaxed,” I said, hearing the edge in my own voice.
“That’s because I am relaxed.” Sebastian grinned, clinking his glass against mine. “Unlike you, dear brother, I understand that these events work best when everyone’s actually enjoying themselves.”
“This isn’t a party, Sebastian. This is—”
“A celebration of decadence. Which, fun fact, actually does require a party atmosphere.” He threw an arm around my shoulders.
“Adrian, my brother, my CEO, my eternal stick-in-the-mud—you need to lighten up. Tonight is about excess, luxury, indulgence. What did you think the vibe was going to be? Puritan restraint?”
I wanted to argue, but he had a point. I’d been at every planning meeting for this show. I knew Sebastian’s theme, knew his concept, had approved every decision. But knowing it intellectually and accepting my brother’s blasé attitude were two different things.
“I just want it to go well,” I said.
“It will. Because I’m not you, and I don’t stress about every tiny detail.” He released me and turned to Elizabeth. “You, however, look stunning as always. That dress is perfect. Annika’s work?”
“Yes, she picked it out this morning before we left New York.” Elizabeth glanced at me. “Can you explain what tonight’s setup is? I know it’s different from the New York show.”
Sebastian lit up, clearly delighted to have an audience who actually wanted to hear about his vision. “So, Adrian did Legacy—honoring the past, very serious, very moving. Blah, blah, blah. Very much Adrian’s thing. I’m doing Decadence.”
“I understand that,” Elizabeth said with a shake of her head. “But what does that look like?”
He led us inside as he talked.
I had to admit the team had done incredible work.
The manor’s grand ballroom had been transformed into something between a high-end nightclub and a Renaissance feast. Tables laden with champagne and delicacies lined the walls.
The runway had been built lower than traditional height, putting the models almost at eye level with the audience.
“The whole point is intimacy,” Sebastian explained.
“I want the audience close enough to touch the fabric. They will see every detail. And instead of theater seating, we’re doing lounge-style.
Sofas, chairs, and in the back people can stand and move around.
It’s more like a party where fashion happens than a traditional show. ”
“It’s great,” Elizabeth said. I could see her designer brain cataloging every detail.
“Thank you.” Sebastian beamed. “If I do my job right, everyone here is going to leave wanting to either buy everything they saw or have sex with everyone they met.” He lowered his voice, glancing around to make sure no staff were in earshot.
“Except you two, obviously. It’s a shame, too.
You guys make a cute couple. Might actually convince people this whole thing is real. ”
I felt my jaw tighten. “The plan is working. That’s what matters.”
Something shifted in Elizabeth’s expression. I could see her almost withdraw. There was a flicker of hurt or disappointment that she quickly masked. “Sebastian, is Annika around? I need to run something by her. About… fabric.”
“East wing, second door on the left. She’s set up her workshop there.” Sebastian pointed. “Tell her if she needs anything, anything at all, to let me know.”
“Thanks.” Elizabeth squeezed my hand once, a gesture that felt more like goodbye than see-you-later, and headed off toward the east wing.
I watched her go, that flicker of hurt still visible in the set of her shoulders.
“Did I say something wrong?” Sebastian asked, his playboy facade dropping slightly.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “No. Maybe. I don’t know.”
“That’s not like you. You always know.” He watched me, scrutinizing me.
Sebastian could play the uncaring, who-gives-a-fuck guy pretty well, but it was part of his charade.
People never took him seriously but he was just as smart and capable as the rest of us Blackwell brothers.
He chose to pretend not to care because he didn’t like to be bothered with boring work.
“What’s going on, Adrian?”
“Nothing. Everything. It’s complicated.”
“Complicated how?”
I looked around, making sure we were alone in this section of the ballroom. “Things have gotten messy with Elizabeth. The lines are blurring between what’s real and what’s fake, and I’m not sure what to do about it.”
Sebastian’s eyebrows rose. “Oh, Mr. CEO doesn’t know what to do? The man who always has a plan and is always three steps ahead can’t figure out his own shit? You’re so good at telling everyone else what to do and how to live.”
“Forget it.” I started to walk away. “I should have known you wouldn’t take this seriously.”
“Adrian, wait.” His hand on my arm stopped me. When I turned back, the teasing had dropped from his expression entirely. “I’m not making fun. I’m just surprised. You’ve always been so adamant about not doing relationships. Real ones, I mean. Even your hookups were casual. Detached.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“You’ve been hiding. Ever since Dad died, you’ve used work as an excuse to avoid actually living your life.
” He held up a hand before I could protest. “I’m not judging.
We all dealt with it differently. I went the opposite direction—too much living, not enough thinking.
But Adrian, this is the first time I’ve seen you actually care about someone since… I can’t even remember when.”
Just hearing him say it made me feel twitchy. “It’s too fast. I’ve known her for barely two weeks. Reality and the business arrangement have just gotten tangled up. And with Love Week driving me insane, it’s a terrible time to make important life-altering decisions.”
“When is a good time?” Sebastian challenged. “You’ll always have something more important. Another show, another crisis, another responsibility. That’s who you are. You put everything else first.”
“Someone has to.”
“Sure. But don’t wait too long to figure out what you want with Elizabeth.” He glanced toward where she’d disappeared. “The world is starting to notice her, Adrian. She’s talented, beautiful, and suddenly very visible. If you don’t lock that down, someone else will. Hell, I might even—”
“Stop right there.” The words came out more like a snarl than actual words. “Don’t even joke about that.”
Sebastian laughed, but there was sympathy in his eyes. “See? I knew you were into her. Damn, brother. You’re fucked.”
“I know.”
“Does she know? Have you told her how you feel?”
“We agreed to talk after Love Week. When things calm down.”
“And if someone else talks to her first? If she decides this fake engagement is too painful and walks away?”
The thought made my stomach drop. “She wouldn’t.”
“Why? Because you’re paying her? Because you promised her a job?
” Sebastian shook his head. “Adrian, you’re smarter than this.
That woman is falling for you. Anyone with eyes can see it.
But she’s also scared, and she thinks this is still just an arrangement.
If you want something real with her, you need to tell her. Before it’s too late.”
“After Love Week.”
“Could be too late.” He clapped me on the shoulder, the gesture almost pitying.
“Look, I’m the last person who should be giving relationship advice.
My longest commitment is to my dry cleaner.
But even I can see this is different. Don’t let the perfect moment keep you from having any moment at all. ”
Before I could respond, a production assistant appeared, needing Sebastian’s approval on something. He shot me one more meaningful look and followed her toward the stage area.
I stood alone in the opulent ballroom, surrounded by centuries of history and luxury.
Tonight, when the show was underway, it was going to be impossible to ignore the feelings rampaging through me.
The setting was meant to turn people on.
Fire them up. And Elizabeth and I had no problem in that department.
I felt like we should talk before we fucked again. But what would I say?
I didn’t want to risk saying the wrong thing and messing this situation up more than it already was.
What if I told her and she didn’t feel the same way? What if this was just adrenaline and proximity and the intensity of the situation?
What if it was real, and I let it slip away because I was too scared to claim it?
Before I could even think about that, I had a show to help execute. Sebastian might be relaxed, but someone needed to make sure every detail was perfect.
That was who I was. The responsible one. The one who put duty first. I didn’t think that would ever change.