5. Bella
— ? —
Bella
I wake to sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows and the smell of coffee. For a moment, I’m disoriented, unsure of where I am. Then the memories of the night before come flooding back, and I feel heat rise to my cheeks.
I’m in Adrian’s bed. In Adrian’s penthouse. And we-
“Good morning.”
I look up to find Adrian standing in the doorway, holding two mugs of coffee. He’s already dressed in a crisp white shirt and dark slacks, looking every inch the powerful businessman. But his hair is still slightly mussed, and there’s a softness in his eyes that makes my heart skip a beat.
“Morning,” I say, sitting up and pulling the sheet around me. “What time is it?”
“Seven-thirty,” Adrian says, crossing the room to hand me a mug. “I let you sleep as long as I could, but we should probably head to the office soon.”
I take a sip of the coffee - perfect, just the way I like it - and try not to think about how domestic this all feels. “Right. The big reveal.”
I know Adrian is going to tell the rest of the office about our new big case. Who we’re going after and it might not be taken so well. Some people are bound to get scared.
Adrian sits on the edge of the bed, his hand finding mine. “Are you ready for this?”
“I think so,” I say, though I’m not entirely sure what I’m supposed to be ready for. “You still haven’t told anyone but me?” I ask, unable to hide how flattered I am.
“They’ll all find out soon enough,” Adrian says, a hint of something unreadable in his expression. “But Bella, I need you to trust me on this case. Can you do that?”
I look into his eyes, remembering the way he held me last night, the way he whispered that he was falling for me. “Yes,” I say. “I trust you.”
Adrian smiles and leans in to kiss me, soft and sweet. “Good. Now get dressed. We have a war to start.”
An hour later, I walk into Sterling Industries feeling like a different person than I was the day before. Everything looks the same - the sleek lobby, the efficient receptionist, the gleaming elevators - but I feel fundamentally changed.
Adrian and I arrived separately, maintaining the appearance of professionalism, but I can still feel the ghost of his touch on my skin, can still taste him on my lips.
Can still feel him in the soreness between my legs.
Focus, I tell myself as I step into the elevator. Today is important. Today, everything changes.
I have no idea how right I am.
The elevator doors open on the executive floor, and I step out, my heels clicking on the polished marble.
I’m halfway to my office, thinking about my desk and blushing when I remember all the things Adrian did to me while I was bent over it and at his mercy, when I hear a voice that makes my blood run cold.
“Well, well. If it isn’t the runaway bride.”
And all thoughts of Adrian evaporate from my mind completely. I freeze, my entire body going rigid. Slowly, I turn around, and there he is.
Marcus Webb.
He’s standing in the lobby area of the executive floor, looking as handsome and polished as ever in an expensive suit. His dark hair is perfectly styled, his smile is charming, and I feel like I might be sick.
“What are you doing here?” I manage to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
Does he know about what we’re up to? Does he know about the case we’re making against him?
Marcus’s smile widens, but it doesn’t reach his cold, dead eyes.
“I have a meeting with Adrian Sterling. Imagine my surprise when I walked in and saw your name on the employee directory.” He takes a step closer, and I instinctively take a step back.
“I saw you two together at the gala the other night, but I thought it was just a one-off to get under my skin. Working for my biggest competitor, Bella? Really? That’s low, even for you. ”
“Low?” I repeat, anger beginning to cut through my shock like a honed knife. “You left me at the altar, Marcus. You were sleeping with my sister. And you think I’m the one who’s low?”
“Keep your voice down,” Marcus hisses, glancing around. “This is a place of business.”
“Then maybe you should leave,” a cold voice says from behind me.
I turn to find Adrian striding toward us, his expression hard and dangerous. He doesn’t stop until he’s standing beside me, his hand coming to rest on the small of my back in a gesture that’s both possessive and protective.
So much for being discreet and hiding our relationship.
Marcus’s eyes widen slightly as he takes in the intimate gesture just like everybody else that is stopping to stare does.
“Well,” he says slowly, a nasty smile spreading across his face.
Marcus slips his hands into his pants pockets, a gesture that, when done by Adrian, is usually charming but Marcus just makes it look sleazy.
“This just got very interesting. So the gala wasn’t a one-off was it? ”
Adrian’s eyes cut to me sharply.
“How long has this been going on, Bella?” demands Marcus. “Were you sleeping with him before the wedding? Is that why you were so eager to believe his lies about me?”
I scoff, I can’t help it. “That’s rich coming from you. You’re accusing me of the exact thing you did to me?” My voice rises and people start to whisper.
“I never lied about you,” Adrian says, his voice deadly calm and even. “I told Bella exactly what kind of man you are. She just wasn’t ready to believe it yet.”
“And now she is?” Marcus asks, his eyes flicking between us. “How convenient. Tell me, Sterling, did you plan this? Did you swoop in and play the hero just so you could get your hands on my fiancée?”
Adrian opens his mouth to answer, glancing at his employees like he isn’t too keen on doing all of this in front of all of them. And truth be told, I can’t blame him.
I brought all this drama here, and at the end of the day, Marcus is right. This is a place of business, no matter how much seeing him threw me for a loop.
“Ex-fiancée,” I correct, finding my voice. “And for the record, Marcus, Adrian didn’t have to tell me what kind of man you are. You showed me that all on your own.”
Marcus’s expression darkens. “Careful, Bella.” He takes a threatening, sauntering step toward me.
It takes all I have not to cower and hide behind Adrian.
I bite down on the inside of my cheek hard enough to taste blood and dig my heels into the ground to keep myself from moving, even accidentally.
“You’re treading in dangerous waters, too dangerous for a little girl to be in all alone. You don’t want to make an enemy of me.”
“Too late,” Adrian says, his hand pressing more firmly against my back. “And she’s not all alone. She is with me, Marcus. You got that?” He lifts his chin. “Is that clear enough for you?”
Marcus grinds his teeth together. “Now, I believe we have a meeting to attend,” Adrian says, continuing smoothly into that transition. “Shall we?”
He guides me toward the conference room by a hand on the small of my back, leaving Marcus to follow.
One pointed glare from Adrian, the boss, has all my lingering coworkers dispersing.
My mind is reeling, my heart pounding in my chest like an anvil.
I feel Adrian’s hand on my back, steady and reassuring, and I try to draw strength from it.
But I can’t shake the realization that’s slowly dawning on me.
Adrian knew Marcus was coming today. He knew, and he slept with me last night anyway.
Is it a coincidence? Or was Adrian just trying to ensure my loyalty to him before the real battle begins?
The thought makes me feel sick. I’m wondering the same thing I was wondering last night.
Is my boss just using me to get what he wants?
The conference room is already set up when we arrive. Adrian’s legal team is there, along with several other executives I recognize. They all stand when Adrian enters, nodding respectfully.
Adrian guides me to a seat near the head of the table, then takes his own seat at the head. Marcus sits across from us, his expression carefully neutral now, but I can see the tension in his shoulders.
“Thank you all for coming,” Adrian begins, his voice cool and professional. “I’ll get straight to the point. Webb Industries has been on our radar for some time now. We’ve been conducting a thorough investigation into your business practices, Marcus, and what we’ve found is… troubling.”
Marcus leans back in his chair almost too far, affecting a casual pose. “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t you?” Adrian asks, sliding a folder across the table. “This is your one chance to cut a deal before this thing, and everything we have on you, goes to trial.”
Marcus spits to the side. “Bullshit, you don’t have anything.” But his eyes float to me.
He’s trying to figure out if we know that he put my name instead of his, and if that’s what I’m really doing here.
Adrian shrugs, his poker face intact. “I guess if you’re not willing to take a deal, you’re just going to have to go to trial and find out.
Because one thing is for sure, I’m not telling you all about what you did.
” His upper lip curls as if it’s repulsive to him to be speaking with the likes of my ex-fiancé.
Marcus’s face pales slightly, but he recovers quickly. “That’s a serious accusation, Sterling. I hope you have proof to back it up.”
“We do,” Adrian says simply. “And we’re prepared to take it to the authorities.
But first, we wanted to give you a chance to respond.
We’re also prepared to make a very generous offer for Webb Industries, despite its affiliation with less-than-legal activities.
” He lifts his brows. “You can walk away with something, or you can fight us and lose everything. But let’s get one thing straight.
This is a one-time offer. Take it or leave it. ”
Marcus’s jaw ticks. “Are you sure I shouldn’t have brought my lawyer to this meeting?” he asks tightly.
Adrian shrugs. “What ever could you mean?”