Chapter Ten
T hree days have passed, and I still haven’t gotten news from Nathaniel. I understand work is hard, but an update message shouldn’t take any longer than a minute. I imagine him not taking any time for himself in any way, maybe it is his way of not getting distracted. In my case, I could benefit from some distraction.
I grab my phone and decide to send a text to Adam.
To: Adam Shop
Hey!
Ready for London?
Almost instantly, he replies by sending me a photo of him, at least from his perspective. In front of him is a table with a couple of drinks and what I suppose is a cheeseboard. The dimmed red lighting allows me to guess he is in a bar—a nice one. In the picture, I get a glance at a few pairs of female legs sitting around him at the table, a few hands holding glasses.
I can almost imagine the faces of the beautiful women he has surrounded himself with. One of them has her legs on his lap. I’m zooming through the details of the picture as another text comes in.
From: Adam Shop
I told you it could be later. Haha.
What are you up to? Do I pick you up?
I read his text and take a couple of seconds before replying. To go to a bar on a Wednesday? No, thank you. That’s a hard pass.
To: Adam Shop
A bar on a Wednesday?
No, thanks. But have fun!
I hit send and place my phone on the nightstand. I look toward the ceiling, trying to get some sleep and my mind to finally shut. But my phone buzzes. A message from Adam, again.
From: Adam Shop
Who said anything about a bar?
C’est chez moi!
His place? Is he telling me this is his living room or something? It looks like a very nice bar. What’s with the red dimmed lights? I guess it wouldn’t hurt if I came over to his little party, would it? Before replying, I scroll through my messages, looking for my conversation with Nathan. I begin typing to tell him that Adam has invited me over, but I stop and delete everything. What’s the point?
I go back to my thread of texts with Adam.
To: Adam Shop
Can I bring Tate?
Send me your address.
I hit send, and without waiting for his response, I text Tatiana.
To: Tate babe
I’m picking you up in twenty minutes.
Going to Adam’s place.
And without hesitation, I transfer the picture Adam sent me before, to get her excited. Knowing her, she won’t say no.
From: Tate babe
What do you mean?
I was already in pjs.
Why so many legs?
Is he hosting an orgy or something?
And what’s with the light? *purple devil emoji*
To: Tate babe
Lol… I’ll explain, just be ready. X
I stand up from the bed and grab my keys. I go downstairs and out of the building. My car is parked right in front, a spot I manage to keep because I don’t move my car that often. I don’t drive it at all, actually. When I get inside, I put on my seatbelt and start the engine before pulling out on the street. I look down at my phone to see Adam’s eager agreement along with his address.
I pull up in front of Tatiana’s front door where she’s already waiting for me, arms crossed. Looking effortlessly chic. She slides into the car with a wide smile on her face.
“You’re seriously dragging me out on a Wednesday, huh?” she asks, but there’s a playful grin on her face.
“You’ll thank me later,” I reply with a smile, knowing that she might even enjoy this more than me. I shift the car into drive. “Thank you for coming with me,” I say while putting Adam’s address on the GPS. “I needed a distraction.”
“What do you mean? Distraction from what?” she asks, but I can tell from the look in her eyes that she already knows. “Nathaniel?” she asks almost instantly.
I shrug.
“I haven’t heard from him in a couple of days. He’s probably busy, but still.”
“Like you say, he’s probably busy. He doesn’t look like the kind to sit and chill, and he left on a work trip, so he certainly does that, work .” She pauses. “Besides, I can’t believe he didn’t even ask you to come with him.”
“Well…” I say, my voice low and guilty. Even if my eyes are fixed on the road, I feel Tatiana shifting her body to face me.
“Olivia James.” She pauses for dramatical purposes. “He invited you to come with him?”
Shrugging my shoulders, I try to hide my head in between.
“He did.” My voice comes out lower than I expected.
“Then what are you doing here?” Tatiana scolds at me, her tone higher than usual. I glance at her briefly and see she is frowning.
I sigh.
“I didn’t want to leave you alone in the shop for a whole week,” I confess.
She exaggeratedly shakes her head and turns back to her seat.
“Liv, I can manage a week on my own, there’s Anne, and I can always find some last-minute extra help if necessary. If he is still in London, you should go and surprise him.” Her voice is soft. “Besides, I’m leaving you alone for the holidays, and that’ll be more than one week. But trust me, you know I could handle it.” I nod. I see that we are approaching Adam’s address.
“I know, but it’s different. For that, we are ready. This trip to London was last minute.”
“You only needed to let me know! Think about it, you can still go. I think he would love to have you there.”
I let her words sink into my mind. I don’t know if it’s because I miss him, but I’m starting to consider it.
I stop in front of a house with a modern structure.
“This must be it,” I murmur, still partially unsure. I take a moment to absorb the exterior: sleek, modern lines with enough detail to make it feel like something out of a design magazine. The facade being windows instead of walls. I imagine that without the current blackout blinds, you can see every corner inside the house from the street.
I park and stay inside the car with Tatiana, double-checking the address he gave me to be sure I’m in the right place.
“There’s no doubt. It’s here,” I say, looking at the place.
“Don’t you want to call him to let him know we’ve arrived?” she asks, her seatbelt still fastened.
“What’s the point?” I ask, opening my door. “We are here, we will knock.”
“ Knock? Who knocks?” Tatiana asks, and I roll my eyes at her.
We walk toward the door and there’s an exterior light that goes on immediately as we approach, so bright I might have gone blind.
“Fuck,” Tatiana complains, covering her eyes with her hands.
In front of the door, I knock, but no response. I’m struggling to find the bell, but I don’t see any.
“I told you to call…” Tatiana says melodically.
“Would you let it go? Help me find the bell.”
“The bell? Olivia, just make the freaking call.”
I hesitate whether to leave or knock again, but when I’m about to give up, the door opens. Adam is there, with a woman to his side—blonde, tall, blue eyes, incredibly gorgeous. She is wearing a caramel, wool, long coat and waves to us. Tatiana and I remain there, almost standing on our tiptoes to try and be at the same height as Barbie in front of us.
“You came!” he says as soon as he sees us. “Why didn’t you call?” he asks, and Tatiana gives me that I told you look, most likely a glare at this point. “Come in,” he says, putting himself and his other friend to a side, making the space for us to come inside.
We find ourselves in the softly lit hallway, waiting in anticipation as Adam exchanges goodbyes with his friend. We were going to say something, but with Adam's friendly disposition, we weren’t even able to say hello.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity—but was probably a minute—the door clicks shut and he returns to us, a welcoming smile on his face.
With a gesture, he leads us deeper into the house, walking in front of us.
“Is there something special you’d like to drink?” He asks, Tatiana and I look at each other and shrug. “Well, come with me to the kitchen, you can choose yourselves.”
Past the hall, it’s like walking into another world. His apartment is a perfect blend of luxurious maximalism, rich textures, deep colours, and bold, eye-catching pieces scattered artfully around the space. Plants are the star.
Dear lord, they are everywhere.
The lighting is warm, casting soft shadows that make the space feel intimate and expansive all at once. There’s a curated chaos to it all, an intentionality that only someone with Adam’s eye for design could pull off.
“Wow,” I breathe out, almost involuntarily.
“This is… wow .” Tatiana whistles low under her breath.
“Adam, did you do all this?” My voice comes out loaded with amusement. It’s impossible that he needed help with inspiration for a book nook, now I see he was only being polite.
“Most of it. It used to be a minimalistic space, but with time and designing the hotel, it evolved into this chaos . I think it fits my personality better now.” He says.
“A pretty chaos,” Tatiana says, winking.
Oh my God.
He smiles, and… blushes? I decide to make myself very tiny between the obvious flirting that is going on between them.
Adam places different bottles of wine, plus three ball glasses over the centre bar of his kitchen.
“Now it’s a party.” I hear Tatiana say, and Adam raises an eyebrow with his signature grin on his face.
He fills three glasses with Cabernet Sauvignon, chosen by Tatiana, with a hint of Porto for me. I know, sacrilège , but I can’t take such a dry wine, I need to mix it with a sweeter one if I want to avoid spending the evening with the same face I make when sucking on a lime.
In the bustling atmosphere of the living room where Adam’s friends have gathered, there’s Tatiana, effortlessly weaving her way into the crowd. I catch sight of her animatedly chatting with a group of strikingly handsome men. She truly knows how to seize every opportunity.
As I sink into the plush arms of the large sofa, I try to divert my thoughts elsewhere, when Adam sits next to me.
“She seems to be having fun,” he says, pointing his glass to Tatiana and his group of friends. “You—not so much. What’s wrong?”
I look back at him, faking a smile.
“Nothing,” I say, “but I think I won’t be staying long.”
“What? But you just got here.” He is clearly surprised, the disappointment in his voice hinting at a longing for me to linger a little longer.
I breathe in.
“I know, but my mind is in a different place right now.”
“Where?” he asks. His voice is sweet and heavy with care, inviting me to open up with him in the same way he does with me.
“I don’t want to talk about it.” I sigh, avoiding his eyes as if he could read me.
“You don’t want to because it has to do with Nate, or because you don’t trust me enough?” He makes an effort to lock eyes with me, his face leaning closer, respectfully. This time, he doesn’t have the intention to kiss me, but to rather feel what I’m feeling.
I sigh. I don’t know if I trust him enough, and I don’t think it is appropriate to talk about Nathaniel with him. How do I tell Adam that I want to trust him, but I can’t let go of the thought of him hiding with his brother’s bride? I can’t let go of the feeling that he is covering something with his bright, chatty personality. Logically, if he can’t be trusted in his family, how can I trust him? I barely know him.
I meet his gaze.
“It’s Nathaniel, but I don’t want to talk about it. Don’t take it personally, though,” I say, trying to remove importance to the topic.
“It’s fine, Olivia. I understand.” He pauses. “You’ve been there for me before, just know I’m here for you if you ever need me.” He pauses, putting his hand over the back of my neck. “I’m hoping you will.”
He is hoping I will need him? Why ? I want to trust him, but I hope I’ll never need anything from Adam Martens. I stare at my hands and snort—an unplanned snort.
“What?” Adam asks, frowning, his hand dropping to his lap.
“What?” I echo, looking at him, fake scratching the back of my head as to ignore the situation. Hopefully, he didn’t hear my snort.
“What’s with the snort? Is there something wrong?”
Uh-oh.
“What—no, no.” I hold his stare. “I mean, yes.”
“Why? What is it?”
I sigh.
“The thing is—no, I don’t know how to put this.”
“Try.”
“Well, is none of my business, to be honest.”
“You made it your business the moment you let it bother you. So, tell me Olivia,” he insists.
“Ok.” I sigh. “Do you remember your brother’s wedding rehearsal?”
“I do.”
“Do you remember you left me in the crowd for a moment?”
“And you were nowhere to be found after,” he states.
So, he believes his own lies. My eyes widen, my eyebrows lifted in disbelief.
“You’re telling me that you actually searched for me?”
“I did, yes.”
“If you want us to be friends you can’t lie to me, Adam.”
“I didn’t lie to you, Olivia.”
“Ok, so I guess you were not fucking your brother’s bride while he was in the crowd, certainly bragging about how lucky he is to be marrying this woman?”
Adam freezes, shock written across his face, his breathing uneven. He wasn’t expecting I knew that, did he? He is speechless.
“You want to continue lying to me?” I break the silence.
“What? Where did you get that from?”
He is not denying it.
“I saw you. Well, I heard you.”
“What do you mean you heard me?”
“How about you tell me the truth now, Adam?”
He looks at me, his eyes fixed with mine before dropping to his hands, his fingers intertwined. Finally, after a couple of seconds, he lets out a sigh.
“Fine, I didn’t look for you all that time.” He looks back at me. “But—how did you know about that ?”
“Oh, you mean how did I know you were fucking another woman when you were supposed to be with me?”
“I’m sorry, Olivia. I know, I’m a piece of shit.” He pauses, looking straight in my eyes. “But we have something that’s hard to explain. It began badly, and I haven’t been able to put it to an end,” he says with hints of regret.
“Don’t you feel bad about doing this to your brother?”
“I try not to think about it.”
“That doesn’t change the fact that it’s wrong.”
“I know.”
“Does your brother know?”
“God, no! He would kill me. Sascha is sweet, but he goes feral when he is pissed.” He runs his right hand through his hair. “I already fucked up my relationship with Nate once, I don’t want to go through the same with Sascha.”
I still don’t know what went wrong with them, but I suppose it’s due to Adam’s free spirit and his lack of boundaries. However, he can’t be a good person while doing wrong to others. He can’t expect good things to come his way while he is giving shit. I look in Tatiana’s direction, avoiding Adam’s eyes.
“I prefer my conscience clean and light, rather than heavy and bothered. Being lonely and righteous is better than being surrounded by a crowd of people simmering in your own shit.”
“You’re right…” He sighs and shakes his head “…but I’m already too deep.”
“There’s always a way out—Of course, there’s a price to pay, though.”
“What if the price is too high?”
“If that’s the case, you might be in debt for a while.”
“Huh,” he says looking at me, giving me a tight half smile. “I’ll give it a thought.” I hold his gaze and force a smile with my lips tight closed. There’s silence between us and I feel uncomfortable.
Adam falls quiet, no words come out of him, and he is serious. And right in this moment, it’s like I’m looking at a dark-haired Nathaniel. I can sense him thinking about something, but I can’t read him. And somehow, I don’t want to.
I put both of my hands to each side of me, pressing against the sofa to stand up, but he grabs my wrist halfway, making me lose balance and I fall again next to him. I look at him, not knowing what’s going on, and he locks his brown-hazel eyes with mine, making me tense.
“I’m sorry, Olivia,” he says with a soft voice. “For everything I put you through, I’m sorry.”
I soften my gaze and relax my spine. “You don’t need to apologize to me.”
“No—I need to apologize to many people. I’m beginning with you.” He pauses. “If you don’t want to be friends, I’ll respect that,” he says. I look at him. He is being honest, seriously honest. And I choose to trust him, to believe his apology and to be his friend. His almost friend. In my head, this friendship status is going through review, but now, in this moment, I give it to him. I listen to what he has to say, and I let myself be his friend.
Several minutes pass and we continue talking. He shows me the rest of the house and gets us drinks. Tatiana and I exchange glances, and I know she is having a good time talking with two handsome men next to Adam’s bar near the kitchen.
I stay next to Adam. He is back to his natural, chatty self, and I realize that no one has come to try and talk to him since I arrived. Who are all these people? Are they his real friends? Party friends? I shake the thought quickly. That’s a conversation for another day.
I take my phone out, hoping to see a text from Nathan, but nothing. I read the time quickly, knowing is about time I need to leave.
I open my mouth, but as soon as I want to say something, Adam interrupts me.
“Don’t say it.”
“I have to go.”
He sighs.
“Fine,” he says, smiling at me and glances in Tatiana’s direction. “Are you sure she is going back with you?”
Tatiana hasn’t stopped smiling, moving her head to Adam’s playlist sounding loud from invisible speakers I haven’t been able to spot.
“We’ll see about that.” I walk toward her, a part of me anticipating her response already.
“Tate!” I say loudly, gaining her attention plus the attention of Ken and Max Steel standing next to her.
“I’m leaving. Are you coming back home with me?” I ask, giving her the opportunity to choose only to be polite, but without meaning it.
“But we just got here!” she whines, almost pouting. Girl, we got here two hours ago.
“Tate—” I’m interrupted by Adam who jumps in.
“Olivia, if she chooses to stay, I can take her back myself or call a driver to take her home later.”
I arch my eyebrows in surprise. Is he showing interest in Tatiana? I look at her. Her expression is priceless. She seems more struck than me, but rapidly her expression evolves into a nice surprise. I laugh.
“For me, that’s not a problem,” I say, hoping that she will somehow excuse herself and come with me, but I know there’s something about Adam that keeps her rooted.
“Liv,” she says. “Send me a message as soon as you arrive.” Her eyes show worry, but her smile says victory.
You slut. I insult her inside my head, but I’m happy she gets to have fun.
Adams offers to walk me to my car, and when I’m outside, I see Tatiana waving goodbye from the large windows. I snort and show her my middle finger jokingly , and she makes a heart with both hands in response. Sometimes, disrespect is our love language.
I hug Adam before going inside the car, and he stays against the door, I lower the window to tell him one last goodbye, but he cuts me off.
“I hope you get some peace of mind soon. You know, about the thing you don’t want to talk about. Let me know when you get home safe,” he says.
“Of course. It was nice seeing you before your trip to London. It was short, but good,” I say, and he lets out a sharp laugh.
“No, Olivia, no man wants to hear that,” he says, shaking his head. I look down with my hands on the steering wheel, trying not to laugh at his comment that took me a few seconds to understand.
“Oh but, it was short,” I say bringing my hand near my face, leaving a very short distance between my index and my thumb. My voice is playful.
“Good night,” he says between laughs, and gently taps the top of my car with his hand. He pushes back from the window and heads back to his door, from where he shows me a big smile and shakes his head.
The drive was awfully dangerous because of how tired I was, and thank God the parking spot in front of the building was still free when I arrived. I barely remember falling asleep last night, my body going into airplane mode as soon as I touched the bed. I don’t even recall checking my phone at all. So, let’s say that visiting Adam last night did pay off.
I begin to lazily open my eyes, rubbing the remnants of sleep when I hear a loud knock at the door. What the fuck? The unexpected noise makes me jump out of bed. That’s going to have me stressed for the day. One could think it is the police by the mere intensity of it. What did I do?
I try to remember all I did last night, memories flashing in time-lapse before my eyes. Nothing illegal, nothing to hide. So far, so good.
I stand on the other side of the door, with my phone in my hand, in case I need to make an emergency call.
“Who is it?” I manage to ask, trying to keep my voice as steady as possible.
“It’s me.” When I hear the voice, the feeling of relief is instant, yet I roll my eyes and I open the door, ready to scold at Tatiana for nearly giving me a heart attack. But words escape me as I see her—and Adam standing there. The sight of them together knocks me off balance. Adam’s back in his suit, looking impossibly handsome, and Tatiana is practically glowing with determination.
Before I can ask what’s going on, they storm inside. Tatiana’s in full command mode.
“Olivia,” Tatiana starts, her voice heavy with drama, “it’s already decided. No excuses.”
I stare at her, the words hanging in the air like some sort of suspense-filled countdown. Decided? What’s decided? My mind is racing, spinning in all directions as I try to figure out what she’s going on about. Adam, meanwhile, stands there quietly, his smile wide and— God, why does he look so calm? What is he doing here, anyway?
“Your flight to London leaves in four hours.” My thoughts are interrupted by Tatiana’s big reveal.
I blink.
“Wait—what!?”
Adam steps forward, his charm disarming me even further.
“I kept my flight for today, and you’re coming with me,” he says it so casually, like if I were here only waiting for him to make plans for me. “Go ahead, make a bag. We need to go to the airport.”
“But what—how? I don’t understand.”
“Get ready now, explanations later. And don’t forget your passport—or just get your passport, you can buy clothes there.”
“Fine, fine, wait, I’ll make a quick bag.” I make my way back into my room. “These people…” I say between my teeth.
Back in my bedroom, my mind is spinning with a dozen questions. What is happening? Am I going to London? My fingers move automatically, pulling out a cabin suitcase and filling it with essentials. As I pack, the thought of surprising Nathan flashes in my mind. God, what if he doesn’t like surprises? The excitement mixes with a knot of anxiety. What if this is a mistake?
I stuff my passport inside my handbag, along with my iPad, chargers, and lipstick. I grab a few perfume samples, having learned the hard way that full-size bottles don’t survive airport security. It takes me an hour to come out, but between packing, showering, and dressing up, I think I was rather reasonable.
Today, I’m dressed in my red, knee-length dress. The same one I was wearing on that rainy Sunday when I first met Nathan. He didn’t get to see it then, but now…now feels like the right moment.
Out in the living room with my cabin suitcase and my handbag hanging from my shoulder, I look at Adam and Tatiana who are sharing a mug of coffee on my oversized balcony. Something about their easy intimacy, makes me wonder if there’s more to their story from last night.
Adam looks up and sees me. He grins, walking over to me. “You look gorgeous. Red suits you perfectly.”
Tatiana joins us, eyeing my dress approvingly.
“The femme fatale vibes. I’m loving it, however bring a second option in case he rips it off with his teeth.” She says.
Adam gives her a look, processing her words in his head, and after a few seconds he stifles a laugh.
I smile, trying to calm down the nerves that threaten to overwhelm my excitement.
“Okay, let’s go,” I say, feeling more resolved, but with part of me still reeling from the suddenness of it all.
Adam grabs my luggage, Tatiana trailing behind, and I take a deep breath before shutting the door closed behind me. As we make our way downstairs, anticipation bubbles up in my chest. I can’t wait to see Nathan’s face.
At the airport, I start to feel a little more grounded. It’s been a long time since I stepped inside one. Adam stays by my side, making sure I’m comfortable, never rushing me. It’s sweet, in a way. We don’t check any bags, and after going through airport security, I go around following him.
He enters the KLM’s VIP Crown Lounge inside Schiphol Airport. I stop and he signals me to follow him in. I shake my head twice, but he comes to get me and hands me my boarding pass. My eyes drop to the line Sky Priority- Business Class. He got me a first-class ticket? I’m going through my memories, trying to remember if I offered to pay him back for it. Even if I didn’t, I plan to pay him back. How much can it be? London is not that far from Amsterdam, anyway. I follow him inside.
After showing our boarding passes, we are allowed in the rest of the lounge. It’s actually nice, private, not that big of a deal— Wait , Is that Evian ice?
I sit in the most comfortable lounge chair I spot across the room. A few people are hunched over their laptops, with coffee mugs on the tables in front of them. Adam joins me sitting in front of me, and we order drinks, tea for me, hot chocolate for him.
I catch the smile that crosses his face when his drink arrives, a childlike smile hard to ignore.
“So,” I jumped in, “you and Tatiana?”
He shifts his body and chuckles nervously, avoiding my eyes. Aw, he is being shy.
“She is…different.” He sips on his hot chocolate. I get the hint he doesn’t want to elaborate on that specific topic.
We remain in the VIP lounge for a little longer. He is awfully busy today. This is the first time I get to see him this serious and focused on work. It’s so unlike him, but it suits him.
Flight KL216 to London is now ready for boarding at gate 12.
That’s our flight. I feel a flutter of excitement and nerves as Adam stands, signalling it’s time to go. We grab our bags, Adam moving effortlessly through the airport as if it’s his second home while I stay close behind. My stomach flips with anticipation as we get to the gate, and the flashing Sky Priority sign makes me realize how different this flight will be.
The moment we step onto the plane, the contrast from my usual flights is striking. The flight attendants welcome us with warm smiles, directing us toward our seats, right here at the front of the cabin. I can’t help but feel a sense of awe as I walk past the rows of spacious, plush seats—nothing like the cramped economy ones I’m used to.
When I find my seat, I hesitate for a second, looking to one side, then the other, and then back to my ticket. This is not a seat—it’s a personal little nook! I get the window view, a large reclining seat that almost feels like a bed, and enough space to stretch out without worrying about bumping into someone. I turn to Adam, who grins at me from his seat behind mine.
“This is…incredible,” I murmur, sliding into my seat and immediately appreciating how much room I have.
For the first time, I won’t have to awkwardly clamber over a stranger’s lap just to use the restroom. I smile, settling into my seat.
I stand and turn to look at Adam, but he already has his headphones in and his eyes closed. I go back to my seat, knowing I won’t be able to sleep from all the excitement building in my insides. When they announce the plane is about to take off, I set my phone on airplane mode and put on my headphones, playing op.9 No. 2 of Chopin to ease my nerves and close my eyes. This trip was already turning into something I’d never forget.
The flight went smoothly, I ended up sleeping through most of it. Outside of the airport, the face-slapping cold wind Nathaniel warned me about is real. Even if it’s sunny today, the overall weather remains cold. It’s the season, and I’m loving it. I take the furry collar of my coat and pull it closer to my face. Adam looks in my direction and chuckles.
After waiting for less than five minutes, a black car stops in front of us. Adam opens the door for me, and I get inside. I’m waiting to see Peter, but I remember that Nathan travelled alone.
“Are you excited?” Adam asks me from his seat next to me in the back of the car.
“I’m nervous,” I respond.
“There’s no need.” He pauses. “He’s going to love having you here. I know I would.” I nod and he gives me a soft smile.
The car drive is quiet, and I delight in watching out the window, enjoying the scenery, taking a mental note of a few places I would love to visit later, if I get the chance.
The car stops, and we find ourselves in front of a vast, golden entrance at the base of a group of stairs.
“We have arrived, Mr. Martens,” the driver announces.
Adam nods. “Thank you.”
Hearing the driver calling him Mr. Martens makes me laugh to my insides. If only he knew.
As soon as Adam steps out of the car, we see a young man coming in our direction, greeting us and making his way to the back of the car to pick up our suitcases.
We step into the grand lobby of the hotel. The air hums with quiet elegance, soft jazz playing subtly in the background. The polished marble floors reflect the chandeliers above, their soft glow casting a golden warmth across the room. Adam remains near, less than a metre next to me. He moves with effortless confidence, drawing eyes like a magnet. He must be so used to this.
The few women seated in the chairs in the middle of the lobby pause their conversations, their glances flickering in his direction. A few stand, smoothing down their dresses, quickly checking their lipstick with their compact’s mirror, their postures adjusting as if pulled by some invisible thread. One woman at the reception desk straightens her shoulders, tucking her hair behind her ear, her gaze lingering a second too long.
Suddenly, they are more aware of themselves, carefully curating their appearances, trying to match his aura of effortless charm with their own. Adam flashes his easy, charismatic smile, and one could think he is oblivious to the amount of stares he leaves behind him.
I’m glancing around, looking for Nathan’s silhouette. I know he doesn’t work in the lobby, but you never know.
We are in front of two young receptionists, who look at Adam as if they’ve been water-deprived for three days and he is a spring in the middle of the desert. They hand a card to Adam for his suite, as he requested.
“Miss Olivia James here,” he pauses and moves to the side so the two women can see me better, “will be sharing the suite of Mr. Nathaniel Martens, so please give me a second key to his suite.”
The two receptionists look at him, searching for the joke, but the seconds of silence make them realize Adam is actually being serious. I can read the shock from their faces. One of them picks up the phone at that moment, but before dialling, Adam shakes his head.
“There’s no need to announce her, Mr. Martens is well aware of her arrival. He is expecting her, as a matter of fact,” he says. Liar. She puts the phone down, fake smiling to Adam. They are upset by this sudden situation. Or is it me?
When they finally hand me a key, the fake smiles are now directed at me. What a welcome.
“Thank you,” I manage to say with the brightest tone there is.
“My pleasure, Miss James.” Her expression is flat. What did I do to this girl?
“I think we’re all set,” Adam says, and points his hand to the elevator, letting me take the first steps while he follows behind.
When we get inside, Adam instructs the young man with our suitcases to leave them in his room and he hands him the key. When the elevator opens, the man goes out. I try to follow behind, but Adam stops me, shaking his head.
“One more floor.”
Of course, Nathaniel took a rooftop suite.
The elevator dings once more. And Adam’s makes a hand gesture.
“After you, Miss James.”
As I step out of the elevator, I'm faced with two doors on either side at the end of the corridor. I find myself hesitating about which direction to go.
"Olivia, follow me," Adam says as he heads to the right. He walks about a metre ahead of me before stopping at the door, waiting for me to catch up.
"Are you ready?" he asks, and I nod, feeling the excitement building in my throat.
With a quick beep of the key, he opens the door.
Adam steps into the suite, his eyes quickly scanning the room, searching for any sign of Nathaniel. I follow behind, trying to match his pace while tiptoeing on the wooden floor, feeling more like a thief than a guest.
The space is pristine, all sharp lines and clean edges, as meticulously composed as Nathaniel himself.
“Nate?” Adam’s voice breaks the silence, casual yet questioning.
“I don’t think he’s here,” I murmur, glancing around nervously. There is an air of restraint here, like everything in this suite has its place, its purpose.
“That makes it even better,” Adam says, his eyes lingering on the doorway. “I don’t know when he’ll be back, but I think you should wait in the bedroom,” he instructs.
“Are you sure?” I ask, my nerves bubbling to the surface. A knot of unease is already forming in my stomach, tightening my inside.
“Absolutely,” he says, his eyes confident. “I’ll check if he’s somewhere in the hotel, but you stay here.”
I nod, giving him a warm, grateful smile.
“Thank you, Adam.”
“ Avec plaisir ,” he says, flashing me his usual charming grin before slipping out the door, the sound of his footsteps fading on the other side of the room.
I stand there for a moment, alone in the quiet room, my nerves thrumming with the tension of being hidden in Nathaniel’s space.
There’s a gasp.
Adam’s voice again, but different this time. Tight .
“Nate,” he says, his tone sharp and caught off guard. My heart jumps as I press my ear to the door, the wood cool against my cheek.
“Adam.” Nathaniel’s voice follows, low and edged with irritation. “What are you doing in my suite?”
“I came to surprise you,” Adam says, without a hint of nervousness.
“Huh,” Nathan responds. I have my whole side against the door as if my life depended on it.
“Surprise would have been you arriving on Wednesday.” He pauses. “You coming today is only expected.”
“I get it. I couldn’t come before, though,” Adam says, his voice sounding apologetic.
“And why is that? What were you doing instead of your job?” Nathan insists. He doesn't sound happy at all.
“That’s none of your business.” Adam chuckles, trying to sound funny.
“Except it is. ” Nathan pauses, his tone serious. “It is mine, as it is yours. I’m the only one doing everything, including your job, and managing your team, while you’re always half committed.”
“Who says I am half committed?”
“Why didn’t you come?” Nathan asks. “What have you been doing these days, Adam?” There's silence. “Again, partying and getting high. Having fun with that new little whore you just met up with, is that it?” Nathan asks.
My eyes open wide to the words I’m listening to. He isn’t talking about me, is he?
“Shut up!” Adam raises his voice.
“—Because you’re fun Adam, and that’s the only thing you know how to do–” Nathaniel continues.
“Shut up,” Adam snaps, but there is a tremor in his voice now.
“You shut up!” Nathaniel shoots back, his voice rising. “It’s this part of you—this reckless, selfish part of you that makes me regret everything I do for you—everything I’ve done for you.” His words hit like a punch, and I feel my breath hitch. “You’re back on your old path, doing whatever the hell you want.” He pauses. “You remember I saved your life, don’t you? You got a second chance because of me .” I hear his footsteps moving somewhere. “Getting my kidney was not enough? Now you want my peace, too? While you’re at it, why don’t you take my self-control? I don’t even care anymore.”
“What I do with my life doesn’t concern you,” Adam says, but his voice it’s powerless, the bravado slipping away.
“It does when you take pieces of mine,” Nathaniel says, his voice hard and filled with resentment. “What else do you want from me, Adam? My happiness? Well, guess what, I don’t have any—you’ve drained that part of me already.”
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Adam asks, his voice broken. He isn’t playing. This is real. Too real. I swallow, frozen in place, unable to do anything but listen. I feel like I’m intruding on something far too personal, far too raw. Their pain hangs in the air, and I can feel it seep into me, too.
They continue to argue, their words stinging deeper. I can sense how Adam’s voice turns into a sad tone as Nathaniel is exploding everything he can’t keep inside any longer. But why this? Why now? What happened to them this week?
A soft chime comes from the desk inside the bedroom, and Nathan’s laptop flickers on. The screen casts a gentle glow in the room. Drawn by curiosity, I lean closer, my heart pounding as I see a prompt demanding a code.
A small chuckle bubbles up inside me as I type in 1234 with a mix of mischief and disbelief. The screen transitioning to desktop feels almost surreal. Is he serious?
Guilt washes over me and I hesitate, instincts urging me to step back toward the door. What am I even doing?
As I’m about to retreat, a new message flashes boldly on the screen, jolting me back into focus. It’s from Peter, titled simply Morning Update, accompanied by an attached file.
My eyes narrow in on the screen, focusing on the filename: Olivia James . Confusion and concern swirl within me. Why would Nathan's driver send him a file with my name? I know I shouldn’t be doing this, but my curiosity is now piqued, and I can't resist opening the inbox.
What greets me are a cascade of messages mirroring the earlier one: Morning Update, Evening Update , and more. Each message is accompanied by an attached file with different names I don’t recognize, mine among them. He has received many files with Adam’s name, too. An unsettling feeling anchors in my stomach. What exactly is Nathaniel being updated on?
As much as I try to call on my self-control, the feeling is bigger than me. I open one of the files. At this point, the discussion in the living room is muffled sounds.
When the file opens, a list of images unfolds in front of my eyes that widen with shock. My hand flies to my mouth, as if preventing my jaw from dropping or a gasp from escaping. My heart races faster than I thought even possible, my ribcage barely keeping it under control. My stomach twists in all the impossible ways.
The file contains photographs of Adam and I in the park, Adam kissing me on the bench, him hugging me by the entrance of my building— What the royal fuck?
I pick a different file, not expecting anything, but understanding that he’s been following my every move. The first photo is Adam leaning against my car parked in front of his house, and on today’s Morning Update, there’s Adam and I, arriving at the airport. No matter how long I stare at the pictures, it doesn’t change the result or the feeling inside me. Is he seriously having me being followed by his personal driver? Who the fuck does he think he is?
I try to control my anger, the heat building inside me, but it’s too late now. I’m burning and I can’t stop it. That insecure son of a —I grab the laptop, my heart racing, and burst through the door. The sound echoes like a clap of thunder, startling Nathaniel and Adam, who seem to have shared a moment too intimate after their agitated fight. Nathaniel's gaze locks onto mine, a mix of shock and content lighting up his face.
That grin, though, is about to take a wild turn.